University of Leicester

University of Leicester
Name	University of Leicester
Established	1921 (as University College, Leicester)
Type	Public university
Endowment	£20.0 million (2023)
Chancellor	David Willetts
Vice chancellor	Nishan Canagarajah
Students	20,715 (2021/22)
Undergrad	15,560 (2021/22)
Postgrad	5,155 (2021/22)
City	Leicester
Country	England, United Kingdom
Campus	Urban area
Colours	Red and black
Affiliations	Universities UK, Association of Commonwealth Universities, European University Association

University of Leicester. It is a public research university located in the city of Leicester, England. Founded in 1921 as Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland University College, it gained its royal charter in 1957. The institution is a member of the Universities UK and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

History

The university's origins trace back to 1921 when local philanthropist Dr. Thomas Fielding Johnson provided a donation to establish a living memorial for those who lost their lives in the First World War. Initially a university college of the University of London, its early development was supported by figures like Sir Jonathan North and benefitted from the Leicester Municipal Technical and Art School. A key moment in its history was the 1952 appointment of Sir Charles Wilson as principal, who vigorously campaigned for independent university status. This was achieved in 1957 when Queen Elizabeth II granted the royal charter, with the ceremony presided over by H.R.H. The Princess Royal. Subsequent expansion included the establishment of the Leicester Medical School in the 1970s and significant archaeological contributions from the School of Archaeology and Ancient History, notably in projects like the Greyfriars excavation which discovered the remains of King Richard III.

Campus and facilities

The main campus is situated south of Leicester city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and close to Leicester Royal Infirmary. Its central building, the Fielding Johnson Building, is a historic structure formerly part of the Leicestershire and Rutland Lunatic Asylum. The campus features the distinctive Engineering Building, designed by James Stirling and James Gowan, and the David Wilson Library, opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2008. Other key facilities include the Bennett Building, the Percy Gee Building housing the Students' Union, and the National Space Centre partnership. The university also operates the University of Leicester Botanic Garden in Oadby and has research stations including the John Aston Centre at Leicester General Hospital.

Organisation and administration

The university is governed by a Council and led by the Vice-Chancellor, a position held since 2019 by Nishan Canagarajah. The ceremonial head is the Chancellor, a role currently held by David Willetts, succeeding Sir Peter Williams. It is organised into several colleges, including the College of Life Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, and College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities. Key administrative and advisory bodies include the Senate and the Court. The institution is a major employer in the East Midlands and maintains partnerships with organisations like the National Health Service and BBC.

Academic profile

It is a research-intensive university, a founding member of the 1994 Group and now part of the M5 Universities network. It is renowned for pioneering work in DNA fingerprinting by Sir Alec Jeffreys and for the discovery of the remains of King Richard III by the School of Archaeology and Ancient History. Other areas of strength include space science and Earth observation science, with involvement in missions for NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Indian Space Research Organisation. The University of Leicester Medical School is highly regarded, and the institution consistently performs well in national rankings such as the Complete University Guide and The Guardian University Guide.

Student life

Student life is centred around the University of Leicester Students' Union, located in the Percy Gee Building, which oversees over 200 societies and sports clubs. The union also operates the O2 Academy Leicester music venue. The university has a strong tradition in sports, with facilities at the Danielle Brown Sports Centre and teams competing in the British Universities and Colleges Sport leagues. Key annual events include RAG week and the Leicester Varsity series against De Montfort University. Student media includes the newspaper The Ripple and radio station LUSH Radio.

Notable people

The university's alumni and faculty include numerous distinguished figures. In science, notable individuals are geneticist Sir Alec Jeffreys, astrophysicist Sir Michael Berry, and chemist Sir Martyn Poliakoff. In politics and public service, alumni include Sir David Attenborough (broadcaster), C. P. Snow (novelist and physicist), and former Home Secretary Michael Howard. The world of arts and media is represented by figures like author Malcolm Bradbury, journalist Sue Cook, and film director Nicholas Roeg. Nobel laureates associated with the institution include Sir Peter Mansfield (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine) and Ronald Coase (Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences).

Category:Universities in England Category:Educational institutions established in 1921 Category:University of Leicester