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Castle by a river with boats passing by.

Study at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom! With a variety of subjects to choose from and a myriad of opportunities to get involved, students will advance their studies while immersing themselves in the culture of this city with 2,000-year-old roots.

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Location

Leicester, England

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Term

Spring, Fall, Academic Year

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Housing

Dormitory, Apartments

Program Highlights

Students can study at the University of Leicester for a semester or academic year. Courses are offered in a variety of subjects and, aside from language programs, are taught fully in English.

The University of Leicester is ideally located. Just 62 minutes from London on a fast, direct train from London, Leicester is set in the heart of one of England's most attractive counties. Surrounding villages and countryside are easily reachable to explore, and the central location in the Midlands makes Leicester accessible from all directions.

Though not directly on campus, the University of Leicester offers students housing nearby with options for meals to be included or not. On campus, there are many opportunities to get involved at the university with over 200 organizations to choose from. There are also sports facilities and a Students’ Union.
 

Program Contact Information

Molly Papay

Assistant Director, Education Abroad

Email: mpapay1@kent.edu

Office Phone: 330-672-3067

Important Dates

Application Deadlines

  • Spring 2025: Closed - the program has reached capacity for this term.
  • Fall 2025: May 1, 2025
  • Academic Year 2025-2026: May 1, 2025
  • Spring 2026: October 1, 2025

Program Dates

Program dates vary each year based upon the host institution's academic calendar, but the following are general guidelines:

  • Academic Year: Mid-September - Late May
  • Fall: Mid-September - Mid-December
  • Spring: Early January - Late May
Application Process

Students will be required to complete two applications:

  • an internal Education Abroad application,
  • and a partner university application.

These quick steps will help walk you through the process.

1. Start an Education Abroad Application

When you click the "Apply Now" button (located towards the top and bottom of this page), you will be brought to the Education Abroad application system where you can view program costs and start an application. Be sure to submit your application before the deadline!

2. Wait for Acceptance

Once you have submitted your application, it will be reviewed by an Education Abroad Advisor. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. Please note that acceptance to the program by does not serve as final approval. The host institution or program provider grants final approval for each applicant.

3. Complete the Host University Application

Once your Education Abroad application has been accepted, you will be nominated to the host university. You will complete the host university’s application and wait for official acceptance to the program. 

Eligibility
  • Full-time, degree-seeking student at
  • Any major
  • Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0 or higher
Academics

Academic Programs

are taught fully in English in a variety of subject areas, including the following:

- Ancient History and Archaeology

- Biological Sciences

- Business (Economics and Management)*

- Chemistry

- Computing

- Criminology and Sociology

- English and English Language

- Geography and Geology

- History and History of Art

- Law

- Mathematics

- Media and Communication

- Modern Languages

- Natural Sciences

- Physics and Astronomy

- Politics and International Relations

- Psychology

*Note: It is very difficult to get permission to take Management classes at Leicester.

Students taking modules in Biological Sciences, Engineering, Chemistry Geology, Informatics and/or Mathematics are required to remain on campus and sit examinations in mid- to late January. No exceptions can be made for classes in these subjects.

Transferring Credits

Transfer Credits

With this program, students enroll in courses at a partner (host) institution. You will need to transfer the credits you earn abroad back to .

Upon successful completion of the program, the host institution will issue you an official transcript, which will be needed for the credit transfer process.

You must earn passing grades on the courses you take abroad for the credits to transfer. 

Prior to departure, students will meet with their academic advisor to complete a Transfer Course Planning (TCP) Form, which will outline the courses you plan to take while abroad and how the courses will transfer to . 

Some courses have already been pre-approved for transfer to and can be viewed on the Transfer Credit Guide. Please note that this is only a guide and is NOT a comprehensive list of courses available at each partner institution.

Credit Approval

Prior to departure, it is your responsibility to meet with your academic advisor to discuss the courses you plan to take while abroad.

If a course needs to be evaluated for transfer, you are responsible for working with your education abroad advisor to obtain the syllabus and have it reviewed by faculty. 

Location & Transportation

Leicester, United Kingdom​​​​​​​

Located in the east midlands of England, Leicester is a city of approximately 360,000 inhabitants. The city has many different places for students to explore, including art galleries, a 13th-century cathedral, museums, and award-winning venues including Curve, Highcross Shopping Centre, and the National Space Center, and beautiful parks spread throughout the city, including the Victoria Park, just a few minutes from the University of Leicester, which is the venue for many significant festivals and celebrations. It is also known for being culturally diverse and for having prestigious universities with students from all around the world. Leicester is relatively close to England's capital, London (about 2 hours by car and about 1 hour by train), making it very viable for students to spend a weekend visiting the capital city!

Transportation

Airports

There are many airports convenient to Leicester via public transportation. Students will likely fly into the UK through Heathrow Airport, and the university offers an airport pickup service. Additional information about airports and transportation options to Leicester can be found .

Local Transit

Students can navigate Leicester using buses. For travel to farther locations, students can use airports, buses, or trains.

Housing & Meals

Accommodations

The University of Leicester has several options for campus housing, ranging from residence-style catered houses (includes 14 meals per week) to apartment-style self-catered housing (no meals included). Students who live in self-catered housing are responsible for purchasing all food. Halls are grouped as either Oadby Student Village (OSV), City Living, or Freemen’s. The OSV is approximately a 40 minute walk from the main campus, so many students choose to buy a bus pass. Shops and a supermarket are nearby, and students can enjoy the University’s botanical garden. City Living and Freemen’s are approximately a 5-10 minute walk from the main campus. All halls offer social events for students throughout the year.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

It is possible to use your federal financial aid to go on -approved education abroad programs. You can learn more on the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center website.

It is also possible to use most scholarships for education abroad costs. You can find education abroad scholarships on ScholarshipUniverse.

If you have any questions about using your financial aid and scholarships for study abroad, you can contact the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center.

ISEP also offers for their programs, with many focused on underserved student populations as well as opportunities for students studying a language or in specific locations around the world.

Health & Safety

Pre-Departure Orientation

Prior to your study abroad experience, you will participate in a mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Office of Global Education. During this orientation, you will be provided with information including but not limited to:

  • international travel procedures;
  • in-country resources;
  • health and safety resources and information;
  • culture shock and resources to help prepare for living abroad.

All students are encouraged to register with the prior to departure.

You can also review a wide variety of resources we’ve pulled together for you on our “Before You Go” page.

Country Profile

You can learn more about your destination(s), including travel advisories, through the .

In addition, we encourage you to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel page for for traveling to your destination(s).

If vaccinations or medications are needed according to the CDC, you should make arrangements for appointments with your healthcare provider or the DeWeese Health Center as soon as possible. Appointment openings at the DeWeese Health Center are limited and vaccines may need to be ordered, which takes time. Please note that not all immunizations are available at the DeWeese Health Center. 

Visa Information

A visa is a document required by many countries, in addition to your passport, that allows you to enter the country for a certain purpose (whether that’s to stay, transit, or exit). Essentially, it is the country's government giving you legal permission to enter their country to travel, study, work, etc.

Please note, it is solely the responsibility of the student to: 

  • determine the entry, transit, and stay requirements for the country or countries to which they will travel,
  • and to apply for any necessary visas, stay permits, or any other immigration requirements of the host nation(s).

It is also the responsibility of the student to:

  • verify the correct documentation required to apply for the required visa(s), 
  • apply for the visa(s) early enough to ensure there is enough processing time,
  • and pay any fees associated with obtaining the visa(s).

's Office of Global Education is available to provide general guidance regarding student visa requirements and procedures; however, each student who travels abroad is expected to manage their own legal obligations regarding international travel.

It is strongly recommended by the Office of Global Education that you carefully review the appropriate consulate or embassy website for the nation(s) you plan to visit in order to determine current entry/study/exit visa requirements.

University of Leicester Fact Sheet

Your host, the University of Leicester, has prepared an overview document for you to download and keep as a handy reference.

Costs and Funding

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Costs for the program will differ for every student. You can use our Cost Calculator to get an estimate of what you might expect for your program.

We also encourage you to meet with your Education Abroad Advisor and reach out to the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center to see how your aid may apply to an international program.

 

Your Journey is Just Beginning