Universities :: Student Book - One-stop guide to universities and student life

A modern university; a member of the University Alliance group of universities.

Student Population

Total Students:	21,585
Undergraduates:	79%
Postgraduates:	18%
FE Students:	3%

Undergraduates

Total undergraduates:	17,090
Male:	42%
Female:	58%
Full Time:	81%
Mature on Entry:	31%
UK Students:	95%
Lower socio economic groups:	42%

Teaching Staff

923 full-time.

Broad study areas

Art & design, business & law, computer science & engineering, health & life sciences, humanities, technology.

Freshers

Admission Information:	UCAS tariff being used.
Points on Entry (Mean):	246
Drop Out Rate:	10%
Accommodation:	Almost all first years housed who request it.

Institution

Founded:	1969 as Leicester Poly, from a diverse range of specialist institutions founded in the mid-19th century; university status in 1992.
Site:	Main campus in the city centre, plus Charles Frears campus a 10 minute drive away.
How to get there:	Leicester easily accessed from across the UK by coach and rail (London just over an hour by train and linked to Europe through St Pancras International); City Campus is approximately 20 minutes’ walk from bus and train stations and close to the M1 (junction 21 and M69).

Student services & facilities

Student advice & services:	Drop-in student services centres, counselling, funding, accommodation, student health services, chaplaincy and a legal information service.
Amenities:	Bookshop, SU, health centre.
Sporting facilities:	Good sporting facilities.
Accommodation:	Most first years housed in modern accommodation, on or near campus. 3500 self-catering places (some ensuite), rents £65–£117 per week, contracts 38,42 or 43 weeks September–June. Most students live in privately-owned accommodation for 2+ years, rents £60–£70 pw plus bills.

Study opportunities & careers

Library & information services:	Main (Kimberlin) library open 24 hours/day in term time and can be accessed anytime online; also specialist law library and library at Charles Frears campus. Learning zone in Kimberlin library has space for group and individual work, workstations with power supplies for laptops, syndicate rooms with interactive whiteboards, DVD and video facilities. Information provision, £87 pa spent for each student (FTE). Specialist collection: national art slide library.
Study abroad:	Formal exchange links with European universities and colleges through Erasmus scheme, available to wide range of students.
Careers:	Information, advice and placement service at each site. Good links with employers in textile, fashion, business and engineering industries.

Money

Living expenses budget:	Minimum budget of £6500–£8500 for academic year (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university.
Term-time work:	University encourages term-time work, to a limit of 12 hours a week (45% believed to work). 100 students employed by university (eg as ambassadors on open days). Recruitment service (DMU Works)helps find jobs off campus.
Financial help:	Bursaries of £350 pa for UK students whose family income is up to £30k; and of £1000 pa for students who are 'estranged' or were in care. Scholarships of £1000 pa for those with high entry qualifications; also faculty scholarships and some for mature students from access courses and some international students. Special help is available for those with high costs eg childcare costs, health/disability costs or high travel/accommodation costs. Apply for help to student services.
University tuition fees:	Home students pay £9000 pa for first degree courses (£6000 for foundation degrees). International students pay £10,250 (classroom-based), £10,750 pa (lab-based).

Courses

Academic features:

Focus is on creative, professional and innovative courses. Modular courses available in all disciplines. Range of first-year courses available at partner institutions around the country. Policy of encouraging mature students.

Awarding body:

De Montfort University

Main undergraduate awards:

BA, BSc, BEng, MPharm, LLB

Length of courses:

3 years; others 4 years (sandwich), 5-8 years (extended part-time).

Main subjects offered:

Accountancy
Advertising
Animation
Architectural Technology
Architecture
Art
Artificial Intelligence
Arts Management
Audio
Audiology
Biomedical Science
Broadcasting
Business Studies
Community Studies
Computer Science
Computer Technology
Computing
Contemporary Decorative Arts/Crafts
Creative/Performance Writing
Criminal Justice
Criminology
Dance
Dental Technology
Drama
E-business
Economics
Education
Electronic Engineering
Electronics
Energy Engineering
Energy Studies
Engineering (General)
English
Fashion
Film Studies
Finance
Footwear
Forensic Science
Furniture Design
Glass
Graphic Design
Health
History
Human Communication
Human Resource Management
Human Rights
Humanities
Illustration
Industrial Design
Information Systems
Information Technology
Interactive Games Production
Interactive Multimedia
Interior Design
International Business
International Development
International Relations
Internet Technology
Jewellery
Journalism
Law
Management
Marketing
Mechanical Engineering
Media Studies
Media Technology
Midwifery
Multimedia
Music Technology
Nursing
Painting
Performance Arts
Pharmacy
Photography
Product Design
Production Engineering
Psychology
Public Administration
Public Health
Retail Management
Sculpture
Silversmithing
Social Work
Software Engineering
Speech Therapy
Textile Technology
Textiles
Theatre Studies
Three-Dimensional Design
Video
Web Development/Design
Youth & Community Work

Student view

Azhar Maqsood, Deputy President Education (|MBA)

Living

What's it like as a place to live? It is Nice.

How's the student accommodation? I stay in a Private Accommodation and the rent is quite reasonable.

What's the student population like? We are a Diverse population and we enjoy the time together.

How do students and locals get on? It's all good.

Studying

What's it like as a place to study? Nice

What are the teaching staff like? Decent, and they value the teacher taught relationship.

Socialising

What are student societies like? We love them, we have loads here, we have over 100 sports teams and societies

What's a typical night out? Big Bad Cheese.

And how much does it cost? £4.

How can you get home safely? It is at Level 1 (Students Union) which makes it easy for the students to commute.

Money

Is it an expensive place to live? I'm an International students but as I've heard the loan does last.

Average price of a pint? £1.90.

And the price of a takeaway? £3.90 approx.

What's the part-time work situation? To find one is tough. Minimum wage, no university doesn't help − they will just tell you to look on the university website and some other websites.

Summary

What’s the best feature about the place? Its Diversity.

And the worst? Can’t think of one.

And to sum it all up? It is all good, you can live your life as you want, you meet people from all the continents. The diversity in Leicester is pleasing. I’m impressed by the inclusivity among students at De Montfort University. It is a great place to study and one of the best places for fun and entertainment.

Past Students

Charles Dance (actor), Gary Lineker (footballer), Sarah Wooliscroft (Arsenal ladies football), Stephen Bates (England kayak), Sam Cook (England women’s rugby).