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Loughborough University Ranking- 2025

The first thing that you need to figure out when planning to study abroad is choosing a university that best aligns with your future career goals. But how can you do that? By understanding its rankings. And today in our blog, we will be taking a look at Loughborough University ranking, both in the UK and globally. This widely regarded institute is known for its academic excellence, vibrant campus life, and strong focus on student experience. But where does it rank? Let’s find out in our blog below!

Discover national and International Loughborough University Ranking with Gradding.com

Table of Contents

Overview of Loughborough University Ranking

Home to more than 18,000 students from around the world, the University of Loughborough is a highly ranked university both in the UK and globally. It was first founded in the year 1909 and is known for its excellence in sports and engineering programs, both nationally and internationally.

The Loughborough University ranking in sports is one of the best in the world. Some Notable sports personalities who have studied here include names like Sebastian Coe, Paula Radcliffe, and Clive Woodward. It also has some of the highest-ranked PG and UG subjects, such as:

  • Civil Engineering (#148)
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering (#167)
  • Social Sciences and Public Health (#183)
  • Economics and Business (Top #100)
  • Energy and Fuels (#253)
  • Engineering (#201-250)

In addition to these top-ranked courses, Loughborough University is also known for providing a high-quality student experience with a well-regarded Students' Union and diverse clubs and societies. Below is the basic information you’ll need to know about this university:

ParticularsDetails
Type of InstitutionPublic research university
Entry LevelsUndergraduate, Postgraduate (Taught & Research), Foundation
Application Method- Undergraduate: UCAS -Postgraduate: Direct via university website
English Requirements- IELTS: typically, 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0)- Other tests accepted
Tuition Fees (2024/25)- UK: ~£9,250/year (UG)- International: £20,000–£28,000/year (UG/PG)
ScholarshipsMerit-based scholarships for international and UK students
AccommodationOn-campus and off-campus housing available
Popular CoursesEngineering, Sports Science, Business, Design, Architecture

How Are University Rankings Determined?

The Loughborough University ranking UK and other institutes are determined by various online ranking platforms like U.S. News & World Report, QS World University Rankings, and Times Higher Education. These platforms use various parameters and indicators to assess the influence of a university. Below are a few parameters:

  1. Academic Reputation: There are many ranking bodies, like QS World University Rankings, which use this as one of the main indicators of ranking an institution. This criterion helps in assessing the quality of a university’s research output and academic programs. For example, in the QS ranking, academic reputation weighs 30% in the overall score.
  2. Research Quality and Output: Another main parameter is how much a university contributes to knowledge discovery and influences the academic community. For example, Loughborough University world ranking would be gauged based on its global research reputation, number of publications, and the number of Nobel Laureates or Fields Medallists.
  3. Teaching Quality and Environment: Ranking bodies like Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE) take into account the quality of teaching and the learning environment. This measures things like student-to-faculty ratio, retention and graduation rates, faculty qualifications and teaching awards, and student satisfaction surveys.
  4. Internationalisation: This is an important criterion which evaluates a university’s global engagement and impact. For example, Loughborough University's QS ranking is assessed on indicators like international faculty ratio, international research network, and international student diversity. Similarly, THE measure this through the proportion of international students and staff, and international collaboration.

These are just a few of the many parameters that the Loughborough University ranking depends on. However, do keep in mind that different ranking bodies use different factors for ranking similar institutions. For example, THE World University Rankings focuses on teaching and research quality, whereas U.S. News & World Report focuses on student outcomes and financial stability.

Loughborough University Ranking in National and International Lists

If we talk about Loughborough University Ranking in the national and international lists, then it has been consistently ranked as one of the best in the UK and in the world by various ranking bodies. It also has a really strong reputation for excellence in teaching, research, and student experience. Let’s take a look at its ranking in more detail below:

ParticularsRank (approx.)
World Ranking#623 (CWUR 2025) 
Europe Ranking#242 (CWUR 2025 regional rank) 
UK Ranking#41 (CWUR 2025 national rank) 
England Ranking#36 (EduRank 2025 within England) 
Midlands (or regional UK)#1 (highest in the Midlands: Complete University Guide 2026) 
Nonacademic Prominence#364 (EduRank nonacademic prominence index) 

National Rankings

The Loughborough university ranking UK is at #1 for Sports Science and Engineering programs. It also has a great student life, with a well-regarded campus and a strong sense of community.

  1. The Guardian University Guide 2025: Has ranked Loughborough at 10th overall in the UK. It has also been in the top 10 consistently for several years, mainly because of high student satisfaction, quality of teaching, and graduate employability.
  2. The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024: As per these, the Loughborough University UK Ranking is at 9th, and it is highly known for student experience, outstanding facilities, and strong support services.
  3. Complete University Guide 2025: Placed the University of Loughborough in the top 10 overall, with some subjects like Sports Science, Engineering, and Design ranking even higher.

A) Subject Specific Ranking in the UK

Subject AreaRankingRanking Body
Sports-Related Subjects#1 globallyQS World University Rankings
Communication and Media Studies#1 in the UKNational subject rankings (QS/others)
Art and DesignTop 4 in the UKNational subject rankings
Architecture and Built EnvironmentTop 4 in the UKNational subject rankings
Library and Information ManagementTop 18QS World University Rankings
Petroleum EngineeringTop 100QS World University Rankings
MarketingTop 100QS World University Rankings
Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing EngineeringTop 100QS World University Rankings

B) International Rankings

On the global stage, the Loughborough University ranking has a respectable position, along with Close ties with employers and a focus on career readiness.

  • Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024: The university is listed in the top 400 in the world and has a strong score in teaching, citations, and industry income.
  • QS World University Rankings 2025: The Loughborough University QS Ranking is in the top 250 institutes globally and is highly known for its impactful research output, employer reputation, and international outlook.

C) Subject Specific Ranking Globally

Subject AreaRankingRanking Body
Sports-Related Subjects#1 globallyQS World University Rankings (2025)
Arts and Humanities#183 globallyU.S. News Best Global Universities
Economics and BusinessTop #100 globallyU.S. News Best Global Universities
Electrical and Electronic Engineering#193 globallyU.S. News Best Global Universities
Mechanical Engineering#195 globallyU.S. News Best Global Universities
Social Sciences and Public Health#169 globallyU.S. News Best Global Universities

Key Factors Affecting Loughborough University Ranking

Below are a few factors that affect the University of Loughborough ranking significantly in both national and international university league tables:

  • Student Satisfaction and Experience: The university has consistently been ranked for its high student satisfaction in national surveys like the NSS (National Student Survey). It is also known for providing an exceptional student experience. Because of this positive student experience, the university has a high retention rate, which contributes highly to its rankings.
  • Graduate Prospects and Employability: Loughborough University also has strong industry links and high graduate employment rates, which also play a major role in its ranking. The university has a strong emphasis on placements and sandwich years to help students get important workplace skills.
  • Research Quality and Output: This also contributes to University of Loughborough ranking as 90% of its research was rated 'world-leading' or 'internationally-excellent' in the UK's 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
  • Specialised Strengths: This has played a major role in Loughborough University world ranking. Its sports-related subjects have secured the #1 position worldwide in the QS World University Rankings by Subject for nine consecutive years.
  • International Outlook: Another thing that can affect a Loughborough University UK ranking is international students and staff, and its international research collaborations.
  • Facilities and Resources: Last but not least, the institute also has a large and well-maintained campus along with academic, sports, and recreational facilities. This plays a major role in student experience and is generally considered in ranking assessments.

Conclusion

To sum up, Loughborough University ranking is among the top universities, both in the UK and globally. In our blog above, we have covered everything that you might need to know about this institute’s ranking. Additionally, if you need any help finding student accommodation in UK or just a student Accommodation near University of Loughborough then you can connect and get tailored help from GraddingHomes.com.

FAQs

1. Does Loughborough University’s Ranking Offer Good Career Opportunities?

Yes, Loughborough University’s strong rankings help in offering great career opportunities, especially in fields like engineering and sports. The university has also been consistently ranked in the UK for having a high graduate employability rate, and it also has an award-winning Careers Network, which helps its students with career planning and job prospects.

2. How Does Loughborough University Rank in Terms of Student Satisfaction?

Loughborough University consistently ranks high when it comes to student satisfaction, with an 84.7% satisfaction rate on top portals. It has also been ranked at 6th in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2025 for its outstanding student experience.

3. What Are Some of Loughborough University’s Top Programs?

Loughborough University offers some of the best and renowned programs in sports-related subjects, which have been ranked as the best in the world by QS World University Rankings by Subject. Apart from sports, the university also provides top programs in engineering, business, art and design, and media studies.

4. Should Rankings Be the Most Important Factor When Choosing a University?

While it is an important factor when it comes to choosing a university which aligns with your future goals, it should not be the only one. They can help a great deal in narrowing down options, but there should be other factors like academic fit, campus culture, cost, location, and career aspirations that one should take into account.

5. How Are University Rankings Calculated?

A university’s ranking is calculated by evaluating multiple factors like academic reputation, graduate employability, student satisfaction, faculty-to-student ratio, research output, and international outlook. Different ranking bodies (like QS, Times Higher Education, or The Guardian) weigh these criteria differently, which is why rankings can vary between sources.

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