Varsity team

In the United States and Canada, varsity teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school, or other secondary school. Such teams compete against similar teams at corresponding educational institutions. Groups of varsity sports teams are often organized into athletic conferences, which are groups of teams that regularly play each other during a given athletic season. In recognition of their high level of performance, athletes on varsity teams are often given varsity letters. They are in contrast to the institution's club sports. A major difference between varsity and club sports is the source for allocated funds. Varsity teams receive financial support, equipment, and facilities from college and university athletic department budgets. Universities often allocate club sport budgets through student life departments similar to other clubs on campus. Because club sports cost more than other clubs, many club student-athletes must pay to play and also engage in team fundraising efforts to pay for facilities time, equipment, and other team expenses. At various levels of collegiate sports, varsity student athletes are eligible for scholarships solely or partially based on athletic skills.

In the United Kingdom, varsity team refers to groups participating in varsity matches in sport or other competitions between rival universities, famously Oxford University vs. Cambridge University.

List of other UK varsity
De Montfort University vs. Leicester University

University of Hull vs. University of York

University of Lancaster vs. University of York

University College London vs. Kings College London

University of Surrey vs. Kingston University

The University of Manchester vs. Manchester Metropolitan University

Southampton University vs. Southampton Solent University

University of Kent vs. Canterbury Christ Church University

Leeds University vs. Leeds Metropolitan University

Nottingham Trent University vs. University of Nottingham

University College Plymouth vs. University of Plymouth

University of Bristol vs. University of the West of England

University of Warwick vs. Coventry University

University of Essex vs. University of East Anglia

Sheffield Hallam University vs. University of Sheffield

University of Huddersfield vs. University of Bradford

Brunel University vs. St Mary's University College

University of Derby vs. University of Lincoln

Keele University vs. Staffordshire University

Bangor University vs. Aberystwyth University

York St John University vs. Teeside University

Royal Agricultural College vs. Harper Adams University

Junior varsity to varsity
Junior varsity players may be able to go up a level to varsity playing by performing well.