University of Leicester
- Leicester is almost exactly in the center of England - London is 100 miles south; the trip by rail takes just over one hour.
- Leicester lays claim to being England's first "Environment City", with many green initiatives including riverside walkways, bike routes and recycling programs.
- Leicester was named runner-up UK University of the Year in the Times/Sunday Times University Guide 2014.
- Leicester is the only UK university to win Times Higher Awards for seven consecutive years.
The KU Great Britain Direct Exchange Program (GBDX) is designed to stimulate and enrich the intellectual development of KU students through a direct experience in the British academic and cultural environment, promoting friendship with Great Britain and broadening international horizons. To realize this mission, KU has signed direct exchange agreements with ten universities in Great Britain, which allow KU students to study for a semester or year abroad at greatly reduced costs. In exchange, British students from these same universities will study for a semester or year at KU.
With the exception of the Leicester program, a student participating in the Great Britain Direct Exchange may be one of a small number of KU students, or the only KU student, at a particular site. An international office is available at each site to provide student support.
All universities offer year-long exchanges. Classes begin in late September or early October and finish in very late May or June. All universities offer generous vacation and travel times.
There are also several semester-long options, although availability varies from semester to semester.
Leicester is almost exactly in the center of England. London is 100 miles south; the trip by rail takes just over one hour. One of England's oldest cities, Leicester, with a population of 300,000, is now a prosperous commercial and manufacturing center. The city has a vibrant and youthful feel, with students making up about 10% of the population when classes are in session. Continental style street cafes in the summer, supper clubs and pubs, excellent theaters and cinemas and an abundant range of restaurants add to the character of the city. Leicester lays claim to being England's first "Environment City", with many green initiatives including riverside walkways, bike routes and recycling programs. Leicester's 700 year-old public market is Europe's largest covered market.
A wide variety of entertainment is available locally, and places such as Oxford, Cambridge, York, Stratford-upon-Avon, Chester, and Warwick are within an easy day trip. Leicester is home to the two-time European Cup winners Leicester Tigers rugby union team, as well as 2015/16 English Premier League champions Leicester City Football Club. Both clubs' stadia are within easy walking distance of campus and downtown.
Leicester University admitted its first students in 1921 and was granted its Royal Charter in 1957. The University currently has over 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The main campus occupies an attractive site close to the city center, with other buildings and some of the student accommodations located in the immediate neighborhood.
An interactive map of the University of Leicester and the city can be found on the University of Leicester website.
Students may earn up to 30 hours of KU credit for the year. Most disciplines are offered in the Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Engineering. Students are encouraged to visit the University of Leicester's website to determine if it offers the necessary selection of courses to meet graduation requirements.
Courses and grades will be posted as KU equivalents on your KU transcript and grades will figure into your KU GPA. The relevant KU academic department will make the final decision regarding posting of credit and grades, and their application toward graduation.
Steps to select courses at Leicester (.pdf)
Students live in university residence halls or student apartments near campus or in the Oadby Student Village. In most cases students will have a single room and will share a common kitchen and bath. Students will have meals provided, prepare their own meals, or purchase meals at reduced cost in the university cafeteria, depending on their choice of residence.
University of Leicester accommodation information can be found on the University's Accommodation Office.
SAGE is dedicated to creating international engagement opportunities that meet the needs of all our students and providing resources to support you through the process of studying abroad. Study abroad is achievable for students of all identities including our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities, and students with religious/non-religious viewpoints. Before selecting a program, consider how your identities may impact your experience abroad in unique ways and talk with your Program Coordinator about any program-specific concerns. Students with documented disabilities should discuss any accommodation needs with their Program Coordinator early in the planning process.
Check our Identity Abroad page and resources listed below for information specific to you and other students who may be on your program.
Open to KU students who have achieved junior status by the beginning of the program and who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8. Sophomores with higher academic qualifications (generally GPA 3.0 or higher) who meet the course prerequisites are also eligible. Some academic departments at Leicester may have additional requirements, including pre-requisites and number of credit hours completed.