Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

94 Best Universities in England for Sports

If you are looking to study Sports in England, our index highlights the top 94 domain-leading institutions. Based on 5.86M scholarly articles and 209.7M peer-reviewed citations, we reveal the best research labs driving innovation in Sports. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Sports England Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

London

University College London

For Sports

#1 in United Kingdom #1 in Europe

36% Acceptance

42,000 Enrollment

1826 Founded

2

Oxford

University of Oxford

For Sports

#2 in United Kingdom #7 in Europe

22% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1096 Founded

3

London

Imperial College London

For Sports

#3 in United Kingdom #12 in Europe

41% Acceptance

17,565 Enrollment

1907 Founded

4

Cambridge

University of Cambridge

For Sports

#5 in United Kingdom #20 in Europe

21% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1209 Founded

5

Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle University

For Sports

#6 in United Kingdom #21 in Europe

23% Acceptance

28,693 Enrollment

1963 Founded

6

Birmingham

University of Birmingham

For Sports

#7 in United Kingdom #23 in Europe

38% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1900 Founded

7

Loughborough

Loughborough University

For Sports

#8 in United Kingdom #25 in Europe

44% Acceptance

19,449 Enrollment

1966 Founded

8

Southampton

University of Southampton

For Sports

#9 in United Kingdom #28 in Europe

32% Acceptance

21,335 Enrollment

1952 Founded

9

Nottingham

University of Nottingham

For Sports

#10 in United Kingdom #32 in Europe

32% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1948 Founded

10

Bristol

University of Bristol

For Sports

#11 in United Kingdom #34 in Europe

63% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1909 Founded

11

Liverpool

University of Liverpool

For Sports

#13 in United Kingdom #39 in Europe

24% Acceptance

28,693 Enrollment

1881 Founded

12

Leeds

University of Leeds

For Sports

#14 in United Kingdom #40 in Europe

48% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1904 Founded

13

Manchester

University of Manchester

For Sports

#15 in United Kingdom #41 in Europe

40% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1824 Founded

14

Liverpool

Liverpool John Moores University

For Sports

#17 in United Kingdom #49 in Europe

46% Acceptance

15,555 Enrollment

1992 Founded

15

Manchester

Manchester Metropolitan University

For Sports

#18 in United Kingdom #54 in Europe

53% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded

16

Exeter

University of Exeter

For Sports

#19 in United Kingdom #56 in Europe

73% Acceptance

11,270 Enrollment

1955 Founded

17

Sheffield

University of Sheffield

For Sports

#22 in United Kingdom #69 in Europe

28% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1905 Founded

18

Keele

Keele University

For Sports

#24 in United Kingdom #97 in Europe

52% Acceptance

24,409 Enrollment

1962 Founded

19

London

Queen Mary University of London

For Sports

#26 in United Kingdom #101 in Europe

18% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1989 Founded

20

Bath

University of Bath

For Sports

#30 in United Kingdom #123 in Europe

67% Acceptance

18,857 Enrollment

1966 Founded

21

Uxbridge

Brunel University London

For Sports

#31 in United Kingdom #128 in Europe

54% Acceptance

19,449 Enrollment

1966 Founded

22

Leicester

University of Leicester

For Sports

#33 in United Kingdom #136 in Europe

39% Acceptance

24,409 Enrollment

1957 Founded

23

Norwich

University of East Anglia

For Sports

#35 in United Kingdom #148 in Europe

22% Acceptance

24,409 Enrollment

1963 Founded

24

Leeds

Leeds Beckett University

For Sports

#36 in United Kingdom #150 in Europe

68% Acceptance

4,270 Enrollment

1992 Founded

25

London

University of London

For Sports

#38 in United Kingdom #155 in Europe

36% Acceptance

50,000 Enrollment

1836 Founded

26

Coventry

University of Warwick

For Sports

#40 in United Kingdom #159 in Europe

23% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1965 Founded

27

Colchester

University of Essex

For Sports

#42 in United Kingdom #167 in Europe

52% Acceptance

29,000 Enrollment

1964 Founded

28

Preston

University of Central Lancashire

For Sports

#43 in United Kingdom #172 in Europe

72% Acceptance

19,290 Enrollment

1992 Founded

29

Guildford

University of Surrey

For Sports

#46 in United Kingdom #185 in Europe

32% Acceptance

16,900 Enrollment

1966 Founded

30

Sheffield

Sheffield Hallam University

For Sports

#47 in United Kingdom #187 in Europe

69% Acceptance

19,290 Enrollment

1992 Founded

31

Canterbury

University of Kent

For Sports

#49 in United Kingdom #196 in Europe

50% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1965 Founded

32

Kingston upon Hull

University of Hull

For Sports

#51 in United Kingdom #215 in Europe

55% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1954 Founded

33

Oxford

Oxford Brookes University

For Sports

#54 in United Kingdom #230 in Europe

62% Acceptance

16,900 Enrollment

1865 Founded

34

York

University of York

For Sports

#56 in United Kingdom #246 in Europe

20% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1963 Founded

35

Durham

Durham University

For Sports

#61 in United Kingdom #268 in Europe

46% Acceptance

19,520 Enrollment

1832 Founded

36

Reading

University of Reading

For Sports

#63 in United Kingdom #274 in Europe

37% Acceptance

11,270 Enrollment

1892 Founded

37

Nottingham

Nottingham Trent University

For Sports

#64 in United Kingdom #277 in Europe

22% Acceptance

19,710 Enrollment

1992 Founded

38

Poole

Bournemouth University

For Sports

#67 in United Kingdom #290 in Europe

55% Acceptance

14,293 Enrollment

1992 Founded

39

Lancaster, ENG

Lancaster University

For Sports

#69 in United Kingdom #301 in Europe

22% Acceptance

15,555 Enrollment

1964 Founded

40

Brighton

University of Sussex

For Sports

#70 in United Kingdom #305 in Europe

35% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1961 Founded

41

London

London School of Economics and Political Science

For Sports

#71 in United Kingdom #308 in Europe

8% Acceptance

9,218 Enrollment

1895 Founded

42

London

University of Roehampton

For Sports

#73 in United Kingdom #317 in Europe

72% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

2004 Founded

43

London

City, University of London

For Sports

#80 in United Kingdom #346 in Europe

55% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1966 Founded

44

Bradford

University of Bradford

For Sports

#84 in United Kingdom #363 in Europe

63% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1966 Founded

45

London

University of Westminster

For Sports

#88 in United Kingdom #381 in Europe

56% Acceptance

19,000 Enrollment

1838 Founded

46

Egham

Royal Holloway, University of London

For Sports

#90 in United Kingdom #396 in Europe

55% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1849 Founded

47

Canterbury

Canterbury Christ Church University

For Sports

#91 in United Kingdom #401 in Europe

82% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2005 Founded

48

London

Birkbeck, University of London

For Sports

#97 in United Kingdom #437 in Europe

50% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1823 Founded

49

London

Goldsmiths, University of London

For Sports

#105 in United Kingdom #499 in Europe

64% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

1904 Founded

50

Carlisle

University of Cumbria

For Sports

#109 in United Kingdom #524 in Europe

67% Acceptance

14,000 Enrollment

2007 Founded

51

Bristol

University of the West of England

For Sports

#62 in United Kingdom #271 in Europe

57% Acceptance

30,732 Enrollment

1992 Founded

52

Luton

University of Bedfordshire

For Sports

#85 in United Kingdom #371 in Europe

82% Acceptance

30,732 Enrollment

2006 Founded

53

Chichester

University of Chichester

For Sports

#83 in United Kingdom #354 in Europe

73% Acceptance

11,340 Enrollment

2005 Founded

54

Lincoln

University of Lincoln

For Sports

#96 in United Kingdom #436 in Europe

78% Acceptance

19,710 Enrollment

1992 Founded

55

York

York St John University

For Sports

#111 in United Kingdom #533 in Europe

86% Acceptance

4,270 Enrollment

1841 Founded

56

Birmingham

Aston University

For Sports

#92 in United Kingdom #406 in Europe

44% Acceptance

16,900 Enrollment

1895 Founded

57

Middlesbrough

Teesside University

For Sports

#44 in United Kingdom #179 in Europe

76% Acceptance

19,290 Enrollment

1992 Founded

58

Cambridge

Anglia Ruskin University

For Sports

#68 in United Kingdom #297 in Europe

57% Acceptance

30,732 Enrollment

1858 Founded

59

Liverpool

Liverpool Hope University

For Sports

#108 in United Kingdom #503 in Europe

96% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

2005 Founded

60

Salford

University of Salford

For Sports

#20 in United Kingdom #62 in Europe

49% Acceptance

19,449 Enrollment

1967 Founded

61

Derby

University of Derby

For Sports

#101 in United Kingdom #464 in Europe

76% Acceptance

25,000 Enrollment

1992 Founded

62

Huddersfield

University of Huddersfield

For Sports

#95 in United Kingdom #427 in Europe

69% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded

63

Winchester

University of Winchester

For Sports

#118 in United Kingdom #623 in Europe

69% Acceptance

6,863 Enrollment

2005 Founded

64

Newcastle upon Tyne

Northumbria University

For Sports

#28 in United Kingdom #106 in Europe

50% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded

65

Stoke-on-Trent

Staffordshire University

For Sports

#57 in United Kingdom #249 in Europe

73% Acceptance

25,000 Enrollment

1992 Founded

66

London

University of Greenwich

For Sports

#79 in United Kingdom #341 in Europe

55% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1890 Founded

67

Worcester

University of Worcester

For Sports

#107 in United Kingdom #502 in Europe

89% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2005 Founded

68

Portsmouth

University of Portsmouth

For Sports

#65 in United Kingdom #284 in Europe

69% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1992 Founded

69

London

London Metropolitan University

For Sports

#110 in United Kingdom #531 in Europe

74% Acceptance

19,000 Enrollment

1848 Founded

70

London

Middlesex University

For Sports

#66 in United Kingdom #285 in Europe

63% Acceptance

30,732 Enrollment

1973 Founded

71

Northampton

University of Northampton

For Sports

#93 in United Kingdom #415 in Europe

73% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2005 Founded

72

Plymouth

University of Plymouth

For Sports

#53 in United Kingdom #229 in Europe

77% Acceptance

11,270 Enrollment

1992 Founded

73

Birmingham

Birmingham City University

For Sports

#104 in United Kingdom #491 in Europe

75% Acceptance

25,000 Enrollment

1992 Founded

74

Brighton

University of Brighton

For Sports

#50 in United Kingdom #207 in Europe

63% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded

75

Cheltenham

University of Gloucestershire

For Sports

#78 in United Kingdom #335 in Europe

74% Acceptance

16,900 Enrollment

2001 Founded

76

London

King’s College London

For Sports

#4 in United Kingdom #17 in Europe

43% Acceptance

42,000 Enrollment

1829 Founded

77

London

London South Bank University

For Sports

#89 in United Kingdom #383 in Europe

83% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1892 Founded

78

London

St George’s, University of London

For Sports

#32 in United Kingdom #134 in Europe

64% Acceptance

42,000 Enrollment

1733 Founded

79

Ealing

University of West London

For Sports

#114 in United Kingdom #570 in Europe

88% Acceptance

30,732 Enrollment

1990 Founded

80

High Wycombe

Buckinghamshire New University

For Sports

#112 in United Kingdom #544 in Europe

96% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2007 Founded

81

London

University of East London

For Sports

#75 in United Kingdom #325 in Europe

70% Acceptance

19,000 Enrollment

1992 Founded

82

Leicester

De Montfort University

For Sports

#106 in United Kingdom #501 in Europe

64% Acceptance

29,000 Enrollment

1992 Founded

83

Chester

University of Chester

For Sports

#86 in United Kingdom #378 in Europe

95% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2005 Founded

84

Birmingham

Newman University, Birmingham

For Sports

#113 in United Kingdom #563 in Europe

70% Acceptance

4,270 Enrollment

1968 Founded

85

Wolverhampton

University of Wolverhampton

For Sports

#77 in United Kingdom #330 in Europe

71% Acceptance

30,732 Enrollment

1992 Founded

86

Coventry

Coventry University

For Sports

#39 in United Kingdom #156 in Europe

62% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded

87

Ormskirk

Edge Hill University

For Sports

#76 in United Kingdom #328 in Europe

87% Acceptance

10,798 Enrollment

2006 Founded

88

Leeds

Leeds Trinity University

For Sports

#115 in United Kingdom #577 in Europe

53% Acceptance

4,270 Enrollment

2012 Founded

89

London

Royal Veterinary College University of London

For Sports

#48 in United Kingdom #191 in Europe

66% Acceptance

42,000 Enrollment

1791 Founded

90

Southampton

Solent University

For Sports

#87 in United Kingdom #380 in Europe

92% Acceptance

11,340 Enrollment

2004 Founded

91

Hatfield

University of Hertfordshire

For Sports

#58 in United Kingdom #255 in Europe

70% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1992 Founded

92

Sunderland

University of Sunderland

For Sports

#102 in United Kingdom #471 in Europe

83% Acceptance

19,090 Enrollment

1992 Founded

93

Twickenham

St Mary’s University, Twickenham

For Sports

#81 in United Kingdom #349 in Europe

71% Acceptance

31,517 Enrollment

1850 Founded

94

Kingston upon Thames

Kingston University

For Sports

#98 in United Kingdom #439 in Europe

68% Acceptance

22,980 Enrollment

1992 Founded