This incredible achievement – a decade at the top and the sole holder of the title since it was launched by QS in 2017 – highlights how sport sits at the very core of the University and has helped shape a truly unique environment.
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. Together they have helped athletes win Olympic and Paralympic medals, improved public health and influenced international sports policy at the highest level.
In November, the University received royal recognition for its pioneering contributions to Para and disability sport, being awarded the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education. Loughborough now ranks among the most highly recognised institutions for the prize, with eight awards in total – a record surpassed only by the University of Oxford.
Its groundbreaking Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub is bringing together leading academics, industry partners, national governing bodies, and elite-level athletes to drive positive change at every level of the women’s sporting ecosystem.
And since 2002 the University’s Sports Technology Institute has worked with adidas on the testing and development of all its tournament footballs, including those for the World Cup and EURO Championships.
The QS World University Rankings by Subject is based on surveys of academic staff who specialise in the subject area, and employers who recruit graduates from the discipline. It also considers research output and impact, measuring both citations and paper output over a five-year period.
Speaking about Loughborough’s continued success, Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Chancellor and President of Loughborough University, said: “I am incredibly proud that Loughborough has been named the world’s best university for sport-related subjects for the tenth consecutive year.
“To achieve this distinction for a full decade is an extraordinary testament to the talent, dedication and collaborative spirit of our staff, students, partners and alumni. Sport is woven into the fabric of Loughborough, and this recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence in teaching, research and performance. This remarkable milestone strengthens our position as the global home of sport, and we look forward to continuing to lead, inspire and innovate in the years ahead.”
Ben Sowter, Senior Vice President at QS, commented: “Loughborough University’s decade at number one in Sports-related Subjects is the academic equivalent of a dominant title run in elite sport.
“To lead globally for ten consecutive years requires not just peak performance, but consistency, depth and the ability to stay ahead of the competition season after season. As Sir Alex Ferguson once said, ‘At the top level, consistency is everything’ – and Loughborough’s results reflect exactly that, underpinned by sustained strength in reputation, employability and research impact.”
Loughborough has been ranked in the QS global top 100 in eight other subject areas:
- Library and Information Management (22) – reflecting work undertaken in the Schools of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Business School
- Anatomy and Physiology (38) – reflecting work undertaken in the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences and the School of Science
- Art and Design (=48) – reflecting work undertaken in the School of Design and Creative Arts
- Architecture and the Built Environment (51-100) – reflecting work undertaken in the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering
- Communication and Media Studies (51-100) – reflecting work undertaken in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities
- Geography (51-100) – reflecting work undertaken in the Department of Geography and Environment
- Petroleum Engineering (51-100) – reflecting work undertaken in the School of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering and Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering
- Engineering – Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing (100) – reflecting work undertaken in the School of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering and Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering
The full QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 tables can be found here. Further information about Loughborough’s success in the QS rankings can be found here.