School of Health and Wellbeing

BSc (Hons) Football Coaching and Performance with Foundation Year

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

No sports qualifications? No problem. Build a football coaching career from the ground up with our Foundation Year route into our CIMSPA-endorsed degree, with guaranteed professional placements.

No sports qualifications? No problem. Build a football coaching career from the ground up with our Foundation Year route into our CIMSPA-endorsed degree, with guaranteed professional placements.

Award
BSc (Hons)
Start date(s)
14 September 2026, 13 September 2027
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?

93% of students were satisfied with the teaching on this course (NSS, 2026).

Not got the grades or experience for direct entry, but know football coaching is where you belong? This four-year route gives you an extra year to build the academic skills, subject knowledge and confidence you need, before joining the same CIMSPA-endorsed BSc (Hons) Football Coaching and Performance that our direct-entry students take. If you're a mature student, a career-changer, or simply didn't achieve traditional Level 3 qualifications, this is your way in.

  • No standard qualifications? No problem: we'll consider you if you have a genuine interest in football coaching or relevant experience, assessed through our Prepare for Foundation (PFF) assessment day rather than grades alone.
  • One extra year, fully integrated: your Foundation Year isn't a bolt-on. It blends subject-specific football learning with academic skills such as critical thinking, academic writing and digital literacy, so you arrive at Year 1 ready.
  • The same qualification, the same industry links: once you progress, you follow the identical Year 1 to Year 3 course, with the same CIMSPA endorsement, coaching qualifications pathway and West Midlands club partnerships.
  • Practical from the start: even during your Foundation Year, you'll get hands-on experience through fitness testing, training methods and coaching activities, not just lectures.

 

What's unique about this course?

This route exists because talent and potential in football coaching aren't always reflected in a UCAS points total.

  • A genuine second chance: designed for applicants who don't meet standard entry requirements but can demonstrate real interest or experience in football coaching, assessed on merit through our PFF assessment day.
  • Personalised transition support: small-group tutorials, one-to-one meetings with lecturers, and access to Skills for Learning and student success coaching from week one.
  • The full CIMSPA-endorsed degree: once you're through your Foundation Year, you gain everything direct-entry students do, including the FA Introduction to Coaching Football Award, Multiskills Level 2, Hudl Level 1 and the UEFA C qualification pathway.
  • Real West Midlands club connections: partnerships with more than 50 clubs across the region, including Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion and Walsall FC.
  • Flexible pace: study full-time over four years or part-time over eight, fitting your degree around work or family commitments.

What happens on the course?

Your first year is built specifically to bridge the gap between wherever you're starting from and degree-level study. Teaching blends theory, practical sport sessions and independent learning, delivered through small-group sessions, workshops and regular one-to-one support, so you're never navigating it alone.

  • Academic skills workshops covering critical reading, academic writing, research methods and referencing, built around football and sport examples.
  • Hands-on practical sessions in fitness testing, training methods and skill development, so you're applying theory from week one.
  • Early careers guidance introducing you to pathways in coaching, sports therapy, performance analysis and sports management.
  • Weekly reflective journals to help you track your progress and build the self-awareness you'll need for the rest of your degree.

Once you progress into Year 1, you follow the same football-focused journey as our direct-entry students: coaching pedagogy and performance analysis technology in year one, coaching philosophy, tactics and event management in year two, and advanced coaching, inclusive practice and an independent professional project in your final year. Assessment throughout favours portfolios of coaching videos, performance analysis and reflective practice over traditional exams, mirroring how coaches actually evidence their skills in the industry.

Placements on the course

Every student on this course is guaranteed professional placement , from your first year in the full degree through to your final year. These are structured, real-world experiences designed to build the CV evidence and industry contacts you need, whatever stage of your football journey you're starting from.

  • Short duration: condensed, work-like experience within professional coaching and performance environments.
  • Academic integration: always linked to your coursework, assessments or professional development modules.
  • Project-based learning: specific coaching, analysis or event tasks carried out with a real organisation, such as Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion or Walsall FC.
  • Flexible format: in-person, remote, hybrid or virtual, depending on the opportunity.
  • Skill development: builds core workplace skills, including communication, teamwork and problem-solving.
  • Experiential learning: bridges the gap between classroom knowledge and coaching practice.

Employability on the course

From your Foundation Year onwards, this course is designed to prepare you for a career in football. You will benefit from:

  • Extended induction: a full year dedicated to building your academic confidence, subject knowledge and understanding of the football industry.
  • Structured learning pathways: each stage builds towards specific roles across coaching, performance analysis and sports management.
  • Hands-on project experience: practical sport sessions from your Foundation Year onwards, building towards real coaching and analysis projects.
  • Embedded professional development: workplace skills and placements are built into every year, not added at the end.
  • Industry-informed modules: kept current through our club partnerships and staff's own research and industry experience.
  • Placement opportunities: a guaranteed professional placement for every student, previous placement opportunities have included Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion and Walsall FC.

 

Course Modules

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

Our Foundation Year is backed by the same facilities, funding and record of graduate success as the rest of our sport courses.

  • 99% sports graduate employability. Our students get jobs (Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey).
  • A free university-branded sports kit in your first year.
  • Access to specialist facilities, including human performance and movement labs with an environmental chamber and 3D motion capture, physiotherapy and sports therapy suites, an elite strength and conditioning suite and a 3G football pitch.
  • Sports Scholarships worth up to £4,500 (subject to a successful application) once you progress onto the honours stage of your degree.
  • Teaching staff who are practising coaches and researchers, working alongside our WLV Sport teams.
  • A block curriculum built around your transition into higher education, with employability threaded through every year, starting with your Foundation Year.

Your Foundation Year builds the foundations for everything that follows. You'll leave it able to:

  • Make informed choices about your academic and subject-specific direction.
  • Select and use appropriate sources of information for your subject.
  • Apply different approaches to learning and develop core academic and subject skills.
  • Reflect on your progress and set clear goals for the next stage of your studies.

From Year 1 onwards, you'll build the same broad skill set as our direct-entry students, learning to:

  • Apply a systematic understanding of coaching theory, pedagogy and performance principles.
  • Design, deliver and evaluate coaching interventions across a range of contexts and populations.
  • Use research and analytical techniques, including performance analysis software such as Hudl, to inform coaching decisions.
  • Critically evaluate coaching practice and communicate your judgements to players, coaches and organisations.
  • Lead and mentor others, and take responsibility for your own professional and ethical decision-making.
  • Articulate your own coaching philosophy through a professional portfolio built for the job market.

Alongside your degree, you'll also work towards the FA Introduction to Coaching Football Award, Multiskills Level 2 Award, Hudl Level 1 certificate and the UEFA C coaching qualification. N.B. completing these qualifications requires some additional tasks outside of the degree programme, alongside your regular coaching.

Location Mode Foundation Year Fee Sep intake Fee Year
Home Full-time £9790 £9790 per year 2026-27
Home Part-time £4895 £4895 per year# 2026-27
International Full-time £17600 £17600 per year 2026-27

Additional Course Costs

Mandatory Costs

  • The University will fund an initial enhanced DBS check (where your course requires) GOV.UK / Disclosure and Barring Service. Some placement settings will require a refreshed certificate every 12 months. You are therefore encouraged to register for the Update Service within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This costs £13 per year and you can pay by debit or credit card.
  • Uniform is provided for this course, however the University of Wolverhampton reserves the right to make a charge.
  • You will be required to provide appropriate foot wear at a cost of approximately £50-£60

Optional Costs

  • Various Sporting professional body memberships *prices will vary depending on body.
  • Various industry standard courses are available via the School of Sport's Earn and Learn employability initiative. You may be asked to contribute £0 - £200 toward these.

Further information on these additional costs will be provided prior to the start of your studies

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

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.

Ibrahim smiling at camera wearing a red top

"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."

- Ibrahim Diallo - Second Year Student -

Olympic superstar Kristian Thomas has added a First Class degree from the University of Wolverhampton to his long list of accolades (September, 2019).


The captain of Great Britain’s men’s gymnastics team at Rio 2016 said: "It’s a very proud moment after three years of hard work to be in the Grand Theatre with my cohort and my peers and the people who have helped me including the academic staff. I was out of education for quite a few years so to come back into it was a little bit daunting but they made that process so seamless. I’m very proud to come to the end of the three years and to come away with a first class honours as well."

Watch Kristian's full video here | Press Release (Express and Star)

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

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