University of Leicester
The compact Midlands university where genetic fingerprinting was invented and Richard III was identified.
- International
- 37%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 14.5:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £20,200
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1921
About Leicester
The University of Leicester opened in 1921 as a university college founded as a living memorial to local people who sacrificed during the First World War, which is where its motto, Ut vitam habeant (so that they may have life), comes from. It gained its royal charter in 1957. The main campus is compact and sits a mile south of the city centre next to Victoria Park, with 1960s landmarks such as James Stirling's Engineering Building and the 18-storey Attenborough Tower.
Leicester is best known for two research stories: Sir Alec Jeffreys invented genetic fingerprinting here in 1984, and a university team found and identified the remains of King Richard III in 2012. It is also a major centre for space science, with Space Park Leicester opening in 2022. The university has more than 20,000 students and 4,000 staff, and teaching is organised into colleges covering life sciences (including Leicester Medical School), science and engineering, social sciences, arts and humanities, and business.
Leicester holds a Gold rating in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework and prides itself on social inclusion: 20% of its students come from the most deprived areas of the UK. Typical offers are more accessible than at many research universities, from ABB for Computer Science to A*AA for Medicine, which makes it a good fit for strong students who want research-led teaching without the very highest grade thresholds.
Ut vitam habeant
“So that they may have life” — university motto
Why students choose Leicester
Medicine (A100) is ranked 2nd in the UK by the Daily Mail University Guide 2027 and 5th by The Times Good University Guide 2027, as shown on the course page.
Leicester Law School does not require the LNAT, and the LLB typical offer is AAB.
Every first-year student who applies for University-managed accommodation before 1 September is guaranteed an offer, with a shuttle bus linking The Village halls to campus.
Physics and space science students work alongside Space Park Leicester and the university's long record of space instrument building, including work on the Beagle 2 Mars lander.
Admissions
2027 entry
Selectivity
Leicester does not publish an overall offer rate. Typical offers range from ABB (e.g. Computer Science) to AAB (Law) and A*AA (Medicine), and it says it welcomes applicants whose predicted grades are slightly below the standard requirements.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Course-specific typical offers for 2027 entry, e.g. ABB (Computer Science BSc), AAB (Law LLB), A*AA including Chemistry or Biology (Medicine MBChB); EPQ alternatives such as ABB plus EPQ grade B for Law |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | Course-specific, e.g. 30 points (Computer Science), 33 points (Law), 34 points with 7,6,6 at Higher Level including Chemistry or Biology (Medicine) |
| English language | IELTS 6 Each course sets its own IELTS score: 6.0 for Computer Science, 6.5 with 6.0 in writing for Law, and 7.5 with at least 7.0 in each component for Medicine. Other tests are accepted if equivalent and less than two years old at the start of the course; a SELT is not required. |
Deadlines
- UCAS (Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
Medicine MBChB (A100); international applicants without formal pre-16 exams must send school transcripts before this deadline.
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
Equal consideration deadline for all other courses.
- UCAS last date before Clearing Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027, 18:00 UK time
Applications received by this date are sent to universities if courses still have places; after it, applications go into Clearing.
UCAS dates for 2027 entry. After 30 June 2027 applications go into Clearing. UCAS Extra opens on 25 February 2027. Accommodation guarantee requires applying before 1 September.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS (institution code L34). There is no admissions test for most courses and Law applicants are not normally interviewed; offer holders are invited to visit. Medicine applicants must take the UCAT, submit GCSE or school transcripts before the October deadline, and are selected for interview on academic and UCAT scores.
What admissions looks for
- Achieved or predicted grades that meet the course's typical offer, though Leicester says it will consider motivated applicants predicted slightly below it.
- Required subjects and GCSEs where specified, such as GCSE Maths at grade 5/B for Computer Science.
- For Law, grades, the personal statement and the school reference; Leicester says admissions tests add nothing to these.
- For Medicine, A*AA including Chemistry or Biology, GCSEs at grade 6/B in English, Maths and sciences, a strong UCAT score and performance at interview.
Tips for applying to Leicester
- 1 If you are applying for Medicine from outside the UK, send your school transcripts to the medical school before 15 October; Leicester says it will not chase missing documents and will reject applications it cannot score.
- 2 Law applicants do not need to sit the LNAT, so you can put your energy into your personal statement and grades.
- 3 UK applicants holding an offer can apply for a £2,000 Citizens of Change Scholarship with a 200-word answer about the university's values.
- 4 Apply for accommodation before 1 September of your year of entry to be guaranteed a University-managed room.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
UK students can apply for scholarships including the £2,000 Citizens of Change Scholarship (150 awards), the University of Leicester Bursary Scheme (£1,000 a year for students from low-participation areas) and the Skylark Scholarship (£4,000 a year). International fee-paying undergraduates can receive a £5,000-a-year International Merit Scholarship, and there are 150 international tuition fee waivers over five years; details for September 2027 entry are due by mid-October 2026.
- £5,000 tuition discount per year
- International Undergraduate Merit Scholarship
- 10 awards of up to £10,000 per year
- International Citizens of Change Scholarship (2026 entry)
- 150 awards of £2,000 (year one)
- Citizens of Change Scholarship (UK)
- £1,000 per year (low-participation areas)
- University of Leicester Bursary Scheme
Academics
Medicine (MBChB)
A*AA typical offer and UCAT; ranked 2nd in the UK by the Daily Mail University Guide 2027, with cadaveric dissection and a Clinical Skills Unit.
Law (LLB)
AAB typical offer with no LNAT, taught in the Fielding Johnson Building; ranked 26th in the UK for Law by the Complete University Guide 2026.
Computer Science (BSc)
ABB typical offer or 30 IB points, taught by the Department of Informatics, which may invite applicants to an assessment.
Physics and space science
Linked to Space Park Leicester (opened 2022) and a department that built instruments for space missions including Beagle 2.
Archaeology and Ancient History
Archaeology is ranked 40th in the world in the QS 2025 subject rankings, and the university's archaeologists led the Richard III excavation.
Research
- Sir Alec Jeffreys invented and developed genetic fingerprinting at Leicester in 1984.
- In 2012 a University of Leicester team exhumed and identified the remains of King Richard III in the city centre.
- Space Park Leicester, opened in 2022, houses the university's Earth observation and space instrumentation groups.
- THE World University Rankings 2026 rank Leicester joint 26th globally and joint 5th in the UK for research quality.
Schools & faculties
- College of Life Sciences
- College of Science and Engineering
- College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities
- College of Business
Leicester received Gold in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework, with a Gold rating for student outcomes.
Student life
Leicester's campus is small enough to cross in minutes, with the Students' Union in the Percy Gee Building and first-year halls split between The Village, a green residential area served by the University shuttle bus, and The City, purpose-built blocks next to campus. The union runs student media including Galaxy Radio and LUST television, and the university was placed 13th for its Students' Union in the 2025 Whatuni Student Choice Awards. About 20% of students live at home and commute, and Leicester was listed as the cheapest UK city for students by Unifresher in 2025.
- Leicester won the first ever series of University Challenge in 1963.
- The 18-storey Attenborough Tower has one of the UK's few remaining paternoster lifts.
- Named Daily Mail University of the Year 2025.
- Top 15 UK university for student satisfaction in the 2025 National Student Survey.
Housing. First-year students who apply before 1 September are guaranteed an offer of University-managed accommodation in The Village or The City, with bills included.
Location
Leicester is a diverse city in the East Midlands; 22% of the university's students come from Leicester and Leicestershire. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre beside Victoria Park, so students can walk into town, and it was under a city-centre site, the former Greyfriars friary church, that the university's archaeologists found King Richard III. Unifresher listed Leicester as the UK's cheapest city for students in 2025, and a Leicester City FC scholarship is open to local students.
Nearest airport: East Midlands Airport (EMA)
Notable alumni
- CP C. P. SnowNovelist and physical chemist, author of The Two Cultures
- MB Malcolm BradburyNovelist and critic; first-class English graduate (1953)
- BM Bob MortimerComedian and writer; studied law at Leicester
- JK Jyrki KatainenFormer Prime Minister of Finland; spent a year at Leicester as an Erasmus exchange student
- AJ Atifete JahjagaFormer President of Kosovo; completed a graduate certificate programme in police management and criminal law at Leicester
- PA Peter AtkinsPhysical chemist and textbook author
- NB Natalie BennettFormer leader of the Green Party of England and Wales
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for the University of Leicester?
It depends on the course: typical 2027 offers include ABB for Computer Science, AAB for Law and A*AA for Medicine. IB offers range from about 30 to 34 points.
Does Leicester require the LNAT for Law?
No. Leicester Law School does not require the LNAT; it assesses applicants on grades, personal statement and reference.
What is the deadline to apply to Leicester Medicine for 2027?
15 October 2026 via UCAS, and you must have taken the UCAT. Most other courses have a 13 January 2027 equal consideration deadline.
How much does Leicester cost for international students?
2027/28 international fees are not confirmed yet. For 2026/27 they were, for example, £20,200 for Law and £25,100 for Computer Science, with Medicine at £30,150 in years 1-2 and £48,900 in the clinical years.
Is accommodation guaranteed at Leicester?
Yes, first-year students who apply before 1 September of their year of entry are guaranteed an offer of University-managed accommodation.
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.
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