Student storage for a placement year or year abroad in Loughborough means a door-to-door collection service that picks up your belongings from your student house or halls when you leave for your industrial or international year, stores them at the UniMove depot, and returns them to your new address in Loughborough, or anywhere else on the GB mainland, when you come back. UniMove has run this service since 2014 and collects from all addresses in LE11 and LE12.
Why Loughborough Students Need Placement Year Storage
Loughborough University has one of the highest rates of sandwich degree enrolment in the UK. In engineering, design, and sports science programmes, the placement year is built directly into a four-year degree structure. Students vacate their private houses or campus accommodation at the end of second year and do not return to Loughborough until the following September, a gap of ten months or more.
During that window, continuing to pay rent on an empty room is expensive, and many students choose to end their tenancy entirely. That creates a practical problem: where do your belongings go? Most Loughborough students cannot practically transport a full room of possessions to a placement host city, and family homes often do not have the space. UniMove solves this by collecting everything from your door in Loughborough before you leave, storing it securely, and returning it to your next address when you are ready.
Loughborough’s Sandwich Year Culture
Loughborough University placed around 1,900 students on industrial placements in the 2023 to 2024 academic year, making it one of the leading universities in the country for work-based learning. The Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, the School of Design and Creative Arts, and the School of Business and Economics all have strong placement traditions. Employers regularly include large manufacturers, technology firms, and consultancies based across the Midlands, London, and the wider UK.
The typical placement year begins in July, shortly after second-year exams finish, and runs through to June or July of the following year. That means students need storage from roughly July until September of the year after, a period of around fourteen to fifteen months in the longest cases. UniMove stores by the month with no fixed upper limit, so you only pay for the time you actually need.
Where Loughborough Students Live Before Their Placement
Most Loughborough first-year students live on the main campus, either in the main accommodation cluster or in dedicated halls including Edward Herbert Hall and the Waterside development. By second year, the majority move into private houses in the streets immediately south and east of campus: Station Road, Storer Road, Forest Road, and the Burleigh area.
These private tenancies typically end by late June. That deadline falls several months before most placements begin and several months before third-year houses can be moved into. UniMove collects in June or July, stores through the placement period, and delivers back to a new Loughborough address in September or October of the following year. Students who do not yet know their return address at the time of booking can confirm delivery details closer to the date.
Year Abroad Students: Longer Gaps, Same Solution
Year abroad programmes at Loughborough apply to language-integrated degrees and to international exchange partnerships. Loughborough University’s global opportunities team coordinates outgoing exchanges with partner institutions in North America, Asia, and Australia. Students on these programmes face the same storage gap as placement students, and sometimes a longer one if the exchange runs from September all the way through to June of the following year.
UniMove stores by the month with no fixed maximum, so if your exchange is extended or your return plans shift, you contact us at smile@unimove.org and we adjust the duration. You are not locked into a fixed contract.
What UniMove Collects from Your Loughborough Address
UniMove collects the same categories of belongings that fill a typical second-year student room: boxes of books and kitchenware, clothes in bags and suitcases, bedding, small electrical appliances, bikes, instrument cases, desk chairs, and the general accumulation of two years of student life. We do not transport hazardous materials, but almost everything a student typically owns can be stored with us.
You do not need to hire a van or take anything to a drop-off location. Our driver comes to your door in Loughborough. For large or awkward items such as bikes, we ask that you box or bag them where possible. Packing guidance is available when you book.
Start by getting a quote at our quote page. You choose the collection date that fits around your move-out timeline, and we arrive at your address on the day.
How the UniMove Process Works
After collection, your items travel to the UniMove depot at Plover Barn, Kings Lane, Longcot, SN7 7SS. Your belongings are stored securely until you request redelivery. When you are ready to return to Loughborough, or if your plans change and you need delivery to a different UK address, you contact us in advance and book a delivery date. We bring everything back to your door.
If you need a partial redelivery, such as winter clothes sent ahead of your main return, contact smile@unimove.org to arrange this. You can also request redelivery to a different address from the one we collected from, anywhere on the GB mainland or in Belfast and Northern Ireland.
For the full picture of how the end-of-year collection timeline works, see the summer student storage Loughborough page and our detailed June 2026 student storage guide.
Comparing Your Storage Options in Loughborough
| Feature | UniMove (door-to-door) | Self-storage unit | Leaving with family or friends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collection from your door | Yes | No, you transport it yourself | No, you transport it yourself |
| Van hire required | No | Usually yes | Usually yes |
| Minimum period | 1 month | Typically 1 month, but access charges accumulate | No charge, but no guaranteed space or security |
| Suitable for a 10 to 15 month placement gap | Yes | Yes, but multiple access visits add cost | Depends on family home capacity |
| Delivery to your next address | Yes, anywhere on GB mainland | No, you collect it yourself | Requires a separate transport arrangement |
| Redeliver to a different city if plans change | Yes | No | Not guaranteed |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I store my belongings with UniMove during a placement year?
UniMove stores by the month with no fixed maximum period. Most Loughborough placement students need storage for ten to fourteen months, covering the gap from their June move-out to their September or October return in the following year. You can extend the duration at any point by contacting smile@unimove.org.
Do I need to pack everything into boxes before the UniMove driver arrives?
Boxes and bags are recommended for smaller items, and we provide packing guidance when you book. Our driver collects from the door of your property, so you do not need to bring anything outside yourself. Bikes and bulky items should be wrapped or bagged where possible.
Can UniMove collect from Loughborough University campus accommodation?
Yes. UniMove collects from all Loughborough University campus accommodation, including on-campus halls, as well as private houses across LE11 and LE12. Book a collection date online and our driver arrives at your specified building or address on the agreed day.
What happens if my placement is extended and I need to store for longer than planned?
Storage periods are flexible. If your placement runs longer than expected or your plans change, contact us at smile@unimove.org and we adjust the duration. You pay for the months you actually use rather than committing to a fixed period in advance.
Can you deliver my belongings to a different UK city if I am not returning to Loughborough?
Yes. UniMove delivers to any address on the GB mainland and in Belfast and Northern Ireland. If your post-placement plans change and you are moving to London, Birmingham, or another city rather than returning to Loughborough, we redeliver to that address instead.
Is door-to-door student storage cheaper than renting a self-storage unit in Loughborough?
The total cost depends on how many items you store and for how long. UniMove’s door-to-door service removes the cost of van hire and multiple access visits that self-storage typically involves, making it straightforward to compare the overall cost across a ten-to-fourteen-month placement storage period.