University of Leeds Admissions Statistics

The University of Leeds (opens in a new tab) is a well-regarded Russell Group research university in the UK, attracting a large and diverse applicant pool each year. 

In this article, we unpack the latest admissions figures and explain what they mean for prospective applicants, including subject-level variation. We also give actionable insights on how applicants can improve their chances of success.

For general university advice, Save My Exams has published a variety of articles that can provide you with additional information to support your university application. 

Key Takeaways

• The University of Leeds is competitive, with an overall undergraduate offer rate of about 66%.

• Admissions competitiveness varies by subject; medicine and dentistry are the most selective, while language and area studies and mathematical sciences are much less competitive.

• High-demand courses like business, law, and computing have moderate competitiveness.

• Admissions decisions consider academic performance, personal statements, references, contextual factors, and additional assessments.

• Exceeding minimum entry requirements and demonstrating relevant experience or achievements can improve chances of receiving an offer.

Top 5 University of Leeds Admissions Statistics

• Overall Acceptance Rate: According to (opens in a new tab)UCAS (opens in a new tab), the university received 67,535 undergraduate applications in a recent cycle and offered places to approximately 66% of applicants.

• Trends: According to (opens in a new tab)UCAS (opens in a new tab), the number of applicants has been steadily rising over recent years

• UK vs International Places: According to (opens in a new tab)UCAS (opens in a new tab), of the total places offered, 33,005 (74%) were allocated to UK students and 11,755 (26%) to international students.

• Popular Courses: According to (opens in a new tab)UCAS (opens in a new tab), within the 2025 application cycle, Business and Management (9,245) is the most popular course applied for, followed by Social Sciences (8,115).

• Overall Continuation Rate: According to an independent analysis of Russell Group institutions (opens in a new tab), the University of Leeds has an approximate continuation rate of 96%, meaning around 4% of students do not continue their studies into the second year. This positions Leeds in the middle of the Russell Group for student retention.

University of Leeds Acceptance Rate Overview

According to (opens in a new tab)UCAS (opens in a new tab), the university received 67,535 undergraduate applications in a recent cycle and offered places to approximately 66% of applicants.

Over the past several years, the number of applications to Leeds has increased steadily, while the number of available places has remained broadly similar. This imbalance between demand and capacity has made admissions more competitive, particularly for popular and high-ranking courses. As a result, many applicants who meet the minimum entry requirements may still be unsuccessful simply because of the volume of strong candidates.

It is also important to remember that acceptance rates can vary significantly between subjects. Courses in areas such as Medicine, Dentistry, Business Management and Social Sciences  typically attract far more applicants than many Law and Language subjects. This means that the overall university acceptance rate can hide large differences in competitiveness at course level.

University of Leeds Admissions Statistics by Course

This table shows the estimated competitiveness of key subject areas based on recent UCAS Undergraduate end of cycle data resources 2025 (opens in a new tab).

This table highlights how competitiveness varies significantly across different subject areas at the University of Leeds. 

Medicine and dentistry is the most competitive course. Only 21.3% of applicants receive an offer. Subjects allied to medicine are also highly competitive, with an offer rate of 41.8%. 

In contrast, some courses have much higher offer rates. Language and area studies has an offer rate of 91.1%. Mathematical sciences stands at 86.9%. Biological and sport sciences has an offer rate of 81.6%. 

High-demand areas such as business and management, law and computing sit in the middle range. Their offer rates fall between approximately 59% and 71%. 

Overall, the data shows that applicants should consider subject-specific competition levels. It is important not to rely only on the overall university offer rate.

Key Trends from 2025

The University of Leeds sets minimum entry requirements (opens in a new tab) that vary by course and qualification type. 

For undergraduate programmes, the general entry expectation includes passes in a combination of GCSEs and satisfactory performance in A-levels or equivalent qualifications. Typical minimum requirements include a pass in five GCSE subjects including English and numeracy, and acceptable achievement in three A-levels or equivalent. 

For International Baccalaureate applicants, typical entry benchmarks include a minimum of about 31 points overall with sufficient scores at higher level in relevant subjects. 

Competitive subjects such as business, law, computer science, and engineering usually attract applicants with grades above the minimum entry thresholds, as candidates seek to stand out in a crowded admissions pool. Exceeding the baseline requirements and demonstrating strong performance in relevant subjects therefore improves the likelihood of receiving an offer.

For postgraduate applicants, entry requirements generally include a good undergraduate degree (often a 2:1 or equivalent) alongside additional criteria such as personal statements or research proposals where applicable.

How University of Leeds Makes Admissions Decisions

Admissions at the University of Leeds involve a holistic assessment of both academic performance and non-academic qualities. The goal is to identify applicants who are not only academically capable but also highly motivated and well-suited to their chosen programme. Admissions decisions are influenced by multiple factors, which work together to give a full picture of an applicant’s potential.

Academic Requirements

Meeting or exceeding minimum academic qualifications, such as A‑levels, International Baccalaureate (IB), or equivalent, is essential. Each programme sets its own criteria, and competitive courses often demand higher grades in relevant subjects. Admissions tutors will review exam results, predicted grades, and academic consistency, particularly for programmes with large applicant pools.

Personal Statements

The personal statement is a key part of the application. It allows candidates to demonstrate motivation, interest in the subject, relevant experience, and future ambitions. 

For competitive programmes, a strong personal statement can differentiate applicants with similar academic profiles. It is also an opportunity to highlight specific skills, projects, or work experience that show commitment to the chosen field.

For guidance on writing a personal statement, Save My Exams has published an article that explains how to structure it clearly, along with a helpful checklist outlining what to include and what to avoid.

Contextual Admissions

Leeds takes contextual factors into account to provide additional insight into an applicant’s achievements. These may include educational background, widening participation indicators, or socio-economic factors. 

Contextual admissions help the university assess academic potential relative to opportunities, ensuring that talented students who may have faced challenges are not overlooked.

Interviews, Admissions Rests, and Portfolios

Certain courses, particularly in medicine, health sciences, and creative disciplines, require additional assessments. These may include interviews, admissions tests such as the Critical Aptitude Test (UCAT) (opens in a new tab), or portfolios of work. 

These assessments allow the admissions team to evaluate skills, creativity, and potential that are not fully captured by academic grades alone.

Other Non-Academic Factors

References, extracurricular activities, and relevant experiences such as volunteering, internships, or work placements can enhance an application. 

These elements demonstrate commitment, initiative, teamwork, and engagement with the subject area, which can be especially important in competitive programmes where many applicants meet or exceed academic requirements.

How Competitive Is University of Leeds Compared to Similar Universities?

Within the Russell Group, the University of Leeds sits in a competitive position among UK research universities. Compared with some Russell Group peers such as Oxford or Cambridge, which typically have much lower offer rates, Leeds is more accessible overall, especially in less oversubscribed subjects. 

Compared with some other Russell Group universities with high offer rates (like Exeter or Nottingham), Leeds’ offer position remains slightly more selective, particularly in popular programmes.

Save My Exams has published university acceptance rates organised by institution, programme, and entry requirements, which will help you compare competitiveness and make more informed decisions about your application.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of University of Leeds applicants get accepted?

Recent UCAS figures show Leeds had an acceptance rate of about 66% in a recent admissions cycle, reflecting strong competition given high application numbers.

Which course at University of Leeds is the hardest to get into?

Medicine and dentistry is the hardest course to get into based on the data shown. It has the lowest offer rate at just 21.3%, meaning fewer than one in four applicants receive an offer. This makes it significantly more competitive than any other subject area listed.

What percentage of University of Leeds students drop out?

The University of Leeds has an approximate continuation rate of 96%, meaning around 4% of students do not continue their studies into the second year.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the University of Leeds is a competitive Russell Group institution with strong and growing demand. 

While the overall offer rate sits at around 66%, this figure masks significant variation between subjects. Highly competitive courses such as Medicine and Dentistry have much lower offer rates, whereas others are more accessible. 

Applicants should therefore focus not only on meeting minimum entry requirements but on exceeding them, particularly for high-demand subjects. 

A strong academic profile, well-written personal statement, and relevant experience can make a meaningful difference in a competitive admissions landscape.

References

University of Leeds (opens in a new tab)

UCAS Undergraduate End of Cycle Data Resources 2025 (opens in a new tab)

These Are the Russell Group Unis Where Students Are Least Likely to Finish Their Degrees (opens in a new tab)

University of Leeds Entry Requirements (opens in a new tab)

Critical Aptitude Test (UCAT) (opens in a new tab)