SOUL modules - learning beyond the classroom

Build practical knowledge and confidence to take meaningful climate action.

Through a structured online course and guided reflection, you’ll explore the causes and consequences of the climate crisis, global and local sustainability challenges, and approaches such as behaviour change and systems thinking.

You’ll gain tools for taking action in your studies, future career and everyday life, and join a community of students interested in sustainability, creating space to exchange ideas and support one another’s climate goals.

Once you have completed the course, you will receive a digital certificate. 

Dates and duration

• When: Semester 2
• Activity hours: approximately 20 hours
• Credits: 10
• SOUL workshops: you will attend four in-person scheduled SOUL workshops or engage with equivalent online resources. We recommend that you attend workshops one and two or complete online stages one and two before beginning your experience.

Explore your creativity through a self-directed project at HELIX, the University’s learning innovation centre. You might develop an extended reality (XR) experience, prototype a physical or digital product, create media, experiment with emerging technologies, or pursue your own unique idea. 

You’ll have access to specialist facilities such as the XR classroom, Makerspace, textile studio and media suite, as well as optional workshops, networking events, showcase opportunities and equipment inductions. The experience supports skill development in prototyping, design, iteration, creative problem-solving and user-centred thinking. 

When working on the project, you will be able to work at locations and times that suit you.

Learn more about the facilities available at HELIX on the Digital Education website.

Dates and duration

• When: flexible throughout Semester 1 with an introduction session
• Activity hours: approximately 20 to 25 hours depending on the project and chosen workshops
• Credits: 10
• SOUL workshops: you will attend four in-person scheduled SOUL workshops or engage with equivalent online resources. We recommend that you attend workshops one and two or complete online stages one and two before beginning your experience.

You will take part in the Leeds University Business School (LUBS) Enterprise Award. Open to all students through the SOUL module, this is a practical, team-based competition held weekly on Monday evenings.

You’ll work with peers to develop a new business idea, explore customer needs, design solutions, and create a video to pitch your concept to a panel of judges. Weekly workshops, delivered by LUBS enterprise experts, will introduce tools such as the Business Model Canvas and Bain’s Value Pyramid to support your learning. 

You’ll strengthen your commercial awareness, teamwork, communication and pitching skills, with ongoing feedback throughout. Your video pitch will be reviewed for shortlisting to select the finalist student teams.

The experience concludes with a live pitching event, where the finalists will pitch their idea live to an industry judging panel. You will receive a certificate for taking part, even if your pitch is not selected for the final.

Dates and duration

• When: Semester 2
• Activity hours: approximately 24 hours 
• Credits: 10
• SOUL workshops: you will attend four in-person scheduled SOUL workshops or engage with equivalent online resources. We recommend that you attend workshops one and two or complete online stages one and two before beginning your experience. 

Curious about starting a business, exploring an idea or understanding how entrepreneurship works in practice? The Spark Kickstart programme offers a structured way to experience the early stages of creating a business or project, either individually or as part of a team.

You will take part in a session to develop your idea and shape an initial business model, alongside workshops and online tools to help you test ideas and plan your next steps. 

You’ll have access to Spark business support and HELIX facilities where you may prototype a product, explore digital making, join creative communities or attend enterprise events. You can also gain insights by managing a virtual company through a business simulation platform.

Learn more about the facilities available at HELIX on the Digital Education website.

You’ll develop entrepreneurial skills such as innovation, problem-solving and commercial thinking, alongside practical skills depending on the activities you choose. 

At the end of the experience, you will have the opportunity to present your idea to Spark alumni founders, receive feedback and access support if you wish to continue developing your project. 

Dates and duration

• When: Semester 1 or Semester 2
• Activity hours: 20 to 25 hours of activity
• Credits: 10
• SOUL workshops: you will attend four in-person scheduled SOUL workshops or engage with equivalent online resources. We recommend that you attend workshops one and two or complete online stages one and two before beginning your experience.

In this consultancy-style experience, you’ll work with students from different disciplines to address a real organisational challenge set by UK or international partners.

You’ll gain experience in team-based problem-solving, professional communication and analysing sector-specific issues. Many projects involve charities, NGOs or small businesses, giving you a chance to contribute to meaningful social or business outcomes.  

You’ll be supported to prepare for client meetings, collaborate flexibly with your team and develop evidence-based recommendations. Through workshops, team meetings and problem-solving activities, you will develop confidence in professional communication and critical analysis. The SOUL module framework supports reflection on your skills, teamwork and impact. 

You will be required to meet with your client at set times, but will mainly collaborate with your team.

Dates and duration 

• When: two programmes running in Semester 1 and Semester 2
• Activity hours: two-week project for 10 credits, or a four-week project for 20 credits
• Credits: 10 or 20
• SOUL workshops: you will attend four in-person scheduled SOUL workshops or engage with equivalent online resources. We recommend that you attend workshops one and two or complete online stages one and two before beginning your experience.

I believe that you cannot beat first-hand experience, and this course not only provides you with support and a team but also a space to work on being professional and prepare you for the future.

This pathway is for students who have already completed a SOUL module and want to take greater ownership of their learning.

You’ll propose your own project based on an academic, personal or professional interest, and submit it for approval to ensure it’s safe, academically appropriate and connected to a recognised University or Leeds University Union scheme. Projects that cannot meet these requirements, or that rely on unsupervised or unsupported external activity, cannot be approved. 

Once approved, you’ll shape your project, set your goals, test ideas, research and create meaningful outputs that reflect your interests.

Dates and duration

• Proposal deadline: 30 June
• When: Semester 1 or Semester 2
• Activity hours: 20 hours for 10 credits, 40 hours for 20 credits
• Credits: 10 or 20
• SOUL workshops: you will attend four in-person scheduled SOUL workshops or engage with equivalent online resources. We recommend that you attend workshops one and two or complete online stages one and two before beginning your experience. 

You must have an accepted place on a Leeds Summer School exchange before you complete the SOUL module registration form for this experience. 

Summer Schools are short-term programmes intended to provide you with a more compact version of an international experience. They vary in length, intensity, and academic rigour - with so many wonderful partner universities, Leeds students can enjoy summer programmes all around the world! 

This experience gives you the opportunity to expand your global perspectives and experience another country, without committing to a full year's stay. The summer programmes are well-established and welcome students from all over the world each year.   

You will build skills including organisation, adaptability, problem solving, intercultural skills, and communication, as well as increasing your confidence and challenging your preconceptions.   

You will be supported to gather evidence and build a portfolio about your experiences and reflections. 

Dates and duration

• When: summer 2026 with assessment in Semester 1
• Activity hours: 20 hours for 10 credits, 40 hours for 20 credits
• Credits: 10 or 20
• SOUL workshops: you will engage with online resources and will have online touchpoints with a SOUL tutor during your experience. We recommend that you complete online stages one and two before beginning your experience.

This experience recognises the work you do in Leeds University Union Clubs and Societies, the Liberation Network or student representation.

Whether you organise events, lead teams, support communities or help shape student life, this experience helps you reflect on the value and impact of your contribution. 

You can arrange your activity in your own time, or in line with the expectations of your society or role. 

Through the SOUL module, you’ll explore the skills you gain, such as leadership, communication, organisation and collaboration, and connect them to your personal, academic or professional development. 

Dates and duration

• When: flexible around your role and commitments
• Activity hours: 20 hours for 10 credits, 40 hours for 20 credits
• Credits: 10 or 20
• SOUL workshops: you will attend four in-person scheduled SOUL workshops or engage with equivalent online resources. We recommend that you attend workshops one and two or complete online stages one and two before beginning your experience. 

The partnership experience recognises students working within an eligible partnership role organised by the University or Leeds University Union to contribute to, co-create or enhance aspects of the University community or the wider region.

You might contribute to curriculum development, digital innovation, service improvement or academic enhancement projects. You can arrange your activity in your own time, or in line with the expectations of your partnership.

Grounded in the principles of the Leeds Partnership, this experience involves shared responsibility, goals and outcomes with students and staff working together toward a common purpose. Through the SOUL module, you’ll reflect on your influence, your role in collaborative environments and the skills you develop – including communication, leadership and negotiation. 

Dates and duration

• When: flexible around your role and commitments
• Activity hours: 20 hours for 10 credits, 40 hours for 20 credits
• Credits: 10 or 20
• SOUL workshops: You will attend four in-person scheduled SOUL workshops or engage with equivalent online resources. We recommend that you attend workshops one and two or complete online stages one and two before beginning your experience. 

This experience supports students involved in volunteering through recognised University or Leeds University Union schemes.

Your volunteering may involve supporting a school, community organisation, charity or University-based initiative. You’ll reflect on the people or communities you support, the skills you develop and the contribution you make to shared goals.  

You can arrange your activity in your own time, or in line with the expectations of your volunteering scheme. 

Through the SOUL module, you’ll consider the personal and professional value of your volunteering and how it connects to your wider learning. 

Dates and duration

• When: flexible around your role and commitments
• Activity hours: 20 hours for 10 credits, 40 hours for 20 credits
• Credits: 10 or 20
• SOUL workshops: you will attend four in-person scheduled SOUL workshops or engage with equivalent online resources. We recommend that you attend workshops one and two or complete online stages one and two before beginning your experience. 

Step one: introduction to your SOUL module

You will attend in-person workshops or access online resources about how the SOUL module works. There will also be other workshops and resources available before and during your experience, to help you reflect on its impact and to help you to get a good grade.

Step two: Your SOUL experience and collecting evidence

You’ll engage in your experience and collect evidence for your ePortfolio to show progress in your chosen development areas. You will receive guidance in workshops and online resources about how to connect your evidence to theory to place the skills you are developing into an academic context.

Step three: evaluation

You will reflect on your experience, progress, evidence and the SOUL module learning outcomes. This will help you to evaluate and articulate what went well and less well, the skills and insights you have developed, and their impact on your academic, personal, and professional plans. You will get support in workshops and online resources. You can also attend the SOUL Hub, held every Wednesday from 1 to 2pm, in the Study Abroad reception area on Level 11 of the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Building.

Step four: assessment

You will create an ePortfolio that showcases your experience, related research and reflective insights. This ePortfolio serves as a personalised assessment tool, reflecting the experience you undertake and your academic focus and interests. It is where you engage with the SOUL module learning outcomes and evidence your progress in your chosen development areas. 

It will be the equivalent of 1,000 to 1,500 words for a 10-credit module and between 2,000 to 3,000 words for a 20-credit module. There is support for building your ePortfolio throughout the module.

To be able to graduate, you need to pass the number of credits required at each level of study as specified in our Academic Regulations. The exact number of module credits you need for your course can be found in the programme (course) catalogue. 

The SOUL module aims to help you to: 

• gain valuable experience that employers look for 
• develop skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership 
• build connections and expand your horizons
• earn credits for learning beyond your degree. 

Whatever stage you’re at in your learning journey, you will have the freedom to explore, grow, and make a real impact.