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WELCOME TO
LEEDS The Alternative Prospectus
Hi! THANK YOU FOR VISITING LEEDS!
STAY IN TOUCH. Find out more about leeds & LEEDS UNIVERSITY UNION Visit: www.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk ‘Like’ Leeds University Union on Facebook Follow @leedsuniunion on Twitter
WELCOME TO
LEEDS
This ‘Alternative Prospectus’ is for anyone who wants to know more about being a student in Leeds.
Contents
Whether you want to know what a typical student day looks like, find out what real students make of Leeds Uni, or discover our 300 clubs and societies (so you can become a journalist by day and a breakdancer by night) – read on!
Our ‘Alternative Prospectus’ is split into two sections: one focussing on being a student in Leeds and the other looking at Leeds as a city.
As a student at Leeds, you’re part of Leeds University Union – a charity with over 33,000 members (and an award or two on its mantelpiece).
The Alternative Prospectus
Student Life at Leeds: Pages 4 to 19 Welcome to your Students’ Union Day in the Life of a Student Why you should come to Leeds Clubs and Societies Your first year in Student Halls Guide to Leeds as a City: Pages 20 to 23 Things to do in Leeds Explore the City in a Day
We’re independent of the University, and run by six elected students, supported by volunteers and staff. Together, we want to make sure you love your time at Leeds. So we’re there for you when you want us to be, helping you to get involved, make friends and have fun. Think of the Union as a vibrant community or an exclusive service – but, above all, think of it as yours.
Leeds University Union NUS Students’ Union of the Year
www
IT’S YOU AND
33,000 OTHER FRIENDS
WELCOME TO YOUR STUDENTS’ UNION Welcome to your Students’ Union The Students’ Union at the University of Leeds is called Leeds University Union, LUU for short.
What is a Students’ Union? It’s a retreat at the heart of campus. A spot to meet friends for a skinny latte in between lectures. Someone to turn to for free help and support when your
dog ate your homework but your lecturer won’t believe you. A hotbed for forwardthinking people who don’t like everything that they see in the world and want to do something about it. It’s a venue that will give you the best night of your life.
It’s right at the heart of campus and will introduce you to lots of new people... It’s home to 300 unique sports clubs and societies, a dozen different shops,
an advice centre, a job service, two bars, three nightclubs, and a tree that grows money. Ok, so there isn’t a tree but it does have a lot to offer, and it is all yours. It’s right at the heart of campus and will introduce you to new people, provide you with new opportunities, and help you to have fun. Leeds University Union is the best students’ union in the country (according to more than one reputable source)
and it’s here to make sure you love your time in Leeds.
The Best in the Country Our student officers and staff are motivated by students, not by collecting awards. That doesn’t stop us having a few trophies to be proud of though. We’ve been recognised by the National Union of Students (NUS) as being the best in the UK, and we’re the only union in the country to have a gold rating from the Students’ Union Evaluation Initiate (SUEI). Our media societies (newspaper, radio and TV) all hold awards for being the best in their field, and we’re recognised as Investors in People and Investing in Volunteers too. To find out more about your Leeds University Union, visit www.leedsuniversityunion. org.uk.
Florence & The Machine at the 2010 Summer Ball
The Best Nights of your Life It’s good to let off steam once in a while and, for a lot of students, the preferred method involves a combination of plenty of friends and plenty of music. Good news: the 33,000-strong student community takes care of the former, and Leeds has a national reputation for having no shortage of the latter. Leeds University Union itself is one of the most popular destinations for a night out, with two distinct bars and three separate clubs on offer. Fruity is the biggest student night out in Leeds every Friday, while individual tastes are catered for through events like Wax:On (electro), Metropolis and Central Beatz (drum and bass), Brighton Beach (classic soul and, ‘90s indie) and Wendy House (goth and industrial). Next to Leeds University Union is The Refectory, which boasts the best line-up history of any music venue in Leeds (think Bob Marley, The Who and The Rolling Stones) and is still going strong today (The Cribs, Simian Mobile Disco and The Kaiser Chiefs to name a few). Check out www.leedstickets.com for information on all our events.
start
Hi, I’m Sam
7.30am Wake Up
9.00am Seminar
10.30am Break
12.00pm Lecture
I’m a 4th Year International Relations Student at Leeds Uni.
Only two 9.00am starts each week, but today is one of them.
Just enough time for a quick read through my notes as I walk to campus.
A quick coffee on the Terrace in the Union with a few friends from my course.
A new topic covered and I’ve got a few ideas for my next essay.
1.30pm Lunch
2.30pm Library
5.00pm Social
Time to relax and grab some lunch and a paper from Essentials, the Union shop, you can’t go wrong with 99p sandwiches! Off to find a place to sit and relax in the Union before heading to...
Need to go through all my notes from the day and get started on that essay!
Time to head to the Old Bar for a Debating Society social and dinner.
end
10.30pm Fruity!
2.00am Bed...
Heading to the Terrace for a few drinks before going to Fruity, the BEST student night in Leeds!
Need to catch up on my beauty sleep after having such a busy day!
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A Day in the Life of a Student What will your day as a student at Leeds look like? Your day will be shaped a lot by the course you’re studying – each programme offers its own mix of tutorials, seminars, lectures and lab time. Outside of study, your day will be shaped by how much you want to get involved in different activities.
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“We chose Leeds and we really LOVE it!” WHY YOU SHOULD COME TO LEEDS... We are the Student Executive here at Leeds. We were elected to make sure new students have an even better time than we did. Every year there’s a team just like us who look after every part of student life, from your health and wellbeing through to help with renting a house for the first time. So, why Leeds? It’s a top-rated university offering great courses and world class facilities, but it’s also much more than that. It’s one of the biggest campus universities in Europe, right on the edge of one of the most exciting cities in Europe – and student life in Leeds is as good as it gets.
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We’ve all had different experiences while studying at Leeds, taking different courses and getting involved in different things. We’ve got one thing in common though: we loved our time in Leeds, and we think you will too.
Marcus Crawley Equality & Diversity Officer
Jack Cheyette Welfare Officer
Paul Gold Community Officer
“I can’t recommend Leeds Uni highly enough. I’ve met people from so many different backgrounds and learnt loads about others and myself because of it. The diversity of both the people and the opportunities available make it an exciting and wonderful place to be!”
“There’s a strong culture of support at Leeds which makes the transition to student life really easy. Services like the Union’s Student Advice Centre, Nightline and the University’s Student Counselling Centre mean that if anything ever goes wrong, there’s someone to turn to.”
“I chose Leeds so I could study in one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in the UK, and be part of the country’s largest and most diverse student community. The opportunities to get involved are pretty much endless.”
Rachel Wenstone Communications & Internal Affairs Officer
Tim Mortimer Activities Officer
Elliot Jebreel Education Officer
“Leeds Uni has one of the best students’ unions in the country. Whether you want to enjoy a smoothie or a pint, buy your uni books, meet new people or be involved in a society, it caters for every student. It’s an incredible place to meet people and make lifelong friends.”
“Leeds offers you the whole student experience. As well as the course you want we have an awardwinning students’ union with over 300 clubs and societies offering quality opportunities from sports to volunteering. Leeds students work hard and play hard!”
“The Leeds Uni experience is amazing there’s always something to do. Hundreds of tutors are nominated by students for awards every year showing just how much they care, and how supportive they are. There’s no complacency at Leeds, people are always working together to improve.”
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300 WITH OVER
CLUBS & SOCIETIES
AT LUU (THERE IS NEVER A DULL MOMENT) Clubs and societies at Leeds University Union are one of the things that make student life in Leeds so great... There were 302 clubs and societies at last count, but by the time you read this there will probably be even more. We’ve got most things covered, so you can find likeminded people, compete to add more trophies to your cabinet or reinvent yourself by trying something completely new (or all of the above). They’ve all got their own story to tell, but every group is of the highest standard. The sports teams compete in a nation-wide university league, while the faith and culture societies provide a hub for thousands of students from around the world.
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Our media societies hold awards for being the best in the country, and we’ve got dozens of groups dedicated to helping others, in Leeds as well as around the world! The departmental societies are used by some to indulge their inner geek, while others prefer using them to make new course friends away from the lecture theatre. A lot of people know they want to do something – they just don’t know what. That’s why the Give it a Go programme of taster activity sessions is so popular, allowing you to go along and get involved without any commitment. Want to try knitting or take a journey below ground to discover caving? You can!
Full list of Clubs & Societies There are so many clubs and societies here at LUU, we have split them up into categories. Find the category you’re interested in and see how much LUU has to offer. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, then you can always set your own group up!
DANCE Ballet Belly Dancing Breakdance Capoeira Cheerleading Circus Skills Contemporary Dance Dancesport, (Ballroom and Latin)
Irish Dancing Modern Dance Scottish Dance Street Dance Swing
Departmental Audiology Aviation Biological Sciences Biology Biomedical Sciences Broadcast Journalism Business School Cardiology Chemical Engineering Chemistry Civil Engineering Classics Computer Criminal Justice
Cultural Society Cutting Edge Dental Students DermSoc Earth Sciences East Asian Research Economics Electronics Energy & Enviromental Engineering English Environmental Fire French Geography German History History of Art ICS Italian society Joint Honours
Some interesting facts about our Clubs & Societies and their achievements this year...
13,794 People is the total number of students who signed up to a club or society in 2009/10.
4,789 games of pool were played by Pool and Snooker Society.
85,000 ‘Leeds Student’ newspapers were printed by our Leeds Student newspaper team.
2,063 glasses of wine were tested by our Wine Society.
450 Croissants were served out to students by our French Society.
Law Mathematical Mechanical Engineering Medicine Middle Eastern Studies MSRC Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Performance and Cultural Industries (PCI) Philosophy Physics POLIS Product Design Psychiatry Psychology Pulse Radiography Russian and Slavonic School of Design Sociology & Social Policy Theology and Religion Zoology
Islamic Japanese Jewish Kazakh Korean Libyan Malaysian Malaysian & Singaporean Mexican Nigerian Omani Pakistani Students Pentagram Polish Qatari Students Society Saudi Scandanavian Sikh Singaporean Taiwanese Tamil Thai Students Turkish Vietnamese
Faith and Culture Afro-Caribbean Ahlul Bayt Atheist Bahai Brazilian British Born Chinese Brunei Buddhist Meditation Catholic Chinese Christian Union East African Egyptian ERASMUS Ghana Hellenic Hindu Students Forum Hong Kong Indian Student Association Indonesian Iranian Irish ISKCON
General Interest AIESEC Anime Arts Assassins Bridge Bright Futures British Armed Forces Supporters Club (BAFSC) Calligraphy Change Ringers Chess Choc Soc Comics & Graphic Novels Debating East Asian Cinema Enterprise Exhibition Film Folk Food Soc Goth Henna
“Societies create a really welcoming environment – kinda like a family away from your biological family”
Outdoor activity
Media
Archery Canoe Club Duke Of Edinburgh Award Gliding Hiking Horse Riding Kite Mountaineering Paintballing Rifle Sailing Club Scout & Guide Sky Diving Snowriders Speleology (Caving) Sub Aqua Surf Wakeboarding Wilderness Medicine Windsurfing
Film Making Leeds Student Lippy LS:TV LSR
A-capella Singers Backstage Band Soc
Elliot Jebreel, Faith & Culture Societies Rep
Jazz & Blues LGBT LOST (Leeds Outdoor Socials & Trips) Poker Pool and Snooker Postgraduate Punk Real Ale Record Library Rock Sci Fi and Fantasy Sign Language Stitch & Bitch Travel Union Music Library Vegetarian Wine
Medical Journal Photography Scribe
Martial Arts Aikido Boxercise Boxing Iaido Jiu Jitsu Judo Kickboxing Lishi Tae-Kwon-Do Thai Boxing Wing Chun
Performance
Friends of Medicins sans Frontieres Green Action International Affairs Forum Labour Leeds Against Cuts Liberal Democrats Liberty @ Leeds Medsin Mind Matters Palestinian Solidarity Group People & Planet Revolution Salaam Shalom Socialist Students Socialist Worker Students SPEAK Stop AIDS Students Against the War Students for Sensible Drug Policy Tibet
Unite Against Facism United Nations Association
Sports American Football Association Football (m) Association Football (w) Athletics Badminton Baseball Basketball (m) Basketball (w) Boat Club Cricket (m) Cricket (w) Cross Country Cycling Darts Fencing Fives Golf Gymnastics
Hockey (m) Hockey (w) Korfball Lacrosse (m) Lacrosse (w) Motorsport Society Netball Rackets Club Rugby League Rugby Union (m) Squash Swimming & Water Polo Table Tennis Ten Pin Bowling Tennis (m) Tennis (w) Trampoline Ultimate Frisbee Volleyball Ten Pin Bowling Tennis (m) Tennis (w)
“I think that it’s all about finding something you are passionate about and getting involved with people who are passionate about similar things...” Margaret Murray, Political & Campaigning Rep
Trampoline Ultimate Frisbee Volleyball
Volunteering Action Actionbound Bridge The Gap Conservation Volunteers Green Fingers Green Streets Heartstart Homed Hyde Park 5-8s Little London Crazy Club LUUMS Education MEDAID Africa Nightline Outdoor Mix RAG
Reach Saturday Stars Shopaholics St John Ambulance Links STAR Tea Party Wacky Wednesdays Woodhouse Kids Club
find out more There is lots of information on our website on our clubs and societies as well as detailed information on each group. Please visit www.leedsuniversity union.org.uk.
SIGN UP! Why you should join a club or society while you are at university... One of the biggest regrets graduates have about their university life is not joining a club or society... why?
Here are some reasons:
1 Gives you the opportunity to make friends and meet like-minded people.
2 It’s a chance to gain new skills and try new things.
3 It looks great on your CV, especially if you decide to be involved on the committees.
4 It adds value to your university life and gives you something different to do.
5 It’s really good fun!
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HOME FROM HOME YOUR FIRST YEAR IN STUDENT HALLS
IN THE CITY Choose from: Clarence Dock & Opal 3 The Best Bits: “You’re smack bang in the city centre of Leeds!” “The bus stop right outside gets you straight to uni if you don’t fancy the walk”
FURTHER OUT Choose from: Oxley Hall & Boddington Hall The Best Bits: “Common rooms and spaces make it really sociable” “Loads of outdoor space for having fun and hosting events”
Leeds is a great city – these Halls put you right at the heart of it so you are never far away from all the shops, bars and restaurants that Leeds has to offer. Everything is in easy reach.
Carry on along the Otley Road, past Headingley, and you’ll find these Halls in their spacious grounds with their own communities.
HEADINGLEY
OTHER INFO
Choose from: James Baillie, Lupton Hall, North Hill Court & Devonshire Hall
Life in Halls is never dull. In fact, most students really miss it when they leave. Every Halls has its own Residents’ Committee, made up of students who live there. They’re in charge of putting on events and arranging socials to make things even more fun.
Choosing the right halls for your first year at university is very important. We’ve got inside knowledge on the Halls of Residence straight from the mouths of current students. We asked them: ‘What do you love about where you live?’
ON CAMPUS Choose from: Henry Price, Charles Morris, Ellerslie Hall, Lyddon Hall The Best Bit: “It’s conveniently close to the Union with its shops and bars and you can get up 5 minutes before lectures” You’ll find all of these Halls on campus – the north-west corner to be precise.
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NEAR CAMPUS Choose from: The Tannery, Sentinel Towers, Leodis, Montague & Burton Hall The Best Bit: “Shops, pubs and pizza places all a few minutes walk away” Some of these Halls are to the north of campus, some are to the south west, but none of them are far away.
The Best Bit: “Loads of shops, bars and cafes in Headingley – great for when you don’t want to go all the way into town” These Halls can all be found just off the Otley Road, somewhere between campus and Headingley.
Find out more about life in Leeds’ Halls of Residence: www.leedsstudentlife.co.uk www.leeds.ac.uk/accommodation
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SHAPE
Campaigning
Community
Student campaigning is well established at Leeds. We have political and campaigning groups active in a broad range of areas – from supporting British political parties to campaigning on human rights issues around the world.
As well as being part of a community of 33,000 students and a member of LUU, we also represent you in the wider community. We support faith and cultural groups to bring people together, and have really active residents’ committees in our Halls of Residence.
YOUR STUDENT COMMUNITY
There are probably few things more important than learning that giving is better than taking, and students can choose to get involved with volunteering at Leeds University Union and do just that. Locally or internationally, fund-raising or working hands on; there are plenty of opportunities.
the World Around You Coming to Leeds means joining a community that listens and acts. Through a strong and responsive student union you can help shape your own education and the world around you. You’ll emerge from Leeds as a graduate who stands out, defined not only by academic success but values like community, integrity and professionalism.
learning and teaching partnership – you’ll work together with your tutors and lecturers to achieve outcomes.
Leeds University Union is the best students’ union in the UK. It gives you opportunities and support throughout your degree – you can start helping others, taking action on issues that matter to you and being an active member of the community.
Life at uni is a lot of fun, but doing a degree involves a lot of work and it can be stressful. Leeds University Union offers help and support through the Student Advice Centre, which is there for you whether your problem is with housing, money, academic issues, health or crime.
Volunteering Check out the ‘Have your Say’ and ‘Volunteering & Community’ pages on www.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk
Support
Make Change Leeds University Union became the first students’ union in the world to ban bottled water, and we did it because of a campaign started by four students. We held a cross-campus vote on the issue and students voted to support change. At Leeds University Union, you have the power to create the change you want to see.
LOVE YOUR TIME AT LEEDS
Representation It might be a continuation of your education, but there are some big differences between school and university. At the University of Leeds, the pupil-teacher system is replaced by the 18 The Gist
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Things to do in Leeds Leeds is a great city to explore. Every day you will discover something new about this city! To get you started we have listed some of the top things to do and places to visit when you arrive in Leeds. See some art for free at the Leeds City Art Gallery Walking around you’ll see art progress through time as you pass from room to room in the Leeds City Art Gallery, where the last two centuries of British modern and contemporary art are housed in one building.
Find out about the history of the city at Leeds City Museum A great mix of information and education
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with six exhibitions across four floors makes the Leeds City Museum perfect for a rainy Saturday.
Tropical World A butterfly house, tropical fish displays and a desert full of meerkats will leave you feeling a long way from city life. If the weather’s good, round things off with a wander through Roundhay Park.
Shop shop shop! Leeds has endless
boutique shops as well as its glorious high street to spend hours and thousands on!
Head for the hills! Visit Ilkley & Ilkley Moor An ideal place for walking, hiking, or enjoying a yummy Sunday lunch, Ilkey is a picturesque Yorkshire town, easily reached by train.
Go to the Henry Moore Institute It’s only a decade old but it’s already earned national and international respect for unique visual arts
exhibitions and is situated right next to the Leeds City Art Gallery.
Watch an independent film at the Hyde Park Picture House An impressive 95 years old, and the only gas-lit cinema remaining in the UK. Fully independent, it shows a unique mix of the latest film, art house and classics.
Wonder round the Yorkshire Sculpture Park Regarded as one of the finest combinations of art and stunning scenery in the country, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park offers stunning works spread across 500 acres of open space.
See a show at the West Yorkshire Playhouse Whether you’re after stand-up comedy or world class acting you won’t be short of entertainment.
Try Skiing? Xscape Leeds might not be listed in any Skiing holiday brochures, but don’t let that stop you! Xscape in nearby Castleford offers indoor ski slopes and a whole lot more. Get adventurous and give it a try.
Get involved in the Leeds Live Music Scene Leeds has a rich live music heritage, still strong today. The Who’s ‘Live at Leeds’ album earned a blue plaque for the Refectory on campus, but the venue has hosted big names for decades.
Lotherton Hall 9,000 students visit every year for our Summer Ball, the largest event of its kind in the UK, but the stunning gardens and bird park mean there’s plenty of reasons to visit throughout the year.
Laze in the grounds of Kirkstall Abbey and Hyde Park Always a great option on a sunny day, Kirkstall Abbey offers plenty of green, open space centered on the old ruins. However, events like the Leeds Shakespeare Festival and Classical Fantasia are what really bring the Abbey ruins to life. In the summer, congregate on Hyde Park to catch the rays, play footie and chill out.
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EXPLORE
LEEDS
A GUIDE TO WHAT YOU CAN DO IN ONE DAY
Only in the city for 24 hours? Here’s a quick guide to what you should spend your time seeing and doing. 01
EXPLORE CAMPUS Don’t rush anywhere just yet. Take in some of the sights on campus. Students’ Union
Student Halls
Parkinson Building
See what the best students’ union in the country looks like – see page 4 to 5. It’s got shops, bars, club venues, a free advice centre, a job service and more. It’s home to over 300 clubs and societies, and forms a vibrant social hub at the heart of campus.
See what modern student living is like in Leeds at Charles Morris Halls, newly refurbished for 2010. See the world-class university sports facilities you can enjoy as a Leeds student at the newly refurbished ‘The Edge’ sports centre.
See the iconic Parkinson Building and take in the red-brick part of campus en-route. Inside, get a glimpse of the oldest (but not largest!) library on campus and see the University’s own art gallery.
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02
EXPLORE THE CITY Leeds city centre has plenty to offer High Street Shopping Sample 2.4 million square feet of high-street shopping including big names like Harvey Nicholls, Vivienne Westwood and Yves Saint Laurent, as well as student favourites like Topshop, Urban Outfitters and American Apparel.
Check out the Boutiques Don’t stop there! Check out the places that give Leeds its unique character – there’s the boutiques of the Victoria Quarter and the Queen’s Arcade,
the recently refurbished landmark, the Corn Exchange, and Kirkgate Market, the largest covered market in Europe, housed within an impressive Grade I listed building.
Leeds City Museum & Art Galleries Take a wander around the museums and galleries of Leeds. The City Museum and Leeds Art Gallery are always popular, and the visual arts exhibitions in the Henry Moore Institute are a student favourite.
03
GET OUT OF TOWN Fancy something a big quieter? Hyde Park
Headingley
If the sun is shining then Leeds’ Hyde Park is the best place to see Leeds students in the wild, and it’s within easy reach too – right on the north-west edge of campus. If you fancy even wider open spaces, try Roundhay Park or Kirkstall Abbey.
It’s a 20 minute walk along the Otley Road to the student hub of Headingley where you’ll find pubs, restaurants and cafes to suit all tastes and budgets.
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Things you didn’t know about Leeds...
1
There are over 250,000 students studying across the city of Leeds.
2
The city is home to 5 renowned theatres, 83 restaurants, 133 bars and pubs and 38 nightclubs.
3
The University of Leeds library is home to 2,780,000 books.
4
With 9,000 attendees, the Leeds Summer Ball is the biggest in the UK.
5
Chris Moyles, Jeremy Paxman, Alex Zane, Corinne Bailey Rae and Julian Barratt can all call Leeds their home.
The Alternative Prospectus www.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk Designed and Produced by Leeds University Union. 24 The Gist