There are nine unis in the East Midlands, and if you’re thinking of applying to any of them, here are our 13 reasons that the region makes the perfect uni home
Updated: 16 Mar 2025
There’s no better way to get yourself out of the north v south divide at uni than by not going to uni in the north or the south. The East Midlands offers the best of both worlds, as well as being the home of some iconic foods and legendary celebrities. The region’s nine unis include Bishop Grosseteste University, De Montfort University, the University of Derby, the University of Leicester, the University of Lincoln, Loughborough University, the University of Northampton, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University. If you’ve got your eye on one or more of these unis, here are our 13 reasons the East Midlands is the perfect region for your uni home.
Gravity is pretty awesome and it was discovered in the Midlands. Isaac Newton was sitting in his mother’s garden in Lincolnshire when he famously saw an apple fall from a tree and hit upon the concept of gravity. What’s more, Midlands born Newton has been named the world’s most influential scientist by the Royal Society, making the area the ideal destination for any budding physicists wishing to follow in his footsteps.
…Sort of. Creswell Crags, a natural gorge between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire is home to the biggest collection of bas reliefs (images carved into the rock) in the world, including some rather rude etchings of people with no clothes on — these are believed to be the first nude drawings in Britain. If you’re thinking about studying art at university, head to the East Midlands and learn from the masters.
Can’t decide whether to live in the north or the south? Live in the middle. It’s the perfect compromise. You can visit the geographic centre of England located in Higham on the Hill, all while making sure that you’re not too far from your friends at uni in the north or your other friends who went to uni in the south.
If you’re off to uni to study a fashion degree, you’d do well to eschew the likes of London, Paris, and Milan, and set your sights on the East Midlands instead, particularly if menswear is your focus. Paul Smith, arguably the UK’s best loved and most successful menswear designer, and all round international doyen of the fashion world, is an East Midlander through and through. He started out in Nottingham, and that’s still where his flagship shop is today. Paul Smith is known for popularising smart tailoring with a cheeky twist among fashion conscious fellows, but that’s not the only massive style trend to emerge from the Midlands – the humble pinstripe is thought to hail from the Midlands too.
Nottingham in the East Midlands is famous for its connections with Robin Hood, who stole from the rich to give to the poor, but he isn’t the only link to social equality the region is known for. Nottingham is also home to the National Museum of Justice, which was a real working courtroom until recently. Great inspirations for any undergraduates who fancy themselves as future human rights campaigners or lawyers.
Althorp in Northamptonshire has been the ancestral home of the Spencer family for 500 years, the most famous member of the family being Diana Spencer, who went on to be formally known as Diana, Princess of Wales. We’re pretty sure that makes William and Harry East Midlanders by default.
Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire is known for being the home of the humble Melton Mowbray Pork Pie. It’s so popular in the local area that they named a roundabout after it, the Pork Pie Island. A pork pie is only a Melton Mowbray Pork Pie if it meets a strict set of criteria, including that it must be made within a set distance of the town. Similarly, Stilton cheese may only be called Stilton if it was made in Leicestershire, Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire, despite being named after a town in Cambridge.
The hero of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’, the dashing Mr. Darcy, was from Pemberley in Derbyshire. Now, we can’t guarantee all Midlands men are as swoon-worthy as Darcy, but you never know who you might meet at uni here. We’re not saying you’ll definitely meet a Mr. Darcy during your studies, but we’re not saying you definitely won’t either…
Both footballing legend Gary Lineker and Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington are from the East Midlands. Lineker is from Leicester, which, funnily enough, is also the home of Walker’s crisps. Now you know why he was in all those ads. Rebecca Adlington hails from Mansfield, and broke the record for the most decorated English female Olympian.
You’ll find that rent in cities and towns across the East Midlands can be quite a bit cheaper than other regions across the UK. Every uni town and city in the East Midlands has a range of student accommodation on offer to suit a range of budgets, so whether you’re looking to share a bathroom to save more to socialise or whether you want to splurge on a studio apartment, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for in the East Midlands.
Thanks to it being in the middle of England, there are great links via rail and coach to both the north and south. The region also has its own airport located near the border of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. The airport’s location makes it easy to access from any of the regions major cities and it offers flights to a wide range of international destinations.
The regions most famous authors are Lord Byron and D. H. Lawrence. Both Byron and Lawrence are known for featuring romantic relationships as one of the primary themes of their works, and Byron was known for being popular with the ladies in his personal life too. It might not seem significant, but combine this with Mr. Darcy being from the East Midlands and you realise the region is actually the perfect place to find love.
The region has long been known for its factories and manufacturing, and that remains true today. There are lots of jobs going in this area, perfect for anyone interested in engineering. Many automotive companies have factories in the region, but you can find almost anything being manufactured around the East Midlands.
The East Midlands has loads to offer students looking for a uni home. From large cities like Nottingham and Leicester to smaller uni towns such as Loughborough and Northampton, the region has something no matter what your priorities are. The central location also means you can’t be too far from home or from your school mates at unis across the UK, which is an added bonus.
With a total of nine unis across the region, you’ll have a huge range of options. There are undergraduate courses in every subject imaginable, so finding a course to meet your interests will be easy. If you’re thinking about going to uni in this region, check out our city guides below to learn more about where you could be studying.
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