If the pursuit of knowledge feels like a walk in the park then you probably aren’t trying hard enough. We think a university should be about empowering people to explore what they don’t know; through passionate, dedicated teaching and innovative, world-changing research. By embracing the fact that we’re all coming at it from a slightly different place, and that every journey is personal, we’ve managed to achieve some remarkable results in our time. We believe that the best universities are not just the privilege of elites. We’re proof that you can stand alongside the best and open up the competition for everyone.
Some universities consider their primary purpose to be high quality research, others concentrate on excellent teaching. At Leicester we think that the two are not only complementary, they’re inseparable. We believe that teaching is more inspirational when delivered by passionate scholars engaged in world-changing research – and that research is stronger when delivered in an academic community that includes students. With these ideas at heart, Leicester is re-framing the values that govern academia and re-defining what a university needs to be in the 21st century. We are constantly finding new ways of being a leading university.
When we were named University of the Year for 2008-9 by Times Higher Education, the judges applauded Leicester’s very different approach, calling us "elite without being elitist." The University of Leicester is a leading UK University committed to international excellence through the creation of world changing research and high quality, inspirational teaching.
Our Standing
The University of Leicester is the THE University of the Year 2008-9. In awarding the title the judges cited Leicester’s ability to "evidence commitment to high quality, a belief in the synergy of teaching and research and a conviction that higher education is a power for good".
We’re highly ranked, consistently in the top 20 of all national tables including 15th by the Guardian, 15th and top in the region by The Times, 18th by the Sunday Times, 20th by the Independent, Leicester is one of a handful of British universities to feature in the world’s top 200 institutions:
Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings 2008. Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities 2008. Founded in 1921 we received our Royal Charter in 1957. Leicester is a member of the 1994 Group of internationally renowned universities engaged in leading-edge research and high quality teaching.
High quality research and teaching
For four consecutive years, the University of Leicester has recorded some of the highest scores for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey. In 2008 92% of full-time students taught at Leicester are satisfied with their programme. This is a level of satisfaction exceeded only by Cambridge amongst mainstream universities teaching full-time students in England.
The research conducted by the University has the strongest impact of any Midlands university measured by citations per academic. Our citation levels are the 7th highest in the UK relative to size (THE/QS World University Ranking September 2008).
Leicester’s Quality Related research funding (QR) is the 19th highest of Britain’s 120 universities.
It was here that DNA Genetic Fingerprinting was invented by Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys.
Leicester has one of the highest proportions of staff who are research active in the UK, with approximately 93% of staff submitted for the national 2008 Research Assessment Exercise. Of these, Leicester has 87% of research activity deemed by the RAE to be producing internationally significant research.
Leicester is home to the department with greatest concentration of world class research of any department of any discipline in the UK – in our Department of Museum Studies.
Inclusive and accessible – a diverse University Of the Times’ top 20 universities only one, Leicester, meets its government benchmarks for inclusivity amongst state school pupils and lower socio-economic groups.Leicester has one of the strongest student completion rates – 91% of our students leave the sector with an award according to government performance indicators. A University of 21,000 students, our turnover is in excess £200m per annum. Our turnover has a secondary knock on effect of £300m into the regional economy. Our students’ spending contributes a further £125m directly and indirectly into the economy. In total the University contributes well over half a billion pounds of activity annually to the economy. The University directly employs over 3,000 people and indirectly supports the employment of just under 3,000 others.
We are continually ranked as a leading UK University:
No. 15 - The Guardian (2009)
No. 18 - The Times (University Guide 2007)
No. 29 - The Sunday Times (University Guide 2004)
No. 24 - Daily Telegraph (2003)
No. 18 - The Financial Times(2003)
Globally, a top 200 University - THES.
School of Management
