University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a UK public research university founded in 1921, serving over 20,000 students across 150+ countries through undergraduate, postgraduate, and apprenticeship programmes, and operating major research facilities including the £100m Space Park Leicester for space, AI, and MedTech innovation.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1921
- HeadquartersLeicester, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What University of Leicester does
The University of Leicester is a public research university founded in 1921 as a living war memorial and based at University Road, Leicester, England. It operates as a higher education corporation under UK royal charter, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, research, and apprenticeship programmes across space science, health and medicine, archaeology, AI/machine learning, earth observation, and the humanities. The university serves approximately 1001-5000 staff and a global community of 200,000+ alumni across 150+ countries, with named customer relationships spanning NHS trusts, the UK Space Agency, NIHR, the European Space Agency, Bahrain Space Agency, Apollo Hospitals (India), TWI Ltd, Barclays Eagle Labs, and various government bodies.
Its core technology portfolio centres on a £100m Space Park Leicester facility housing co-working, labs, and research centres for space, AI, defence, and MedTech tenants, supplemented by Core Biotechnology Services, Advanced Microscopy (Hercules Facility), and Archaeological Services. Proprietary research outputs include ISPARK (an autonomous robotic welding system for in-orbit satellite repair developed with TWI Ltd), machine-learning-based quasi-atoms simulation methods delivering 150x computational speedup, AI-enabled cardiovascular diagnostics deployed in India, and clinical-stage work on menin inhibitors for obesity treatment.
Revenue is generated through four primary streams: tuition fees (undergraduate, postgraduate, international, distance learning, and apprenticeship), competitive research grants and contracts from bodies such as UKRI, NIHR, UK Space Agency, and the EU, philanthropy (anchored by the £100m 2121: Founders of the Future campaign), and enterprise services including Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, professional development courses such as Help to Grow: Management, and facility hire via Space Park Leicester. Pricing is structured around UK government fee caps for domestic students, market-rate international fees, government apprenticeship levy mechanisms, and co-investment models for KTP and innovation programmes.
University of Leicester firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- University of Leicester
- Legal name
- University of Leicester
- Website
- https://le.ac.uk
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1921
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- The University of Leicester is a UK public research university founded in 1921, serving over 20,000 students across 150+ countries through undergraduate, postgraduate, and apprenticeship programmes, and operating major research facilities including the £100m Space Park Leicester for space, AI, and MedTech innovation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
University of Leicester industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)
Keywords
Where University of Leicester is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leicester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
University of Leicester business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition fees: Fee income from undergraduate, postgraduate, and international students across various degree programs including classroom-based, distance learning, and apprenticeship formats.
- Research grants and contracts: Funding from UK Research Councils (MRC, BBSRC, STFC), UK Space Agency, NIHR, EU Horizon programs, and international partners for specific research projects and facilities.
- Philanthropy and donations: Philanthropic contributions, alumni donations, and the 2121 campaign targeting £100m for research across People, Planet, Health, and Culture themes. Between 2023-2025, £33m received from 3,307 donors.
- Enterprise and commercial services: Revenue from Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, professional development courses, apprenticeships, continuing education, Space Park Leicester operations, and equipment/facility rental to businesses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Apprenticeship funding for levy-paying employers |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Apprenticeship funding for non-levy employers |
| Other | Annual | Knowledge Transfer Partnership funding |
| Hybrid | Multi-year contract | Help to Grow Management course |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
University of Leicester product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The University of Leicester is a public research university delivering undergraduate, postgraduate, research, and distance-learning degree programmes to domestic and international students, alongside degree apprenticeships, professional development courses, and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships for businesses. It operates Space Park Leicester, a £100m space research and innovation facility, and conducts research and commercial services in health, space, biotechnology, advanced microscopy, and archaeology.
Product overview
University of Leicester is a leading UK higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programmes including undergraduate degrees, postgraduate qualifications, distance learning, and degree apprenticeships. The university operates Space Park Leicester, a £100m space research and innovation hub, and conducts significant health research programmes including the CARDIO-India cardiovascular programme. Key research facilities include Core Biotechnology Services, Advanced Microscopy, and Archaeological Services. The institution provides business services through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and professional development programmes including Help to Grow: Management. Through its Institute for Space and various research centres, the university develops advanced technologies including ISPARK robotic welding systems for space applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Space Park Leicester: £100m space research, innovation and teaching hub operated by the university
- Attenborough Arts Centre
- 2121: Founders of the Future
- Citizens of Change
- Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)
- Core Biotechnology Services
Products and services
- Undergraduate Degrees
- Postgraduate Degrees
- Distance Learning Programmes
- Degree Apprenticeships
- Professional Development and Short Courses
- Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)
- Space Park Leicester
- Core Biotechnology Services
- Advanced Microscopy and Hercules Facility
- University of Leicester Archaeological Services
- Attenborough Arts Centre
- Centre for International Training and Education (CITE)
Quantifiable outcome
- Top 30 UK university ranking (REF 2021)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use University of Leicester
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
University of Leicester technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability10 records
Feature8 records
University of Leicester partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Barclays Eagle LabsminorBusiness support, growth programmes and events for space and defence organisations at Space Park Leicester. Ecosystem Manager will visit regularly and co-host events.
- Arts Council EnglandcoreStrategic partnership discussions on sector leadership in arts, culture, and heritage. Arts Council England funding supports Attenborough Arts Centre's role in research, education, public engagement, and policymaking programmes.
- Jones ConsultingminorCoaching consultancy joins Space Park Leicester providing professional development workshops for doctoral students and supporting Women Leading in Space & STEM development programme.
- Chinese Academy of SciencescoreJoint ESA-China SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) mission - first time ESA and Chinese Academy of Sciences jointly designed, implemented, launched and operated a space project together.
- University of GondarcoreRenewed landmark partnership building on nearly three decades of collaboration in health and education research.
- University of GhanacoreMoU formalising existing relationship supporting collaborative working in criminology, sociology, law and health. Signed at University of Ghana campus in Accra.
- Smithsonian InstitutioncoreRenewed longstanding partnership supporting digital transformations and research collaborations in institutions and across the cultural sector. Partnership signed in New York during US philanthropy campaign launch.
- Harvard University and MITcoreBuilding upon existing academic and research connections with Harvard and MIT during US visit. Paving the way to becoming academic partner of the UN.
- Centre for Chronic Disease Control (India)coreCARDIO-India £5m five-year research project targeting cardiovascular disease among 2,000 adults aged 60+ across 10 states in India. Funded by NIHR, co-designed with mobile health units and AI-enabled diagnostics.
- HelpAge IndiacorePartner in CARDIO-India programme providing access to Mobile Health Unit network and patient population for cardiovascular disease research in India.
- European Space AgencycorePartnership on ESA SMILE mission and methane detection case study at Las Dehesas landfill in Madrid. ESA Sentinel-5P mission data combined with GHGSat high-resolution satellite sensors for emissions monitoring.
- TWI Ltdcore£560,000 funding secured to develop ISPARK (Intelligence Space Arc-welding Robotic Kit) - autonomous robotic welding system for in-orbit satellite repair and manufacturing. Project combines Leicester's AI-powered robotics and space engineering with TWI's welding and materials joining technology.
- Loughborough University and De Montfort UniversityminorCollaboratory Research Hub launching to support local residents in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland through funded research opportunities addressing social and environmental issues.
- The Apollo University and Apollo HospitalscorePartnership to establish the Centre for Digital Health and Precision Medicine at The Apollo University campus in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India. The center focuses on cardiovascular diseases, acute and emergency medicine, and multi-morbidity conditions. Includes collaborative undergraduate and postgraduate programs starting September 2025, with students completing studies across both institutions.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
University of Leicester competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- University of Nottingham: Russell Group Midlands university with overlapping research strengths in space, health sciences, and international partnerships - a stronger research competitor but highly comparable in scope.
- University of Surrey: UK research university with the Surrey Space Centre, overlapping directly with Leicester's space research profile and competing for the same UK Space Agency grants.
- De Montfort University: Local Leicester peer with explicit Collaboratory Research Hub partnership, comparable size, and overlapping apprenticeship and health research portfolios in the East Midlands.
- University of Bath: Mid-sized UK research university with similar TEF Gold rating, strong postgraduate and professional development offerings, and similar mid-tier Russell-adjacent positioning.
- Northumbria University: UK post-1992 research university that has scaled rapidly into research excellence, similar in size, international student strategy, and TEF Gold positioning.
- University of Warwick: Major UK public research university in the Midlands with comparable size, REF ranking, and strong focus on interdisciplinary research, health, and engineering - the closest direct peer by scale and geography.
- University of Hertfordshire: Similar-sized UK modern research university with comparable international student recruitment scale and postgraduate/apprenticeship offerings, competing for the same international markets.
- Loughborough University: Local East Midlands research university with similar size and TEF Gold rating, comparable postgraduate and apprenticeship portfolios, and explicit Collaboratory Research Hub partnership with Leicester.
Broad incumbents
- Manchester Metropolitan University: Large UK modern university with comparable health research, apprenticeship scale, and international student reach, representing a broader incumbent in the same mid-tier UK university segment.
- The Open University: Larger UK institution dominating distance learning and part-time higher education, overlapping with Leicester's distance learning, apprenticeship, and flexible learning portfolios.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
University of Leicester social profiles
Digital presenceUniversity of Leicester financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
University of Leicester leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
University of Leicester subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
University of Leicester funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
University of Leicester M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about University of Leicester
What does University of Leicester do?
The University of Leicester is a public research university delivering undergraduate, postgraduate, research, and distance-learning degree programmes to domestic and international students, alongside degree apprenticeships, professional development courses, and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships for businesses. It operates Space Park Leicester, a £100m space research and innovation facility, and conducts research and commercial services in health, space, biotechnology, advanced microscopy, and archaeology.
Is University of Leicester a public or private company?
University of Leicester is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was University of Leicester founded?
University of Leicester was founded in 1921. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is University of Leicester based?
University of Leicester is headquartered in Leicester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does University of Leicester make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition fees are the primary driver. The others are research grants and contracts, philanthropy and donations and enterprise and commercial services.
Who are University of Leicester's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are University of Nottingham, University of Surrey, De Montfort University, University of Bath, Northumbria University, University of Warwick, University of Hertfordshire and Loughborough University. Broad incumbents are Manchester Metropolitan University and The Open University.
Does University of Leicester have an API?
No public API is recorded for University of Leicester.
What industry is University of Leicester in?
University of Leicester's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAF, Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools. Its NAICS code is 611310 and its SIC code is 8200.