From 1968 to 1993 it was known as Jacob Kramer College, after Jacob Kramer, having lost part of its provision to Leeds Polytechnic (the future Leeds Beckett University).

[8] Skin, DJ, fashion icon, actress, activist and lead singer of Skunk Anansie, was appointed as the university's chancellor in 2021.

[9] The University today has city centre sites at Blenheim Walk and at Vernon Street.

Like many of the 'traditional' British art schools, it has a modest annual intake, at 2,145 higher education students in 2022/23.

Out of 169 UK higher education institutions, it is the 146th largest.