2020 Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments

In 2016, ShanghaiRanking published this ranking for the first time, adopting a unique methodology highlighting the performance of more than 300 universities with sport-related units. This ranking allows sport-related institutions and units to compare with similar peers other than multi-disciplinary universities in a specific subject. The top 300 universities are listed based on the measurement of publication, citation, citations per publication, top 25% journal publications, and internationally collaborated publications. The bibliometric data is collected from the Web of Science database with a time window of five years. Among the top 300 in the 2024 list, 12 universities are sports universities.(Methodology)

Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments

300 Institutions

World Rank	Institution	Total Score	PUB CIT CPP TOP IC
1	University of Copenhagen University of Copenhagen Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports Institute of Sports Medicine, Centre for Physical Activity Research (CFAS)	100.0	98.3
2	Norwegian School of Sport Sciences Norwegian School of Sport Sciences Norwegian School of Sport Sciences Norwegian School of Sport Sciences	98.7	79.2
3	Deakin University Deakin University School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences Department of Physical Activity and Health	96.8	99.8
4	University of Verona University of Verona Faculty of Exercise and Sport Science Faculty of Exercise and Sport Science Sport, Mountains, and Health Research Center	87.5	98.6
5	Loughborough University Loughborough University School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences	83.2	100.0
6	The University of Queensland The University of Queensland School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences	76.2	75.1
7	University of Southern Denmark University of Southern Denmark Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics	70.4	68.3
8	Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences	70.0	96.4
9	University of Jyvaskyla University of Jyvaskyla Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences	69.8	72.7
9	Victoria University Victoria University College of Sport and Exercise Science College of Sport and Exercise Science Institute for Health and Sport (IHES) Institute for Health and Sport (IHES)	69.8	80.5
11	The University of Calgary The University of Calgary Faculty of Kinesiology Faculty of Kinesiology	69.7	68.3
12	Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool John Moores University School of Sport and Exercise Sciences School of Sport and Exercise Sciences	65.8	63.7
13	University of South Carolina - Columbia University of South Carolina - Columbia Department of Exercise Science Department of Exercise Science Department of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management Department of Physical Education and Athletic Training	62.8	49.5
14	University of British Columbia University of British Columbia Allan Mcgavin Sports Medical Center Allan Mcgavin Sports Medical Center School of Health and Exercise Science School of Health and Exercise Science School of Kinesiology School of Kinesiology	61.2	74.8
15	Ghent University Ghent University Department of Movement and Sport Science	61.1	46.3
15	University of Birmingham University of Birmingham School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences	61.1	57.0
17	German Sport University Cologne German Sport University Cologne German Sport University Cologne German Sport University Cologne	60.5	89.7
18	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Kinesiology and Community Health Department of Recreation,Sport and Toursim	57.7	66.8
19	University of Sao Paulo University of Sao Paulo School of Physical Education and Sport School of Physical Education and Sport	56.5	64.8
20	University of Florida University of Florida Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology Department of Tourism,Recreation and Sport Management	56.1	42.4
21	York University York University School of Kinesiology and Health Science	56.0	45.7
22	Australian Catholic University Australian Catholic University School of Exercise Science School of Exercise Science	53.1	26.2
23	Edith Cowan University Edith Cowan University School of Exercise and Health Sciences School of Exercise and Health Sciences	52.9	35.3
24	Curtin University Curtin University School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science	52.0	59.2
25	The University of Newcastle, Australia The University of Newcastle, Australia Applied Sports Science and Exercise Testing Laboratory The Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition	50.9	37.3
25	The University of Western Australia The University of Western Australia School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health	50.9	38.4
27	KU Leuven KU Leuven Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences	50.8	42.6
27	University of Alberta University of Alberta Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation	50.8	47.3
29	University of Granada University of Granada Faculty of Sports Sciences Faculty of Sports Sciences	50.3	52.7
30	Queensland University of Technology Queensland University of Technology School of Exercise and Nutrition Science School of Human Movement Studies School of Human Movement Studies	50.0	31.5

* Institutions within the same rank range are listed alphabetically.

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Methodology-Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments 2021