Leeds University - Student Life

Housing: Most first years in halls. Plenty of private accommodation (average rents £55 pw), mostly in Headingley and Hyde Park; check out Unipol (www.unipol.leeds.ac.uk).

Eats: LUU for daytime eating. At night, it's good to get out: major chains; plenty of small cafes and restaurants for all tastes in city centre and Headingley.

Drink: LUU bars serve cheap drinks. Huge variety of bars in Leeds. Also the famous Otley Run.

Nightlife: LUU nightclub, hosts variety of exciting gigs (Keane, Maroon 5, Joss Stone). City has endless clubs and bars; art house cinemas, bowling alleys, lots of venues; West Yorkshire Playhouse and lots more.

Locals: Quite friendly relationship; couple of city pubs to avoid.

Sports: Loads of clubs, well-equipped sports centre on campus; international swimming pool in city centre.

Financial help: Available from welfare service.

Jobs: Jobshop on campus.

Best features: Student-friendly city, large numbers of students (10% of the population).

And the worst: One-way system with university in the middle of it (it makes buses look very, very attractive).

More info: See www.LUUonline.com

Past students: Mark Thomas (comedian), Judy Dench (actress), Nick Witchel (BBC News), Jack Straw MP, Claire Short MP, Marc Almond, Andy and Liz Kershaw (BBC Radio), most of the people from the League of Gentlemen, Alan Yentob (BBC supremo), Mark Byford (another BBC supremo), Alistair McGowan (BBC TV), John Godber (playwright), Sir Phillip Watts (Shell), Dr Shuhei Toyoda (developed the Toyota Yaris), Sir Duncan Michael (built the Sydney Opera House), Kimberley Jane Walsh (Girls Aloud).