Participants in these events are European university teams and individuals.
In 2019 new Championships were created for kickboxing, orienteering, beach handball and water polo.
In 2006, the sports events were renamed European Universities Championships, to stress the universities being the participants in the events.
In 2012 the first European Universities Games was organised, bringing together 10 sports from the European Universities Championships at the same place at the same time.
In 2014 the second European Universities Games was organised in Rotterdam including 10 different sports.