Leeds Polytechnic

Leeds Beckett University - LBU

Former names	Leeds Metropolitan University Leeds Polytechnic
Type	Public
Established	1992 – gained University Status 1824 – Leeds Mechanics Institute
Endowment	£139 million
Budget	£199.5M
Chancellor	Sir Bob Murray CBE
Vice-Chancellor	Peter Slee
Administrative staff	3601
Students	25,920 (2015/16)
Undergraduates	21,465 (2015/16)
Postgraduates	4,455 (2015/16)
Location	Leeds, England
Campus	Urban
Colours	Purple
Website	http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/

Coordinates: 53°48′15″N 1°32′58″W / 53.80417°N 1.54944°W / 53.80417; -1.54944

Leeds Beckett University (formerly Leeds Metropolitan University and Leeds Polytechnic) is a public university in Leeds, West Yorkshire, with campuses in the city centre and Headingley. The university’s origins can be traced to 1824, with the foundation of the Leeds Mechanics Institute. Leeds Polytechnic was formed in 1970, and was part of the Leeds Local Education Authority until it became an independent higher Education Corporation on 1 April 1989. In 1992, the institution gained university status. The current name was adopted in September 2014.

The number of students is listed by the HESA 2015/16 data as the 18th largest in the UK out of 166.

The university traces its roots to 1824 when the Leeds Mechanics Institute was founded. The institute later became the Leeds Institute of Science, Art and Literature and in 1927 was renamed Leeds College of Technology. In 1970, the college merged with Leeds College of Commerce (founded 1845), part of Leeds College of Art (f. 1846) and Yorkshire College of Education and Home Economics (f. 1874), forming Leeds Polytechnic. In 1976, James Graham College and the City Of Leeds College of Education (f. 1907 as part of City of Leeds Training College) joined Leeds Polytechnic. In 1987, the Polytechnic became one of the founding members of the Northern Consortium.