Student life

We have a vibrant student community and you can get involved in a range of activities, societies and other social opportunities, both within the School and across the University.

Trips

If you are new to Leeds, Leeds University Union organises trips to visitor attractions across Yorkshire and the UK. Many of our courses organise trips to introduce you to the wealth of museums and galleries in our region too.

School community

The staff/student forum meets throughout the year and is made up of student representatives from each course with the aim of influencing decisions made in the School.

Interconnections

Interconnections is exclusively for postgraduates in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures and aims to create spaces where you can meet, relax and develop friendships across different disciplines through a series of social and cultural events.

School events and socials

Events including conferences, workshops and symposia, regular research seminars and salons offer a chance to discover the wider research culture within the School.

MA Fine Art students open their studios to the School and external audiences at various points of the year, offering an insight into their ongoing work in progress and opportunities for discussion.

Social events are often organised by our students for all our students and these include games nights, film screenings and a summer ball.

Visiting Artists Talks

Visiting Artists Talks (VAT) take place every Monday during term time and are open for all to attend. The talks are an integral part of the MA Fine Art teaching and an excellent opportunity to engage with national and international contemporary artists, art writers and curators.

Heritage Show + Tell

Heritage Show + Tell is a networking event organised by the Centre for Critical Studies in Museums, Galleries and Heritage.

You’re encouraged to join this event, which includes community heritage groups, freelancers, museum professionals, archivists, students and academics. Many of our postgraduate students have taken part by talking about heritage in just three minutes, covering topics such as curated exhibitions and art practice.

Leeds art community

Studying and living in Leeds means that you will have access to the vibrant arts culture of our city. Many of our students are at the centre of local art collectives and organise events which anyone can join.

You could get involved with the flourishing DIY art scene local to the University or take part in the Leeds Art Walk (organised by Pavilion), which guides participants round exhibitions across the city.

There are also lots of opportunities for Fine Art students to organise exhibitions at artist-led spaces around the city.

Several of our students were involved in Yorkshire Sculpture International 2019 - the UK’s largest dedicated sculpture festival - to gain valuable work experience.

Societies and clubs

Leeds University Union has over 300 activities to choose from, including a wide range of student societies, clubs and regular events, including sports societies, volunteering groups, political and religious societies, amongst others.

Our learning culture

Our Masters courses are very distinctive and appeal to students with a wide range of interests, backgrounds and objectives. However, the School has a long history of encouraging collaborative working between the courses and this is demonstrated in a number of key elements to all our Masters degrees.

MA symposium

The annual MA Symposium is an in-house conference for students and academic staff with interdisciplinary panels at which Masters students present their initial dissertation project ideas.

The Symposium is an opportunity for rich and inspiring exchanges across the School’s postgraduate courses and is one of the highlights of the year.

Lifelong Learning Centre

The Lifelong Learning Centre provides support for mature and part-time learners across the University, including advice on how to apply to university and support throughout your studies.