University of leeds:
The University of Leeds
The University of Leeds was founded in 1904, but its origins
go back to the nineteenth century with the founding of the Leeds School of
Medicine in 1831 and then the Yorkshire College of Science in 1874.
In 1831 a group of young men established the Leeds School of
Medicine which meant that medical students no longer had to go to Scotland,
London or overseas to study.
The Yorkshire College of Science was founded around 40
years later largely as a result of concerns by the wool and textile
industries that the rapid development of new technologies in Europe posed
a threat to the local cloth trade.
Access
for all
For the sons of local families, it was one of the first
colleges for students of all faiths and backgrounds. The College supported the
values of the recently established University College, London and Owens College
in Manchester. These had been set up to challenge the exclusivity of Oxford and
Cambridge universities, which were predominantly for the Anglican aristocracy
and gentry.
By contrast, this new generation of learning institutions
welcomed all religions, including Dissenters, Catholics, Jews and agnostics. In
addition, they placed particular emphasis on meeting the technological demands
of the fast-changing Victorian era. From the outset, the College, particularly,
put its full weight behind scientific studies.
After a few years, classics, modern literature and history
were added to the science subjects being offered and the Yorkshire College of
Science became simply the Yorkshire College.
In 1884, the College combined with the School of Medicine
and three years later the two Leeds-based institutions joined forces with Owens
College Manchester, and University College Liverpool, to become the federal
Victoria University.
The
University of Leeds
It wasn't long, however, before each of the cities started
to consider the benefits of forming their own universities. After Manchester
and Liverpool had taken the decision to establish universities, Leeds also took
the leap and in 1904, King Edward VII granted the University its own Charter as
an independent institution.
Growing
reputation and numbers
Within three or four years the number of students began to
increase rapidly and changes to state education meant that students were
arriving with a better educational foundation. The ten years to the outbreak of
war in 1914 were ones of growth and consolidation. Most importantly, the new
University started to develop a strong tradition of research.
Unlike Owens College Manchester, the Yorkshire College had
always permitted women as students. However, they did not enrol in significant
numbers until special facilities were provided at the Day Training College in
1896. The first women graduated from the University of Leeds in 1905.
At the time that the Yorkshire College received its Royal
Charter, seven out of eight students came from Yorkshire. Now, the University
of Leeds not only welcomes students from all over the United Kingdom, its
reputation worldwide makes it a truly multi-cultural and international
institution with students and staff from over 100 countries studying and
working on campus.
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