University Medal

Our vision for University Medallists is to celebrate the very best of the Loughborough community.

Deadline for nominations: 8 April 2025.

The University medal is the most prestigious honour that the University can award. Only a small number are given out each year and they are normally presented at a Graduation Ceremony.

Eligibility

A University Medal is available to any member of the University community which includes staff, students and other contributors to the community. This includes:

  • Current and recently retired staff members from the University, its subsidiaries or from Loughborough Students’ Union
  • Current students
  • Alumni
  • Partners (education, research or business related)
  • Those who have held constitutional positions within the University 

Nominations can be made by:

  • Current staff members of Loughborough University, its subsidiaries or of Loughborough Students’ Union
  • Current Loughborough University students
  • Current lay members of University Council

Self nominations or nominations of immediate family members are not permitted.

Criteria

A University Medal would be awarded for one or more of the following:

  • Significantly enhancing the University’s reputation in the UK and / or globally
  • Significant and lasting impact in line with the institutional themes of the University’s strategy
  • Significant voluntary service in line with the University’s values
  • Measurable impact on our community or their field of work, with a specific focus on Sustainability and Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI)
  • Significant and positive impact on the sporting or student environment
  • Acts of bravery, courage, and selflessness
Submit a University Medal nomination

Questions about nomination

  • Nominations can be made using the online form. If you would prefer to provide a nomination via other means e.g. by video or through a short interview, please contact the Committee Secretary and arrangements will be made.
  • Nominations received before the deadline will be considered for Committee review. It is not guaranteed that all nominations received by the deadline will be reviewed at the very next Committee meeting. If there is a time sensitive element to your nomination, please notify the Committee Secretary.
Online form for University Medal nominations
  1. Why are you nominating this individual for a Loughborough University Medal?

    Suggested word count: min – 150 words, max – 500 words.

    Your nomination should specifically reference how the nominee meets the award criteria.

  2. Have you discussed this nomination with your line manager/Dean/Head of Service?

    Yes/No answer.

    Whilst not essential, in order to achieve a degree of coordination with nominations, it is recommended that nominations are discussed within your School/Professional Service.

If you have any further questions about the nomination process or would like to see previous, exemplar nominations, please contact the Committee Secretary.

University staff can find an intranet-based example of a successful University medal nomination at the link below.

Exemplar University Medal nomination [intranet]
Previous honorary award recipients

Nomination process and timeline

Stage One (Pre-Approval)

University Honours Committee meets three times per academic year and there are deadlines for receipt of nominations linked to those meeting dates.

It is important to note that it is not guaranteed that a nomination received by the deadline will be considered at the very next meeting.

A selection is made by the Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff on the following principles:

  1. A number of nominations that is manageable to cover during the meeting, with consideration to the other agenda items that may also need to be covered
  2. The length of time the nomination has been in the pool awaiting consideration
  3. Any known time sensitivities which mean a nomination needs to be prioritised or fast tracked for consideration at the next meeting

The Chair (or Deputy Chief of Staff in consultation with the Chair) has the right to filter out nominations before they reach Committee on the following basis:

  • Reasons that are confidential and not in the public domain or widely known within the University. E.g. the individual or parties linked to the individual would find the offer of an award inappropriate (for HR / legal reasons)
  • The individual or parties linked to the individual have / have had a legal dispute with the institution and therefore offering an honorary award would be inappropriate .
  • The nominee is a serving politician. Nominations for serving politicians cannot be considered by University Honours Committee.
University Honours Committee

Stage Two (Approval Stage)

Once a nomination has been considered by the Committee and a decision made, those decisions are then ratified at the next meetings of University Senate and Council.

See Senate and Council meeting dates.

Senate Council

Stage Three (Invitation Stage)

If final approval is received, an invitation is then sent from the Vice-Chancellor, inviting the nominee to accept the award.

If the award is accepted the Graduation Office will liaise with the nominee on a suitable ceremony date. It is not guaranteed that the nominee will be awarded at the next graduation ceremony but the closest, mutually convenient date will be agreed.

Due to governance involved in the process, it can take up to 12-18 months from the point of nomination before an award is actually made.

Submit a University Medal nomination