Founded in 1909 as a small technical institute. Became Loughborough College and then Loughborough College of Technology. In 1966 became Loughborough University of Technology, the UK's first technological university. Renamed Loughborough University in 1996. Land acquisitions in 2003, 2006 and 2010 have made Loughborough one of the country's largest single-site campuses, with over 438 acres of land.
Located on the edge of the market town of Loughborough. The cities of Nottingham, Leicester and Derby are easily accessible. London is 90 minutes away. A safe, single-site campus provides plenty of open space, gardens and sports areas interspersed with academic buildings and student accommodation. Loughborough railway station is 3 km (2 miles) away, the M1 1.6km (1 mile), and East Midlands Airport 14.5 km (9 miles). A shuttle bus operates between campus and the town/railway station.
In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) every department was found to be undertaking research that is internationally recognised, with 18% of the University's research considered to be 'world leading'. 70% of Loughborough University research is carried out in collaboration with external partners (national average is 20%). The University has over 40 research centres and institutes and five interdisciplinary research schools. A top 20 university based on research funding from HEFCE (the Higher Education Funding Council for England) and the only one in this shortlist without a medical school.
Loughborough was ranked first in the UK out of all the participating universities in the international and UK Student Barometer, with over 90% of Loughborough students saying they were satisfied with the University’s services and 92% saying they would recommend Loughborough to others considering applying to university. Extensive links with industry. More than 80% of undergraduate courses offer a year-long placement. Loughborough is also one of the top 15 universities targeted by large, graduate employers. 87% of Loughborough graduates from 2012 are in a job or undertaking further study, with 76% of these in 'higher graduate' occupations, compared with the national average of 64%.
Loughborough University is the UK's premier university for sport and its underpinning disciplines, with one of the best integrated sports development environment in the world. Loughborough University is home to the world's largest university-based Sports Technology Research Group, which is part of the internationally acclaimed Sports Technology Institute. SportPark, based at the University provided a state-of-the-art home for national sporting bodies including Youth Sport Trust, British Swimming and several other national governing bodies.
Home to the ECB National Cricket Academy and national centres of excellence for swimming and athletics. Loughborough hosted Team GB prior to the London 2012 Olympic Games. More than 90 Loughborough-linked athletes competed at the games. Loughborough has dominated the BUCS championships for over thirty years.
Loughborough will open a second academic campus in 2015 in part of the former International Broadcast Centre on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, offering postgraduate and executive education. The £21-million Loughborough Design School, which provides state-of-the-art facilities for the various design disciplines at the University, opened in autumn 2011. Work is underway to build a new £5.6-million health and fitness centre on campus, opening in October 2014.
Plans are underway for the development of a £23-million sport and exercise medicine centre on the Loughborough campus. The centre will be part of the country’s first-ever National Sport and Exercise Medicine Centre of Excellence.
Proposals have been announced to expand the Science and Enterprise Park on the University campus. One of the first buildings to be established on this was SportPark, a £15 million bespoke central hub for some of the country’s leading sports bodies.
A £15-million Sports Technology Institute has been created to develop cutting-edge technology and enhance research and enterprise in the sport and leisure sectors.