Students in the community

University of Leeds’ students are a great asset to the city. Their knowledge, skills and ideas contribute to making Leeds the vibrant, culturally rich and innovative city it is today.

During their time in Leeds, we encourage students to think beyond their studies and to become responsible citizens who positively contribute to the communities where they live and work. This means everything from organising and taking part in events, to being responsible neighbours or volunteering for local organisations.

Though the vast majority of our students add value to their local communities, we recognise that sometimes there can also be negative impacts associated with young students, who are often new to independent living. Some of the local challenges we face involve noise, waste and parking.

The role of the Sustainability Service is to engage with our neighbouring communities, help our students to integrate and foster positive behaviour. Where necessary we will also address the potential negative effects on the wider community.

To stay up to date on our latest community news and initiatives or to find out more information, sign up to our Community Newsletter or contact Amanda Jackson.

Our Student Citizenship Programme has been developed to engage and support our students and make sure their time in Leeds is positive for both them and their communities.

Student engagement initiatives take place over the academic year in response to ongoing, as well as emerging, student and community needs. We work with a number of strategic partners, including Leeds University Union, Leeds City Council, Leeds Beckett University, Police and community representatives.

The Students and their Community report sets out the University’s unique approach to engaging our students as responsible and active citizens. This includes our procedures with handling any issues and complaints registered from the local community, involving our students.

If you need to report negative student behaviour, please get in touch through our Neighbourhood Helpline or read our Neighbourhood Helpline FAQs.

If you’re a student looking for information about your new accommodation or community, check out our guide to making the most of your time in Leeds.