The University of Nottingham is one of the UK’s best-known institutions. It’s a red brick university, a member of the prestigious Russell Group and it’s also ranked top 20 in the UK overall (QS World University Rankings 2025).
However, the University isn’t only known for its academic excellence — in 2019 it was named the best UK university for both international students and for sports!
A once-in-a-lifetime achievement
When the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 rankings were released, it was revealed that Nottingham had won the titles International University of the Year and Sports University of the Year. This was the first time in the history of the guide that a university has won two titles; a wonderful achievement!
The reasons for Nottingham’s success are easy to see. The University is famed for its 2 hugely successful overseas campuses in Malaysia and Ningbo, China. This means that when you join the University of Nottingham, you are joining an incredibly diverse network of international students, staff and alumni.
Sporting prowess
The University of Nottingham has a clear commitment to sports. In 2016 it opened the brand new David Ross Sports Village, following an investment of £50 million.
21,000 Nottingham students now regularly participate in a variety of sports, with 3,500 competing against each other every week! The University has even started a new Sport and Exercise Science degree. This will join other popular degrees at the University including Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine.
As there are students from more than 150 countries at Nottingham, joining a sports team is a great way to make friends from all over the world!
Plus, if you find a sport you really enjoy, you could join the ranks of the many Nottingham graduates who have gone on to compete in international competitions like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. For example, David Florence is an Olympic triple silver medallist, and a graduate of the University of Nottingham.
Shape your future at the University of Nottingham
All of this just goes to show the benefits of attending a world-class institution like the University of Nottingham. If you’re ready to earn a valuable degree and shape your future, explore the links below to search for degrees, and see how Kaplan can help you get started.
