Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments (GRSSSD)

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 2025 list, 15 universities are sports universities.

Explore GRSSSD Methodology

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	100.0	100.0	57.3	100.0	67.9
2	Norwegian School of Sport Sciences Norwegian School of Sport Sciences Norwegian School of Sport Sciences Norwegian School of Sport Sciences	87.1	77.8	82.2	60.5	83.1	70.6
3	Deakin University Deakin University School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences Department of Physical Activity and Health	86.8	94.9	82.9	50.1	87.2	48.6
4	Loughborough University Loughborough University School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences	80.0	94.0	74.2	45.2	76.6	47.7
5	The University of Queensland The University of Queensland School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences	71.6	75.4	66.8	50.7	61.6	51.5
6	University of Southern Denmark University of Southern Denmark Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics	68.1	66.5	58.8	50.7	53.1	76.0
7	The University of Calgary The University of Calgary Faculty of Kinesiology Faculty of Kinesiology	67.5	64.7	59.5	52.7	56.1	60.9
8	University of Verona University of Verona Faculty of Exercise and Sport Science Faculty of Exercise and Sport Science Sport, Mountains, and Health Research Center	67.3	77.8	57.4	42.3	56.7	61.1
9	Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool John Moores University School of Sport and Exercise Sciences School of Sport and Exercise Sciences	61.5	62.4	48.2	44.2	47.0	80.2
10	Ghent University Ghent University Department of Movement and Sport Science	61.0	46.8	46.2	56.6	50.9	70.8
11	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	60.7	54.9	58.3	60.9	45.2	30.8
12	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)	60.0	66.5	46.3	39.9	53.1	58.7
13	KU Leuven KU Leuven Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences	59.9	55.7	48.7	50.1	42.4	75.5
14	German Sport University Cologne German Sport University Cologne German Sport University Cologne German Sport University Cologne	58.9	85.2	45.5	30.6	45.4	55.8
15	University of Birmingham University of Birmingham School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences	57.8	58.1	45.1	44.5	48.8	57.6
16	Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences	57.6	77.1	40.8	30.3	50.3	58.5
17	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Kinesiology and Community Health Department of Recreation,Sport and Toursim	57.2	68.4	51.0	42.7	47.3	28.6
18	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	57.0	65.8	42.9	37.3	49.2	57.3
19	Laval University Laval University Department of Kinesiology Department of Kinesiology	51.5	19.1	33.3	100.0	15.1	51.0
20	The University of Western Australia The University of Western Australia School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health	51.0	48.9	37.6	44.1	40.8	54.3
21	Edith Cowan University Edith Cowan University School of Exercise and Health Sciences School of Exercise and Health Sciences	50.4	42.5	39.1	52.6	26.9	72.2
22	University of Florida University of Florida Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology Department of Tourism,Recreation and Sport Management	50.1	44.1	43.1	55.9	37.2	24.4
23	The University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine	49.2	15.2	26.1	98.6	14.8	57.9
24	York University York University School of Kinesiology and Health Science	48.8	49.1	43.1	50.3	30.1	34.4
25	University of Sao Paulo University of Sao Paulo School of Physical Education and Sport School of Physical Education and Sport	48.6	63.2	40.7	36.9	29.8	44.1
26	Australian Catholic University Australian Catholic University School of Exercise Science School of Exercise Science	47.6	30.8	33.9	63.0	27.0	55.2
27	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Center for Human Movement Science Center for Human Movement Science Department of Exercise and Sport Science	47.2	36.5	42.7	66.9	22.9	23.5
28	Maastricht University Maastricht University Department of Human Movement Science Department of Human Movement Science	47.1	17.6	26.2	85.2	22.1	49.3
29	University of Jyvaskyla University of Jyvaskyla Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences	45.8	39.2	32.2	47.1	26.5	67.9
29	University of Washington University of Washington Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine	45.8	33.4	37.1	63.6	27.6	25.2

* Institutions within the same rank range are listed alphabetically.

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