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.
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.
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.
100% of students were satisfied with teaching on their course (NSS, 2025)
96% of students were satisfied with the assessment and feedback on their course (NSS, 2025)
100% of students were satisfied with the learning opportunities on their course (NSS, 2025)
95% of students were satisfied with the academic support available to them (NSS, 2025)
Partnerships from 2020 to 2023 involve students collaborating with various local and national organisations such as, British Judo, England Squash, Commonwealth Games, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and West Bromwich Albion FC.
Lecturing staff on the course are practitioners in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) with expertise in Gender, Race, Disability, and LGBTQ+ equality.
Student support is a priority, with a focus on nurturing strong relationships to provide ongoing personalised guidance and assistance to 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.
Our Partners:
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
Module:4SR062
Credits:30
Period:1
Type:Core
The module aims to introduce you to important football coaching principles used in different contexts and populations. It will encourage you to apply football-specific knowledge through thoughtful engagement in pedagogical practice, while developing an understanding of the nature of your role in enabling participant learning.
Module:4SR063
Credits:30
Period:1
Type:Core
This module establishes the theoretical foundation for effective coaching by exploring how people learn and develop in football contexts. You will examine pedagogical theories while developing essential professional skills including communication, session planning and developing a CV. This module introduces you to the role of the coach in a participatory football context. You will experience and examine the coaching process and acquire basic pedagogical skills through planning, delivering and evaluating sessions. You will also develop employability skills, where you will find a live job advert and then design a session plan and CV in relation to the chosen job role.
Module:4SR064
Credits:30
Period:1
Type:Core
This module will develop your analytical and scientific literacy essential for modern football coaching. This module bridges the gap between theoretical sport science and practical application, using technology and data to enhance coaching decision-making.
Module:4SR065
Credits:30
Period:1
Type:Core
This extended induction module supports your transition into university life and introduces you to football coaching principles. It helps you build confidence, develop a strong academic identity and understand the expectations of university study. You’ll explore key academic practices including independent learning, digital literacy and ethical academic conduct including referencing, plagiarism awareness and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in line with university policy. The module is structured around seven themes identified by students as essential to their university experience: Ready to Study: Clear guidance on expectations, transitions and workload planning. Academic Skills and Educational Gain: Development of foundational academic skills including time management, critical thinking, and digital fluency. Career Readiness and Professional Identity: Early exploration of career pathways, CV building and professional behaviours. Personal Development and Belonging: Activities that foster confidence, inclusion, and identity within the university community. Social Engagement and Community Building: Opportunities to connect with peers, staff, and wider university life. Feedback and Reflective Practice: Structured opportunities to receive, apply and reflect on feedback to support your growth as a student coach. Wellbeing and Student Support: Embedded access to holistic support services and strategies for success. This module lays the foundation for future professional development.
Module:5SR057
Credits:30
Period:2
Type:Core
This module develops your personal coaching philosophy while advancing your understanding of coaching methodologies. You will explore the relationship between individual coaching beliefs, values and practices, learning to articulate and implement a coherent philosophical approach to player and team development.
Module:5SR058
Credits:30
Period:2
Type:Core
This module develops your understanding of sports event management from grassroots tournaments to school competitions. You will develop planning, organisational and management skills essential for modern football coaching roles that increasingly require event coordination and administrative competence.
Module:5SR059
Credits:30
Period:2
Type:Core
In this module, you will examine how tactical approaches and playing styles reflect broader coaching philosophies. The module analyses contemporary tactical trends while developing understanding of how team philosophy shapes tactical implementation and player recruitment strategies.
Module:5SR060
Credits:30
Period:2
Type:Core
This research-focused module develops your critical understanding of the challenges inherent in talent identification systems within football. You will examine theoretical frameworks around relative age effect (RAE), biological maturation, chronological age, and psychosocial development while developing essential research skills for independent investigation. Through collecting and analysing real data from football environments, you will gain practical experience in mixed methods research approaches that prepare you for Level 6 dissertation work. The module bridges theory and practice by engaging in authentic research that has direct implications for coaching practice and player development systems. You are expected to critically evaluate current talent identification approaches, recognise inherent biases and limitations, and develop evidence-based perspectives on creating more equitable and effective player development pathways.
Module:6SR056
Credits:30
Period:3
Type:Core
This advanced coaching module develops you into a reflective practitioner and leader capable of driving innovation in football coaching. You will integrate all previous learning while developing advanced coaching competencies, leadership skills and the ability to mentor other coaches.
Module:6SR054
Credits:30
Period:3
Type:Core
This module develops your capability to coach diverse populations while solving complex problems in real coaching environments. You will demonstrate advanced coaching competencies through practical problem-solving scenarios that require adaptation to different groups, abilities and contexts. You will work as a group with your peers to solve a real-world coaching problem that exists within your coaching context, using evidence-based research and theory to identify solutions to address the problem and make your coaching more inclusive.
Module:6SR060
Credits:30
Period:3
Type:Core
This module provides you with the opportunity to complete a short, independent professional project within your chosen subject area, supported by the guidance of an academic supervisor. You will investigate a topic relevant to your degree pathway, drawing on appropriate research, theory, and professional evidence to deepen your understanding and inform your project work. A range of topic areas that can be investigated will be provided for you, and you will choose one to focus your professional project on. Depending on your academic discipline, your project may take the form of an applied investigation, evaluation, resource development, intervention design, or practice-based study. Throughout the process, you will be expected to plan and manage your work independently, demonstrating initiative, organisation, and critical thinking. You will engage in regular supervisory meetings to receive feedback, refine your ideas, and ensure your project is academically robust, ethically sound, and professionally relevant. Reflection is embedded across the module, enabling you to evaluate your decision-making, professional conduct, and the impact of your work. By completing this module, you will consolidate your subject knowledge, strengthen your research and project management skills, and demonstrate your readiness for graduate-level employment or further study across sport, health, education, and exercise-related professions.
Module:6SR055
Credits:30
Period:3
Type:Core
This module prepares you for coaching and management roles by developing strategic thinking, problem-solving and leadership capabilities. You will address the challenges that organisations in the football industry face when recruiting for graduate level roles.
Additional Information
Everything you need to know about this course!
Why study sport at the University of Wolverhampton?
99% sports graduate employability*. Our students get jobs!
Free university branded sports kit for all students in their first year.
We have a proud history of delivering sector-leading sports courses in partnership with major sporting organisations in the Black Country and West Midlands.
Specialist sports facilities including human performance and movement labs with an environmental chamber and 3D motion capture software; physiotherapy and sports therapy suites; sports performance clinic; elite strength and conditioning suite; multi-million pound Sports Centre; 3G football pitch; tennis/netball courts.
Inspirational teaching staff who are cutting edge practitioners and researchers in their subject areas.
Access to motivating, high level sports coaches who work with our WLV Sport teams.
Sports Scholarships available up to £4,500 across the three years of a degree (subject to successful Scholarship application).
Innovative block curriculum delivery model, including modules focussed on introducing you to Higher Education, and developing your employability
For more information about sport at the University of Wolverhampton please see our WLV Sport Page
*Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey
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 first two 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.
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.
# Undergraduate part-time fees for 50% rate of study
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.
Students must usually have studied for a minimum of two years post GCSE level. However, we will consider applications from mature students who do not have two years of post-16 study, where they have relevant work experience. Please see http://wlv.ac.uk/mature for further information.
Ibrahim Diallo - Second Year Student
"My name is Ibrahim Diallo and I'm currently in my second year studying Football Coaching and Performance at Wolverhampton. I've always been a huge fan of football and had a passion for the sport. I was fascinated by how a football coach deals with players and how they approach sessions on a day-to-day basis.
My time of study at university has been very interesting because I have met good people and have the right support group around me. The balance between learning in the classroom and learning in a practical element is really good because it helps me as a coach to understand how to apply techniques to my sessions and develop. The classroom work is vital because as a student you can research different articles for your assignments. I like how the timetable flows - in the morning we're in the classroom and then after lunch we're on the astro doing practical work, which makes the lessons more engaging.
A real turning point for me was the sports coaching and pedagogy module, where I had to do a presentation regarding my sessions over the weeks. That's where I learned the different types of coaching techniques that I can apply as a coach and reflect on what I can improve on.
I'm currently working with a grassroots team called TT Elite. I started as a volunteer and used this to learn about other coaches and see how they deal with the players they're coaching. I see what makes other coaches stand out and try to add that to my own coaching. I've enjoyed it because it has really helped me understand that if you want to make it as a coach, you must have a certain level of commitment and make huge sacrifices. What I'm learning is that as a coach you must be adaptable because the session might not go as planned, so I make sure I have a backup plan so the session flows without any major distractions.
The teaching staff have supported me massively with my assignments, giving me really good feedback. They've also supported me with extra qualifications like the multi-sport certification, which can help me with getting a job at school. The most valuable connections I'm making are with coaches that work in an academy or professional setting. These connections are valuable because they can lead me to get an opportunity to coach at a good level and help me learn about their journeys.
Since coming to the university, I've always enjoyed using the astro turf for the practical side of the course. I'm doing what I like, which is playing football, so using the facilities has been good. The size of the classrooms are at a good standard and the computers I've had to use for the analysis module were really impressive - there were features I didn't know you could use.
Where I see myself in five years is working in an academy setting or in other departments in the football field. I'm confident that this course is helping me out, so I have to make sure that I make the most of it - if not, then I only have myself to blame for not being proactive."
"During my second module in first year, I was introduced to analysis software and I really enjoyed looking at football in this way - that's when I realised I wanted a career as an analyst.
My lecturer Martin was a big factor in this motivation. He made me aware of analyst placement opportunities at different clubs and recommended me to apply, which led to what I'm doing now. This placement at West Ham, working inside a Category 1 academy environment with professional analysts and coaches, is probably the best opportunity I've received from this course.
The teaching staff are really supportive and more than willing to help students develop and get great opportunities. It has felt amazing and very rewarding putting the skills I learnt at uni into practice and being able to develop them further."
Gage Badger, 2nd Year Student on Placement, BSc (Hons) Football Coaching and Performance Currently on Placement at West Ham United Academy
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:
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.
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.
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