StudyLink Logo

Department of Information Science

Loughborough University

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ls/

Back to search results

Department of Information Science

The Department

The Department of Information Science is an active and highly regarded Department, which, since its creation in 1972, has established a national and international reputation in its field.

The Department is equipped with teaching and office space as well as laboratories for computer-based researching. In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) in 2008, 85% of the Department's research was ranked at an International standard. The Department of Information Science is also rated 1st in the UK for Librarianship and Information Management according to the Times Good University Guide 2011.

The Department supports a thriving postgraduate student community of 84 taught and 40 research students from 11 different countries, with 103 students studying full-time and 21 students studying part-time. The Department employs 21 academic staff as well as a dedicated team of support staff and laboratory assistants.

The University

Loughborough is the largest town in Leicestershire, with a population of over 50,000. It has traffic-free shopping areas with popular high-street chain stores, three large supermarkets, and an outdoor market where you can buy everything from fruit and vegetables to clothes and household goods. The town offers a variety of entertainment including a cinema, a theatre, pubs and clubs with live music. Eating places include Thai, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Mexican and Australian restaurants, bistros, sandwich shops, and noodle bars - not to forget traditional English pub food.

Loughborough's central position makes it easy to visit most places in the UK and many in Europe. It is just 1 mile (1.5 km) from the M1 motorway and 8 miles (13 km) from East Midlands International Airport, where budget airlines provide cheap and easy access to the UK and Europe.

In the 2011 Guardian University Guide, Loughborough University was ranked an impressive 9th out of 118 UK Higher Education Institutions, while in the Times Good University Guide for 2011 the University was ranked 16th - cementing its status as one of the country's pre-eminent universities.

The University has recently acquired substantial new land which adds another 163 acres to the campus, making the Loughborough campus one of the largest in the country at 437 acres.

The University has outstanding sports facilities including an athletics centre, a racquet centre, a 50 metre swimming pool and a state-of-the-art fitness centre. These facilities are available to all students, from the elite performer to the enthusiastic amateur.

Loughborough Students' Union plays a key part in creating the 'Loughborough Student Experience' - one of the very best in the country. It is one of the only Unions in the UK to be owned and managed by students, and offers a variety of support services. There are more than 100 clubs and societies to join and a packed programme of social events such as, Student Union live bands, sport activities, hot-air ballooning and canoeing.

Loughborough currently offers accommodation for more than 5,000 students on campus. One hall of residence, John Phillips Hall, was built specifically to accommodate for postgraduate students.

Take a virtual tour of the university campus.

Studying With Us

Postgraduate Taught Degrees

The Department offers the following postgraduate taught programmes:
  • Information Management and Business Technology

    • - MSc: 1 year full-time; up to 5 years part-time
    - Diploma: 9 months full-time; up to 3 years part-time
    - Certificate: 4 months
  • Information and Knowledge Management

    • - MSc: 1 year full-time; up to 3 years part-time
    - Diploma: 9 months full-time
    - Certificate: 4months
  • Information and Library Management

    • - MSc: 1 year full-time; up to 3 years part-time
    - Diploma: 9 months full-time


For more information, please visit our postgraduate taught programmes.

Research Degrees (Ph.D: 3 years full-time; 5 years part-time. M.Phil: 2 years full-time; 3 years part-time):

Postgraduate research students are based in the Department's facility at Holywell Park, which includes hot-desk/computer facilities in high quality, open-plan space. Each student is supported by two supervisors with appropriate expertise, and all research students have access to funds supporting conference attendance. During the three years of full-time research, students undertake a formal programme of research methods training (on average 10 days per year). Part-time students may also be required to attend some sessions. Research methods training is designed to provide support and help students in areas such as preparing reports and writing up theses. Applicants are free to either suggest a research topic within their own field of study, but are equally welcome to discuss specific areas of interest with academic staff in the Department within these broad topic areas:

Current Ph.D research in the Department reflects the wide scope of Information Science, with topics including:
  • The Role of Academic Libraries in Supporting Distance Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;
  • Causes of email communication stress and methods to reduce email stress;
  • Access to books for the visually impaired;
  • The adoption of ICT in Malaysian public hospitals;
  • User Relationships with Avatars in Digital Games and Virtual Worlds;
  • Modelling an Information Management System for the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana;
  • Information governance for the agricultural research sector in Brazil.

Apply Now for a place on one of these programmes. If you require further information please visit our Website.

Facilities and student support

The Department has four seminar/meeting rooms and five PC laboratories, with 80 PCs and six Dual Boot Macintosh computers which were installed in summer 2010. PCs use the Windows XP operating system and the Microsoft Office 2007 suite of programs. Dreamweaver, Photoshop and InDesign are some of the software packages also available on each computer. Seminar/meeting rooms can be booked by students for quiet study or workgroups when they are not being used for teaching.

The Department is located directly above the Pilkington Library, which means quick access to over 500,000 books, 90,000 bound serials and 19,000 e-journals. The library also has 900 study places, including 140 private workstations.

Students on the postgraduate taught programmes are based in the Department but also have access to facilities in the Stuart Mason Building which was built specifically for postgraduate students. The building is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and has a study lounge, a computer laboratory and seminar rooms for meetings or private study.

The University's Student Support Centre organises pre-sessional courses for overseas students before the start of each academic year. This includes a four-week English language course, a two-week study skills course and a one-week course to help students settle into University life.

Year institution founded: 1972

Number of academic staff: 21

Number of professors: 5

Scholarship

Details of these scholarships and bursaries are available below:


Details of other scholarships and bursaries for taught and research-based studies are also available from the academic registry.

Career Development Loans may also be available for the taught postgraduate programmes for vocational courses and cover up to two year's of study. Contact learndirect on the free helpline 0800 100 900 or the CDL information line on 0800 585 505. Loughborough is a registered learning provider. Our registration number is 3853.

Accommodation

Living on the University campus is going to be the next best decision you make, the first was choosing Loughborough to study.

Loughborough University is committed to giving every student a distinctive and high quality Loughborough Experience, which will result in a positive life long relationship with the University. Within the residences the community spirit is unrivalled by any UK University.

Living in hall is the best place to start your University life, you will make friends and be involved in the Loughborough Experience. Where you live and who you live with at the University will create some of the best memories of your University career.

Loughborough has 6 catered halls and 3 self-catering halls owned and managed by the University imago Services Staff. We also work in partnership with other service providers who manage 1 catered hall and 6 self catered halls on our behalf.

The Student Accommodation Centre team offer advice on all aspects of renting accommodation on or off campus. We look forward to welcoming you to Loughborough.

Catered Halls - this means:

If you stay in catered accommodation you will take your meals in the dining hall provided for that hall. The meals are provided in a self-service style cafeteria. Menus are designed to meet the needs of our student customers. http://campuslife.lboro.ac.uk Our catered halls offer different let lengths & different meal packages. Further information is available as you browse each hall. Catered Halls Information Booklet

Self Catered Halls - this means:

Self-catered accommodation offers a degree of freedom, you can choose to cook for yourself or eat out at one of the many venues around campus. Give yourself a break - buy a diners+ card as this saves you from cooking giving you more time to study and have fun. http://campuslife.lboro.ac.uk

You will have your own room in a communal flat, sharing a kitchen with up to 8 other students.

Provider Features

  • Course and Career Counselling services
  • Halal food
  • On campus medical facilities
  • On-campus accommodation
  • Religious Facilities - Christianity
  • Religious Facilities - Muslim prayer rooms
  • Social Activities
  • Sporting facilities
  • Temporary accommodation on arrival

Opportunities to study abroad

Study Abroad Programme

Experience student life at a Top 20 UK University*

This exciting programme offers a range of new opportunities for current undergraduate students of other international universities who wish to spend either one semester - or a full academic year - at a Top 20 UK university.

Please note, all European students should visit our ERASMUS incoming student pages. The Study Abroad Programme is applicable only to international students from outside of the EU.

Download Study Abroad Prospectus (PDF)

The Study Abroad Programme (with English) allows you to develop your knowledge and command of English prior to beginning your academic studies. The English course begins in April (as well as other start dates) and runs through to the beginning of Semester 1.

The Study Abroad Prospectus can be downloaded from this page (see above). Click here for an Application Form. We look forward to welcoming you to Loughborough University in the near future!

*Loughborough University has been ranked 10th in the Guardian University Guide 2010 and 15th in the Sunday Times University Guide 2010. It is the eigth year in a row that Loughborough has been ranked in the UK's Top 15 universities.

Photos (1)

Testimonials

Hui-Yun Sung, Taiwan
Research Topic: An investigation of the 'creative consultation' process and methods to capture and transfer good practice (3rd Year Full Time PhD Student)

Department of Information Science Student

I am studying a PhD with the intention to become a professor in the future. My decision to stay and study a PhD was made after thoroughly enjoying my time while completing my Masters programme in 2006. The academic staff at the Department were very helpful with my visa and PhD applications.

Studying a PhD is a long journey but with the support from my colleges and supervisors, I feel very comfortable and confident with my research. The Department provides formal and informal meetings such as 'Brown Bag Lunch' which gives the students the opportunity to meet other students and members of staff in the Department. After my PhD I would like to pursue a research assistant job, which will build a strong foundation for my future academic career.

John Israilidis, Greece
MSc Programme: Information Management and Business Technology (Graduate)

Department of Information Science Student

I came from a computer science and telecommunications background after studying those two topics at the University of Athens. Studying a Masters programme in the Department of Information Science was important to me because I wanted to focus on the business aspect of IT, which is what my programme provides. What is special about this programme is that it produces hybrid managers with an extensive combination of both business and IT knowledge.

At first I was slightly apprehensive before beginning my programme but after a few days I felt a lot more comfortable after getting to know both the students and the academic staff who are very supportive and well organised.

Richard Gough, UK
Research Topic: User Relationships with Avatars in Digital Games and Virtual Worlds (2nd Year Full-Time PhD Student)

Department of Information Science Student

I wanted to complete a project which I was in control of and could direct through to the end on a much larger scale than my dissertation. The department are funding my research which is a big help because it would be very difficult to complete my PhD otherwise.

The academic staff are very supportive and they want each student to succeed, so they do their upmost to make sure that they can. One of the challenges I face is transcribing information after interviews because one hour of interviewing usually turns into several hours of transcribing information.

Map

Image Printing Layout