Research excellence

Research at Loughborough prides itself on excellence and relevance, shaping public policy, improving lives, and enabling business and industry to compete more effectively.

Internationally recognised strengths

Our research spans the arts, humanities, business, social sciences, sport, health, science, design, engineering and mathematics – creating positive change right across society. Many of the individual strengths within our disciplines cluster around our five Beacons. These long established research areas deliver significant influence and impact, as part of our ongoing commitment to making a difference in the world. • Built environment • Communication and culture • High-value manufacturing • Sport and exercise • Transport technologies

Global challenges

Loughborough researchers bring their expertise together to find solutions to some of the biggest challenges we face as a society today. • Changing environments and infrastructure • Energy • Health and wellbeing • Secure and resilient societies Our collaborative and cross-disciplinary approach allows us to develop innovative solutions that can be directly applied in the real world.

Centres of Excellence

Respected internationally for the quality and relevance of their research, our flagship centres deliver their work in partnership with the public and private sector, many of which are supported by nationally unique laboratory facilities. We have 14 in total, which include:

Centre for Research in Social Policy (CRSP)

Delivering high quality applied policy research for over 30 years, including the Minimum Income Standard (MIS) – the research that sets the Living Wage - which has been marked as one of the UK’s most important academic breakthroughs.

Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST)

Pioneering renewable energy generation, distribution, end use demand and storage for more than 25 years.

Ready to respond

When needed, our research is responsive. In 2020, many Loughborough researchers adapted the focus of their work to support the global fight against COVID-19. Existing research was redirected to support testing capabilities; our expertise was called upon by Government for guidance; and national surveys were conducted to gather information that would support the nation’s recovery. For example, a Loughborough-led study created guidance on how to design and operate non-domestic buildings to minimise the risk of airborne transmission of COVID-19, and other viruses. The government funded AIRBODS (Airborne Infection Reduction through Building Operation and Design for SARS- CoV-2) project is helping to get large-scale events back up and running, with trials taking place at several ‘test’ venues including the O2 arena and Wembley Stadium.

TOP

AWARDED 5* FOR RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL QS STARS SCHEME 2020

RANKED TOP 10 IN ENGLAND FOR RESEARCH INTENSITY RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FRAMEWORK 2014

Our community

ALMOST 1200 RESEARCH STUDENTS

COVERING 80 NATIONALITIES

OVER 1200 ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH STAFF

CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND SUPPORTING OUR RESEARCH STUDENTS

38 PRESTIGIOUS RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP AWARDS

OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS, WITH A VALUE OF OVER £13M

SECTOR-LEADING SUPPORT FOR EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS

THROUGH STRUCTURED PROGRAMMES WITHIN A WELCOMING, DYNAMIC RESEARCH COMMUNITY

Our impact in action

Modern energy cooking services (MECS)

Researchers at Loughborough are leading the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s £38m Modern Energy Cooking Services programme in partnership with the World Bank. The five-year programme is uniting some of the UK’s leading universities and innovators, with the aim of sparking a revolution in the sector and creating a range of market-ready innovations (both technology and business models) that will lead to improved choice of affordable and reliable modern energy cooking services for consumers in some of the world’s poorest communities. MECS is integrating modern energy cooking services into the planning for electricity access, quality, reliability, and sustainability, in the hope of leveraging investment in renewable energies, to address the clean cooking challenge.

Institute of Advanced Studies

We are committed to supporting international collaborations with leading researchers from other institutions across the globe.

WELCOMED OVER 200 VISITING FELLOWS

FROM 34 COUNTRIES SINCE LAUNCHING IN 2017

An outstanding student experience

Our Doctoral College offers excellent standards of supervision, access to a rich research network, extensive training, vibrant social programmes, and University-wide specialist support services. Graduate House is a study and social space, exclusive to postgraduate taught and research students studying at the University.