Student parking
Student permits are available for returning students who live in halls (not first year students) or students who are travelling in. We do have some permits available for students living in the LE11 area (not in halls) on a first come first served basis.
Student parking
Unless you have an exceptional reason, you do not need a private car in Loughborough. It is a town with almost everything you need within walking or cycling distance and the university has a free shuttle bus as well.
Students who wish to use a motor vehicle in Loughborough during the course of their studies must register their vehicle(s) with the University, regardless of whether or not they intend to bring the vehicle(s) onto campus. Failure to register a motor vehicle may lead to charges being imposed in accordance with Ordinance XXIII.
Parking on the campus is regulated automatically and drivers will need to purchase a Permit or pay a visitor fee.
Who can apply for a Student Permit:
- Student permits are available for undergrad students returning after their first year
- Students who are “travelling in” may also apply for a Permit.
- Students living off campus in the Loughborough postal area (LE11), and not excluded below, can apply on a limited first come first served basis.
Students who cannot be considered
Other than on an Exceptional basis, these groups cannot be considered for a Student Permit:
- First year Undergraduates. Post Graduate students who are new to the University.
- Students living in Claudia Parsons, John Phillips, Hazlerigg-Rutland, Elvyn Richards, Robert Bakewell, and William Morris are not permitted to bring personal vehicles to the Loughborough postal area (LE11) unless they have an exceptional reason (see below). This is a restriction placed on the use of motor vehicles as part of their terms and conditions.
- Students living in Harry French or The Holt Halls are not eligible for a campus permit and should contact https://www.unitestudents.com/loughborough for further details.
Applying for a Student Permit
Permit applications for the 2025/26 academic year open 1st September 2025. Please ensure you have a valid permit to park on campus – submittal of a student ID does not equate to a valid permit. Until your documentation has been approved and you have completed the below steps to register your permit, you may not park on campus unless you pay for your parking as a visitor.
Please ensure that your home and term time addresses have been updated on the student self service portal before applying for a permit. Link: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/students/enquiries/self-service/
Students with a valid permit must park within the following Car Parks: 1 (Multistorey), 7, 13, 14 and Holywell car park. Parking within any other car park may result in a Parking Charge Notice being issued.
Access to campus is via the two staffed entrances, based on the East (Epinal Way) and the West (Ashby Road).
- Monthly charge - £20 (per calendar month).
- Annual charge - £200 (valid until the end of current academic year)
Student permits required for exceptional circumstances can be approved following the criteria below. Please contact the Traffic and parking team for an application form.
Please note, long term, i.e., 12 months or longer, physical, or mental health conditions (non-blue badge holders) which impact on your access to or around campus. Contact Student wellbeing to discuss appropriate permit options available to you.
Exceptional circumstances guidelines
Permits issued under Exceptional circumstances are charged at the above rate.
Sport
- The applicant has received a scholarship.
- The applicant competes at international level (with major championship experience) - Proof of a selection/squad membership needs to come from a performance director at a recognised National Governing Body and those students need to demonstrate that they are working towards a major competition, such as European Championships.
Medical
- Long term, i.e., 12 months or longer, physical, or mental health conditions which impact on your access to or around campus. Contact Student wellbeing to discuss appropriate permit options available to you. At this stage, please do not register for a permit using the link below.
- Short term medical conditions – the applicant will need to complete an application form available from the Traffic and parking team and include the relevant confirmation e.g., GP's letter, hospital appointment dates.
Work
- Work placement relating to the applicant's course at Loughborough University.
Family circumstances
- Short term: The applicant is in expectation of an imminent call to support close family (i.e., over the next week-fortnight).
- Longer term: Students should not assume that campus parking will be made available for longer term issues and will need to consider transport issues in their choice of University and accommodation. Applications under exceptional circumstances for longer term issues will only normally be considered where the applicant needs to provide care and support to a family member on a regular basis, requiring frequent journeys, and public transport is not feasible and where these circumstances have arisen since the student commenced their studies at Loughborough.
Registration process
Setting up student parking
- Step 1: Visit the Loughborough University Apcoa website.
- Step 2: Choose ‘Loughborough University Login’.
- Step 3: Login using your university credentials. Please note: If you login off campus, you will need access to the VPN and will be required to use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
- Step 4: Choose ‘Document Upload Management’.
- Step 5: Upload a copy of your student ID card.
- Step 6: Select ‘Submit New Document’. Until your documents have been approved by the Parking Team, you cannot proceed with your permit application. You will receive a confirmation email when your document has been approved.
- Step 7: Use the link in your confirmation email to progress your application.
- Step 8: Choose ‘Blue Badge Holders and Permits’.
- Step 9: Choose to pay monthly or yearly.
- Step 10: Select ‘Add Vehicle’ and complete your vehicle details.
- Step 11: Agree terms and conditions are understood and select ‘Validate Permit’.
- Step 12: Select ‘Add Payment Method’.
- Step 13: Add your payment details. Please note: your bank may require you to verify the transaction. This a one-off process and adds a further layer of security to the process.
On completion, there is no email confirmation or finish to the process. Once you have added your vehicle and card details, please just exit the system.
Please note: Only active student permits can be renewed. Please follow the steps above to apply for a new permit if your current permit has expired.
Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Parking Adjustments
- Step 1: Visit the Loughborough University Apcoa website.
- Step 2: Choose ‘Loughborough University Login’.
- Step 3: Login using your university credentials. Please note: If you login off campus, you will need access to the VPN and will be required to use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
- Step 4: Choose ‘Document Upload Management’.
- Step 5: Upload a screen shot of your student ID card and confirmation of your parking adjustment (found on the disability tab on your student self-service)
- Step 6: Select ‘Submit New Document’. Until your documents have been approved by the Parking Team, you cannot proceed with your permit application. You will receive a confirmation email when your document has been approved.
- Step 7: Use the link in your confirmation email to progress your application.
- Step 8: Choose student permits, staff permits and blue badge holders.
- Step 9: Select the LU Access free permit.
- Step 10: Select ‘Add Vehicle’ and complete your vehicle details.
- Step 11: Agree terms and conditions are understood and select ‘Validate Permit’.
On completion, there is no email confirmation or finish to the process. Once you have added your vehicle and card details, please just exit the system.