Media releases

Federation University has jumped into the top 100 of the 2020 Global Ranking of Sport Science schools and departments as assessed by the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).

Federation’s Department of Sport Science has improved on its previous top 150 ranking in 2018. For 2020, more than 400 universities were ranked.

Sport science is the study of how the healthy human body works during exercise, and how sport and physical activity promotes health – physically, mentally and socially.

The study of sport science references and uses many other academic studies and areas, such as physiology, psychology, anatomy, chemistry and engineering.

The ARWU uses five objective indicators to rank sport science schools and departments, including: the number of papers indexed on the Web of Science academic website; total citations; citations per paper; papers published in journals such as Nature and Science; and the percentage of papers produced with international collaboration.

Federation University performed particularly strongly in citations per paper and for international collaboration, indicating that the work of its researchers is widely recognised, and that the University connects strongly with the worldwide research community. Results in these categories were higher than those of several universities that are ranked in the top 50.

Federation’s sports-related educational experiences include exercise and sport science; clinical exercise physiology; strength and conditioning; sport management; and from 2021, international sport management via a new bachelor’s degree presented in partnership with the World Academy of Sport.

Students and the community have access to cutting edge facilities at the University’s $16.5 million health and sports precinct, which opened in March this year. Planning for a second stage to the precinct is currently under way.

Quotes attributable to Federation University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Duncan Bentley

 “It’s pleasing to see Federation University move into the top 100 in the ARWU’s Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools in 2020, improving on our top 150 ranking in 2018. We look forward to continual growth in this area with the commencement of our Bachelor of Physiotherapy and Bachelor of International Sport Management in 2021.”

“We’re investing in new partnerships in sports science, so it’s great to see our research in these areas being recognised as among the best in the world.”

“Our challenge now is to export not only our research and our programs but also the value of regional universities to Australia’s reputation for innovation and creativity.”