Leeds Arts University is a specialist arts further and higher education institution, based in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, with a main campus opposite the University of Leeds.
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History
It was founded in 1846 as the Leeds School of Art. From 1968 to 1993 it was known as Jacob Kramer College, after Jacob Kramer, having lost part of its provision to Leeds Polytechnic (the future Leeds Beckett University). It was known as Leeds College of Art and Design until 2009, and then as Leeds College of Art. In August 2017, the school was granted university status and the name was changed to Leeds Arts University.
Skin, DJ, fashion icon, actress, activist and lead singer of Skunk Anansie, was appointed as the university's chancellor in 2021.
Locations
The University today has city centre sites at Blenheim Walk and at Vernon Street.
Academic profile
Further education courses
Extended Diploma in Creative Practice
Foundation Diploma in Art & Design - one of the largest in the country, with 280 students validated by the University of the Arts London
Undergraduate courses
BA (Hons) Acting For Screen
BA (Hons) Animation
BA (Hons) Comic & Concept Art
BA (Hons) Creative Advertising
BA (Hons) Creative Writing
BA (Hons) Fashion Branding with Communication
BA (Hons) Fashion Design
BA (Hons) Fashion Photography
BA (Hons) Filmmaking
BA (Hons) Fine Art
BA (Hons) Graphic Design
BA (Hons) Illustration
BA (Hons) Photography
BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance
BA (Hons) Textile Design
BA (Hons) Visual Communication
Postgraduate courses
MA Animation
MA Creative Practice
MA Fine Art
MA Graphic Design
MA Illustration and Graphic Novel
MA Photography
Student body
Like many of the 'traditional' British art schools, it has a modest annual intake, at 2,145 higher education students in 2024/25. Out of 169 UK higher education institutions, it is the 146th largest.