About Us
WHO ARE WE?
UK PADEL NUPL is the UK’s official student padel league - built by students, for students - uniting universities nationwide in a fast-growing, high-energy competition.
Launched in 2024, the league brings together 20 universities across four regional conferences and three divisions, culminating in a national Finals Day that crowns the champions and celebrates the culture of student sport.
powered by uk padel
Powered by title sponsor UK PADEL, we’re breaking down cost barriers and growing accessible, community-led padel across campuses.
More than a league, UK PADEL NUPL is a movement - championing inclusivity, igniting rivalries, and shaping the future of the padel across the UK.
4 regional conferences
The UK PADEL NUPL brings together 20 universities from across the UK, split into four regional conferences: North, Midlands, South East, and South West.
Each conference acts as its own mini league over the course of the academic year.
Universities compete only against others within their region, creating local rivalries and reducing travel demands.
Every conference follows the same format and structure, keeping competition fair and consistent nationwide.
3 divisions of play
Each conference features three divisions:
Men’s Division 1
Men’s Division 2
Women’s Division 1
This setup allows every team to compete at the right level, while maintaining an equal structure across the country.
Teams and Fixtures
Each university fields two pairs per division.
In Division 1, that’s the university’s first and second pairs, while Division 2 features their third and fourth.
Throughout the season, every pair faces all other pairs (except their own uni’s other pair) within their respective division, within their respective conference.
Points are earned through match results, and overall standings are determined by total points within each division.
Qualification for Finals Day
When the regular season wraps up, the top-performing pairs from each conference qualify for Finals Day – the UK PADEL NUPL's national national knockout tournament.
Here, regional champions compete for the overall title in a high-energy finale that celebrates the best of student padel across the UK.
Expect a buzzing student atmosphere with sponsor activations, player prizes, raffles, and a post-competition social!
Our Core Values
impactful
student-led
inclusive
built for impact
Padel should be for everyone. That’s why we’re changing the game by keeping competition high, costs low, and impact at the heart of everything we do.
powered by students
This league was built by students, for students. 100% student-led and community-driven, UK PADEL NUPL reflects the creativity, energy, and inclusivity that define university sport at its best.
driving growth
We’re not just keeping up with change, we’re driving it. By partnering with leading brands and forward-thinking organisations, we’re supporting free and low-cost participation, helping thousands of students to access padel.
our story
👋 Hey there, we’re Fia, Barney and Guy (the co-founders)
We wanted to take a moment to share how all this began.
It was a chilly morning in early 2024.
We met while running a friendly padel event between Edinburgh, Durham, and Newcastle.
The day was electric.
Tight matches. Big laughs. The kind of buzz you don’t forget.
But when the rackets were packed away… something still felt missing.
As presidents of our uni padel clubs, we’d seen how fast the sport was exploding across campuses.
The passion was real and the players were ready.
But there wasn’t a league that truly brought students together.
So, the idea for the National Universities Padel League was born.
By August 2024, that idea became real.
What started as a chat between three friends turned into the UK’s first student padel league – built on competition, connection, and pure love for the game.
Year one?
Beyond words (though clearly, we’ve found a few).
The league became everything we’d hoped for and more.
And honestly?
We’re only just getting started 💥
If you want to get involved, or just fancy a chat about padel, drop us a message on IG.
We’d love to hear from you.
See you on court,
Fia, Barney & Guy 🎾
