School of Health and Wellbeing

BSc (Hons) Football Coaching and Performance with Foundation Year

BSc (Hons) Part-time 8 years, Full-time 4 years

The BSc (Hons) Football Coaching and Performance degree at the University of Wolverhampton offers a dynamic and hands-on pathway into the world of football.

The BSc (Hons) Football Coaching and Performance degree at the University of Wolverhampton offers a dynamic and hands-on pathway into the world of football.

Award
BSc (Hons)
Start date(s)
14 September 2026
UCAS Code
C627
Course specifications
Course length
Part-time (8 years),Full-time (4 years)
Campus location
University: Walsall Campus
UCAS points calculator

Why choose this course?

Are you passionate about football and want to build a career in coaching, player development or performance analysis?  This unique course has been developed alongside industry partners and endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA). The course team consists of FA qualified coach developers who have many years of experience delivering Union of European Football Association (UEFA) accredited coaching courses to developing coaches. On the course you will gain:

Blend of Theory and Practice: Gain deep insight into coaching techniques, performance analysis, sports science and tactical coaching strategies. All assessments are geared towards developing industry-specific skills utilised in the workplace.

Career-Ready Graduates: Tailored modules focused on employability in the football industry, exploring how to best prepare yourself for life after university as a sports graduate.

Strong Industry Links: Build a network of contacts with our partnerships across semi-professional and professional clubs in the UK and beyond. Opportunities are also provided for coaching abroad via our partnerships with Challenger Sports and Camp America.

People on a football pitch

What's unique about this course?

Real-World Experience: Collaborate with professional football clubs, community organisations and grassroots clubs during work placements and live projects. We have strong links with over 50 clubs in the West Midlands, including opportunities with some of our key partners such as Wolverhampton Wanderers, Walsall FC, West Bromwich Albion and WLV Sport.

Qualifications: The first two years of the degree will prepare you to complete the Football Association (FA) Introduction to Coaching Football Award, Multiskills Level 2 and UEFA C qualifications (although completion of these qualifications will require additional tasks outside of the degree programme and align with your regular coaching). You will also complete your Hudl Level 1 certificate in the first year, which is an industry-recognised performance analysis qualification.

First-Class Facilities: Train and study in professional-standard sports labs, fitness centres and performance suites, including access to world-leading performance analysis software, Hudl.

Knowing Our Students: Student support is our priority, with a focus on nurturing strong relationships to provide guidance and assistance to students. Our cohort sizes ensure we can provide a more personalised approach for our students.

What happens on the course?

Combining academic study with practical experience, this three-year course is designed to develop your knowledge of coaching techniques, performance analysis and sport science, all essential in the modern game. You’ll learn from industry-experienced lecturers who are all Union of European Football Association (UEFA) qualified coaches and who have extensive applied knowledge and experience within grassroots to international level football. You will also gain access to cutting-edge facilities to ensure you graduate as a confident and capable football professional.

The degree has a strong practical focus, with all assessments utilising skills that are required in the football sector. Throughout the course you will be provided with opportunities to visit local football academies and gain insight into what it is like to work at a professional football club. Many of our students also take up opportunities to coach over the summer in America, via our links with Challenger Sports and Camp America.

As part of this four-year degree, you will complete modules in your first year that will help you to develop academic skills and knowledge needed to prepare you to progress onto the three-year BSc Football Coaching and Performance degree.

Two people sitting talking to one another

As part of this four-year degree, you will complete a sandwich placement year where you will apply your learning in real-world settings. This full-year work placement can be undertaken in the UK or abroad. Several of our students have been successful in securing places each year on these schemes in countries including Spain, France and the US and at clubs such as West Ham United FC.

Our Partners:

Three males holding up Wolverhampton Wanderers T-shirt on football pitch

 

Placements on the course

We’ve built professional placements into every degree, every student will be guaranteed a professional placement. Our placements give you the real-world exposure and proven experience your CV needs, while building the industry networks essential for your career.

These short-term, structured experiences include:

  • Short duration: condensed work-like experience in professional environments
  • Academic integration: always linked to coursework, assessments or professional development modules
  • Project-based learning: students work on specific tasks or research with an organisation
  • Flexible format: can be in-person, remote, hybrid or virtual
  • Skill development: enhances workplace skills like communication, teamwork and problem-solving
  • Experiential learning: helping to close the gap between knowledge gained and the skills needed to succeed

Employability on the course

Our courses are designed from day one to prepare you for your future career. You will benefit from:

  • Extended induction: a period to familiarise yourself with your new university
  • Structured learning pathways: courses are crafted with a focus on preparing students for future careers
  • Hands-on project experience: projects and practical activities designed around real-world activities
  • Embedded professional development: all courses are designed with workplace skills development and professional placements as part of the course
  • Industry-informed modules: course content is kept up-to-date with industry standards through our industry links, staff's research and work in the field
  • Placement opportunities: professional development placements for every student

Course Modules

Potential Career Paths

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

The University of Wolverhampton has a long and successful history in academia priding itself on being the university of opportunity.

Inclusivity is central to the university’s ethos. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, many of which are accredited by professional regulatory bodies.

We’ve continued to expand our global reach, working with institutions around the world to deliver University-approved courses and internationally recognised qualifications.

We’ve invested millions of pounds across our campuses to ensure that our facilities for students are cutting edge and world class. It is providing students with industry-leading technology and experiences to equip them with the skills needed for a career on the frontline, as well as enabling those already working in the health and social care sector to gain new skills.

The University of Wolverhampton is a central location at the hub of the UK transport network within easy reach of Birmingham, Manchester and London.

You will engage in regular coaching and performance analysis, where our placement modules will allow you to gain hands on experience and receive mentorship within professional environments. This includes opportunities with our key partners Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, West Bromwich Albion FC and Walsall FC, amongst 50+ other professional, semi-professional and grassroots clubs that we work with.

The Foundation Year will prepare you with university academic skills and an overview of sports modules that will prepare you to move onto the full BSc Football Coaching and Performance degree. The second and third years of the degree will prepare you to complete the Football Association (FA) Introduction to Coaching Football Award, Multiskills Level 2 Award, Hudl Level 1 certificate and the UEFA C coaching qualification. N.B. completion of these qualifications will require additional tasks outside of the degree programme and align with your regular coaching.

Our employability modules enable you to explore careers in football coaching and engage in career development planning that prepares you for graduate-level employment in the football industry or elsewhere. Each year you will also have opportunities to participate in career development activities and network with employers from local football clubs, sports businesses and performance sport organisations.

Location Mode Sep intake Fee Year
Home Full-time £9535 per year 2025-26
International Full-time £15995 per year 2025-26

The University is committed to a transparent fee structure, with no hidden costs, to help you make an informed decision. This includes information on what is included in the fee and how fees are calculated and reviewed.


If a tuition fee is not showing, we may not offer this intake for this course. Please check the start date information on the course finder for start dates.

Prepare for Foundation Pathway: - We will consider applicants who have not achieved level 3 qualifications if you have a keen interest in this subject area or hold relevant experience. To receive an offer through this route you will be required to successfully attend and pass a Prepare for Foundation event. This is a one-day programme which is designed to assess your keen interest or recent experience in the subject, through a written assessment and a variety of activities. During the event you will have the opportunity to ask questions, be introduced to studying a higher education foundation course and meet staff and fellow students. If you would like more advice and guidance about this admissions pathway, please contact Gateway to discuss and support you making an application to us.

Other Requirements

Entry to this course requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check and an Occupational Health Check.

Free Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Occupational Health Check:

Due to the professional nature of some of our courses you may also be required to complete a Declaration of Health and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check. We will coordinate both of these non-academic conditions with you should your course require this and you receive an offer from us

There will be no cost for the DBS this is free to applicants who have secured an offer and have chosen to study at the University of Wolverhampton.

Other Requirements: Applicants must be 18 years old or above at the start of the course.

Here is one of our 2024 graduates, Tom Wilkes, who is now working for Aston Villa Football club, as well as running a successful coaching business:

Graduation photos

Students in graduation gowns smiling at camera  Students in graduation gowns smiling at camera

Students in graduation gowns smiling at camera

Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA)

Endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).

Tuition Fees Loan (Home Fee Status):

Most students will be able to apply for a loans to pay for these subject to eligibility. To find out more information please refer to the government Student Finance website.

Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as having Overseas Fee status. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)


Self-funding:

If you don’t want to take out a loan to pay your fees or if you aren’t eligible to receive a loan, you might want to take advantage of the University’s scheme to pay by instalments: See How to pay.

For more information please contact the Gateway.


Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

If your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund.

for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


Bursaries and Scholarships:

In addition the University also offers a range of Bursaries and Scholarships packages

You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

Online

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How we compare

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Find out how our course is rated on Discover Uni, the official website for comparing UK higher education courses.

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