Loughborough secures ‘best university in the world for sports-related subjects’ title for eighth consecutive year

Loughborough has been crowned 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 surveying academic staff that declare a speciality in the subject area, and employers who recruit graduates that specialise in the discipline. It also takes into account research output and impact, with both citations and paper output measured over a five-year period.  

Sports-related research has always been at the heart of Loughborough and is a key part of the University’s strategy. The School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Sports Technology Institute and Institute for Sport Business are all renowned for the fundamental and applied research they undertake in this field.  

This marks the eighth year in a row that Loughborough has secured the best in the world title, being the recipient ever since it was launched by QS in 2017.  

Speaking about Loughborough’s continued success, Professor Jo Maher, the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sport, said: “Loughborough is world-renowned for its sporting ecosystem, and the teaching and research of sports disciplines is at the very heart of this.  

“We are so proud that 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 for eight consecutive years by QS.”

Ben Sowter, QS Senior Vice President, added: “Being named the best in the world for sport-related subjects for the eighth consecutive year is a monumental achievement for Loughborough University. 

“This unparalleled streak not only highlights the University's unwavering commitment to excellence in sports education and research, but also further cements its position as a global leader in the field. It's a testament to the hard work and dedication of the faculty, staff, and students, as well as industry partners and sports champions and mentors, who have contributed to maintaining such high standards of education and innovation in sports.” 

Loughborough has been ranked in the QS global top 100 in seven other subject areas:   

The full QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024 tables can be found here. Further information about Loughborough’s success in the QS rankings can be found here.

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: PR 24/48

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines. 

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2023 QS World University Rankings – the seventh year running. 

Loughborough is ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2024, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2024 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024. 

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes. 

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking. 

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