Why do Leeds students need my support?

Some students experience barriers, which mean they need help to take advantage of every opportunity and put them on a level playing field with their peers. 

Your generosity will enrich a wide range of support offered by the University, starting before they arrive at Leeds, through to the day they leave.

The students who will benefit are from low-income households, where families struggle to afford to support a student studying away from home. They may also:

• be estranged from their families, or are care experienced, so they don’t have personal or financial support
• have extra commitments such as caring responsibilities that impact their studies or ability to join in extra-curricular activities
• have refugee or humanitarian status and be adapting to a new country, language and culture alongside settling into university life and their studies.

“I really appreciate all the opportunities which have been opened to me thanks to the support of our donors. I can’t really thank them enough – they say that money can’t buy you time, but that’s exactly what it’s done.” Henschel Freduah-Agyemang 

How will my gift help?

By giving to Leeds, you support students like these through scholarships and a wide range of student support initiatives.

Scholarships

Scholarships provide financial security to students so that they can realise their full potential. Students tell us that scholarships help them pay for essentials like rent, food and bills, but also provide them with a sense of certainty and financial freedom. This allows them to get more involved in University life. 

Our students also tell us that knowing that someone, like you, believes in them and their abilities is life-changing. It gives them a sense of wellbeing and confidence that frames their university experience and drives them to succeed.

Student support

Your gift will also enable us to support students as they transition into university, progress through their studies and go onto great things beyond graduation. Much of this is channelled through the Plus Programme, which is supporting 6,200 students this year. The support is tailored to their specific needs and includes:

• workshops to develop study and writing skills
• social events where they can meet other people with similar life experiences or circumstances
• wellbeing and careers guidance, including in-depth careers advice and mentorship for those who feel a certain profession is out of reach because they don’t have the right connections or cultural capital. 

"I got an email the other day from the Plus Programme, a support network at Leeds for students that are less-represented in higher education.They invited me to welcome events, from meals out at Nandos to bowling and hikes. They were an opportunity to meet students who have similar backgrounds to me, and could relate to what I was feeling. As they were free, I could sign up to as many as I wanted and not have to think about money for a change. I always save for a rainy day, as I don’t have anyone to fall back on in times of financial difficulty." Meegan Worcester