De Montfort University
A city-centre Leicester university with roots in an 1870 art school, teaching most courses one module at a time.
- Students
- 23,655
- International
- 47%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 20.6:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £16,800
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1870
About DMU
De Montfort University traces its origins to the Leicester School of Art, founded in 1870. It became Leicester Polytechnic in 1969 and gained university status in 1992, taking its name from Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester. It is a large university, with about 23,700 students in the data published with the THE 2026 rankings, and nearly half of them are international.
DMU is organised in three faculties: Business and Law; Health and Life Sciences; and Technology, Arts and Culture. Its campus sits in the centre of Leicester beside the medieval Newarke, mixing Victorian red-brick buildings such as the Hawthorn Building with modern ones like the Vijay Patel Building for art and design. Most students learn through block teaching, studying one module at a time with regular assessments rather than a pile of exams at the end of the year.
Entry is accessible: typical offers are 112 UCAS points (BBC at A-level) for courses such as Computer Science, Law and Contour Fashion, and 120 (BBB) for Pharmacy, with contextual offers one to two grades lower. DMU is known for creative subjects, especially fashion and textiles, as well as computing, law, pharmacy and a strong placement culture. It suits students who want a practical, career-focused degree in a city-centre campus.
Excellentia et studium
“Excellence and zeal” — university motto
Why students choose DMU
Block teaching means you study one module at a time with regular assessments, giving a simpler timetable than traditional semesters.
DMU's fashion courses rank 3rd in the UK for Fashion and Textiles (Guardian University Guide 2027), including the long-running Contour Fashion degree in lingerie and swimwear design.
The DMU Global programme offers funded international experiences, from academic trips and summer schools to year-long placements at partner universities.
Law students can give supervised legal advice to real clients in the Justice Clinic, and 2027 starters can apply to study a block at DMU Dubai.
Admissions
2027 entry
Selectivity
DMU does not publish an offer rate. Typical offers are 112 UCAS points (BBC) for most courses shown, 120 (BBB) for Pharmacy, and DMU runs a contextual offer scheme that reduces the typical offer by at least one to two grades for students from under-represented backgrounds.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels / UCAS tariff | Computer Science, Law and Contour Fashion: 112 UCAS points (BBC); Pharmacy (MPharm): 120 points (BBB), with Chemistry at grade B if taken alongside a BTEC |
|---|---|
| BTEC Extended Diploma | DMM for Computer Science |
| IB Diploma | 26 points for Computer Science |
| GCSEs | Five GCSEs at grade 4/C or above including English and Maths (Computer Science) |
| English language | IELTS 6 IELTS 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) for undergraduate courses such as Computer Science. English tuition is available before and during the course through DMU's British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning. |
Deadlines
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal consideration deadline for all DMU courses.
- UCAS last date before Clearing Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027, 18:00 UK time
Applications received after this are entered into Clearing, which opens on 2 July 2027; places depend on availability.
The 13 January 2027 and 30 June 2027 dates are the UCAS deadlines for 2027 entry (DMU's how-to-apply page still quoted 14 January, the 2026-entry date). DMU has no medicine, dentistry or veterinary courses. Some courses also start in January or February.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS with a personal statement and reference; international applicants can also apply directly through the DMU Online Portal with a personal statement, English language evidence, a portfolio if required and a copy of their passport.
What admissions looks for
- The typical offer for the course in UCAS points, A-levels, BTEC, T Levels or Access to HE, plus five GCSEs at 4/C including English and Maths.
- Required subjects where specified, such as Chemistry for Pharmacy.
- A portfolio for courses that require one, mainly in art, design and fashion.
- Mature applicants with non-standard qualifications are welcome, and equivalent international qualifications are recognised.
Tips for applying to DMU
- 1 Check whether you qualify for DMU's contextual offer, which lowers the typical offer by at least one to two grades.
- 2 International applicants who pay their deposit by the deadline are automatically awarded the Global Access Scholarship (£2,000 in each year of study for 2026/27 undergraduate entrants), plus £500 off if they pay the full fee early.
- 3 EU and EFTA citizens starting in October 2027 get the Europe Access Scholarship automatically, cutting undergraduate fees to £11,950 a year.
- 4 Contour Fashion applicants should check the course page for the Clothworkers' Company scholarships of £5,000 for students with household income of £50,000 or less (offered for 2025 entry).
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
Home students who come directly from care or are estranged from their families can receive £1,000 a year through the Care Leavers' or Estranged Students' Bursary, and the Unite Foundation Scholarship gives eligible students a free room for up to three years. DMU offers eight Sanctuary Scholarships for asylum seekers. International undergraduates are automatically awarded the Global Access Scholarship, and eligible EU and EFTA students get the Europe Access Scholarship.
- £2,000 per year of study, plus £500 for paying full fees early
- Global Access Scholarship (international undergraduates, 2026/27)
- Undergraduate fees reduced to £11,950 a year
- Europe Access Scholarship (2027/28)
- £1,000 per year
- Care Leavers' / Estranged Students' Bursary
- 8 awards, including up to £3,500 a year towards living costs
- Sanctuary Scholarship
Academics
Academic calendar: Block teaching (one module at a time)
Contour Fashion (BA Hons, W235)
DMU's lingerie, swimwear and intimate apparel design degree, in a subject area ranked 3rd in the UK for Fashion and Textiles (Guardian 2027); 112 UCAS points.
Computer Science (BSc Hons, G400)
112 points (BBC) with an optional placement year; £17,300 international fee (2026/27).
Law (LLB Hons, M100)
Common first year, specialist pathways, the Justice Clinic and a Dubai study block option for 2027 starters.
Pharmacy (MPharm, B230)
Four professional portfolio modules build prescribing and consultation skills; 120 points including Chemistry.
Architecture (BA Hons)
Taught in the Leicester School of Architecture, where Foster and Partners architect Ken Shuttleworth trained.
Research
- DMU's history of fashion and textiles includes the Contour Fashion course, which dates back to 1947.
- The Queens Building, home to technology courses, is designed to control its temperature through natural ventilation stacks rather than air conditioning.
- DMU was shortlisted for University of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards 2026.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Business and Law
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
- Faculty of Technology, Arts and Culture
DMU advertises a 'guaranteed offer of employment' for graduates; its terms say this is an offer of a paid internship under the Graduate Champions Scheme for eligible graduates (for example, home fee payers who meet the criteria). DMU also cites a top 10 finish for employability in the 2027 Uni Compare rankings; it does not publish a graduate employment percentage on the pages reviewed.
Student life
DMU's main campus is in the centre of Leicester, next to Leicester Castle and the Newarke, and has its own sports centre, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Leisure Centre, opened in 2012. First-year students are guaranteed accommodation. Nearly half the student body is international, and DMU's international students ranked it 1st in the world for overall average satisfaction in the 2024 International Student Barometer. DMU Global runs funded trips, summer schools and exchanges, and the Careers Team helps students find year-long placements.
- Accommodation is guaranteed for first-year students.
- DMU Global offers funded international experiences, including exchanges at partner universities.
- 1st in the world for overall average international student satisfaction in the 2024 International Student Barometer.
- Campus buildings include the Victorian Hawthorn Building, with the DMU Heritage Centre's medieval church arches.
Housing. DMU guarantees accommodation for first-year students.
Location
Leicester is a city in the East Midlands, and DMU's campus sits on the edge of its centre. The campus occupies the Newarke, once the religious precinct of Leicester Castle, so medieval remains stand alongside Victorian red brick and modern glass. The university itself is named after Simon de Montfort, the 13th-century Earl of Leicester who played a major role in England's constitutional history, and has further campuses or partners in London, Dubai, Kazakhstan and Cambodia.
Notable alumni
- SR Samuel RossFashion designer and founder of A-COLD-WALL*; first-class BA in Graphic Design and Illustration
- NP Nicola PellowMember of Tim Berners-Lee's World Wide Web team at CERN; maths sandwich-course student at Leicester Polytechnic
- LB Louis de BernièresNovelist (Captain Corelli's Mandolin); attended Leicester Polytechnic
- KS Ken ShuttleworthArchitect, former Foster and Partners partner; studied at the Leicester School of Architecture
- AK Akram KhanChoreographer and dancer; studied contemporary dance at DMU
- JR Janet RegerLingerie designer; studied Contour Fashion at Leicester College of Art and Design, a DMU predecessor
- LM Lewis MoodyEngland rugby union captain and 2003 World Cup winner; studied Business Administration
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for De Montfort University?
Most courses shown ask for 112 UCAS points (BBC at A-level), including Computer Science, Law and Contour Fashion; Pharmacy asks for 120 points (BBB) with Chemistry. Contextual offers are one to two grades lower.
What is block teaching at DMU?
Most DMU students study one module at a time, with regular assessments instead of lots of exams at the end of the year, and a simpler timetable.
How much are DMU's tuition fees?
UK students pay £10,050 a year from 2027/28. International undergraduate fees for 2026/27 are £16,800-£17,300, reduced by the automatic Global Access Scholarship; EU/EFTA students starting in 2027 pay £11,950.
Does DMU guarantee accommodation?
Yes, DMU guarantees accommodation for first-year students.
When is the DMU application deadline for 2027 entry?
Apply through UCAS by 13 January 2027 for equal consideration; applications received by 30 June 2027 are still sent to DMU, after which Clearing applies.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- QS World University Rankings 2027 (topuniversities.com)
- THE World University Rankings 2026
- ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026
- DMU News: DMU shortlisted for Times Higher Education's University of the Year 2026
- De Montfort University: Undergraduate fees and funding
- De Montfort University: International tuition fees
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