De Montfort University (DMU) has a rich heritage, tracing its origins back to the Leicester School of Art in 1870. The institution evolved through various incarnations, including Leicester Polytechnic, until it was granted university status in 1992, named after the medieval Earl, Simon de Montfort. Today, DMU is home to ~27,000 students, fostering a globally-minded and inclusive learning environment in the heart of Leicester.
The University pioneered the distinctive Block Teaching model, allowing students to study one subject intensively for deeper focus and better academic results. This focus on student success is complemented by the award-winning #DMUworks initiative, which has seen DMU named the UK's Best University for Work Experience for two years running. DMU’s dedication to global citizenship is highlighted by its unique position as the UN Global Hub for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), demonstrating its profound impact on the world stage. DMU's journey has been defined by its evolution from a local art school to an internationally recognised institution driving positive change.
Why Studiosity?
DMU first partnered with Studiosity in July 2020, providing Studiosity classic (the human-led service) to all students. As a widening participation university, the goal was to provide additional out of hours support, complementing their existing services provided by the Library and Learning team, ultimately helping to improve student continuation and retention. The University was looking for an accessible, flexible and technology-driven support service that students could easily access in their LMS dashboards, 24/7.
In 2022 DMU moved to the Block Teaching model which meant instant access to academic writing feedback and study support became even more invaluable, allowing staff to more deeply focus on their subject areas.
In March 2025, DMU rolled out Studiosity’s AI-for-Learning service to all 27,000 students with unlimited access, thanks to a simplified pricing model. Crucially, the service also delivered enhanced data insights that allowed the University to better measure student learning and efficacy, and pinpoint students for early intervention.
Studiosity is now integrated into the University's Access and Participation Plan, serving as a core component of its widening participation strategy. It also acts as a dedicated approach for improving year-on-year performance, specifically boosting student satisfaction (NSS) themes like Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support.
Engagement outcomes:
Key performance measures - student satisfaction:
95% found it easy to use
