Loughborough University traces its roots back to 1909 when a Technical Institute was founded in the Town Centre. There followed a period of rapid expansion during which the Institute was renamed Loughborough College and the development of the present campus began.

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Loughborough's rapid expansion from a small provincial college to the first British technical university was due largely to the efforts of its principals, Herbert Schofield who led it from 1915 to 1950 and Herbert Haslegrave who oversaw its further expansion from 1953 to 1967, and steered its progress first to a College of Advanced Technology and then a university. In 1966, the College of Advanced Technology as it had then become, received university status. In 1977, the university broadened its range of studies by amalgamating with Loughborough College of Education (formerly the Training College). More recently, in August 1998, the university merged with Loughborough College of Art and Design (LCAD).

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In the early years, efforts were made to mimic the environment of an Oxbridge college (e.g. requiring students to wear gowns to lectures) whilst maintaining a strong practical counterbalance to academic learning. During World War I, the institute served as an 'instructional factory', training workers for the munitions industry.

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Herbert Schofield became principal in 1915 and continued to lead the College of Technology until 1950. Over his years as principal, the College changed almost beyond recognition. He purchased the estate of Burleigh Hall on the western outskirts of the town, which became the nucleus of the present 438-acre campus. He also oversaw the building of the original Halls of Residence, which are now home to the university's administration and the Vice-Chancellor's offices.

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An experienced educationist, Herbert Haslegrave took over as college principal in 1953, and by both increasing the breadths and raising standards, gained it the status of Colleges of Advanced Technology in 1958. He further persuaded the Department of Education to buy further land and began a building programme. In 1963, the Robbins Report on higher education recommended that all colleges of Advanced Technology should be given the status of Universities. Consequently, Loughborough College of Technology was granted a Royal Charter in 1966 and became Loughborough University of Technology (LUT), with Haslegrave as its first vice-chancellor.

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The university has a strong tradition in both engineering and sport. From its strong engineering and technical background it has now expanded, becoming a centre of excellence in the field of sports and sports science. It has graduated a number of world-class athletes including Paula Radcliffe and Lord Coe. In keeping with this tradition, Loughborough students have won the British Universities & Colleges Sport Association (BUCS) championship every year for four decades. The university is the home of the England and Wales Cricket Board's National Academy, opened in November 2003.

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Loughborough was named University of the Year 2019 in The Times and Sunday Times University Good University Guide and is the only University to have won the title twice.

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Loughborough kept its position as the best university in the world to study sports-related subjects in the global 2018 QS higher education league table.

Source: Wikipedia