Loughborough University

Famed for its world-class sports coaching and first-rate facilities, Loughborough is set on a single site campus of more than 433 acres. Loughborough offers wide-open garden spaces and recreation areas, making it one of the most culturally inspiring campuses in the UK.

Background and History

Consistently ranked as one of the top 15 universities in the UK, Loughborough has been voted as the UK's best student experience five years running. With a strong, well-known background in sport, Loughborough also prides itself on its high teaching standards and attention to art and culture. Nevertheless, sport is still a big draw for students and Olympic committees alike Loughborough was selected as the official 2012 Olympic Games preparation camp for Team GB.

Location and Accessibility

Road: South of both Nottingham and Derby and north of Leicester, Loughborough is extremely easy to find. From the M1, Loughborough campus is just two miles off Junction 23. The university is clearly signposted on all other main road approaches. Parking is available on campus but restricted.

Rail: Intercity services have daily schedules to Loughborough. Once you arrive at Loughborough station, there is a regular bus service to campus that runs every ten minutes during term time.

The university Disability Office advises students who have specific needs to note them on their application form. With this information, the office will arrange informal visits to the university, provide accommodation support, give appropriate access to Disabled Students' Allowance and organise any relevant personal care.

What's on Offer?

BSc, BA, MSc, MSci, MA, MBA, Certificate, Diploma, PhD, MPhil, EngD, PGCE, QTS.

Entry Requirements

The majority of Loughborough's prospective students apply with at least three A-Levels or equivalent. The average UCAS entry tariff was 389 for the 2011/12 academic year. Prospective students are advised to check the university prospectus for specific course requirements.

University Accommodation

Accepted applicants who apply before the end of July are guaranteed a space in Loughborough's University Hall accommodation. Students can take their pick from thousands of bedrooms in 19 catered and self-catered halls of residence.

Private Accommodation

Many students live off campus after their first year. The Student Accommodation Centre produces an annual list of university-approved accommodation every 1^st December. The Students' Union also holds a Housing Bazaar every December, where approved landlords are invited to promote their properties. The Accommodation Centre advertises university-accredited, private properties through the Loughborough Student Pad.

Faculties and Departments

Loughborough University is made up of a variety of schools: the School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering, the School of Business and Economics, the School of Civil and Building Engineering, the Loughborough Design School, the School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering, the School of Science, the School of Mathematics, the School of Social, Political and Geographical Sciences, the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, the School of Arts, English and Drama and the Teacher Education Unit.

Academic Strengths and Research Profile

Sport is what most people think of in reference to Loughborough and understandably so: Loughborough's student teams have been champions of the British Universities Sports Association league for over 25 years .In addition to sport, Loughborough has developed a reputation for research of an international standard. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, Loughborough was confirmed as one of the UK's leading research universities. Loughborough's standards of excellence led to the university receiving six Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees vary depending on the course of study or whether you wish to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level. Fees for international students are also likely to be considerably higher than those for UK/EU students. For further information it is advisable to contact the university directly or visit their website.

Financial Support

Loughborough offers various funding options to students, including the Year of Entry Merit-Based Scholarship, Care Leavers Bursary, Ethel Reynolds Bradley Scholarship for Scottish Students and Loughborough University Sports Scholarships.

Academic Facilities

Covering 7,777 square metres and containing over half a million books, the main university library strives to make the lives of its users as comfortable as possible. In order to achieve such heights, the library provides staff and students with 1,058 study spaces, 22,764 e-journals and 90,000 bound serials. Other campus amenities include lecture theatres, fully equipped laboratories, state-of-the-art computer facilities, two theatres and conference and hotel accommodation.

Other on-site Amenities

Being such a sport-focused university, it makes sense that Loughborough would have the country's largest concentration of world-class training facilities. Covering a wide array of sports, Loughborough boasts many resources, including an indoor athletics centre, outdoor stadium, sports hall, a 50m swimming pool, all-weather pitches and a top quality fitness centres. In addition, Loughborough hosts numerous restaurants, bars, banks and an array of shops. The university Arts Centre has commissioned artists to take on projects addressing a variety of research, including memory, work songs and sustainability. The centre also has rehearsal space and other facilities that can be reserved by students for creative projects.

Medical and Social Care

The university Medical Centre is open from 8am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday. Simply make an appointment and the centre's dedicated team of doctors, nurses and office staff will be happy to help in any way possible. The main Chaplaincy Centre is situated in the Brockington Building and comes complete with a Muslim prayer room, quiet room, library, multi-faith room and chapel. Student welfare runs a counselling service and dyslexia support. The only one in the country to be completely owned and run by the students themselves, the Loughborough Students' Union provides a range of opportunities for furthering students' careers and having a good time. Apart from managing the hundreds of sports societies and social clubs, the Union houses one of the largest nightclub venues in the region and organises fundraising events, regularly bringing in more than £1,000,000 each year.

What's on in the Area

Loughborough town itself is ever growing, situated near some fantastic countryside and plenty of forest walks. From Loughborough, you can take a train to Derby, Nottingham or Leicester in around 30 minutes, while a train to London takes only two hours, giving students access to a wealth of options for daytrips, nights out and long weekends.

Moving On

In 2010, 90 per cent of Loughborough's graduates found employment within the first six months. This success is due, in part, to the university's teaching style and course set-up. Loughborough has strong industry connections and over 60 per cent of the university's courses offer a yearlong industry work experience placement. The university's Careers and Employability Centre provides students with advice and career consultations to help them prepare for industry life. This includes CV checks, interview techniques, vacancy advertising and the opportunity to apply for the Loughborough Employability Award.

If Loughborough were a nation, it would have come 8^th in the medal tables at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Loughborough alumni include Paula Radcliffe, Clive Woodward, Monty Panesar and Sebastian Coe.

Loughborough acted as the official London 2012 preparation camp for Team GB and the Japanese Olympic team.

Is Loughborough University the place for you?

Come to Loughborough if you're looking for a university with Olympic-grade sporting facilities, high quality teaching and great industry prospects.

Avoid if you need a university campus that is on the doorstep to a city centre. Why not try the University of Leicester?