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Our global curriculum

Three students sat on steps in front of the Parkinson Building, chatting and smiling

We bring together excellence across all disciplines. This, combined with our outstanding teaching and research, inspires students from around the world.

Through our global curriculum, innovative facilities, dedication to transnational education and global student community, we equip our students to succeed and make a positive impact in the world.

A distinctive global curriculum

Our courses are taught by experts in their fields. Our students benefit from three core elements of the Leeds curriculum:

  • Transformative, research-based learning to develop critical thinking and independent research skills including a final year research project.
  • Integration of employability, global and cultural insight and ethics and responsibility programme threads across all subject disciplines.
  • Broadening intellectual horizons through subject discovery outside or within their subject area and other co-curricular activities such as study abroad or work placements.

Outstanding education enhanced by innovative digital technologies

At Leeds we are focused on harnessing new and existing digital technologies to provide an outstanding learning experience and opportunities for our students globally.

We invest in smart campus and digital technologies to deliver innovative and interactive teaching and learning for all our students and researchers, regardless of whether their learning is face-to-face, blended or fully online.

Working in partnership with global universities and technology partners, we want to use digital innovation to increase the global and local reach of our academic activities.

We have plans to expand our portfolio of fully online programmes to offer a wider range of online educational opportunities to learners globally. This includes, for example, online degrees, short courses for global professionals, and open online content which supports community-based lifelong learning aligned with the UN SDGs. 

Transnational education

Our students benefit from active transnational education programmes with international partners in a wide range of subject areas. These include joint and dual programmes, articulations and progression agreements, and programmes delivered overseas by Leeds academics through flying faculty and blended learning arrangements.

In collaboration with our global partners, we want to further develop our portfolio of transnational education provision. Our plans include extending the reach of existing programmes through the use of digital innovation and developing new collaborative projects with partners, particularly in the Global South.

Our joint school with Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) in China is our flagship international teaching collaboration, which offers a unique engineering curriculum combining the best aspects of the UK and the Chinese education systems.

Since its establishment in 2016, the Joint School has welcomed over 1000 students. Students earn dual degrees from both the University of Leeds and SWJTU and have the opportunity to spend part of their degree in Leeds. Teaching at the Joint School is delivered by a combination of Leeds, SWJTU and Joint School staff.

Supporting our global student community

We offer an excellent student experience and are dedicated to helping our home and international students integrate and collaborate.

International students studying with us can benefit from specialist advice and support through our Immigration Advice team, International Student Office, Language Centre and Students’ Union.

Our global community programme connects students to intercultural and international activities and exposes them to a world of different ideas and experiences.