The Next Steps for UK and EU Students

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1 Loughborough University Postgraduate Taught Admissions The Next Steps for UK and EU Students

2 Congratulations on your offer for postgraduate study at Loughborough University We are delighted to be making you an offer of admission to one of our postgraduate programmes. We hope that this booklet will guide you through the next stages of the admissions process as well as highlight the various opportunities that Loughborough provides postgraduate students. Why choose Loughborough? The University s 438 acre single-site green campus offers great facilities for every aspect of student life and has fast, easy access to London and other UK and European cities. There are plenty of open spaces, gardens and sports areas interspersed with academic buildings, student accommodation, cafés and shops. Loughborough University regularly features in the Top 15 of The Times / The Sunday Times, The Guardian and The Complete university league tables, and many of our schools and departments are ranked in the Top 10. We are consistently among the top universities for graduate employment and do exceptionally well in employer surveys because we produce graduates that business and industry want. The University has also been rated for excellence and achieved the maximum 5* overall in the QS Stars University Ratings Loughborough was also awarded five stars in Employability, Research, Teaching, Learning, Environment, Internationalisation, Innovation, Facilities, Access and Specialist Criteria. We have 19 academic schools and departments, over 160 research institutes and centres and six interdisciplinary research schools/ challenges. With well over 130 taught postgraduate programmes and an array of research degrees, we offer an excellent choice for anyone looking to pursue their studies and further their career. We offer exceptional academic, guidance and welfare systems. In terms of facilities, the campus is well placed to serve the needs of students, including a purpose-built teaching facility for postgraduate students, a well-resourced library and state-of the-art IT network. Please read this booklet and your offer letter carefully. This is the only offer letter you will receive we will not post you a copy, so be sure to keep it safe.

3 What To Do Next Step 1 Offer Received Check the conditions of your offer. If you don t understand them or the letter is not clear to you in any way, let us know. Keep a record of your application reference number which can be found on the top of your offer letter you should always quote this when contacting the University. Step 2 Reply to Offer To accept our offer return to the Application Portal ( and select Reply to Offer from the list on the right hand side. You don t have to wait until you have completed your qualifications before accepting your offer if you let us know at an early stage that you wish to accept it, we can keep in touch with you! Once you have firmly accepted your offer, you will be able to register your interest in University accommodation on-line (from mid-april onwards). Step 3 Provide Evidence If you have been asked to provide satisfactory academic references as part of your offer, you will need to contact your referees. This is your responsibility we do not contact them on your behalf. If you are being sponsored by an organization, or are in receipt of a scholarship you will also need to send us official confirmation of this. Later in the year if you need us to confirm with your sponsor that you have been firmly accepted to the University, please let us know. Upload documents to the On-line Application Portal that prove you have met the conditions of your offer as soon as they are available. The sooner you send them to us, the sooner we can confirm your place. You can submit documents to us at any time via the View/Upload Documents tab in the Application Portal. Step 4 Place Confirmed Once we have received and approved all the relevant documentation, and your place is confirmed, your registration information will be ed to you six weeks before the start of term. Please note that all our correspondence with you will be by , so it is important that you let us know straight away if your address changes. More detailed guidance for applicants can be found at: Loughborough is a great place to study with internationally acclaimed research and outstanding teaching quality.

4 Postgraduate Student Profile Having completed my undergraduate degree at Loughborough University I had first-hand experience of the quality of the teaching and research of the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. The quality of the education experience goes hand in hand with the sporting and social activities that make for a brilliant student experience. A positive difference in my experience of the Masters in Sport Management was in the diversity of class mates. Students from many different countries and of different ages made for an interesting learning environment. My experience at Loughborough for my Masters was made all the better by the friendliness and collegiality of the academic staff. If it wasn t for this experience I don t think I would have been convinced to stay in academia and study for my post-doctoral degree. Shane Kerr, BSc Sport & Exercise Science, MSc Sport Management, now studying for PhD in Sport, Exercise & Health Sciences Loughborough s position provides easy access to major cities, but all the advantages of a small community, making it an ideal place to study and live.

5 Postgraduate Taught Tuition Fees 2015/16 The standard tuition fees for the 2015/16 academic year are listed below. Some programmes have tuition fees that differ slightly from the standard fees, and you are therefore advised to check the Fees and Financial Support at: The standard tuition fees for UK and EU students: Standard tuition fee: 6,500 Tuition fee band 2: 8,750 (MSc Economics and Finance; MSc Banking and Finance; MSc Business Psychology; MSc Work Psychology) Tuition fee band 4: 10,800 (MSc Business Analysis and Management, MSc Management; MSc International Management; MSc Finance and Management; MSc Marketing and Management; MSc Business Analytics Consulting; MSc Finance; MSc Corporate Finance; MSc Finance and Investment) Master of Business Administration (MBA): 22,600 Scholarships and Bursaries There are a number of scholarships and bursaries available to postgraduate students from the UK and EU for 2015 entry some of which are shown below. Scholarships are normally awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding academic ability, and in some cases can be up to 25% off tuition fees. In most cases you do not need to apply for a scholarship separately you will be assessed on the basis of your Masters application. If you are required to submit a separate scholarship application form, it will be clearly stated on the website below. Bursaries are awarded by some Schools to students who meet a minimum criterion. These include the Alumni Bursary which rewards students who completed their first degree at Loughborough University with 20% off their tuition fees. School Scholarships School Bursaries Santander Postgraduate Scholarship Loughborough University Alumni Bursary Music Award Sports Scholarship Postgraduate Taught Care Leavers Bursary There are also some sources of external funding which you might be able to take advantage of. For detailed information relating to your programme please refer to our website at: Loughborough gives you the opportunity to participate in sport at any level.

6 English Language Requirements All applicants must have an acceptable qualification in English Language before they can be admitted to a postgraduate programme. For UK/EU students this is generally GCSE/IGCSE or O level English as a First Language at grade C or above, or if you are from outside the UK, the equivalent school leaving qualification from your home country. Alternatively, completing a degree from a UK university will usually satisfy this requirement. For a complete list of all acceptable English language qualifications, see: Applicants from the EU who do not meet the English language requirements may, at the discretion of the Academic School, be admitted onto a pre-sessional English language programme as an alternative way to satisfy their requirements. For more information about the University s pre-sessional English language programmes, please see: Or contact the English Language Support Service Tel: Fax: elsu@lboro.ac.uk The English Language Support Service also offer an optional study skills course which EU students may find helps them to adapt quickly and easily to studying at Loughborough University. Postgraduate Student Profile For me, doing a Master s degree was quite a different experience from studying at an undergraduate level. Yes, the work is more challenging, but I found postgraduate study much more enjoyable as I was able to focus on certain subject areas in greater depth. It not only provided the opportunity to study aspects of Psychology that I found particularly interesting, but the specific focus on research methods within my programme also offered an excellent framework on which to base my future career as an academic researcher. As a postgraduate, there are lots are ways for you to get involved with the University from volunteering to playing sport, these are both great ways of meeting new people and will help to really make the most of your time here at Loughborough. Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Loughborough University. Both my passion and enthusiasm for learning have grown significantly throughout my time here, as has my desire to apply the knowledge gained within a practical setting. Emma Sharpe, BSc Psychology, MSc Psychology, now studying for PhD in Sport & Exercise Sciences

7 University Accommodation Our Student Accommodation Centre will be able to help you find suitable accommodation for the duration of your studies. The University has a wide range of self-catered accommodation for postgraduate students, so you will be amongst friends straight away. Postgraduate halls are available on a 50 week let and are either on or just off campus. All halls have fully fitted kitchens with a dining area, and some have an en-suite bathroom. All are within walking distance of shops and banks. Fees are competitive and include electricity, heating, internet and insurance. If you have been made an offer and provisionally accepted through the Application Portal, you can register your preference for University Hall accommodation online from mid-april. Once you have met all the conditions of your offer and been firmly accepted, you will receive a formal accommodation offer. For further information and details of how to apply please visit our University Accommodation website at: If you have any questions, you can contact the Accommodation Team on: Student Accommodation Centre Tel: or (UK callers only) Fax: sac@lboro.ac.uk Off Campus Accommodation findahouse@lboro.ac.uk Postgraduate Networks and Support In addition to the support provided by your Academic School, the University has a number of networks specifically to support postgraduate students. This includes the Postgraduate Development Officer and the Postgraduate Association, within the Students Union. As well as providing a voice for the thriving postgraduate community, the Association offers the opportunity for communication and networking with other postgraduate students at Loughborough. On a more practical basis, the University has a 24-hour access study area restricted to postgraduate and mature students, which provides a dedicated area for individual and small group work. For students hoping to further their studies through research, the University s Graduate School promotes and supports an active graduate community. This includes running a series of research seminars, presentations and conferences. The Graduate School also works with the University s Careers and Employability Centre to provide support to students wanting to maximise their newly-acquired skills and knowledge. For more information on the Graduate School see:

8 After your Degree Obviously you want to look beyond your postgraduate degree, but the transition from University to work can be difficult. This is why Loughborough University tries to make it easy for you. The University s Alumni Association is open to all graduates and is an excellent way to keep in touch with friends and contacts, or even make new ones. Loughborough has a very strong record for graduates moving into either employment and/or further study. Compared to a first degree, a postgraduate degree is short and intense, so to maximise your career opportunities you would be well advised to take advantage of the services our highly-rated Careers and Employability Centre (CEC) offer from the start. These include: Well established links with a wide range of national and international employers Opportunities to meet hundreds of employers at campus careers fairs and employer presentations Access to thousands of vacancies including graduate roles, internships and work experience opportunities Advice and guidance on every aspect of your job search and careers planning including CV advice and mock interviews Networking and mentoring support from Loughborough Alumni working in the areas in which you are interested, both in the UK and abroad See for more information. The campus is a safe and pleasant place to spend time, with good facilities for all aspects of student life.

9 If you have any other questions or require further information please contact: The Postgraduate Taught Admissions Office Rutland Building Loughborough University Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK Tel: +44 (0) Please also check out the information for applicants on our website at: When contacting us please ensure you quote your application reference number which can be found on your offer letter. Details correct at time of print please refer to our web site at: for current information. Loughborough University has a strong tradition of looking after its students and is able to deliver much of this support through academic, guidance and welfare support sections. T59731/DPS/Nov14