National recognition celebrates a century of sporting excellence, world-class partnerships and Olympic-calibre talent.
BUCS Indoor 4 x 200m Final. Amelia Briggs-Goode, Lara Vieira-Milton, Annabel Howells, and Amelie McGurk celebrate their silver medal.
The University of Birmingham has been named The Times & Sunday Times Sport University of the Year 2027, recognising its outstanding contribution to sport, athlete development, research, education and community engagement.
Rising four places to 12th overall in The Times & Sunday Times rankings, Birmingham is also named University of the Year in the Midlands 2027 and runner-up University of the Year 2027.
Birmingham's sporting success is built on 80 years of leadership in sport and physical education - educating teachers, coaches, practitioners and researchers who have shaped sport across the UK and internationally. That heritage is combined with state-of-the-art facilities, world-leading research and a thriving student sporting community - placing Sport at Birmingham at 9th in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject.
Being named The Times & Sunday Times Sport University of the Year recognises the collective effort of an entire community. Whether competing at the highest level, participating in grassroots sport, conducting cutting-edge research or supporting major events, our students and staff embody what makes the University of Birmingham such a special place for sport.
The Times & Sunday Times recognition reflects the strength of the University's partnerships across the sporting landscape, including with the PGA, Birmingham City Football Club, and Warwickshire County Cricket Club. These collaborations allow the University to advance athlete performance, sports science, health and wellbeing, while creating new opportunities for students and researchers to work alongside elite sporting organisations.
Birmingham's sporting impact is also reflected in the achievements of its alumni, including Olympic medallist Georgia Hunter Bell, England international swimmer Ollie Morgan, and former world championship medallist and Olympian Hannah England.
Professor Deborah Longworth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) at the University of Birmingham, said: “Being named The Times & Sunday Times Sport University of the Year recognises the collective effort of an entire community. Whether competing at the highest level, participating in grassroots sport, conducting cutting-edge research or supporting major events, our students and staff embody what makes the University of Birmingham such a special place for sport.
“As we celebrate this achievement, the University remains focused on its ambition to be a global leader in sport, education and research, while continuing to inspire future generations of athletes, coaches, teachers and innovators.”
Men's rugby union game against Cardiff Met.
Men's hockey training at Bournbrook beneath the watchful gaze of Old Joe.
Amelia Flaxman celebrates after winning BUCS Gold in the Women's Championship Lightweight 4 with teammates Cari Meredith, Darcy Smyth, and Emily Fergusson. The team competed against Cambridge A, Cambridge B, Newcastle, Nottingham, and Queen's Belfast.
In 1946, the University of Birmingham became the first UK university to offer undergraduate teaching in physical education, later creating a degree in Sport and Exercise Sciences. Birmingham was one of the first UK universities to bring together physiotherapy and sport and exercise sciences, creating unique expertise in rehabilitation and movement.
Today, the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham has one of the largest custom-built sport, exercise and rehabilitation sciences facilities in the UK, incorporating teaching and research laboratories for exercise metabolism and physiology, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and motor control, and sport and exercise psychology.
Recognition as Sport University of the Year comes as Birmingham cements its reputation as one of the world's leading sporting destinations, regularly hosting major international championships and elite professional competition.
Birmingham has improved its standing among the world's best universities for the fourth successive year, rising eight places to 68 in this year’s QS World University Rankings – up 23 places since 2023 and joint 10th in the UK, its highest-ever national QS position.
In July, Birmingham ranked first in the Russell Group in the National Student Survey, achieving its highest-ever student satisfaction score. Birmingham is also named one of the top two UK universities most targeted by the country’s leading graduate employers, according to ‘The Graduate Market in 2026’.
For more information, please contact the press office at the University of Birmingham or call +44 (0)121 4142772.
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 40,000 students from over 150 countries.
England’s first civic university, the University of Birmingham is proud to be rooted in one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the country. A member of the Russell Group and a founding member of the Universitas 21 global network of research universities, the University of Birmingham has been changing the way the world works for more than a century.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education)
Biographical and contact information for Professor Deborah Longworth in the Department of English at the University of Birmingham.
