Loughborough University

Summary

History

In 1909 a small Technical Institute in the centre of Loughborough was established, which provided local facilities for further education and offered courses in technical subjects, science and art. Land was also acquired on the Burleigh Estate, enabling the early development of the University as it stands today. In April 1966, Loughborough was awarded its Charter and, then called Loughborough University of Technology, it was the country’s first technological university. It was renamed Loughborough University in 1996. Other developments have included the reunification in 1977 with Loughborough College of Education and with Loughborough College of Art and Design in 1998. Land acquisitions in 2003, 2006 and 2010 have now made Loughborough the largest single-site campus in the country, with 438 acres of land.

Loughborough University's reputation primarily lies it its sports provisions. It is home to the world's largest university-based sports technology research group, part of the internationally acclaimed Sports Technology Institute, while SportPark, based at the university, provides a state-of-the-art home for national sporting bodies including the Youth Sports Trust, British Swimming and several other national governing bodies. It is also home to the ECB England National Cricket Academy and the LTA Tennis Academy.

University Environment

Loughborough is a single-site University with its campus offering great facilities for every aspect of student life, with plenty of open space, gardens and sports areas interspersed with academic buildings and student accommodation. There are over 17,000 students and staff from over 100 different countries, and the campus has a strong sense of community.

Loughborough town is a busy market town with much to offer in the way of restaurants, entertainment and shopping. Its location is also ideal for exploring the cities of Nottingham, Leicester and Derby, as well as being close to the Peak District and Sherwood Forest. Loughborough has easy access by road to the rest of the UK with the M1 motorway only a mile away. The town’s railway station offers regular services between Sheffield and London St Pancras International station. East Midlands Airport is only 15 minutes away and easily reached by the 24/7 bus service from Loughborough. The Airport is home to chartered and budget airlines flying to Europe, USA and Africa.

Academics

Schools & Departments

• Aeronautical & Automotive Engineering
• School of the Arts
• School of Business & Economics
• Chemical Engineering
• Chemistry
• Civil & Building Engineering
• Computer Science
• Design School
• Electronic, Electrical & Systems Engineering
• English & Drama
• Geography
• Materials
• Mathematical Sciences
• Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering
• Physics
• Politics, History & International Relations
• Social Sciences
• Sport, Exercise & Health Sciences
• Foundation Studies
• Teacher Training (PGCE)

Research

In the recent 2014 REF almost 66% of the work of Loughborough's academic staff who were eligible to be submitted was judged as world-leading or internationally excellent. At the subject level, the University has the largest concentration of world-leading research in sport and exercise sciences.  It also performs in the top ten in Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering; Civil and Construction Engineering; Architecture, Built Environment and Planning; Area Studies; Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory; and Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Informational Management.

International Opportunities

Loughborough University actively encourages students to undertake international study exchanges or work placements overseas through the ERASMUS Programme. Participating students can spend between three and 12 months at a university in another country as part of their degree, or spend a placement year working with an employer overseas. Loughborough University currently has a limited number of student exchange places with its international institutional partners in Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and the USA. Competition for places is high, but Loughborough encourages students to consider applying as it's such a fantastic opportunity to embrace a new culture and study your subject in a different context. Each Loughborough University department has a Departmental Exchange Coordinator (DEC) who offers you advice on which university you can study at and which modules you can take. Your DEC will also be able to explain how your study period abroad will be incorporated into your degree programme.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships

The Development Trust Scholarship offers students from low-income backgrounds £3,000 per year for three years if they've achieved AAB or above in their A-levels or equivalent. 

Loughborough's Sports Scholarships offer financial support; first class coaching; access to world class facilities including strength and conditioning; sports medicine support, access to a sports mentor; a life skills programme; and the opportunity for flexible study. Scholarship holders recieve between £500 and £3,500 per year. 

Facilities

Learning Facilities

The University’s central learning resource in the Pilkington Library. The Library collections include 700,000 volumes, DVDs and CDs, over 100 databases and 20,000 electronic journals. There are over 1000 study spaces, wireless networking and 140 PCs, as well as self-service units for borrowing/returning library books. Students are able to make the most out of resources through staffed enquiry points, an e-mail enquiry service, and courses in study skills and information handling. Throughout revision and exam periods the Library is open 24/7. The study spaces include lots of individual study areas, and a flexible study space with PCs, tables, chairs and whiteboards, where students are able to work in groups, use laptops/mobile phones, and have cold food and drinks. The University is investing over £4M to transform the Library in 2013 and improvements will include an additional floor providing state-of-the-art learning spaces, along with significant enhancements to the current resources.

The Centre for Engineering and Design Education is a one-of-its-kind department, with the Centre supporting Loughborough staff and students to provide an excellent student learning experience, high employer engagement and quality teaching space. There is also a Mathematics Learning Support Centre which is open to anyone who feels they might benefit from additional help with mathematics and statistics. Students can benefit from the Centre’s great facilities which include two superb resource centres with private/group study areas, drop-in surgeries for mathematics and statistics, and extensive computer-based resources.

Sports Facilities

Loughborough has a well-deserved sporting reputation with, for example, former student Lord Sebastian Coe describing Loughborough University as "the best integrated sports development environment in the world (that) students can enjoy". However, the University continues to focus on ensuring every student has the opportunity to get involved, regardless of ability or interest.

The following world indoor facilities are available for use by all students - three multi-purpose sports halls, cricket indoor training centre, gymnastics analysis and training centre, health and fitness suite, five zone strength and conditioning centre, martial arts centre, dance studio, 50m eight-lane swimming pool, five squash courts, indoor athletics training centre and eight-court indoor tennis centre. Outdoor facilities include water-based hockey pitch, two third-generation synthetic pitches, numerous grass pitches, all-weather athletics stadium with 400m track and nine all-weather tennis courts. Also available are sports medicine, sports science and technical analysis facilities, and lifestyle and wellbeing assessments and packages. One can appreciate Loughborough’s fantastic facilities on learning that it was chosen as the official Preparation Camp for Team GB in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics.

For those who wish to take part in sport at a recreational level 'My Lifestyle' is a programme offering plenty of opportunities to have fun participating in sport or physical activity. It offers an extensive choice, many free of charge, and includes a comprehensive programme of fitness classes designed to fit with your lifestyle. Loughborough has invested in new 'Park' facilities dedicated to recreational sport where you can turn up and play at almost any time. Students can take part in intra-mural sport and the University runs the largest free inter-hall sport programme of its kind in the UK. Throughout the year students can represent their Hall of residence in over 26 sports – in leagues and one-day events.

Students who wish to compete a more serious level can get involved in one of the Students’ Union’s many student-run sports clubs. Loughborough's Athletic Union (AU) clubs compete in the British Universities & Colleges Sport competition (BUCS), and have had 32 consecutive years of overall success. The AU sports clubs are not merely about winning trophies and medals, but also place a very high value on a student's personal development. Becoming involved in club life off the field is a great way to meet new people, and develop communication, organisation, leadership and administrative skills.

You can also get involved in sport through volunteering. There are over 1,800 student sport volunteers at Loughborough filling a wide range of important roles. So whether your interests lie in managing events, coaching, leadership, working with young people, marketing or sports development, the Volunteer Academy can help you gather experience, develop skills and gain qualifications. 

Students' Union

Students’ Union

The day-to-day running of the Union is carried out by a team of annually elected student officers, and it offers a variety of support services, over 100 clubs and societies, including the opportunity to get involved in the running of lsmedia, and a packed programme of social events to suit all people’s tastes. Academically students can apply to be a Programme Rep to represent students on their particular courses.

The Students’ Union building is buzzing with students both in the day and at night. The central Piazza is a lively meeting place and coffee bar during the day with a shop, a Chinese restaurant, a hairdressers, an optician, a dentist, a taxi rank, a pharmacy, and sports massage and chiropody facilities. At night the building opens up to become one of the Midland's biggest nightclubs. With a total capacity of almost 4,000, there are 5 rooms, each with their own atmosphere. There are three big nights on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and specialist events throughout the week often featuring student performance societies like hip hop or the Union’s own swing band “Tuxedo Swing”.

A key part of the Union is fundraising. Loughborough RAG is the biggest student fundraising organisations in the country, regularly raising more than £1,000,000 a year. Student volunteers take part in street collections and organise a variety of events to raise money for a wide range of charities. The Union also enables students to work in the local community through its Community Action team. Its volunteers work with children, the elderly, people with learning difficulties and the physically disabled, helping to build up links between local residents and the student population.

Student Support

Health and Well-Being

The Student Support Centre has two sections, the Student Advice and Support Service, and the English Language Support Service. The Student Advice and Support Service offers free, confidential and impartial information and advice for all students to ensure that they are not disadvantaged by a lack of knowledge of their rights, entitlements and responsibilities. The University Counselling Service has a well-established and experienced team of counsellors who offer students an opportunity to talk and reflect with a professionally trained person who is outside their immediate situation. The Service offers face to face counselling, online counselling or workshops.

The Disability Office arranges support for students with a wide range of additional needs as well as providing support and tuition for students who have dyslexia, dyspraxia and other specific learning difficulties. The University has good access for students who are wheelchair users, or who have mobility problems and adapted bedrooms are available in most halls of residence across the campus. The Mental Health Support Team provides support to students who face barriers affecting their ability to study as a result of mental health issues. 

There is a Medical Centre which is situated in the centre of the campus close to the main student accommodation village, and a pharmacy, dentist and optician are located next to the Students’ Union building.

Religion and Spirituality

The Centre for Faith and Spirituality is the focus of religious, spiritual and faith based activities on campus. It includes a dedicated Christian chapel, a Muslim Prayer room, a Quiet Room, a small specialist library, and a number of rooms and facilities that can be used by student faith groups, individual members of the world faiths and others. The Centre is also home to the University Chaplains from the major world faiths. The Chaplains are available to all students of any religious persuasion or of none, and they provide students with confidential pastoral support and advocacy, as well as encouraging the exploration of contemporary faith issues through events, activities and campaigns throughout the year.

Career Facilities

The Careers and Employability Centre offers a wide range of specialist guidance to help you at any stage of your time at university. Through the Centre you can get individual consultations with experienced professional careers advisers, and benefit from daily workshops and presentations giving help with CVs and job hunting, a range of high profile skills master classes with input from leading employers and a packed schedule of employer drop-in sessions. The Centre provides a comprehensive careers website including guidance, online tutorials, advice from employers and alumni, sample CVs and assessments. Thousands of job vacancies and placement opportunities are advertised directly to Loughborough students, as well as opportunities for work experience, work shadowing and employer mentoring.

Students at Loughborough can choose to work towards the well-established Loughborough Employability Award programme which provides University recognition for your participation in extra-curricular activities and the development of employability skills. Loughborough also has a long history of supporting students with year-long paid work placements in business or industry in the UK or overseas. Comprehensive application and pre-placement guidance is provided for this by the Careers and Employability Centre, and the university has excellent links with companies. If you successfully complete this training, when you graduate you will be awarded an additional bonus – the Loughborough Diploma in Industrial, Professional or International Studies, as well as enhanced employability prospects.

One can see the success of Loughborough students from the latest available figures which show that six months after graduating in 2011, at least 87% of Loughborough graduates were in employment or further study, and significantly more than the national average were working in the top three occupational categories, in senior managerial, technical and professional roles.

Accommodation

If you make Loughborough your firm choice by the end of July you will be guaranteed a place in university accommodation. Over 5,300 students live in University halls on (or very close to) the campus, and are at the very centre of student life. At Loughborough there are 14 different halls offering a wide range of accommodation available to suit every budget and catering preference. The University is currently ranked 1st by Unistats for providing the least expensive institution accommodation option in England. As standard, all rooms have a bed, storage, desk, chair, shelves and a pin board. Depending on your choice of hall, you may have en-suite facilities or a shared bathroom. As part of your accommodation you will also have access to laundry facilities, a games room, Hallnet (direct access to the University Intranet, with Freeview TV) and a hall student committee system. All halls of residence are supported by resident hall Wardens and Sub-wardens who are there to ensure that the Residential Regulations are observed for the benefit of all inhabitants and to look after your welfare.

After First Year you can apply to remain in halls – many students like to stay in their halls for a further one or two years. International students from outside the EU are guaranteed hall accommodation within the same hall for any two years of their undergraduate study. Alternatively you can choose to live off-campus and there is a high standard of privately owned accommodation in Loughborough. Students can contact the Student Accommodation Centre to help them with any queries about living in private accommodation.

International

English Language Requirements

The minimum English Language requirements are:

However, there are a number of exceptions which require a higher level of English Language:

International Support

The University’s International Office has a dedicated and friendly team of staff to help international students with any queries they may have. Each year the International Office staff visit different countries around the world which allows you to meet them directly at education exhibitions. There is also a team of international student advisers who co-ordinate the International Students Programme, and provide advice on issues such as immigration, finance, employment and housing.

The Student Support Centre has an English Language Support Service which offers academic English and study skills workshops, courses and online resources for home, EU and international students. Prospective international students whose first language is not English also have the option of studying on one of five pre-sessional courses, ranging in duration from two to 30 weeks, to meet the University’s English language requirements.

Media