Loughborough University

While Loughborough University is already established as one of the top learning institutions in the UK, there is still consistent development and funding to keep improving on the overall experience for students.

Funding has been announced for those students in the School of Science who wish to undertake research that may be deemed adventurous and high-risk in the schools of engineering and physical sciences. The projects, to be up to a duration of 24 months, can each receive up to £200,000.

More broadly, the university has announced a £2million donation from a former student to support young people in accessing their education at Loughborough. The investment will help students to develop the skills needed for their academic success.

The university has also opened a new Careers and Enterprise Hub in the centre of Loughborough to help and encourage potential and existing students in learning new skills to tackle the post-COVID world, or to launch their own new business.

And as demonstration of how serious Loughborough takes its sport, it has recently appointed a former Premier League footballer to be the head coach of the Men's university football teams. Jamie Clapham played for Tottenham Hotspur in the country's top division, along with other clubs throughout the Football League, and brings a high level of experience to student sport.

Loughborough University is recognised both nationally and globally for the quality of its teaching. It is an institution that aims to inspire innovation, hard work and a sense of participation amongst all students and staff.

The university actively recruits the best lecturers and academics from around the world. 17% of the main staff body are international, covering over 75 nationalities. By bringing in the most talented teachers from such a broad background, students are ensured of the highest quality education, benefitting from a truly diverse learning experience.

The number of staff employed by the university also contributes to this teaching quality. There is one member of academic staff to every 13.4 students, ensuring more focused development based on the individual student, with lower waiting times for support and meetings if required.

The vast range of courses available at Loughborough University are split across 22 schools and departments on the Loughborough campus, with the Loughborough University London campus treated as its own school.

These departments are varied, some offering a wider selection of courses than those that are more specialised. However, each benefit from outstanding facilities and academic support. Loughborough may be famous for its sporting courses but any student in any department will enjoy an excellent and quality learning experience at the institution.

These range from broad departments, such as Design or the School of Social Sciences and Humanities, to more focused schools, like the Teacher Education department or the Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering school.

The London campus specialises in postgraduate study and is further split into seven institutes that deliver a range of courses for those looking to further their education after completing an undergraduate degree.

Students who wish to apply for Loughborough University must meet certain entry requirements to be permitted onto their chosen programme. These will usually involve the equivalent of a high school education in the applicant's home country, with certain grades needing to be achieved to qualify. Each course at Loughborough has different entry requirements, which can be found on the respective course pages on the website.

Students must also be able to demonstrate an ability to speak, understand and read English. The standard requirement of English needed is an overall 6.5 score on IELTS, with no individual element scored at less than 6.0. Some courses may require a higher score – this will be detailed in any offer made to students.

Students on some courses may also be asked to provide a portfolio, demonstrating their existing body of work in a field, in order to gain a place on the course. This is limited to only a few courses and again details will be made clear to applicants when they apply.

As Loughborough is renowned for its sporting excellence, some students who do not meet the academic criteria to qualify for a course may be accepted if they are considered an elite athlete.

Anyone wishing to begin a programme of study at Loughborough University must pay tuition fees. For an undergraduate course, these are currently GBP 9,250 per year for UK students, and range from GBP 20,750 to GBP 25,700 per year for international students, depending on the band of course they wish to enrol in.

To help cover these costs, there are a number of scholarships and bursaries that students can apply for to cover a portion of the fees involved. Some of these are tailored to UK students only, others are exclusively for international students and some are open to all students, regardless of their nationality.

The funding varies between each option. Exceptional musicians can claim up to GBP 500 for music tuition. Meanwhile sporting talents could be entitled to receive up to GBP 5,000 per year to support their training, providing they are at least performing at a junior international level in their chosen sport.

All international students are considered for the International Scholarships automatically, which can grant a 25 per cent discount on the first year's tuition fees depending on circumstances.

Loughborough's campus is equipped with some of the best facilities found in the UK. Students will enjoy a fully rounded academic, social and sporting experience during their time at university.

Every school is provided with outstanding teaching facilities to ensure that students have access to the latest equipment and knowledge, developing the leaders of tomorrow in each respective field. One example is the STEMLab, a recent addition to campus packed with advanced laboratories, workshops and learning spaces for engineering and science students.

In terms of accommodation, the university is well equipped – there are 16 halls of residence for students to choose from, all situated either on the campus or within a short distance. Students who make Loughborough their firm choice before a July deadline will be guaranteed a room in halls, either for one year as a UK national, or two years for international students.

The Loughborough Students' Union is a vibrant hub of social opportunities and student support services. The Union has a number of its own onsite facilities including a shop, a 4,000-capacity nightclub, a medical centre, a pharmacy and a Chinese restaurant. There are many clubs and societies that students can join to meet like-minded people.

Finally, no mention of Loughborough's campus can fail to cover the sporting facilities. Loughborough has the UK's largest concentration of world-class facilities for every sport imaginable, all accessible to students of all abilities.