- Overview
- Location and Housing
- Academics
- Pricing and Dates
- Program Staff
- Application Instructions
- Additional Information
Established in 1904, the University of Leeds is among the top ten universities for research in the United Kingdom and is internationally acknowledged as a center of excellence in a wide range of academic and professional disciplines. This exchange program is College of Engineering (ENGR) specific, meaning only undergraduate ENGR students may participate. Leeds and Pitt are members of Global E3, an exchange consortium of over 60 Engineering Schools from around the world. This consortium is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
You must apply to both the Swanson School of Engineering Global Experiences and Engagement Office (link on this page) and to the Global E3 consortium (link on Global E3 page). Prior to application, please review the Global E3 Leeds page and the University of Leeds exchange website for application instructions, deadlines, course descriptions, academic calendar, etc. To complete your application, you will need to meet with the program manager. Make an appointment with Alicia here. In the past, application deadlines have been early September for spring semester programs and early March for fall semester programs.
Leeds accepts students for Fall, Spring or Academic Year.
Typically, semesters are:
- Fall: mid-September to mid-January
- Spring: mid-January to mid-June
As an active and engaged participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to develop:
- the ability to succeed independently in a foreign education environment.
- non-US based perspectives on your field of study and/or future career path.
- a global network of peers in similar fields of study and connections with faculty in the United Kingdom
Office Responsible for International Exchange Students
Study Abroad Office | studyabroad@leeds.ac.uk
Leeds is a city of culture in a multicultural society. Once you have admired the elegant architecture of the shopping arcades, find out what's showing in the city's theatres, museums, and cinemas. ‘Opera North’, the ‘Northern Ballet Theatre’ and the ‘West Yorkshire Playhouse’ ensure a stunning line-up of entertainment each year (with affordable student tickets available for most performances.)
World cuisine is well represented in Leeds. From traditional English pub fare to funky noodle bars and stylish Indian restaurants, there’s something for every budget and palate. With Leeds' sophisticated clubs and bars, alongside annual jazz, pop and film festivals, you won’t be in bed early! The nightlife in Leeds calls out to students everywhere. Live bands and DJs play most weekends in the city, and the club scene is one of the best in the United Kingdom. Even the University Union has its own club and concert halls to attract top UK groups.
Leeds is located in West Yorkshire, England. It has become the largest legal and financial center outside of London and the UK's third-largest manufacturing center.
University residences are guaranteed to all exchange students who apply for accommodation online before the following deadlines:
- September Arrival: July 1st
- January Arrival: December 1st
Please check the Leeds' link on the Global E3 website for more information:
Requirements:
- SSoE student in good standing
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Sophomore standing or higher
Use the links below to see if the specific departments offer the types of courses you would like to take while studying abroad. We suggest you review courses available with your academic advisor prior to applying to the program.
Academic Departments:
Visit the University's website to learn more about course offerings and check the GE3 website for general course information. The following Academic Areas are available:
- Civil Engineering
- Computing Engineering
- Electronic and Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering (including Biomedical Engineering)
- Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering
Of note:
- All courses must be approved by the Faculty Director of your department in the Swanson School of Engineering. A course approval form must be completed and submitted to SSoE’s Engineering International Initiatives Office.
- Additionally, for the purpose of full-time status here at Pitt, students should be prepared to take what is equivalent to at least 12 Pitt credit hours.
- Courses taken at Leeds will be treated as transfer credits and will be marked as pass/fail (S/NC) on a Pitt student's transcript. In other words, transfer credits will not affect your Pitt GPA. However, students must receive a C grade or higher in order for the credits to transfer. Actual grades earned will appear on the transcript from the exchange university.
- Language Requirements: Non-native English speakers may be required to show evidence of English proficiency.
Grading Scale:
For information about the grading scale at Leeds, please review the website.
Transcripts: Please request that your university send a hardcopy to the Engineering International Initiatives Office. Make sure that you follow their instructions on how to ensure that an official copy of your grades are received. Hardcopies should be sent the following address: International Engineering Initiatives, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 152 Benedum Hall, 3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Exchange university transcripts typically do not arrive from the exchange university until 3 to 4 months after the end of exchange period. Therefore, Pitt students should be mindful of how this may affect their ability to graduate, especially when exchanging during one's senior year. Another consideration is how this may affect your financial aid package, as the S/NC grades are not posted until transcripts are received.
Pitt students participating on an exchange program will pay regular Pitt tuition and fees, according to their in-state or out-of-state residency status. In addition to the Study Abroad Administrative Fee, this also includes all Mandatory Fees, such as the Student Activity Fee, Wellness Fee, Computing and Network Services Fee, and the Security, Safety, and Transportation Fee.
Pitt Students on financial aid and/or tuition scholarships will need to consult the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid or respective entity providing the funds to confirm coverage for study abroad.
For global scholarship opportunities, check out:
- the Pitt GEO scholarship page for links to national, provider and private scholarship samples
- PittFund$Me for Pitt sponsored funding including Pitt wide global scholarships, Nationality Rooms, VIH, etc.
- PittFund$Me for the SSOE Global Experience Scholarships!
Pitt students may enroll at Leeds for either a full semester (fall or spring) or a full academic year (two full semesters). The Academic calendars of Leeds may differ from Pitt's normal fall (August through December) and spring (January through April) semesters, so Pitt students should check the academic calendar at the exchange university. Like Pitt, the University of Leeds’ academic calendar follows a Fall-Spring progression, meaning Fall is the first semester followed by the Spring semester as the second. Typically, Leeds' semesters run Fall: mid September to mid January & Spring: mid January to mid June.
SSOE Global Experiences and Engagement Office Team
Our team is so excited to assist SSOE students in deciding which global programs work best for them. Stop by during our walk in hours or make an appointment!
Schedule an appointment
Our team is so excited to assist SSOE students in deciding which global programs work best for them. Stop by during our walk in hours or make an appointment!
Alicia JF Olalde, M.A.
Hello! Konnichiwa! I am the Director for Global Experiences and Engagement in the Swanson School of Engineering. After working for the JET program in Japan for just over two years, I decided to pursue a career in international education. I returned to the US via a few months of travel -slowing making my way west with many stops in stunning locations and with amazing people. Whenever possible, I continue explore new countries and cultures and have had the good fortune to work, study and travel all over the world. I have been fortunate to work both as an administrator and as a classroom educator in higher education; my areas of interest are international, adult and comparative education. I enjoy assisting engineering students seize global opportunities!
Schedule an appointment
SSOE students: schedule an appointment with me using Pathways via this link!
non-SSOE students-- send me an email and we'll set up a time to meet!
Questions about funding? Check out our funding pages and note that SSoE has funding specifically for engineering students! There are many other national funding sources you can review. One place to search is the Institute of International Education website.
The University of Pittsburgh automatically provides international health and accident insurance for students participating in study abroad during the official program dates. More information about the type of insurance and coverage will be provided to you by the GEO office. However, you may need to purchase additional insurance if the school you will attend requires you to purchase a specific health insurance per their regulations. It is your responsibility to ensure you know the cost of that insurance prior to committing to the program.
- Visa application
- Valid Passport
- Verification of acceptance from sponsoring university (exchange university)
- Financial Documents, such as bank statements, tax documents or pay statements.
- Passport photos
- Application fee
- Medical/physical examination (likely to require a doctor's appointment so plan accordingly)
