Academic and student support

Loughborough's award-winning Mathematics Learning Support Centre (MLSC) is designed to help students who encounter mathematics and statistics that are new and challenging to them.

Mathematics and statistics support is available to every Loughborough student on campus and remotely throughout their university journey.

Support includes:

• private study space with access to on-duty tutors
• bookable remote support sessions for individuals and groups
• specialised statistics advice on collecting and analysing data for master’s students completing their dissertation

Find out more on the Mathematics Learning Support Centre website.

Our services include software tools, online learning and teaching facilities, and access to the Internet and email. We also have open access computer suites across campus, which are usually available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The wireless network provides internet access from over 10,000 locations on campus, including study bedrooms in all University-managed halls of residence.

The Hall Network Service, known as HallNet, can also provide you with access to the University network and the wider Internet.

Find out more about IT Services.

Our library provides a complete range of services to support you, including:

• 24/7 access during revision and exam periods
• over 9,000m² of space with around 700,000 volumes, DVDs and CDs
• over 100 databases and 30,000 electronic journals.

The Library has over 80 staff and is open until 2am during term time. We provide a complete information and enquiry service and can teach you how to make the best possible use of the wide range of resources available. We also have a wide range of free training opportunities including workshops on referencing software and developing an effective approach to academic reading.

There are many different study spaces, including 20 study rooms, silent study areas and individual study areas. There is also a flexible study space with PCs, tables, chairs and whiteboards where you can work, use laptops and mobiles, and have cold food and drinks. Our IT Services also have a PC Clinic where you can access technical support for your personal devices.

We also offer an inter-library loan service, which provides you with access to print collections and electronic articles that are not available in our library. This is a useful service that provides access to thousands of books and articles from other libraries around the UK and occasionally from overseas that you may need for research purposes. Sometimes these resources can be obtained as photocopies or PDFs which you can then keep.

The library also features vending machines, a café serving hot food and snacks and a shop which stocks snacks, drinks and stationary supplies.

Find out more about the University Library.

The Student Advice and Support Service (SASS) offers free, confidential and impartial information and advice before and during your studies.

Our aim is to ensure that you are not disadvantaged by a lack of knowledge of your rights, entitlements and responsibilities, and that you are able to make informed decisions to resolve difficulties you may encounter. Find out more about the Student Advice and Support Service.

LSU Advice provides free, independent, confidential and non-judgemental advice for taught students and doctoral researchers at both the Loughborough and London campuses.

Our team of specially trained advisors are here to support students through any difficult times with their studies by providing advice on a range of issues, including academic misconduct and appeals.

Our service is available to all, regardless of circumstance.

Get in touch

Students are encouraged to contact LSU Advice for support, initially via email, but the team can also arrange phone, Skype and face-to-face appointments.

Loughborough campus students and researchers can contact LSU Advice.

London campus students and researchers can contact LSU London Advice.

Academic Representation at Loughborough University helps ensure that students and researchers at both the Loughborough and London campuses are getting the very best academic experience and gives them the power to initiate change across the University.

The Academic Representation Co-ordinator works closely with the Education Executive Officer to lead a network of 400+ academic reps focused on feeding back the academic interests of students. 

Course Reps, Doctoral Researcher Reps, School Presidents and the PGR President & Vice President operate at all levels to ensure the voices of all students are heard.

We work in close partnership with University and LSU colleagues to ensure that academic representation is working as effectively as possible for students and that they are fully supported within their roles.

For Academic Representation queries, please contact us via email.

Our friendly and experienced Global Engagement team are here to support you in making Loughborough your home. From visa and immigration advice and pre-departure briefings to dedicated careers advice, we'll help you make the most of your time in the UK. Find out more about the Global Engagement team.

Our dedicated International Student Advice and Support Service can also help with the practical aspects of moving to the UK, including registering with the police, housing, accessing healthcare and managing your money. Discover more about the services offered by the international support team

All research students at Loughborough belong to the Doctoral College, which aims to enhance your doctoral experience by developing a sense of community for researchers from across all academic disciplines.

As a member of the Doctoral College, you will receive:

• an extensive doctoral training programme
• dedicated facilities and study spaces
• the opportunity to attend showcases and events to enable you to exhibit your research
• a minimum of two supervisors, plus additional guidance and pastoral support
• access to the PhD Support Network led by our award-winning Students’ Union
• tailored support and resources for career progression
• a calendar of informal social activities to support networking and enable to you get to know other research students.

The Doctoral College can provide you with support and training, ranging from an induction day to research showcases and events.

We offer an annual programme of training designed to allow you to develop specific skills for researchers such as 'Understanding Research Methods and Techniques', 'Analysing Information', and 'Recording and Presenting Research Findings'. These skills are key for your professional development and future employability.

Our comprehensive training programme is mapped directly onto the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (the UK’s national organisation for researcher development). As a research student, you will be encouraged to work with your supervisory team in using the Researcher Development Framework to identify your own goals and skill levels, enabling you to engage with targeted training and development activities.

Delivered by experts, our training sessions not only allow you to learn useful skills, but also to network with other researchers from across the University.

You will have access to a suite of resources to support you through your research project, from a training record to gauge your progress, to guidance on producing posters to communicate your research.

The Doctoral College also works closely with the Careers Network to assist research students in your career planning. As a researcher at Loughborough, you will be able to access career consultations and interview coaching, as well as advice on your CV and job applications.

Research students are also invited to join the PhD Support Network for an informal, weekly, lunchtime meet-up where you can share experiences and relax.

The Doctoral College has provided training throughout my PhD career; not only focusing on new skills and techniques in research, but also in developing a positive mindset, and how to communicate effectively with other PhD colleagues in different departments.

Yusma, PhD student

Occupying a central location on our Loughborough campus, Graduate House is a home-from-home on campus for postgraduate students.

Graduate House is typically the venue for Doctoral College training courses and activities such as Café Academique and our PhD Support Network, an informal weekly drop-in for any PhD student to stop by and chat with other students from across the University. The Graduate Hub, located on the first floor of Graduate House, provides space outside of research students’ departments for studying or relaxing and meeting up with colleagues and friends.

Our Careers Network can help you develop your skills, understand your strengths and explore your career options across a wide range of industries, both in the UK and internationally.

Our services and resources include:

• one-to-one advice and drop-ins with professional careers consultants
• workshops on career planning and job hunting
• guidance and advice from employers and alumni
• links to thousands of job vacancies and internships
• specialist support and advice for international students
• practice job interviews and assessment centres
• access to information, career planning tools and further resources via our comprehensive website.

Whether your aim is to work in academia or in industry, our dedicated careers consultants for doctoral researchers can help to identify your options and provide practical advice and guidance on how best to market your knowledge, skills and abilities.

The Doctoral College's extensive range of training and events, along with opportunities for external placements, can also help to prepare you for your future career.

Loughborough Enterprise Network (LEN) is available to support you in establishing your business or becoming self-employment journey. They provide valuable opportunities for you to develop your skills through events and competitions, training, mentoring and funding. The service is available to you whilst you are a student and after you graduate.

Alumni (up to five years post-graduation) can also apply for a place on The Studio, which will provide you with specialist training and one-to-one coaching to bring your business ideas to life.