Loughborough University


Loughborough University is a public research university in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. It has been a university since 1966, but it dates back to 1909, when Loughborough Technical Institute was founded. In March 2013, the university announced it had bought the former broadcast centre at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as a second campus. The annual income of the institution for 2024-25 was £386.2 million, of which £57.0 million was from research grants and contracts, with an expenditure of £379.5 million. In 2024, Loughborough ranked ninth nationally for undergraduate education.
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History

The university traces its roots back to 1909, when the Loughborough Technical Institute was founded in the town centre. There followed a period of rapid expansion led by principal Herbert Schofield, during which there was renaming to Loughborough College and development of the present campus.
In early years, efforts were made to mimic the environment of an Oxbridge college, e.g. students wore gowns to lectures, while maintaining a strong practical counterbalance to academic learning. During World War I, it served as an "instructional factory", training workers for the munitions industry.

The Loughborough colleges

Following the war, the institute was divided into four separate colleges:
The last would become the nucleus of the present university. Its rapid expansion from a small provincial college to the first British technical university was due largely to its principals, Herbert Schofield, who led it from 1915 to 1950, and Herbert Haslegrave, who oversaw its further expansion from 1953 to 1967 and steered its progress first to a College of Advanced Technology and then to a university in 1966. In 1977, the university broadened its range of studies by amalgamating with Loughborough College of Education. More recently, in August 1998, the university merged with Loughborough College of Art and Design. Loughborough College remains a college of further education.

Influence of Herbert Schofield

Herbert Schofield became principal in 1915, and continued to lead the College of Technology until 1950. Under his guidance, the college changed almost beyond recognition. He bought the estate of Burleigh Hall on the western outskirts of the town, which became the nucleus of the present campus. He oversaw the building of the original Hazlerigg and Rutland halls of residence, which are now home to the university's administration and the vice-chancellor's offices.

School of Physical Education

Frederick Annesley Michael Webster, of Bradwell Juxta Coggeshall in north-west Essex, with Evelyn Montague, an athlete who competed in the much-heralded 1924 Summer Olympics, started an AAA summer school at Loughborough, from August 18, 1934. It was the first summer school for athletics in the UK. Tutors on the course included the sprinter Harold Abrahams and javelin thrower Jock Dalrymple. At the summer school on August 12, 1938, Lord Burghley attended, with Austrian coach Franz Stampfl, giving a hurdling display.
The first Loughborough College Stadium was opened on the afternoon of Tuesday June 1, 1937, by Clarence Bruce, 3rd Baron Aberdare, the chairman of the National Advisory Council for Physical Education, with Lt-Col R E Martin, the chairman of Leicestershire County Council. The stadium was the first in the UK for all track and field events, built on eight acres, and built by students, who were paid with only a cup of tea. A new School of Athletics, Games and Physical Education would begin later in September 1937. It was founded by F.A.M. Webster; his son, Richard Webster, had competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, coming sixth in the pole vault.

From college to university

An experienced educationist, Herbert Haslegrave took over as college principal in 1953. By increasing breadth and raising standards, he gained the institution the status of Colleges of Advanced Technology in 1958. He persuaded the Department of Education to buy further land and began a building programme.
In 1963, the Robbins Report on higher education recommended that all colleges of advanced technology be given university status. Loughborough College of Technology was granted a Royal Charter on 19 April 1966, and became Loughborough University of Technology, with Haslegrave as its first vice-chancellor. It gradually remodelled itself in the image of the plate glass universities of the period, which had also been created under Robbins.

Later history

In 1977, Loughborough Training College was absorbed into the university. In 1996, the university dropped the "of Technology" from its title, becoming Loughborough University. The Arts College was also amalgamated with the university in 1998. These additions have shifted the technological leaning of the institution, causing it to function more as a traditional university, with a combination of humanities, arts and sciences.
The shortened name "Lboro", "Lufbra" or "Luff" is commonly used by the students' union, the alumni association and others.

Campus

The university's main campus is in the town of Loughborough. That campus covers an area of 523 acres, and includes academic departments, 17 halls of residence, the Students' Union, two gyms, gardens and playing fields.
Of particular interest are The Walled Garden, with its Garden of Remembrance, the Hazlerigg-Rutland Hall fountain-courtyard, The Old Cottage and the Bastard Gates donated by and named after William Bastard, the Chairman of College Governors, which form the official entrance to Rutland Hall.
In the central quadrangle of the campus stands a famous cedar tree of veteran status, with a girth of 5.12 m. The cedar has often appeared as a symbol for the university and it was heavy snowfall in December 1990 that led to the collapse of the upper canopy which gave the tree its distinctive shape.

Library

The Pilkington Library opened in 1980. It covers 98,608 sq. ft. over four floors with 1375 study places – up from 780 prior to the renovation in late 2013. The library has a history of undertaking research in the field of library and information work.

Holywell Park Conference Centre

Holywell Park Conference Centre is a conference and meeting venue located on campus. It was used as the kitting out location for Team GB prior to the 2012 Summer Olympics.

University Stadium

The £4 million stadium for the university's rugby and football first teams was opened in 2012 and has a capacity of 3,000. It is home to Loughborough University FC, which is one of the few university sides to play in the English football league system, currently competing in the United Counties League. The stadium includes a digital scoreboard, conference facilities and 14 changing rooms. In 2018 it hosted four matches in the group stages of the European Under-17 Championships.

Organisation

Loughborough University is headed by a vice-chancellor and is organised into nine schools:
  • School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering '
  • School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering
  • Loughborough Business School
  • School of Design and Creative Arts
  • Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering
  • School of Science '
  • School of Social Sciences and Humanities '
  • School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
  • Loughborough University London '
Each of the 9 schools has a senior leadership team consisting of deans, associate deans for education and research, and operations managers. The University Executive Board is made up of the vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellor, chief operating officer, chief finance officer, the pro vice-chancellors for equity, diversity and inclusion, education and research, director of organisational development and the 9 deans.
In May 2022, the university launched a new strategy called "Creating Better Futures. Together", which sets out to guide Loughborough's activities and development over the next decade.

Traditions

The official colour of the university is African violet. The coat of arms incorporates several symbols relevant to the history of the Loughborough area, including Offa of Mercia's cross and the peafowl from the arms of the Dukes of Rutland. The motto of the university is veritate scientia labore.
The university has a strong tradition in both engineering and sport. From its strong engineering and technical background it has now expanded, becoming a centre of excellence in the field of sports and sports science. It has graduated a number of world-class athletes including Paula Radcliffe and Lord Coe. In keeping with this tradition, Loughborough students have won the British [Universities and Colleges Sport|British Universities & Colleges Sport Association (BUCS)] championship every year for four decades. The university is the home of the England and Wales Cricket Board's National Academy, opened in November 2003.
The university once had a "mascot" consisting of an oversized knight's helmet with a lowered visor, commonly called "Thor". This was constructed in 1958 by students of Hazlerigg-Rutland hall in the college welding shop. In the late 1980s Thor was displayed in the Students' Union foyer, but it has since gone missing.

Academic profile

The university has 20 academic departments and over 100 research groups, institutes and centres currently divided between nine schools. Previously the departments and research institutes had been split between three faculties: Science, Engineering and Social Science & Humanities.
It has students; of whom are undergraduates and are pursuing postgraduate courses and/or research. Its current Chancellor is Lord Sebastian Coe. Loughborough's vice-chancellor and president is Nick Jennings, who took up the post in October 2021 following the departure of Robert Allison.
The university has won seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education for work with the aeronautical and automotive industries ; support for developing countries ; for a pioneering role in developing applications of modern optics and laser technologies ; for its world leading roles in sports research, education and development ; for its world leading role in social policy in recognition of its outstanding and widely respected work in evaluating and helping develop social policy-related programmes, such as those for cared for children, social security policy, crime prevention, education initiatives and young carers ; for recognition of its vehicle, road and driver safety research ; and for its impact through research and skills development in High Value Manufacturing to create economic growth.
The university has the largest sports scholarship programme in the UK, with over 250 international athletes studying and training.

Admissions

In terms of average UCAS points of entrants, Loughborough ranked 30th in Britain in 2014. According to the 2017 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, approximately 17% of Loughborough's undergraduates come from independent schools. In the 2016–17 academic year, the university had a domicile breakdown of 79:5:16 of UK:EU:non-EU students respectively with a female to male ratio of 39:61.

Rankings and reputation

Loughborough was named University of the Year 2019 in The Times and Sunday Times University Good University Guide. Loughborough is one of only four universities, along with Bath, Oxford and St Andrews, to have won the title twice. Loughborough also moved up to 5th overall in the Good University Guide. Loughborough was also given the title of university of the year at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2018.
In the 2020 ranking exercise by Times Higher Education, Loughborough was ranked 59th in the world for the Best 'Golden Age' Universities, defined as those universities established for over 50 years, but less than 80 years.
In 2018 Loughborough was named best in the UK for student experience in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey for the fifth time since 2009.
Loughborough kept its position as the best university in the world to study sports-related subjects in the global 2018 QS higher education league table.

Sports

Loughborough is renowned in the UK for its sports provisions.
Loughborough University has been ranked number 1 in the world for sport-related subjects for in the QS World University Rankings by Subject since 2017.
As of the 2024 league, Loughborough is ranked first in the British Universities and Colleges Sport league table.
Loughborough Sport is the brand identity for the sport-related activities and facilities at the university. The university is host to a number of sports governing bodies including England cricket, British swimming, British Triathlon, England Netball, British athletics and British weight lifting
The university is home to the country's largest concentration of world-class facilities across a wide range of sports. Facilities include an indoor athletics centre and outdoor stadium, sports halls and all-weather pitches, a 50-metre swimming pool, squash, badminton and netball courts, an indoor tennis centre and outdoor courts, and two gyms.
In March 2023, the university opened an extension to its Powerbase gym. The new facility spans a combined 3,200 m2 and includes 46 lifting platforms, 8 fully instrumented racks and platforms with integrated VALD force plates, Output Sports velocity-based training systems, and Performance Analysis technology. It is home to the University's Boxing Centre of Excellence and the Athletic Union Boxing club.
The ECB National Academy which is also known as the National Cricket Performance Centre has been based at Loughborough since 2003 and provides indoor and outdoor training facilities for cricketers.
Loughborough was chosen by the British Olympic Association as the training base and official Preparation Camp for Team GB in the run-up to the London 2012 Games. Students and graduates of Loughborough won four bronze medals and six Paralympic medals in the 2012 Summer Olympics.
At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, over 120 athletes from Loughborough represented 8 teams, across 10 sports. In total, 35 medals were won by athletes with Loughborough connections; 13 bronze, 13 silver and nine gold medals. If Loughborough was a country, the university would have finished 11th on the medal table at the 2014 Games.
In 2016 over 80 students, graduates and Loughborough-linked athletes travelled to Rio to participate in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In the Olympic competition their athletes secured 12 medals, including 5 golds. Loughborough-linked coaches also played a key role in the Games, with alumni guiding Team GB, Canada and Fiji to gold medals. During the Paralympic competition Loughborough-linked athletes secured a further 22 medals.
Loughborough was connected to more than 100 athletes at the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo. At the Paralympic Games, 21 medals – six gold, six silver and nine bronze – were won by athletes with Loughborough connections.
Loughborough is home to the world's largest university-based sports technology research group, which is part of the Sports Technology Institute. SportPark, based at the university provides a home for national sporting bodies including Youth Sport Trust, British Swimming and several other national governing bodies.

Research centres and groups

Loughborough has a wide range of research centres and institutes, including:
In 2023, The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which assess universities against the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, placed Loughborough first in the UK and 15th globally for affordable and clean energy.
The Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology, or CREST, runs the internationally recognised masters programme in renewable energy. The Centre for Research in Social Policy is an independent research centre based within the Department of Social Sciences. It is responsible for calculating the Minimum Income Standard in the United Kingdom for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
The Department of Politics, History and International Relations, or PHIR, is home to researchers in European politics and international relations. It evolved from the Department of European Studies, which was established in 1972.
In 2003, the department took the decision to invest in the study of Politics and International Relations and began to offer undergraduate degrees in International Relations. It was after this that the department had a change of name and became the Department of Politics, International Relations and European Studies. PIRES was declared a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence by the European Commission. Notable alumni of PHIR include Paula Radcliffe, Tanni Grey-Thompson and James Gibson. Academics include Ruth Kinna, Professor of Political Theory.

Student life

Students' Union

The Union building sits in the north-eastern corner of the campus, and offers a range of facilities for clubs and societies, retail, entertainment and other activities. The Union has five rooms, each with its own theme. Loughborough Students' Union, was awarded the International Experience Award 2011 by the National Union of Students.
As well as representing the student body through Union Council and offering academic support through Loughborough Students' Voice, the Union has five main sections for students: the athletic union offering 56 different sporting clubs, the Societies Federation consisting of over 80 societies, Action as the volunteering section offering a range of opportunities for students, along with 45 regular projects working with young people, the elderly, special needs, the homeless or the environment.
Loughborough has a media centre, which offers the opportunity to make TV shows with LSUTV, have your own radio show with LCR, write for the student magazine Label or improve your photography with Lens. The School of the Arts, English and Drama runs The Lamplight Press, the UK's first student-led publishing company.

Student halls

As of 2025, there are a total of 16 halls of residence, many of which are named after famous scientists and engineers. The halls are as follows:
NameLocationOpen toCatering status
Robert BakewellVillage ParkUndergraduates onlySelf-catering
Butler Court East ParkUndergraduates onlySelf-catering
CayleyVillage ParkUndergraduates onlyCatered
Claudia ParsonsVillage ParkUndergraduates onlySelf-catering
David CollettWest ParkUndergraduates onlyCatered
Falkner–EggingtonCentral ParkUndergraduates and postgraduatesSelf-catering
FaradayVillage ParkUndergraduates onlyCatered
Harry French Historic HallOff campusUndergraduates and postgraduatesSelf-catering
Hazlerigg–RutlandVillage ParkUndergraduates onlySelf-catering
The HoltOff campusUndergraduates onlySelf-catering
William MorrisOff campusUndergraduates onlySelf-catering
John PhillipsVillage ParkPostgraduates and undergraduatesSelf-catering
Elvyn RichardsVillage ParkUndergraduates onlyCatered
RoyceVillage ParkUndergraduates onlyCatered
RutherfordVillage ParkUndergraduates onlyCatered
TelfordVillage ParkUndergraduates onlySelf-catering
TowersEast ParkUndergraduates onlyCatered

Of these, Hazlerigg–Rutland, John Phillips, Elvyn Richards and Telford have names that were previously used for halls of residence that have since been repurposed, renamed or merged with other halls. In 2015 Loughborough University ranked first in the UK for accommodation on a university review platform StudentCrowd.

Fitness facilities

Loughborough University has extensive sport and fitness facilities. These include two main gyms, namely Powerbase and Holywell, a Olympic size swimming pool, netball and tennis centres, and a High Performance Athletics Centre.

University leadership

Chairmen of Governors / Chair of University Council

Chancellors

Principals

Vice-Chancellors

International programmes

Loughborough University and Kazakhstan's Bolashak scholarship programme signed a cooperation agreement in 2018. The agreement enables taught master's and PhD students to study at the university's two campuses in the East Midlands and London.

Notable alumni