The best places to study on the University of Leeds campus

Jessica George on 2 November 2022

Are you struggling with productivity? I personally find that I can accomplish more when I am studying on campus, away from all the distractions at home. Finding a place to study on a campus as big as the University of Leeds can be difficult, but here are my five favourite places to study on campus:

1. Common Ground

 This is a great place to study in the student union. It has drinks and snacks available as well as charging ports with cute, cosy seating! I also like that it is close enough to the hustle and bustle of the Leeds University Union, whilst far enough away that the noise does not become a distraction when studying. This the ideal place to go if you fancy quiet but not silent studying.


2. Edward Boyle Library

The best thing about the Edward Boyle Library is the huge amount of seating it has inside. Studying  in ‘Eddy B’ means that you can choose from a wide range of study space options, from single desk spaces to comfy chairs, to group spaces. You are also surrounded by an extensive amount of library resources, ‘Eddy B’ is filled with books, computers and printers, so you have everything you need to study successfully.

3. The Edit Room 

Attached to the Edward Boyle Library, the Edit Room is a lovely café that is the perfect spot to get some work done while grabbing a bite to eat. Located on the ground floor of the Edward Boyle Library, this is a central and accessible space that benefits from all the library resources that make Edward Boyle so brilliant. The Edit Room is a livelier and more relaxed environment than being in the library itself.


4. Laidlaw Library

Laidlaw library is a great place to study for all the same reasons as Edward Boyle. It has all the same resources, computers, charging ports, printers, a range of desk spaces and loads of books to choose from. As well as this, Laidlaw Library also has a Café Nero located on the ground floor, so when you need a break from studying you can go downstairs and grab yourself a drink and a snack!

5. Balcony

This is my favourite place to study on campus! On the top floor of the LUU, this study space is the perfect balance of quiet and nosy as it overlooks the  Refectory. Tucked away on the second floor of the LUU, Balcony is the perfect place to hang around campus and study between lectures. It also has charging ports and a cute cafe area where you can grab a drink and some food while you study.

What I wish I had known before Uni

Lottie Passmore on 29 September 2022

As the leaves turn brown and the nights begin to draw in, Leeds once again fills with the buzz of returning students and the prospect of a new term. Navigating university can be daunting, and even going into fourth year, I am still figuring it out! So, whether you’re setting foot in Leeds for the first time or returning, here are some essential pointers I wish I had known earlier. 

1. You don’t have to be best friends with your flatmates

It may be that you walk into your halls kitchen and fall head over heels with every one of them, (in which case, skip to no. 2). However, just because they are the most convenient to hang out with, it’s more important that you just get on enough to share living spaces. You’re more likely to meet people with similar interests on your course, at societies, or at your favourite pub or club. 

2. Don’t sleep with your flatmate/s

Although I didn’t learn this first-hand, I’ve seen the problems it can cause not only for those directly involved, but the whole flat. The likelihood is that it won’t last, you’ll ruin the flat dynamic and it’ll probably end in tears.

 3. Budget! 

I am determined to stick to it this year, fourth time lucky? (I’ve heard) that even writing down everything you spend is a great way to become more aware and supposedly shocks you into cutting down on expenditures. Watch this space. 

4. Invest in a proper water bottle

In first year, my second week of lectures was rudely interrupted by a cheap water bottle leaking in by bag; writing off my laptop. Not only was this tremendously expensive but also seriously inconvenient, just as I was settling in. It also saves you buying single use plastic so often. Economical and environmentally friendly, what’s not to like?

5. Use your Lecturer’s office hours

This one is particularly important if your contact hours are lower than your friend’s doing maths, for example. This year I have four. A week. Yes, I’m shocked too. Speaking one-to-one with your lecturers allows you to ask any additional questions you didn’t think of in the seminar and means you can clear up any concerns about the subject and course at large. 

6. There is more to Leeds than Hyde Park

Whether your halls are on campus or as far out as Clarence Dock, it can be very easy, especially in first year, to limit your sphere to a rotation of halls, Uni, pub, halls, Uni, pub… Whilst Leeds, as a city, has an extensive and exciting cultural scene, from music to museums, a stone’s throw beyond the city centre provides a number of neighbouring towns and villages, perfect for a wholesome day out. Look up Skipton, Harrogate, and Knaresborough, to name just a few!

7. First year probably won’t be the best of your Uni years

There is far too much hype surrounding the First Year, let alone Freshers Week. First Year is particularly overwhelming, and many people don’t meet their best friends until later on in their Uni experience. Remember that everyone is in the same boat so don’t worry if it seems that you’re the only one struggling to stay afloat! 

Safety First: A Guide to Staying Safe During Freshers Week

Hannah Pickett on 29 September 2022

As universities make their big return to campus, there are keen students all around the country preparing themselves for a freshers’ week to remember. Here are five top tips for staying safe during the week: 

1. Buddy up

The phrase strength in numbers couldn’t be more fitting for this first tip. You are most vulnerable when you are alone, so it is important to stay in groups when you are out and try not to let people wander off or go home alone. In a new city and unfamiliar surroundings, it can be really overwhelming for many people, so make sure you’re checking in with your friends or flatmates regularly to see how they’re doing. 

2. Keep your phone charged  

This second tip may seem obvious, but having a fully charged phone when you’re out and about in a new city is a must. Not only will it be able to capture those unforgettable memories, but it can be used to pay for things, communicate with friends, and order Ubers or taxis to help you get home safe. 

3. Be vigilant

One of the most important pieces of advice is to be vigilant when you are out. The majority of people that you will meet are usually there to simply have a good time, but unfortunately, there are some more sinister people out there who have a different take on having a ‘good time’. Spiking continues to be a huge issue at parties and in clubs, so it is important to keep alert to minimise the risk of it happening to you or your friends. You can do this by not accepting drinks from strangers and not leaving any drinks unattended. 

If you do end up in a position where you think yourself or a friend may have been spiked, tell a bar manager or security guard, get to a safe place and if the condition deteriorates, call an ambulance. 

More information and advice on spiking can be found: https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/staying-safe-while-drinking/drink-spiking-and-date-rape-drugs

4. Don’t overshare 

During the week, you will come across a whole host of new people and fresh faces who are all looking to make lots of new friends. When making conversations, it can be easy to overshare personal information very quickly such as where you’re staying, where you come from and your social media platforms, leaving you more vulnerable. With social media being a huge part of people’s lives, it is common to instantly want to add every single person you meet on these platforms, but this isn’t always the wisest thing to do as your social platforms can give off more information than you think. So, hold fire with those friend requests and wait to see who really turn out to be your close friends.

5. Look after yourself 

The final piece of advice for staying safe during freshers’ week is to look after yourself. It can be easy to see the week as the time to go wild, and many people do! But, it is really important to know your limits. The freedom of being a fresher means that it can be easy to feel pressured to do everything and go out every night, but don’t be afraid of saying ‘no’ if you don’t want to. At the end of the day, looking after yourself should be your top priority and you shouldn’t have to give in to the pressure of doing it all in the first week. 

Ultimately, freshers week is a time to really let loose and enjoy the freedom of being away from home. Take the advice as you wish, but by keeping these safety considerations in mind, you are guaranteed to have a great time and to make some unforgettable memories. 

Covid Restrictions Still Encouraged on Campus, but Why?

Ella Jade Hewes on 12 February 2022

(Image credit: Pixabay)

‘Plan B’ covid restrictions were relaxed by the UK Government throughout the country on  Friday the 21st of January 2022. On the same day, ‘Student Communications’ sent an  email to all staff and students at The University of Leeds explaining that from Monday 24th January, covid restrictions on campus were being ‘updated’ to comply with the relaxed national covid guidelines.  

However, on campus staff and students are still expected to wear a face mask, unless  exempt, and to keep a one metre distance from one another indoors. Many students have  been asking why this is still the case if ‘Plan B’ has ended?

It appears the University is basing their guidance on a moral responsibility to ensure collective safety. They suggest  that all current campus restrictions are to make staff and students feel safe and  comfortable, as the pandemic has caused ripples of anxiety and dismay globally. A level of respect for one another is automatically expressed if face masks are worn, something the  student communications team strongly advocates in their email. Furthermore, situational  factors and disabilities are not always visible or discussed. To wear a face mask is for the safety of the collective and not just for the individual.  

Despite this, the relaxation of national restrictions means it has become a personal choice  to follow campus guidelines. Student communications expressed that there are no  academic repercussions if compliance is denied by an individual.  

Therefore, the encouraged rules on campus show that the University of Leeds is asking for  staff and students to be considerate of one another. Signage has been erected all over  campus as a gentle reminder but not as an enforcement. 

Visual encouragements such as signage, raise potent questions regarding the future on  campus. Such implementations have not been given a time limit, so speculation amongst  students has begun with reference to the return back to campus normality.  

This of course raises the question, how much longer will covid be affecting our lives at university? Some students believe it will be until the end of semester two, others believe this may go on for years. A strict time frame  cannot be given to a pandemic and its restrictions.  

Updates are to be closely monitored from the student communications team.