Sport at Victoria University
Victoria University is ranked number 7 globally for sport science.*
As leaders in sport we offer over 40 sports-related courses at undergraduate, postgraduate and vocational education (TAFE) levels. Our research in human movement and sport science has a world-class reputation.
* ShanghaiRanking: 2022 Academic Rankings of World Universities
World-class research
Our researchers were recognised for their global standing in the latest Australian Research Council Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) results, with human movement and sport science research receiving the highest rating of 5 (well above world standard).
Our $68 million high-technology facility is accessed by students, researchers & professional sports teams.
Meet our experts
Our courses
Victoria University is one of Australia's most recognisable sport universities.
We have an outstanding reputation in sport, exercise science, health and fitness, gained through our extensive offering of sport-related courses and world-class facilities.
Also unique to VU is our significant research and partnerships, as well as our leading academic staff.
We have the largest number of students enrolled in sport courses, and more sports industry partners than any other university. We also have the most graduates working in the sport industry.
Industry engagement
We have affiliations with over 350 professional sporting bodies and employers to deliver better and faster employment prospects, grow our applied and translational research opportunities, drive further opportunities for commercial endeavour and actively contribute to community health and wellbeing.
These partnerships benefit our students through placement opportunities and industry-relevant curriculum development, as well as the broader VU community through collaborative research and programs dedicated to improving health and wellbeing.
Our students in our exercise science courses also have access to internal and external placements through our Clinical Exercise & Rehabilitation (VUCER) placements program. During placement students get hands-on experience with real clients in the student-run exercise and rehabilitation clinic.
Our partners
Other partnerships
TRACK
TRACK helps to further the science of sport through working with organisations to improve the performance of athletes, develop the next generation of practitioners and scientists, and provide thought leadership to the sports industry.
Techstars
Techstars has partnered with Launchvic, Tennis Australia and Victoria University to launch an accelerator focused on SportsTech in Australia.
Sport participation
Our sport infrastructure allows for sport participation from grassroots involvement through to the preparation for and assessment of elite sport performance.
We are focused on:
- developing Footscray Park campus as the heart of a Maribyrnong Health, Sport and Active Living Precinct through partnerships with sport, government and community
- improving and expanding existing VU sport facilities and developing new facilities to enrich the staff and student sport experience at VU
- growing and strengthening programs for student and staff participation in enhancing their wellbeing through sport.
Sports inclusion
Indigenous people with a disability, particularly women
We've created resources for sport organisations to improve access to sport for people with disability, in particular people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island backgrounds. These include:
- Winyarr Ganbina – Women Arise: Insights to create inclusive communities for people with disability (video)
- Outback Academy Australia – Red Dust Heelers: Checklist for an Inclusive Community Sports Organisation (PDF,290.91 KB)
This project was funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
Sport strategy
We have strong ambitions to be Australia’s leading sport university and a global leader in sport.
The VU Sport Strategy, 2019-2023: From Grassroots to Elite (PDF,2.42 MB) will drive us to achieve this ambition.