Alumni
Reunion
Reunions are a fantastic way to reconnect with friends and flatmates from your time at the University of Leicester, as well as to see how much the campus as changed over the years.
Whether it’s a phone call, dinner, or weekend trip – meeting up with old friends is always a special occasion.
The Alumni Relations Team can support your reunion in the following ways:
- Reconnecting you with lost friends
- Send emails promoting your reunion to your graduating year
- Facilitate campus visits including access to buildings and teaching spaces, talks from researchers, visiting accommodation sites, etc
- Discounted lunch in the Staff & Postgraduate Lounge on campus
- Exclusive alumni discounts at Leicester-based hotels
- Special official University of Leicester merchandise for you and your friends
For further support, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at alumni@leicester.ac.uk.
As a reunion host, you are acknowledged an alumnus/alumna volunteer. Please email alumni@leicester.ac.uk if you are planning a reunion so we can add you to our volunteering stewardship programme.
Our top tips for hosting a reunion
Choose a date early and thoughtfully
Select a date that gives people enough notice to plan travel and time off, especially if people are spread across different locations. Early planning increases the likelihood of higher attendance.
Pick meaningful locations
Consider venues that spark nostalgia - such as campus buildings, halls of residence, or nearby local favourites. Returning to familiar places can significantly enhance the emotional impact of the reunion.
Email alumni@leicester.ac.uk if you plan to visit campus. The Alumni Relations Team can help with any requests from visiting academics to returning to your old halls of residence.
Plan activities that encourage reconnection
Include activities like campus tours, dinners, or informal social gatherings. These give attendees natural opportunities to reminisce, catch up, and reconnect with old friends.
Some examples of things to do include:
- Volunteering: If you would like to be involved in a volunteering project for your reunion, such as helping out at the Botanic Gardens, we can arrange this for you.
- Attendance at pre-existing events: You could time your reunion with events we are already hosting such as the Alumni Awards Dinner, or something else taking place in the city.
- Meeting with an academic member of staff: If you would like to meet with an academic member of staff, please do let us know a few months in advance so we can help to get this scheduled for you.
- Guided campus tours: Let us know if you would like a campus tour and we can arrange this for you – please note that buildings may be closed out of term or at times such as exam season. If there is a specific building you would like to access, please do let us know and we will try to make sure this is possible.
- Make a weekend of it: There are many attractions in Leicester that you may want to visit whilst you’re in town. Some of them may be nostalgic, some may be new:
- Attenborough Arts Centre – check out the great events hosted by Attenborough Arts or simply visit to tour round the gallery
- National Space Centre
- Curve
- Leicester Museum and Art Gallery
- De Montfort Hall
- King Richard III Visitor Centre
- Visit our Re-discover Leicester webpage for more details.
Invite people through multiple channels
Reach out to former classmates using a mix of email, social media, and word of mouth. A broad invitation strategy helps reconnect with people who may have lost touch over the years.
Advertise the event to boost engagement
Promoting the reunion in advance - especially with details about activities and venues - helps build excitement and encourages more people to commit to attending.
Email alumni@leicester.ac.uk for support with sending emails to your class, posting on the Leicester Alumni social media accounts, and adding the event to the University website.
Take advantage of Alumni Relations support
The Alumni Relations Team can help spread the word, book campus tours, visiting the University Archives, and recommend things to do in Leicester. Using this support can reduce the organisational burden and improve the overall experience.
Visit our Reconnect webpages for more information on how the Alumni Relations Team can support you or email alumni@leicester.ac.uk.
Think beyond the day itself
Plan for both during and after the event - such as taking photos, sharing memories, or even starting the conversation about the next reunion. This helps maintain long-term connections beyond a single gathering.
We love to see your photos from reunions! Share them with us at alumni@leicester.ac.uk or tag us on social media.