Leeds International Study Centre — Your Comprehensive Guide to a Guaranteed Russell-Group Degree Pathway
1. Why Choose Leeds ISC?
The Leeds International Study Centre (Leeds ISC) is the exclusive on-campus pathway provider for the University of Leeds, operated by global education specialist Study Group. The University—one of the UK’s 24 Russell Group institutions—holds QS World University Rank #82 (2025) and #23 nationally (Complete University Guide 2025). Students who meet the required grades on their ISC programme are guaranteed progression straight into their chosen Leeds degree.
2. Leeds: A High-Quality, Cost-Friendly Student City
- Living-cost advantage – UKVI sets the monthly maintenance figure for visa purposes at £1,136 outside London versus £1,483 inside London (-23 %).
- Real-world prices – independent cost trackers show everyday spending in Leeds is ~17 % lower than London, while rent can be more than 40 % cheaper for comparable student rooms.
- Student-approved – with 60,000+ students, Leeds was voted StudentCrowd “Best UK Student City 2024” for affordability, culture, nightlife and transport.
- Career gateway – Leeds is the UK’s second-largest legal and financial hub outside London, hosting firms such as PwC, Deloitte, Channel 4 and Sky Bet, plus rapid train links (≈2 h) to the capital.
3. Pathway Portfolio, Tuition & Progression Routes
| Programme | Subject Route(s) | Duration | Tuition 2025/26* | Main Intakes | Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Foundation Year | Business, Law & Social Studies – £22,900Science, Engineering & Computing – £23,500 | 2 semesters (≈9 months) | see left | Sept / Nov (+Enhanced Induction) / Jan | Year 1 UG |
| International Year One | Biological Sciences – £27,500Business Management – £25,250Business Management w/ Marketing – £25,250Civil Engineering – £27,500International Relations – £24,250 | 2 semesters | see left | Sept (all)+ Nov / Jan (BioSci & IR only) | Year 2 UG |
| Pre-Masters Programme | Business | 2 semesters | £27,250 | Jan | Master’s |
*Official fee list: Leeds ISC Fees.
How the Progression Guarantee Works
- Receive a single joint offer for Leeds ISC + University of Leeds.
- Pass all ISC modules (subject & Academic English) at the agreed grades.
- Skip UCAS—progress automatically to the degree year shown above.
4. Programme Deep-Dive
4.1 International Foundation Year (IFY)
Who it’s for
High-school graduates who need an academic bridge to UK Year 1.
Pathway choices & sample modules
Business, Law & Social Studies – Economics, Globalisation, UK Legal Framework, Quantitative Methods.
Science, Engineering & Computing – Physics, Applied Maths, Programming, Lab Techniques.
Enhanced Induction (Nov) – arrive three weeks early for workshops on critical thinking, digital skills, and UK classroom culture before Semester 1 begins in January.
4.2 International Year One (IY1)
Who it’s for
Students with A-level-equivalent study who want a supported first-year experience but still enter Year 2 of the Leeds degree.
Route highlights
Business Management – Financial & Management Accounting, Organisational Behaviour, Entrepreneurship.
Civil Engineering – Statics, Fluid Mechanics, CAD training, Project Design.
International Relations – World Politics, Security Studies, Comparative Government.
Subject availability by intake is defined on each course page—e.g. Business routes start September only; Bio Sciences & IR also run in January and November.
4.3 Pre-Masters Programme (PMP)
Who it’s for
Bachelor’s graduates aiming for Leeds Business School’s MSc, MA or MBA pathways but needing to strengthen research methods, academic writing and subject depth.
Key components
Advanced Strategy, Data Analytics, Quantitative Techniques, Research Methods, plus a capstone ‘mini-dissertation’ to simulate master’s assessment.
Students finish in July and enter their business master’s in September—saving almost a full year compared with taking an extra home-country pre-MBA.
5. Entry Requirements in Detail
| Pathway | Academic Profile | English (UKVI IELTS / SELT) | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFY | 11–12 yrs schooling, min GPA ≈ 60 % | 5.0 overall / 5.0 writ. | 17 + |
| IY1 | A-levels / IB 24+ / Year 13 diploma GPA ≈ 65 % | 5.5 overall / 5.5 writ. | 18 + |
| PMP | Recognised bachelor’s (2.2 UK equiv.) | 5.5 overall / 5.5 each | 20 + |
Missing the score? Six-, ten- or sixteen-week Online English Language Preparation (£2,100 – £5,600) raises IELTS by up to 1.0 band.
6. Academic Calendar & Study Timeline
| 2025/26 Intake | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Degree Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2025 | 21 Sep – 11 Dec 2025 | 4 Jan – 21 May 2026 | Sept 2026 |
| Nov 2025 ↑ | 23 Nov 2025 – 26 Mar 2026 | 19 Apr – 23 Jul 2026 | Sept 2026 |
| Jan 2026 | 4 Jan – 26 Mar 2026 | 19 Apr – 23 Jul 2026 | Sept 2026 |
↑ Includes the 3-week Enhanced Induction.
7. Cost-of-Living Breakdown: Leeds vs London
| Monthly Budget Item | Leeds | London |
|---|---|---|
| Student Halls (avg.) | £500–£700 | £900–£1,200 |
| Groceries | £200–£250 | £300–£350 |
| Public Transport | £40 | £90 |
| Leisure & Personal | £100–£200 | £200–£300 |
| UKVI Figure | £1,136 | £1,483 |
Studying in Leeds can trim £3,000–£5,000 per academic year—money you can channel into travel, internships, or post-study work plans.
8. Where You’ll Live
Leeds ISC secures dedicated rooms at Brotherton House—five minutes’ walk from the City Campus teaching hub:
- Inclusive bills, 100 Mb/s Wi-Fi, in-house gym & spa, cinema, karaoke, bowling lane
- Weekly cleaning & linen change
- 24/7 concierge & CCTV
- Rents (2025/26): En-suite from £185/wk; premium studios up to £300/wk
- Flexible 44- or 51-week contracts so you can stay over summer or travel
Prefer private housing? Student Services provide vetted landlord lists, budgeting tips and tenancy-agreement checks before you sign.
9. Support Beyond the Classroom
- Academic Advisors – monitor progress, set action plans, offer 1-to-1 tutorials.
- CareerAhead © – skills framework mapping your CV to employer expectations; includes mock interviews & LinkedIn workshops.
- Welfare & Well-being – 24-hour helpline, mental-health counsellors, on-site medical centre, multi-faith prayer space.
- Learning Resource Centre – extended-hour library, Bloomberg terminals, MATLAB & CAD labs (for engineering tracks).
- City-Campus Advantage – classrooms 5 min from Leeds’ shopping quarter and 10 min walk to the main University of Leeds library and labs.
Leeds ISC’s student-first approach results in high progression success: 90 % Foundation and 100 % Business IY1 students advanced in 2024.
10. Application, Fees & Visa – Step-by-Step
| Stage | Action | Typical Timing |
|---|---|---|
| ① Online Application | Submit on the Apply page or via your agent; upload transcripts & IELTS. | 6–12 months pre-start |
| ② Conditional Offer | Admissions checks your documents; missing items can be added later. | < 7 days |
| ③ Accept & Secure Seat | Pay £1,260 ( £1,000 deposit + £260 admin ) → deducted from tuition. | Within 30 days of offer |
| ④ Tuition Instalment | Pay £6,000 toward first-semester fees to trigger CAS drafting. | 3–4 months pre-start |
| ⑤ Pre-CAS Interview | 20-min credibility chat (Skype/Zoom) to confirm study goals. | 10–12 weeks pre-start |
| ⑥ CAS Issued | Receive unique CAS number for visa application. | 8–10 weeks pre-start |
| ⑦ UK Student Visa | Apply online, submit biometrics, pay IHS & visa fee. | 6–8 weeks pre-start |
| ⑧ Book Housing & Flights | Finalise Brotherton House or private contract; reserve airport pick-up. | 4–6 weeks pre-start |
| ⑨ Arrive & Welcome Week | Enrol, collect BRP, open bank account, join city tour. | 0–1 week pre-class |
Full payment plan & refund policy: Leeds ISC Fees.
11. Next Steps
Leeds ISC’s September and Enhanced-Induction November cohorts reach capacity well in advance. To secure your place:
▶ Apply Now to Leeds ISC – it takes about 15 minutes.