Loughborough University

Loughborough University is a public research university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. Although it officially became a university in 1966, its history goes back to 1909 when it started as Loughborough Technical Institute. The university is well-known for its strong focus on research and teaching, and in 2024, it ranked ninth nationally for undergraduate education.

In March 2013, the university expanded by purchasing the former broadcast centre at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, adding a second campus to its facilities. During the 2024–25 academic year, the university's income was £386.2 million, with a large portion coming from research grants and contracts. This income helped support its many programs and services for students and researchers. The university is often shortened to Luff or Lboro in official references.

History

Loughborough University started in 1909 as the Loughborough Technical Institute. It grew quickly under leaders like Herbert Schofield, who helped turn it into a larger college and later a university. Students even wore special gowns to classes at first!

After World War I, the institute split into four colleges, including one for art and one for technology. The technology college became the main part of today’s university. In 1966, it officially became a university. Over time, it added more subjects like arts and education, becoming the university we know today. Students often call it “Lboro” or “Luff.”

Campus

The university's main campus is in the town of Loughborough. This campus, which was once the estate of Burleigh Hall, covers a large area of 523 acres. It includes many places for learning, 17 places to live, a students' group, two gyms, gardens, and playing fields.

Some special spots on campus are The Walled Garden with its Garden of Remembrance, the Hazlerigg-Rutland Hall fountain-courtyard, The Old Cottage, and the Bastard Gates. These were donated by William Bastard, who was Chairman of College Governors, and they form the main entrance to Rutland Hall.

In the middle of the campus stands a famous cedar tree. This tree is very important to the university and has a special shape because heavy snow in December 1990 caused part of it to fall down.

Library

The Pilkington Library opened in 1980. It is a big building covering 98,608 sq. ft. (9,161 square metres) with space for 1,375 people to study. Before it was updated in late 2013, there were only 780 places to study. The library has a long history of studying how libraries and information work.

Holywell Park Conference Centre

Holywell Park Conference Centre is a place on campus where people can have meetings and conferences. It was used by Team GB to get ready before the 2012 Summer Olympics.

University Stadium

In 2012, a stadium was opened for the university's rugby and football teams. It cost £4 million and can hold 3,000 people. The stadium is home to Loughborough University FC, which plays in the English football league system, currently in the Northern Premier League. The stadium has a digital scoreboard, places to hold meetings, and 14 rooms for changing clothes. In 2018, it was used for some matches in the European Under-17 Championships.

Organisation

Loughborough University is led by a vice-chancellor and is divided into nine schools. These schools include engineering, business, design, science, social sciences, and sports, among others. Each school has its own leadership team.

In May 2022, the university started a new plan called "Creating Better Futures. Together" to guide its work for the next ten years.

Traditions

The university's official colour is African violet. Its motto is veritate scientia labore, meaning "with truth, wisdom and labour". Loughborough is well-known for its strength in engineering and sports. It has produced many top athletes, and its students have won the British Universities & Colleges Sport Association (BUCS) championship for forty years in a row. The university is also home to the England and Wales Cricket Board's National Academy, which opened in 2003.

Academic profile

Loughborough University has 20 departments and over 100 research groups split into nine schools. It has around 18,300 students, including both undergraduate and postgraduate learners. The university has won several top awards for its work in areas like aviation, support for developing countries, and sports research.

Loughborough is well-known for its sports programs, with the largest sports scholarship program in the UK. It has many top facilities for different sports and has been ranked number one in the world for sports-related subjects. The university also has many research centres focusing on areas like renewable energy and social policy.

Student life

Students' Union

Main article: Loughborough Students' Union

The Students' Union building is located in the north-eastern corner of the campus and provides many facilities for students. It includes rooms for clubs and societies, places to shop, entertainment options, and other activities. The Loughborough Students' Union received an International Experience Award in 2011.

The Union supports students in many ways. It has sections for sports clubs, over 80 different societies, volunteering opportunities, and projects that help young people, older adults, those with special needs, homeless people, and the environment. Students can also create TV shows, radio shows, write for a magazine, or improve their photography skills.

Student halls

As of 2025, there are 16 halls of residence at the university, and many are named after famous scientists and engineers. In 2015, Loughborough University was ranked first in the UK for its student housing.

Fitness facilities

Loughborough University has many sports and fitness facilities. These include two main gyms, an Olympic size swimming pool (which was updated in 2025), netball and tennis centres, and a High Performance Athletics Centre.

University leadership

Loughborough University has had many important leaders over the years. These leaders include chairmen of the university’s governing body, chancellors, principals, and vice-chancellors. Each of these roles helps guide and support the university.

Chairmen of Governors / Chair of University Council

• A. A. Bumpus (1909–1925)
• B. B. Barrow (1925–1934)
• William Bastard (1934–1936)
• W. H. Wright (1936–1940)
• Sir Robert Martin (1940–1952)
• Sir Harold West (1952–1957)
• Sir Edward Herbert (1957–1963)
• Sir Herbert Manzoni (1963–1966)
• David Collett (1966-1981)
• Dr Harry French (1981-1986)
• Sir B. R. Dean (1992–2015)
• Sir Peter Bonfield (2016-2020)
• Christine Hodgson CBE (2021–present)

Chancellors

• Lord Pilkington (1966–1980)
• Sir Arnold Hall (1980–1989)
• Sir Denis Rooke (1989–2003)
• Sir John Jennings (2003–2010)
• Sir Nigel Rudd (2010–2016)
• Lord Coe (2017–)

Principals

• S. C. Laws (1909–1915)
• Herbert Schofield (1915–1950)
• Major-General W. F. Hasted (1951–1952)
• H. E. Falkner, J. W. Bridgeman and C. D. Bentley (interim 'triumvirate' January–September 1952)
• Wing Commander H. E. Falkner (1952–1953) (acting)
• Herbert Haslegrave (1953–1966)

Vice-Chancellors

• Herbert Haslegrave (1966–1967)
• Elfyn J. Richards (1967–1975)
• Sir Clifford Butler (1975–1985)
• John G. Phillips (1986–1987)
• Sir David Davies (1988–1993)
• Sir David Wallace (1994–2005)
• Shirley Pearce (2006–2012)
• Robert Allison (2012–2021)
• Nick Jennings (2021–present)

International programmes

Loughborough University worked with Kazakhstan's Bolashak scholarship programme in 2018. They made an agreement so that students can study at the university’s campuses in the East Midlands and London. This includes master’s and PhD students.

Notable alumni

See also: Category:Alumni of Loughborough University

Loughborough University has many successful graduates in different fields. Some well-known names include Sebastian Coe, an Olympic athlete and the current university chancellor, and Paula Radcliffe, a three-time winner of the London Marathon.

Other notable graduates are Tanni Grey-Thompson, a politician and former wheelchair racer, and Clive Woodward, a former rugby union player and coach. The university has also educated athletes, actors, engineers, and leaders in many areas.