De Montfort University Leicester occupies a distinctive position within British higher education. Founded as the Leicester School of Art in 1870, the institution has evolved through successive transformations—from art school to polytechnic to modern university—while retaining a steadfast commitment to professional, creative, and vocational education. De Montfort University diploma, De Montfort University degree, De Montfort University certificate.
Today, DMU serves a diverse student body of over 22,000 students from more than 130 nationalities, delivering an education shaped by industry partnership, block teaching innovation, and a global outlook.
The university’s origins lie in Victorian-era technical education. In 1870, the Leicester School of Art was founded in a disused warehouse on Pocklington’s Walk, training apprentices for local industries including boot and shoe manufacture, furniture making, hosiery, and textiles.
This practical orientation was never abandoned. Art, pharmacy, corsetry, footwear, and architecture were taught at the school and remain visible at DMU today, either as courses in their own right or as components of contemporary programmes. How to order a De Montfort University certificate online?
The institution became Leicester Polytechnic in 1969 when the Colleges of Art and Technology merged, and was awarded university status in 1992, adopting the name De Montfort University after Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, who established the first English parliament in 1265.
Computing courses were introduced as early as the 1960s, reflecting the institution’s enduring commitment to keeping pace with the changing needs of industry.
DMU offers courses across four faculties: Art, Design and Humanities; Health and Life Sciences; Business and Law; and Computing, Engineering and Media. The university’s teaching staff have earned 18 National Teaching Fellowships, placing DMU among the top three universities in the UK for teaching excellence.
A defining feature of the DMU academic model is block teaching. Students study one module at a time, allowing for greater focus, depth, and flexibility.
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This approach has contributed to significant improvements in student satisfaction: in the 2026 Whatuni Student Choice Awards—the only UK higher education awards judged entirely by students—DMU ranked 17th overall, a rise of 18 places from the previous year, and fifth nationally for postgraduate experience. The university also placed tenth for both international student experience and university halls. De Montfort University diploma in UK, De Montfort University degree in UK.
DMU’s curriculum is designed in partnership with leading employers. The university has worked with Hewlett-Packard and Deloitte to develop courses in business informatics and cyber security, and 170 courses are accredited by professional bodies, allowing graduates to gain exemptions from professional qualifications.
