Leeds Arts University

Leeds Arts University is a specialist arts institution offering further and higher education in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1846 as the Leeds School of Art and underwent several name changes, becoming Jacob Kramer College from 1968 to 1993, Leeds College of Art and Design until 2009, and Leeds College of Art until 2017. In August 2017, it gained university status and adopted its current name. Skin, a renowned artist and activist, became the university’s chancellor in 2021.

The university operates from two city center locations: Blenheim Walk and Vernon Street. Its academic offerings include further education courses such as the Extended Diploma in Creative Practice and the Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, one of the largest in the country with 280 students validated by the University of the Arts London. Undergraduate programs span a wide range of creative fields, including Animation, Comic & Concept Art, Fashion Design, Photography, Fine Art, and Popular Music Performance. Postgraduate courses include MA degrees in Animation, Creative Practice, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration and Graphic Novel, and Photography.

In 2022/23, the university had 2,145 higher education students, making it the 146th largest out of 169 UK higher education institutions. While it has a modest student body compared to larger universities, Leeds Arts University is known for its specialized focus on arts education.