The university opened in in 1930 as the National Institute of Physical Education of Ukraine in Kharkiv. In 1944 the institute was transferred to Kiev and changed its name to Kyiv State Institute of Physical Education. After the independence of Ukraine, in 1995 the university was reorganized in Kyiv National University of Physical Education, which in 1998 acquired the status of national and adopted the name of the National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine.