A students guide to Leicester

Choosing where to study means choosing the place that comes with it. Leicester is a city that adapts to you, whether you're social, creative, active, outdoorsy, food-obsessed or simply enjoy a slower pace. Enjoy the convenience of a secure city-centre campus, easy access to part-time work, and excellent transport links for hassle-free travel. At DMU, your student experience extends far beyond campus.

Leicester gives you access to shops, bars, restaurants, museums and a huge range of independent food stores. Even better, as one of the UK’s top 10 affordable student cities, you can enjoy everything it offers without breaking the bank.

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Leicester scores highest among East Midlands cities for work-life balance (Good Growth for Cities Index 2025)

Ranked the 10th best city in England to start a small business (Brandgility, 2025)

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Leicester is one of the UK’s fastest-growing and most diverse business cities, making it an ideal place to start building your career while you study. With a thriving mix of global companies, innovative start-ups and creative industries, students have access to real opportunities on their doorstep. Students are perfectly placed for part-time work, internships, industry projects and networking with local employers. Leicester’s strong economy spans sectors including business and finance, health and life sciences, engineering, digital technology, creative industries, logistics and sustainable energy - giving students from every subject area the chance to gain hands-on experience.

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Leicester is a vibrant, culturally rich city celebrated for its diversity. It hosts one of the largest Diwali celebrations outside of India and has a long-standing history of welcoming people from all backgrounds and faiths. Dining out in Leicester is like taking a trip around the world, from global cuisine and street food to cosy independent cafés and popular restaurant chains, there’s something to suit every taste. With so many cafés, lunch spots and bars, the city makes it easy to explore new flavours and experiences every day.

A photo of The Lanes in Leicester city centre

According to the Brandgility rankings, Leicester is the 10th best city in England to start a small business. It's home to major employers such as, Caterpillar UK, Dunelm, E.ON, Europcar Group, IBM, Mattioli Woods, Next and PepsiCo. Research by London Economics shows that DMU graduates who continue their career in the East Midlands are earning around a third more than those who do not go to university.

As rent is the largest outgoing for students, we make city living more affordable with accommodations starting at £95 per week. At DMU, we also offer students the ability to work part time through uni-temps, allowing you to support yourself while attending university.

Leicester’s central location makes it easy to get around the UK, with Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield and London all just about an hour away by train. The city also offers convenient access to airports, making both national and international travel simple.

A students guide to Leicester

Offers and discounts for students

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