Loughborough University originated in 1909 as a Technical Institute. Established as a university in 1966, Loughborough is a premier educational institution in Leicestershire. The institution also has a second postgraduate campus in London.
If you’re a prospective student interested in Loughborough University, it’s only natural that you’ll want to know how its strengths measure up against its weaknesses. However, there are so many different factors that determine the quality of an institution that it can be overwhelming to try to measure them all up. Here is a comprehensive guide that will walk you through the main points of what characterises Loughborough (also known as Lough, or Lboro) based on the numbers as well as student opinion.
Is Loughborough University Good?
Whether Loughborough will be a good fit for you depends on what your priorities are going into uni, and what you want to get out of the experience. While these elements vary from individual to individual, it can be helpful to look at what students have to say about the university. After all, there’s no one more equipped to tell you what Loughborough is like than someone who actually went there.
Students on StudentCrowd gave Loughborough predominantly favourable reviews, with an overall score of 4.34/5. Likewise, reviewers on WhatUni gave it a 4.5/5.
See also: Is the University of Nottingham Good?
‘Loughborough University’s campus and facilities are brilliant in terms of student study spaces, lab availability, and top-class industry software exposure. The Students’ Union plays an integral role here at Loughborough, where they provide help to students with problems related to exam mitigation circumstances. You can always refer to them to file a claim regarding any issue. With that, the Union provides, phenomenal study spaces and entertainment sources for students, like night clubs with different themes and artists.’ one student wrote on StudentCrowd.
‘The university itself has a really nice campus with great academic and sports facilities. In academic terms the university fluctuates quite a bit. Some of my lecturers are really good whilst some are really poor. The work load is certainly higher than I expected which is a positive because it shows the university does seek to push you. Social life here honestly is not that great. Especially for students who are from south London like me. The town is very deprived with barely anything to do. The food spots are really good though in all fairness,’ another student weighed in on StudentCrowd.
‘Loughborough is amazing for sports studies as well as other studies. The student union is the hub of the uni and hall life is really good. The facilities are at an elite standard. The town has everything you could need and the surrounding area has a lot of beautiful scenery,’ a student wrote on WhatUni.
Is It Hard To Get Into Loughborough University?
One factor you’ll likely be considering as you’re applying to universities is how likely you are to be accepted. It’s a good thing to think about, because you’ll want to make sure you apply to at least one university you’re most likely to be accepted to. Loughborough has an acceptance rate of 50%. This means that you’ll need some pretty good credentials to get in, however it’s not as exclusive as some of the most elite universities.
Where Is Loughborough University Ranked?
While rankings aren’t everything when it comes to selecting a university, it can be helpful to see how different publications measure up a university in comparison with other institutions. QS ranks Loughborough at #256 globally. THE ranks it at between 351-400th in the world. US News ranks it at #526 in the world, #216 in Europe and #42 in the UK. The Guardian ranked it 7th in the UK for 2021 and 10th for 2022. The Complete University Guide ranked it 7th in the UK.
Why Is Loughborough Ranked So High?
The discrepancies between different ranking systems have to do with the algorithms that those systems use. One algorithm might favour research, for example, while another might weigh student satisfaction more highly. While the details of these algorithms are not set in stone, Loughborough’s academic rigour and student resources may contribute to why it ranks quite highly.
Is Loughborough Russell Group?
Despite its high rankings, Loughborough is not a member of the Russell Group. The Russell Group includes the following universities:
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bristol
- University of Cambridge
- Cardiff University
- Durham University
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Exeter
- University of Glasgow
- Imperial College London
- King’s College London
- University of Leeds
- University of Liverpool
- London School of Economics & Politic Science
- University of Manchester
- Newcastle University
- University of Oxford
- Queen Mary, University of London
- Queen’s University Belfast
- University of Sheffield
- University of Southampton
- University College London
- University of Warwick
- University of York
See also: Is Durham a Good University?
