Loughborough has been named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects for the eighth year running by the global QS higher education league table. The QS ranking is based on our reputation in academia and industry, as well as our research impact.

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Loughborough is world-renowned for its sporting ecosystem, and the teaching and research of sports disciplines is at the very core of this. Our work in this field is recognised and valued by the international academic community, and it is great to see that the talent of our world-leading academic colleagues has been acknowledged yet again by QS.

Professor Jo Maher Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sport, Loughborough University

Why we’re number one

100/100 score for Academic Reputation

from a survey of 100,000 academics worldwide*

100/100 score for Employer Reputation

from a survey of 50,000 graduate employers worldwide*

86/100 score for H-Index Citations

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

87.3/100 score for Citations per Paper

highlighting the impact and quality of our scientific work*

University of the Year for Sport

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022

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 2024

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 Loughborough graduates. He explains why he values Loughborough 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.

"Loughborough 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 Loughborough University is helping sporting organisations to keep more than 50 million young people safe when playing sport.
A group of young people sitting on the ground during a sports match © Photo by Amos Gumulira/Agitos Foundation.

Para Sport against stigma

Exploring how representation, education and communication in Para sport can break down barriers and support access and adoption of assistive technology.
A Loughborough University 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 Loughborough

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.
The words 'National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, working for health and wellbeing' engraved on the wall of the NCSEM building

National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (East Midlands)

The NCSEM-EM aims to apply world-class expertise to policies and practice that will benefit the health and wellbeing of the nation.

The NCSEM-EM has five key themes that cover research, education and clinical activity, supporting everyday people at risk of ill health through to elite athletes.
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 male researcher in a white lab coat injecting blue dye into a sample dish

Leicester Biomedical Research Centre

The Leicester BRC is at the frontier of research into illnesses linked to respiratory conditions, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease and the consequences of inactivity.

Its overall purpose is to translate scientific breakthroughs in these areas into diagnostic tests, preventions and life-saving treatments for patients.
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.
Aerial view of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park at night - home of Loughborough University London

Institute for Sport Business

Based at Loughborough University London, the Institute for Sport Business is home to a globally recognised faculty of academics with research and teaching expertise in the business of sport.

Based at Loughborough University London, the Institute for Sport Business is home to a globally recognised faculty of academics with research and teaching expertise in the business of sport.

Sports related subjects: QS World University Rankings by Subject

QS World University Rankings

View the full QS World University Rankings by subject.

QS website