An American Studying in Leeds

Ian is an American student in his second year of the BA (Hons) Filmmaking program at Leeds Beckett University in Leeds, England. As the third-largest city in the UK, Leeds is home to 70,000 students and three universities! It’s also known as the ‘financial capitol of the North’ and is an affordable yet cosmopolitan English city only 2.5 hours from London!

Ian is originally from California and was living in San Francisco before moving to the UK to study. We asked him 10 questions about what it’s like being a US student in Leeds.

What made you want to study in the UK?

To be honest, I had never really thought about it before, but I knew I wanted to be in another country. I wanted to travel around Europe due to its proximity to the UK – Covid soon put a stop to that, but I could still explore Leeds and the surrounding areas.

University tuition is much more affordable in the UK than in the US, and everyone speaks English of course, so there isn’t a language barrier – but you’re still able to gain a different cultural experience. The free healthcare through the NHS is also a huge bonus!

What do you like about the city of Leeds?

Leeds has some beautiful architecture, both old and new – and the university campuses really show that. Headingley Campus has beautiful old architecture and a lush campus surrounded by trees, whereas the City Campus is in practically in the middle of the city centre and has some brand-new modern buildings.

Leeds itself has so many things to do. I love going for a walk along the canal, checking out the culture and arts scene, and visiting all the shops. No matter what your interests are, there’s always so much to do in Leeds – and you can discover the city online to see what the experience will be like before you get here.

For my filmmaking degree, it was because the Northern Film School is based in Leeds. The school is industry leading with lots of top professors, plus the brand new £85 million Leeds School of Arts building with a built-in cinema is amazing!

All courses are practical based, so I have unlimited access to software such as the Adobe Creative Suite, which usually costs a lot. Your classes are pre-selected too, which is totally different to the competition to secure a place in classes at universities in the States. It’s good to know that you are guaranteed those classes and it takes a lot of the pressure off! I could even try out specialisms in Year 1 and now focus on those in Year 2.

How are you finding your time in Leeds so far?

I’ll admit that arriving during a pandemic was tough. I would say I’m not as outspoken in a Zoom class as I would be in-person. I couldn’t meet my peers because I was studying online and when I arrived in Leeds, so lots of my classmates already knew each other. However, it surprised me just how nice they all were! I was slightly worried because I’m 26 and my peers are 18 but I get along with them well.

During the pandemic I started jogging, even when it was snowing, so that’s certainly a positive! Now that things have opened again here in the UK, I’ve been able to see more and there are more part-time jobs available. I work in a café and as a global ambassador for the university, which is really nice as I get to speak to lots of different people.

What were the most surprising things about Leeds?

Considering Leeds is one of the UK’s largest cities, the city centre is really compact, especially compared to US cities – so it’s surprisingly walkable. You don’t need to drive, and there is plenty of public transport.

You’re so close to nature as well as the city. I’m still wrapping my head around how green it all is! Even the trees at home in California are brown! That’s the best part of living in a city surrounded by countryside – it’s a nice mix between the two.

I also couldn’t believe that even though the UK is such a small country, there are so many different dialects from one region to the next. I’m still trying to learn the Yorkshire accent and sayings!

What do you enjoy doing outside of your studies?

I’m pretty boring so I don’t go clubbing but I can appreciate how many clubs and events there are for students. Personally, I love brunch. There are so many options in Leeds for breakfast and coffee.

I love bouldering, which I thought was quite a niche hobby, but I was pleasantly surprised to see there are so many facilities. And if you want a bit of retail therapy then there is the Corn Exchange, where there are some small, independent shops.

My course has a secret cinema club where we have cinema showings every week and that’s built into the program. You will find a lot of courses have that. I’m really looking forward to doing that in-person now that things have opened up.

I didn’t join any societies because I wanted to make sure I was able to balance my course work with the social side of things, but there are so many available to join through the Leeds Beckett Students’ Union.

What are some differences between the UK and the US?

I would say there are huge cultural differences, mainly around the way people behave. In America, you don’t really hang out outside much, even if it’s sunny, but people always sit outside here when they’re eating or drinking – even when it’s cold! It’s very social. You even talk to people that you don’t know which is very different. I was sat at a table one time and someone asked me “Oh, what are you reading?” I was walking down the street when someone asked me “Are you alright?”- I wondered if there was something wrong with me or if I looked sick, but I soon realised they are just so friendly here and it’s simply a way of saying hello in the UK. I’m still getting used to it!

What words of advice would you give to Americans looking to study in the UK?

Do your research! As with any big leap, there will always be lots of surprises and just try to be prepared as much as you can. I would just say keep your mind open to the adventure. Some things will go right, and some things will go wrong – if you’re open to new experiences and challenges, you will have a great time.

Many new students ask about where to live and how to find housing. What would you recommend?

I would recommend living on campus if you can because it’s so convenient! The biggest issue with going for private housing is that landlords here will want you to pay a big chunk of rent up front, and that’s because overseas students don’t have a UK guarantor. Living on campus in university-managed housing solves that issue, and rent can be paid in instalments. Leeds Beckett has some fantastic university accommodation options, which you can check out on their website.

Rent is so much cheaper in Leeds than in San Francisco. I was paying $1,500 per month in San Francisco for a 200 sq ft studio. If I wanted a big, modern studio flat in Leeds then I would pay something like £675 per month, which is so affordable in comparison. And you could still get great housing for much cheaper than that!

Do you think Leeds is an affordable place to live?

In my opinion, absolutely! Leeds is so cheap to live compared to what I’ve experienced and compared to other cities in the UK. Free healthcare is also astonishing as an American!

I couldn’t believe how cheap groceries and beer are. The fact that I can buy a loaf of bread for a few pence is staggering. Even eggs would be at least $12 in America but they’re £1.95 here. I’ll leave you with a small tip: if you are trying to find eggs in the grocery store, I would recommend looking next to the bread and not in the refrigerated section!

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Thank you to Ian for contributing to this blog about the student experience in the UK. If you are interested in learning more about Leeds Beckett University, please visit  www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/international.

You can also read student blogs from other international students in Leeds here: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/blogs/student-blog-squad/