Â̲èÖ±²¥ has been named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the QS global rankings for the ninth year in a row. This is a testament to our exceptional reputation in academia and industry and our phenomenal research impact.

We take great pride in knowing that our work in this field is recognised and respected by the international academic community. Seeing the dedication of our world-class academics celebrated by QS for the nine years running is a truly fantastic achievement.

Professor Jo Maher Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sport, Â̲èÖ±²¥

Â̲èÖ±²¥ has become synonymous with high performance – not just on the field, but in shaping the very science, business, and culture of sport worldwide.

Ben Sowter Senior Vice President, QS
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Why we’re number one

100/100 score for Academic Reputation

from a survey of 100,000 academics worldwide*

97.1/100 score for Employer Reputation

from a survey of 50,000 graduate employers worldwide*

82.9/100 score for H-Index Citations

highlighting the stability of impact and quality of the work we publish*

83.8/100 score for Citations per Paper

highlighting the impact and quality of our scientific work*

Sport University of the Year

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

100% of research impact within the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences is rated 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent'

Research Excellence Framework 2021

*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

Three students (two female, one male) sitting around a table discussing their work. Two laptops are open in front of them.

Employer reputation

Simon Bayliff, Founder and CEO of ARETÉ, is one of many employers to have benefited from hiring Â̲èÖ±²¥ graduates. He explains why he values Â̲èÖ±²¥ graduates so highly.

"I look for energy, enthusiasm, hunger, appetite, attitude, entrepreneurial drive and self-confidence in the graduates at ARETÉ. These are all critical to being a success in the sports industry.

"Â̲èÖ±²¥ graduates stand out because they offer both core and relevant educational competency; a competitiveness that’s essential in our industry; the exposure of playing sport at an exceptional level that engenders teamwork, commitment and sacrifice."

Research spotlights

football and a goal

Thriving under pressure in elite para football

Developing interventions to enable elite UK para footballers to optimise their response to perceived stressful situations.
Close up photo of coach discussing tactics with players

Levelling the field?

Influencing strategies, policies and programmes to increase the representation of BAME coaches in men’s professional football in England.
Spine x-ray

Exercise, lifestyle activity and immune-mediated chronic inflammation

Increasing understanding of how exercise and lifestyle activity can be used to prevent and reduce the impact of chronic inflammatory diseases.
Fast bowler's performance monitored in lab conditions

Faster, healthier, longer

Our research informs cricket coaching – reducing injury, enhancing performance and extending playing careers.
Professor Jowett talking to a hockey coach and player

The coach-athlete relationship

Exploring its impact on coaching, influencing sport policy and raising standards.
Children in a gymnastics centre

Safeguarding young people in sport

Research conducted at Â̲èÖ±²¥ is helping sporting organisations to keep more than 50 million young people safe when playing sport.
A Â̲èÖ±²¥ sign on the side of a rugby pitch

Sport and sustainability

Investigating how climate change is threatening the Winter Olympics and the future of snow sports by making conditions much more dangerous to athletes and participants.
Photograph showing the set up of a lab-based helmet test

Cricket safety standards

Helmets certified to standards based on our research have eliminated serious and life-threatening facial injuries.

Sport research, innovation and education at Â̲èÖ±²¥

A male runner in a lab being monitored with lasers by two sports science students

School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences (SSEHS)

SSEHS is renowned as an internationally recognised centre of excellence for the study of sport, exercise and health through the natural and social sciences.

The School’s strong reputation is built on both the quality of its teaching and research, which encompasses areas such as medicine, molecular biology, nutrition, biomechanics, economics, pedagogy, psychology, sociology and sport management.
A man in a wheelchair on an adapted treadmill being monitored by two researchers from the Peter Harrison Centre for disability sport

Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport

The University is a world-leader in Para sport research across a broad spectrum of interest areas.

This includes the work of the Peter Harrison Centre, which contributes significantly to research and practice in disability sport and provides sport science support to several Great Britain squads.
A woman in a supermarket looking at a packet of cereal

CLiMB: The Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour

Researchers at CLiMB aim to identify and evaluate innovative health behaviour interventions and policies to prevent and treat chronic diseases.

The overall ambition of the Centre is to help the public to live long, healthy and happy lives.
A female sports technology student carrying out an experiment on a cricket helmet

Sports Technology Institute

The world-leading Sports Technology Institute has a vision that technology can enhance the experience, performance and safety of anyone involved in sport.

The Institute has an international reputation for its work with global brands and federations including adidas, PING, Head, FIFA, Wattbike, and the England and Wales Cricket Board. It also supports in the design, simulation, manufacture and testing of sporting goods and technologies.
Sports related subjects: QS World University Rankings by Subject

QS World University Rankings

View the full QS World University Rankings by subject.