The University
Loughborough is a great place to study, boasting internationally acclaimed research and outstanding teaching quality.
At a glance
- five times winner of the 'Best Student Experience'
- consistently top five in the National Student Survey
- top 20 in the Times, Sunday Times and Guardian
- over 4,000 postgraduate students
- large choice of postgraduate programmes
- on average, 90% of our graduates in employment and/ or studying
These attributes helped us to secure the highly coveted Times Higher Education ‘Best Student Experience’ for five years running.
Loughborough University was originally founded as a Technical Institute in 1909, and granted its Royal Charter in 1966. The University has a long tradition of teaching and research that is highly relevant to industry, business and the professions.
Loughborough has always been at the forefront of engineering and technology, with strengths in many other areas including: sport and sports technology; art and design; business studies; the sciences; social sciences and the humanities.
The University consists of 21 academic schools/departments which include 16,000 students, 4,000 of which are postgraduates. We have over 40 research institutes and centres and six interdisciplinary research schools. And with well over 130 taught postgraduate programmes and many research degrees, we offer an excellent choice for any student looking to further their career.
Our long-established partnerships with industry, Government and the professions are the envy of other institutions because of their scope and the benefits they bring to our core activities: teaching and learning; research and technology transfer. These partnerships also contribute to the outstanding employment prospects of our graduates.
Renowned research
Our success in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) confirmed our standing as one of the country’s top 20 universities for research. Every one of our schools/departments was found to be undertaking research that is internationally recognised and The Times Higher Education named Loughborough as one of three rising stars among research-intensive universities. Testament to the quality of research carried out at the University is the award of six Queen’s Anniversary Prizes.
Excellence in teaching
Loughborough has had consistently high scores for teaching quality in all the Government’s External Subject Reviews and national league tables. We were rated top three for ‘teaching quality’ and since the introduction of the National Student Survey in 2005, Loughborough has always been placed amongst the top 5 universities in the UK. The University also has exceptional academic, guidance and welfare systems to support students from different backgrounds.
League table recognition
The Sunday Times University of the Year 2008 – 2009, the University is regularly placed top 20 in the Times, the Sunday Times and the Guardian university league tables. Additionally, 75% of our schools/departments were ranked Top 10 in the most recent Times and Sunday Times subject tables.
We are consistently ranked among the top universities for graduate employment and do exceptionally well in employer surveys because we produce graduates that business and industry want.
Number one for sport
A significant capital investment in world-class sports facilities at Loughborough has created a unique facility and support services infrastructure for: our students and staff; the English Institute of Sport and elite athletes; many sports governing bodies based on campus; and our local and regional community.
Leading up to the London 2012 Olympics, the University will become a hub of activity for international teams preparing for the Olympics. Both Team GB and Team Japan are two such teams utilising our unrivalled sports facilities.
Outstanding facilities
In terms of facilities the campus is well placed to serve the needs of students, including a purpose-built teaching facility for postgraduate students, and a well resourced library and IT network. There are numerous cafés, bars, restaurants, shops and a health centre, optician, dentist and nursery.
In addition to the wide range of clubs and societies offered by our Students’ Union, the University provides plenty of arts and creative activities to enjoy on campus including photography, painting, drawing, music and drama. We also have our own thriving choir, orchestra and concert band.
Unrivalled links with employers
The University has an international reputation for its partnerships with companies of all sizes in both the commercial sector and many new high-tech industries. Our long-established partnerships help generate an exceptionally high level of industrial funding, and help support teaching, research and consultancy activities that meet the needs of industry and commerce.
Companies sited on campus include the Henry Ford College which covers management and retail training of Ford employees, the BAE Systems’ Systems Engineering Innovation Centre, over 30 spin-out companies nurtured by the University and up to 40 companies housed in our Innovation Centre. Loughborough postgraduates are highly successful in finding work or further study. Recent data on our UK/EU students showed that:
- 91% of taught postgraduates were in employment and/or studying
- 89% of research graduates were in employment and/or studying
- the majority of employed postgraduates were working in their area of study
- our graduate employers represent leading organisations
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