What Is Varsity?

Understanding What “Varsity” Means in UK and International University Sport

The word varsity is commonly used in university sport, but its meaning isn’t the same everywhere.

For student-athletes exploring opportunities outside the United States, this can be confusing. In some countries, varsity refers to a team level. In others, it describes a major sporting event.

So what is varsity?

This guide explains what varsity means in different university sport systems, with a particular focus on how varsity works in the UK.

What Does Varsity Mean in the U.S.?

In the United States, varsity usually refers to the highest-level team a school offers in a particular sport.

Varsity teams typically:

• Represent the university in formal competition
• Train regularly with coaching staff
• Compete in structured leagues such as NCAA, NAIA, or NJCAA
• Sit above junior varsity or club teams

When American athletes hear “varsity,” they often associate it with scholarships, official selection, and season-long competition.

What Is Varsity in the UK?

In the UK, varsity means something very different.

Rather than describing a team level, varsity refers to a historic rivalry event between two universities.

A varsity event is:

• A multi-sport competition between rival universities
• Played over a single day or across a week
• Made up of dozens of individual matches across different sports

Each match contributes points toward an overall total, with the university earning the most points crowned the varsity winner.

Varsity Is an Event, Not a Team

This is the most important distinction for international athletes to understand.

In the UK:

• You don’t “play on the varsity team”
• You compete in varsity fixtures as part of your university team
• Varsity is the culmination of a season, not the season itself

It’s best thought of as a championship-style rivalry that brings together multiple sports under one event.

What Sports Are Included in Varsity?

Varsity events are designed to include a wide range of sports.

Common varsity fixtures include:

• Basketball
• Volleyball
• Football (soccer)
• Lacrosse
• Tennis
• Rugby
• Hockey
• Swimming
• Athletics
• Rugby

The exact sports involved depend on the universities taking part, but the aim is to involve as many teams and athletes as possible.

Why Varsity Matters in UK University Sport

Varsity is one of the most significant moments in the UK university sport calendar.

It matters because it:

• Brings together athletes from across the university
• Draws large student crowds and alumni attention
• Reinforces school identity and rivalry
• Creates a shared experience across different sports

For many teams, varsity fixtures attract the largest crowds and most intense atmospheres of the entire season.

What Varsity Feels Like for Student-Athletes

For athletes, varsity often represents the most memorable competition of their university career.

It typically involves:

• Packed venues
• High-energy environments
• Strong rivalries
• A heightened sense of representing your university

For postgraduate and international athletes, varsity can be a defining part of the UK university sport experience.

Varsity and Graduate Students

Graduate students are eligible to compete in UK university sport, including varsity events.

This means:

• NCAA eligibility restrictions do not apply
• Athletes can compete while completing a master’s degree
• Varsity can be part of a postgraduate student’s competitive season

For athletes coming from the U.S. system, this often feels like a rare opportunity to experience one more major university competition.

Why Understanding Varsity Is Important

For athletes considering college sport abroad, understanding what varsity actually means helps set realistic expectations.

It ensures clarity around:

• How competition works
• What role varsity plays within the season
• How university sport differs from the U.S. model

This understanding is especially important for athletes transitioning out of the American college system.

How Athlete Futures Abroad Helps

Athlete Futures Abroad supports student-athletes exploring university-based sport opportunities overseas, including the UK.

We focus exclusively on college and university pathways and do not place athletes into professional teams.

All support is free for athletes and funded by partner universities in the UK and abroad.

We help athletes:

• Understand how university sport works internationally
• Learn what experiences like varsity actually involve
• Identify universities that fit their academic and athletic background
• Explore graduate study alongside continued competition

Ready to Explore Your Options?

If you’re considering studying and competing overseas, the next step is to register and complete a short recruiting profile.

This allows us to review your academic and athletic background and help identify whether university-based opportunities abroad could be a fit for you.

👉 Register here to explore college sport abroad options

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