Did you have the time of your life at Leeds?
Turn your favourite memories into a life-changing opportunity
What are your happiest memories of studying at Leeds? Meeting friends on the Parkinson steps? Catching up for pints at the Old Bar? Graduating in the Great Hall?
For many of us, our years at Leeds were some of the best of our lives - years that shaped us, inspired us, and gave us friendships and experiences we still cherish.
But for many talented students today, a Leeds experience like yours is out of reach.
Leeds is still the special place you graduated from, but today's students face financial challenges you could have never imagined.
The students of today are facing tuition fees of £9,535 per year, with annual living costs averaging £12,000.
This means many students have to rely on family financial support or juggle long hours of part-time work alongside their studies, leaving them little time to fully embrace university life. However, the most vulnerable students don’t even have these options: they have no family to turn to or all their spare time is taken up caring for loved ones.
Below you can read more from Mariia, a second year Economics student who faced overwhelming odds to secure a place at Leeds.
Without a scholarship, she may never have had the chance to study at Leeds at all.
This is why your generosity today means so much to the students of tomorrow - so they don't miss out on everything that made your time at Leeds so special.
By giving a gift before 31st July, you can help us to ensure that the Leeds of 2026 is still the same life-changing place it was for you.
A special university and city where bright, passionate students get the chance to have the time of their lives.
Please give today so we can award scholarships in time for the new academic year.
Best wishes,
Beth Whitaker
Senior Development Manager
University of Leeds
Meet Mariia
Aged just 15, Mariia was forced to flee the Ukraine with her mother and brother. She left with nothing but a backpack, leaving behind everything she'd ever known.
Although relieved to be safe in the UK, the transition to life in a local school was difficult. In addition to her studies, she had to take on the role as translator. She was completely exhausted with worry and the upheaval.
But that all changed when the Leeds alumni and supporter community helped to fund her scholarship.
It had always been my dream to study at university – and Leeds seemed so perfect. My mother and I had read all about the Plus Programme, and how it helps to transition people like me into university life. It was a dream come true.”
Supporters like you helped to bridge the financial gap for Mariia. Now she is determined to make the most of every opportunity at Leeds.
Since taking her first steps on campus, Mariia has joined four societies and became part of the Leeds Policy Institute, presenting at the British Conference of Undergraduate Research. She recently joined an alumni mentoring scheme and has participated in the alumni-funded Global Futures Programme - gaining consultancy experience at a tech start-up in Malaysia.
Mariia was also selected for the prestigious Laidlaw Undergraduate Leadership and Research Scholarship which enables talented students, like her, to gain the skills and experience to become active global citizens and ethical leaders. Mariia has even had the chance to pursue a research project investigating the future of Ukrainian economics.
Most people in my situation don’t get a second chance, which is why I feel so lucky to be at Leeds with my scholarship – and that’s all thanks to you. Giving towards a scholarship goes beyond one person. The impact is immeasurable.”
For students like Mariia, scholarships are truly transformative. They remove financial barriers, ease daily pressures and open doors to opportunities which otherwise remain out of reach.
Without your support, I would have had to work part-time jobs. I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this. I want to say a huge thank you. Things have been hard, but you’ve not only brought me happiness again, you’ve motivated me to one day help others too.”
£9,535
per year, are the fees faced by current students
With annual living costs of:
£12,000
Your gift could be the start of the best years of a students life:
£100
could provide a student like Mariia with a kitchen and bedding pack, allowing them to arrive and settle in to their new Leeds home
£300
could help fund a student's first unforgettable term at Leeds, a time full of new friendships, new experiences and new opportunities.
£3,000
could fund a year of a three-year scholarship and give a student like Mariia some of the best years of their life.
How can I make my gift go further?
By choosing to give regularly by direct debit, you will help us to look to the future and be bold in our approaches to the increasing demand for support and flexibility to meet students’ changing needs. Whether that’s to support their wellbeing, academic achievement or even career aspirations.
You’ll join a community of over 2,000 alumni and supporters who are behind students every step of the way. From taking up their place at Leeds, all the way through to the day they don their graduation gown and take steps into their careers.
What's your favourite Leeds
memory?
Share your story and photos with us to help us inspire future students.
Memories through the decades
Explore alumni memories through the decades, as you take us back to your happiest times at Leeds.
1953
“I met my wife, Irene, at one of the regular Wednesday and Saturday night ‘hops’ held in the Riley Smith. I’m not sure love at first sight is possible but by the end of the last waltz we both wanted to get know each other.”
Tony Turrill (Colour Chemistry 1953)
1966
“The Beatles, Stones, Dylan, Kennedy’s assassination and the nuclear threat. But we were young, optimistic and exhilarated by the music, colour and fashion.”
Margaret Davidson (History 1966)
1977
“I met Charlotte at the Cat’s Whiskers Nightclub in Meanwood. Charlotte surprisingly said ‘yes’ when I asked her for a dance. You can tell how serious I was because I even bought fish and chips for us at Sweaty Betty’s!”
John Gaunton (Chemistry and Mineral Processing 1977)
1982
“I’d travelled to Leeds in pretty bad weather and was shown around by some of the students, including the department, the library and Red Route. We were then treated to a Christmas dinner! I was so impressed by how welcoming everyone was – how could I not choose Leeds!”
Joanna Ellis (Microbiology 1982)
1996
“My first memory on campus was seeing the Eddy Boyle, the Roger Stevens and the Uni Bar which soon became familiar places. How I’d love to have that time again.”
Russell Weston-Walker (Environmental Management 1996)
2001
“I volunteered to show prospective students around. Trying to be cool, I didn’t pay attention and fell down the stairs in the Worsley Building! The next year I met a girl who’d seen my ‘Only Fools and Horses’ moment. We’ve been together ever since, so you could say I fell for my wife at Leeds!”
Dr Matt Blackamore (Medicine 2001)
2012
“The Brotherton Library had an amazing atmosphere. I used to imagine all the famous scientists and authors that had sat and worked there. But my favourite place on campus was LUU, it felt like home to me.”
Robabeh Gharaei (Textiles 2012)
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