Loughborough University is a top 5 university and was also crowned University of the Year at the 2020 WhatUni Student Choice Awards. Loughborough was founded in 1909 and became a University in 1966. It has a global reputation for academic excellence, strong links with business and industry and unrivalled sporting achievement.
Loughborough University offers a comprehensive range of subjects with particular strengths in business, engineering, the sciences, social sciences / humanities and art / design. Furthermore, Loughborough has been named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the global 2020 QS Higher Education league table.
The University’s 438 acre single-site green campus is one of the largest in the UK, and is home to around 17,800 students from over 130 countries. The campus is safe and the facilities are conveniently accessible by walking, cycling or via the University bus service. The University is located in the historic market town of Loughborough; it takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to get to London by train and just 45 minutes by road to Birmingham; Nottingham and Leicester are also close by. Loughborough has two campuses - one in Loughborough, in the heart of England and another in the capital city of London. Read more about Loughborough University London here.
Loughborough University offers numerous scholarships, departmental bursaries and research studentships across all levels of study. Typically these awards are merit based and subject to strong academic performance. Loughborough also offers scholarships based on sporting performance.
Student Experience
Loughborough University is known for offering a life-changing student experience. In the Times Higher Education (THE) Student Experience Survey 2018, Loughborough came first in the country. Since the inception of the survey in 2006 Loughborough has topped the table eight times, and been in the top five no less than 11 times. Over the period of the survey Loughborough has enjoyed the best results in the country for student satisfaction.
Employability
The Careers and Employability Centre at Loughborough offers specialist support to students to achieve their career goals. This includes holding the UK’s largest Graduate Recruitment and Placement Fairs each year which are attended by over 200 companies including global organisations such as Apple, Coca Cola, PwC, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, GSK, BMW, IBM and Microsoft.
With placement options available on every undergraduate course the university prides itself on supporting students to gain the vital experience and develop the skills employers seek. For this reason, Loughborough is ranked top 10 in the UK for graduate prospects in the most recent results of all three major league tables in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2020, Times Good University Guide 2020 and Complete University Guide 2021).
Sports
Loughborough’s reputation for sporting excellence spans performance, facilities, expertise and working partnerships. Over 100 years ago our Principal, Herbert Schofield, made educating the mind and the body central to his student welfare philosophy. Now, over 100 years later, Loughborough Sport plays host to many of the highest performing athletes and teams in the country and the university's campus-wide opportunities allow all of the students the chance to enjoy life-shaping experiences through sport.
If Loughborough had been a country at the 2016 Rio Olympics it would have placed 17th on the medal table above countries such as Canada and New Zealand.
Location
Living in Loughborough generally costs less than it does in major UK cities, particularly for items such as rent and local travel. Loughborough’s location in the centre of the UK is also ideal for exploring not only the British Isles but also Europe too, thanks to the direct train line to St Pancras International and nearby East Midlands Airport.
FACILITIES
Loughborough is the UK’s premier university for sport, with an unrivalled heritage in excellence and achievement. The facilities are world-class and include an indoor athletics stadium, outdoor stadium and a 50m swimming pool as well as a host of health centres and gyms and recreational parks. Loughborough achieved 1st place in high-quality facilities and sports facilities (2020 WhatUni Student Choice Awards).
With laboratories, state-of-the-art computers, workshops, key equipment and software specific to the discipline and all managed by highly experienced expert technical staff who work closely with students to help them develop and realise their ideas. Graduate students benefit from access to specialist equipment and facilities in purpose-built teaching and learning areas. Students also have access to dedicated 24/7 computer suites and private study areas, alongside a network of informal learning zones where they can work in groups or socialise. Master’s degree students can also utilise Graduate House, a dedicated graduate building located on the Loughborough campus which offers space to study and meet friends.
The university library provides a complete range of services to support a student’s journey including over 1,300 study spaces (250 with fixed PC access), around 700,000 volumes, over 100 databases and 30,000 electronic journals. The library also hosts free workshops to all students on getting the most out of the facility and is open 24 hours during revision and exam time, the library is at the heart of the campus, surrounded by University accommodation.
Accommodation
With competitive rents and a friendly and supportive atmosphere, halls are a great choice for students seeking accommodation. All on-campus accommodation includes 24-hour security, Wi-Fi, hall wardens, heating and electricity. There is also a choice of private accommodation off-campus. The university accommodation centre can advise on reputable landlords and properties close to campus and in Loughborough town. Loughborough was also voted ‘Best Accommodation’ in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2015.
Loughborough University is one of the UK’s leading centres of excellence for teaching Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Their new STEMLab has been created to provide state-of-the-art learning facilities for the students covering most of the Science and Engineering disciplines on campus.
Loughborough also offers a range of support services, designed to help students maintain their health and wellbeing throughout their studies including; Student Advice and Support Service, Careers Support, Counselling Service, Disability Office and Mental Health Support Team, Faith and Spirituality and Medical facilities.