Sport at Victoria University

Over our history and particularly in the last decade, VU has been a leading local, national and global contributor in the field of sport.

World-class research

Victoria University is ranked 7 in the world for sport science.*

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.

*2023 Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments.

Institute for Health & Sport

The Institute for Health and Sport addresses real-world problems of local, national and global relevance in health, sport and active living, across four multi-disciplinary research programs.

Olympic Research Network (ORN)

Our Olympic Research Network is a member of the global Olympic Studies Centres.

Student seeing osteo at the VU Osteo Clinic

Sport & exercise science research facilities

Our $68 million high-technology research facility is purpose-built to facilitate interdisciplinary teaching, research, and engagement.

Inclusive sport

At VU, safe and inclusive sport participation drives our sport and health research.

Find out more

News

L-R: Liam Adams, Aoife Coughlan, Leon Sejranovic, Sergei Evlevski, Danni Di Toro

Students and alumni set to compete at Paris

Congratulations to Victoria University’s (VU) five students and alumni who are set to compete in the Paris 2024 Games.

Super fans survival guide: snack & sleep tips during the Games

Victoria University (VU) researchers share their top tips to keeping your nutrition and sleep levels balanced, while watching the Games.

What lessons can Brisbane learn from the Paris Olympics?

The City of Lights promises plenty to do and a buzzing atmosphere. What lessons can Brisbane learn eight years ahead of hosting the 2032 Games?

Does abstaining really help an athlete’s performance?

Paris is often called ‘the city of love’, but the cardboard beds provided to athletes at the Games have been criticised as ‘anti-sex’. Beyond the media headlines, is there any evidence that sex might harm the performance of elite athletes?

The hidden mental health toll on athletes

New research looks at mental health challenges facing athletes who experience performance anxiety.

The 3 changes Australian sport must make

What's the physical and psychological toll of what athletes must endure in sport environments?

Why is there so little Olympics footage in the news?

Why is there so little Olympics footage in the news? Here’s how the multibillion-dollar video rights industry works.

How do Olympians deal with disappointment?

Dr Chris Mesagno examines how athletes (and others who don’t achieve their goals in Paris) rebound from their disappointment.

Meet our experts

Meet our world class experts: Camilla Brockett - transcript

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.