Sport facilities at university

CONTENTS

1. University sport

2. Compare university sports facilities and activities

3. Why play university sports?

4. Trying a new sport at university

5. Disability and university sport

University sport

Why play sport at university? If you are going to study a degree in a subject other than sport, it may not be the first thing on your mind. But getting physically active has been proven to boost your energy, mental health and even your academic performance.

So how do you find out what sports facilities are available at each university? Some unis will have extensive facilities including full-size sports pitches. Others may simply have a gym available.

This is why the Complete University Guide runs a sports survey every year in partnership with BUCS – British Universities & Colleges Sport. Over 120 UK universities take part, telling us about the sports facilities they have and the activities they offer.

Compare university sports facilities and activities

Most universities have facilities for a full range of traditional sports such as football, rugby, netball, badminton, hockey, cricket, tennis and squash. Many also offer less common sports such as archery, caving, fencing, gliding, motorsports, sub-aqua, triathlon, ultimate frisbee and windsurfing.

Using our university sports table, you can check what each university offers.

• You can find what sports facilities a university owns and which it hires.
• You can discover whether universities have partnerships with local sports teams or organisations that benefit students.
• You can find out how many sports volunteers a uni has, which means you may be able to develop coaching or refereeing skills.
• Performance athletes can check out the support on offer from each university.
• At the top of the table, use the 'activity' button to filter the sports table by an activity such as archery, jiu jitsu or powerlifting. This will give you a list of universities where the activity is available.

Updated every year, it helps you find and compare sports facilities at UK universities. If you want to find out more, many open days have sports sessions. This gives you the chance to ask questions of staff and students about facilities, training and competition.

To find your ideal university – including the sports it offers – you can do this quickly and easily by using our Uniselect tool.

Why play university sports?

Student sports bring you lots of benefits: exercise, a chance to let off steam and make friends.

You may feel you’re too busy with your studies to prioritise sport. But research shows that students who take part in physical activity also get better grades. Even taking active breaks while you study can help – going to a fitness class or taking a break at the gym.

In 2025, the Student Active Wellbeing Survey asked over 7,000 students about their experience of university sport. Active students said they had better wellbeing and social inclusion than inactive students. In another survey (BUCS student survey 2024-25), over 85% said playing sport meant they had links to a much wider cultural and social group of students.

Physical activity can reduce stress levels from course deadlines and exams. Sports can also hone your powers of observation and the ability to focus. Employability skills are enhanced, such as working towards targets, using strategy and drive, and communication and teamwork.

Another benefit of joining a gym or playing sports at university is the cost. The cost of taking part is often very little compared to private facilities and may be subsidised by a sports society or the university itself. Keeping fit and having fun needn't break the bank.

Starting university – moving from home, living with people you've only just met, and studying in a different way than you're used to – can be stressful. Taking part in sports, particularly team sports, helps to boost your mental health and beat stress.

Trying a new sport at university

Universities know that different students are motivated by different things. If you want to compete seriously, you can join a sports team to represent the university. But if you want to play sport for fun and enjoyment, other activities are also available.

University sports are usually offered at these levels:

• Representative or performance sport – competition between universities, sometimes referred to as varsity sport.
• Intramural sport – sports leagues within your university.
• Social and recreational sport – informal sport and activities.
• Health and wellbeing or lifestyle – such as gym sessions, fitness classes, yoga and Pilates.

Many universities try to keep Wednesday afternoons free from teaching so that students can take part in sports leagues.

Don't worry if you've never played a particular sport or want to try a new activity. The emphasis is often on ‘sport for all’ where students are encouraged to try something new.

Popular activities such as badminton, squash and aerobics are often led by qualified staff. If team sports aren’t your thing, there’s usually a broad range of classes and recreational programmes to try. Any equipment you need is usually readily available.

Most universities offer beginner classes and coaching for those who wish to improve. Sport sessions may be run by staff from university sports and recreation departments, or by your fellow students. Many universities offer coaching courses and provide leadership and volunteering opportunities for students.

Playing sport at university is the ideal opportunity to try a new sport or improve in a way that’s cheap and without making a long-term commitment.

Disability and university sport

BUCS is keen to promote inclusion in sport, noting that 17% fewer disabled students take part in sports at university than their non-disabled peers.

Some universities have more parasport activities on offer than others. In 2025, the unis with the most accessible sports were Loughborough, Nottingham, Kingston, York, Birmingham and Stirling. These all had seven or more accessible sports, ranging from wheelchair rugby to para table tennis.

Across all universities, wheelchair basketball is the most commonly offered parasport, found at 35 UK universities. You can search our university sports table by activity to find disability sports such as wheelchair basketball, para-swimming or adaptive rowing, among others.