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Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences
Maiden Castle Sports Centre

Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences ranked in the Top 100 sport-related departments in world.

25 March 2026
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We have been ranked in the Top 100 in the prestigious QS World University Rankings by Subject. The department is proud to have continued this Top 100 position every year since 2020.

About us

The department is a welcoming, collegiate, and vibrant community undertaking world-leading and world-changing sport, physical activity and exercise sciences research that challenges inequalities, promotes social justice, and improves health and wellbeing. Our research seeks to be future forming in that it changes what sport and exercise sciences can be rather than being constrained by what it was or is.

Our taught programmes are consistently ranked in the Top 10 best sport-related degrees in the country. Our students benefit from studying at a globally renowned University, including gaining key employment skills identified as important by potential employers.

About the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026

The QS World University Rankings by Subject are among the most prestigious global rankings, assessing universities using indicators including academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations and international research collaboration. 

The 2026 rankings analysed more than 6,200 institutions worldwide, with 1,900 universities ranked across 55 subjects, producing over 21,000 individual ranking entries. 

Durham performs strongly across many subjects

As a University, we have achieved a best-ever 22 subjects in the world top 100, including three in the world top 10, and 10 in the world top 50. Four ‘broad subject’ areas and 17 ‘narrow subjects’ improved their positions compared with last year.

Professor Karen O’Brien, our Vice-Chancellor and Warden, said: “Durham is a world-leading university. The outstanding nature of our teaching and research is reflected in our global rankings success. 

“It is particularly pleasing to see a high volume of broad subjects again placed so highly in these most prestigious rankings. 

“We have been a world top 100 university every year since 2010. We are The Times and The Sunday Times UK University of the Year 2026.” 

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