University of Leicester rolls out Microsoft 365 Copilot across campus
The UK university will give Microsoft 365 Copilot access to more than 21,000 students and 4,000 staff as part of a wider push on AI skills, teaching, research, and professional services.
The University of Leicester is rolling out full Microsoft 365 Copilot access across its community of more than 21,000 students and 4,000 staff. Credit: Darren Hardman
The University of Leicester has become one of the first universities in the UK to roll out full Microsoft 365 Copilot access across its whole community, giving more than 21,000 students and 4,000 staff access to Microsoft’s AI tool.
The collaboration with Microsoft will provide Microsoft 365 Copilot to all students and staff at the University of Leicester. The university is one of the first Microsoft Frontier universities and is embedding the tool across teaching, learning, research, and professional services.
Darren Hardman, CEO of Microsoft UK and Ireland, said on LinkedIn that Leicester is becoming one of the first UK universities to roll out full access to Microsoft 365 Copilot across its entire community.
The move follows the University of Manchester becoming the first university in the world to offer Microsoft 365 Copilot to all 65,000 students and staff, alongside training to support effective and responsible use. Manchester’s rollout is due to be completed by summer 2026.
At Leicester, Microsoft 365 Copilot access will sit alongside 100 hours of employer-informed, work-related learning on every undergraduate degree and research-inspired education across all areas.
Copilot access covers students and staff
The University of Leicester says the Microsoft collaboration is designed to give students and staff access to AI tools in a safe and secure environment.
Microsoft 365 Copilot will be integrated across the university, supporting work across Microsoft 365 applications and giving students and staff experience with AI tools already being adopted in workplaces.
Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Leicester, says: "AI is already transforming the way we teach, learn, research and engage with each other – and if we want to remain a world-leading and inclusive University it is vital that we become early adopters and embrace the opportunity for change.
"This is a transformative moment for our University. It is an opportunity to think boldly, be creative, and grasp a once-in-a-generation opportunity to utilise the potential of AI to shape the world around us. We are Citizens of Change – committed to driving positive societal impact, championing diversity, and using education to create a fairer, more sustainable world – AI can turbocharge us along that journey.
"This initiative is about future-proofing our University and our people. About augmenting our community – the ability to work effectively with AI will be an essential skill in the years ahead. By embedding these tools now, we are ensuring that Leicester staff are well placed to adapt, lead and thrive in an evolving AI-landscape, and that our students are ready to meet the demands of any future workplace."
Microsoft links rollout to future-ready skills
Microsoft says Leicester’s decision to provide full Copilot access to students and staff reflects a focus on future-ready skills.
Jen Wyatt, Director of Education at Microsoft UK, says: "AI is reshaping the world of work students are stepping into, and the universities that prepare their communities now will define the next generation of talent.
"Leicester’s decision to give all students and staff full access to Microsoft 365 Copilot reflects a genuine commitment to future-ready skills. We’re proud to support an institution that pairs ambition with responsibility."
Hardman said on LinkedIn that embedding AI into the learning experience is intended to help Leicester graduates leave with "the vital skills and confidence to make the most of the technologies shaping their future."
The rollout gives students access to Copilot as part of a wider education model that includes work-related learning and research-informed teaching.
UK universities widen AI access
Leicester joins a growing group of UK universities putting Microsoft 365 Copilot into institution-wide use.
The University of Manchester announced in January 2026 that it would provide Copilot access and training to all 65,000 students and staff. That rollout was positioned around equitable AI access, responsible use, teaching and learning, research, and closing the digital divide.
Leicester’s collaboration extends Microsoft’s higher education activity into another large UK university community. The university says the rollout is intended to support staff and students across teaching, learning, research, and professional services.
Microsoft 365 Copilot access is being made available across the University of Leicester community. The university says the rollout is part of its work to develop future-ready graduates and staff while removing barriers to AI tools and opportunities.
