Start dates:

September: UCFB Wembley, UCFB Etihad Campus or Distance (with attendance) at UCFB Wembley, UCFB Etihad Campus

Course length: One year (full-time) and two year (part-time) options available

Degree overview

The MSc Football Coaching course is designed for those wishing to deepen their understanding of football coaching practices. The programme provides opportunities to engage in different aspects of football coaching including areas such as coaching philosophy, tactics and strategies, reflective practice and analysis of coaching practice. It is ideal for current professionals working within the football industry or those who aspire to work within the professional game.

Teaching locations & learning options

UCFB Wembley on campus or Distance (with attendance)

This degree is available at UCFB Wembley, London, which the iconic Wembley Stadium at the heart of its campus. What could be more motivating for a future career in the sports industry than walking into the most famous stadium in the world?

This degree is also delivered via Distance (with attendance). Our Distance (with attendance) degrees are delivered by the same leading industry experts who teach our on campus degrees with teaching online via our dedicated Online Hub which can be accessed anytime making this a flexible study option that fits around your existing commitments. Your online study is further consolidated with on campus residential block(s) consisting of in-person teaching, networking and opportunities to meet your academic staff and peers.

Wembley Stadium

Arch View House

UCFB Etihad on campus or Distance (with attendance)

This degree is available at UCFB Etihad Campus, Manchester, a state-of-the-art campus devoted to the football industry in the heart of Manchester – one of the world’s most famous footballing cities with a thriving student population.

Etihad Stadium

Degree content

This course is delivered at excellent professional sporting venues similar to those in which students aspire to work. A diverse range of learning and teaching approaches are used as appropriate to each module. Across the course students benefit from regular contact through lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials and practical sessions.

In addition to timetabled classes for each module, students will also attend a weekly personal tutorial session. Some of these tutorial meetings will be conducted in a group, with others conducted one-to-one contact with a tutor. Proactive use of the VLE and mobile technologies engages students with the broader knowledge base upon which the course is built. Integration of theory and practice is consistently emphasised to support authentic learning, wherever possible utilising problem-based approaches, live case studies, client challenges and practical coaching sessions. In addition to the validated curriculum, the Employability & Enrichment team provide students with enrichment activities, careers guidance and signpost work placement opportunities.

Teaching locations for this degree include:

UCFB Wembley

UCFB Etihad Campus

In addition to our teaching locations, we also use specialist facilities throughout the academic year as well as additional facilities where required.

I chose to study here it was something different, unique, and an opportunity to gain entry into a career I’ve wanted to pursue for a long time.

Declan JacksonGraduate and Talent ID Development Coach at Football Talents

Modules

Degree specification documents & information

The Global Institute of Sport is an embedded college of the University of East London. All GIS graduates will receive a degree from the University of East London.

Click here for the course specification for this degree

Degree modules

Global Sports Leadership
Applying Football Principles – Tactics and Strategies
Philosophy in the Coaching Process
Analysis of Football Coaching Practice
Applied Research Project
Match & Performance Analysis in Football (Option)
Applied Reflective Practice (Option)

Students will choose one option at the beginning of their course.

The main educational aims of the course are to:

Provide opportunities for students to solve complex problems related to the football industry.
Develop students’ ability to be able to think critically and creatively about football coaching.
Develop systematic knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice of coaching and training to enhance football performance.
Equip students with a range of research skills necessary to design and conduct applied research in a football context.

Requirements overview

Entry requirements

Standard entry requirements

Undergraduate degree - minimum 2:2 (ideally a 2:1) or international equivalent
Some courses have additional industry qualifications and experience requirements. Where applicable, these requirements are outlined on each course page and will depend on previous academic or work experience.
English language qualifications: Applicants from non-majority English speaking countries will be asked for an English qualification which tests Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing and will be asked to achieve an overall IELTS score of 6.5 (minimum of 6.0 in each section) or recognised equivalent.

Offers to applicants currently studying an undergraduate degree will be conditional on them going on to achieve the entry requirements on completion of their degree.

Flexible entry requirements

Applications that do not meet the standard entry requirements but demonstrate relevant education and/or work and/or life experience in the course subject area are welcomed.

Eligibility will be assessed on the basis of the information provided in the application – in particular the personal statement.

For further detailed entry requirements for MSc Football Coaching, please click here.

For more information, please contact admissions@ucfb.com.

Applications

Priority Application Deadline - 31 August 2023

We strongly encourage you to submit your Masters application well before our 31 August 2023 priority application deadline (8 January 2024 for courses starting in January) to allow sufficient time for assessment of application, ensure availability on the course and enrolment in time for the beginning of your studies. Applications received after this date will only be considered on a case by case basis.

How to apply

To apply for this degree, please click here and follow the instructions to complete your application via our Learner Portal.

Application Documents

Application form
Evidence of highest academic and/or professional qualifications
Evidence of coaching qualifications, where required.
Evidence of relevant experience, where required
500 word personal statement

Applications made through the flexible entry route may require a course leader review. The course leader will determine whether a professional reference or task is required.

Career prospects

The multi-faceted world of football requires modern football coaches to have highly developed skills and an in-depth knowledge of the principles of football coaching. The programme has been developed for those who have graduated from coaching or relevant degree programmes or coaches currently coaching within the game who want to develop their knowledge and skill set further or form part of their CPD. The broad, applied elements of this degree provide students with the skills and experience to progress and work either domestically or abroad in a multi-billion-pound global industry. GIS' ability to provide further Employability and Enrichment opportunities engages students in career development allowing students to find their place in the football industry.

Employability & Enrichment

At GIS we bridge the gap between education and business, allowing a unique approach to education. We provide two curricula; the academic curriculum which encompasses exams and coursework and the Employability & Enrichment programme – a journey of professional and personal development.

This provides access to best-in-class industry guest speakers, additional qualifications and exceptional opportunities to apply for work experience placements to ensure our students graduate as well-rounded, empowered professionals.

Find out more

Global Insight Series

The Global Insight Series is a thought leadership series, exclusively collated and made available for all on-campus and online students. The Global Insight Series provides unprecedented access to GIS’ elite sports network; including interviews with LMA managers and other guest speakers, and content from our Global Sports Summits at Inter Miami CF Stadium Campus, New York’s Red Bull Arena, Atlanta’s brand new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Toronto FC’s BMO Field and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Find out more

Graduate and Women’s First Team Analyst at Leicester City Amy Lomas

Master’s graduate Amy Lomas worked with Premier League side Norwich City as a Performance Analyst alongside her studies and has gone on to take a role as Leicester City Women’s First Team Analyst upon graduating.

Graduate and Advanced Centre Coach at MK Dons Wesley McGrath

Upon completing his Master’s degree in 2019, Wesley McGrath is now a coach, scout and analyst for his own company, WM32Football, as well as an Advanced Centre Coach at MK Dons.

Fees

Find out more about fees and student finance

Available tuition fee discount

Postgraduate Loyalty Discounts

These discounts are open to any UCFB, Buckinghamshire New University and University of East London graduate who has received and accepted an offer to study at postgraduate level with UCFB’s Global Institute of Sport.

15% fee tuition discount on all Master's programmes, excluding MSc Sports Directorship
15% fee tuition discount on MSc Sports Directorship and CEO of a Sports Organisation

GIS Alumni

If you’d like to extend your time with us, we’re pleased to offer all GIS graduates:

15% fee tuition discount on all Master's programmes, excluding MSc Sports Directorship
15% fee tuition discount on MSc Sports Directorship and CEO of a Sports Organisation

UCFB and GIS business partners

We're pleased to offer all UCFB and GIS business partners 15% fee tuition discount on all Undergraduate, Master's programmes.

Additional costs

The provision of a facility or service including accommodation may be subject to an additional charge (i.e. separate from tuition fees). Where this is the case, we will make this clear in advance and payment for such service shall be made in accordance with any additional contract made between you and the University.

In some instances, optional Employability & Enrichment activities provided by UCFB may carry an additional cost for participants (e.g. qualifications with external certification such as FA Coaching Badges). Any additional costs will be provided to students in advance of any such sessions running.

Students will be required to purchase GIS branded kit for their studies, which costs £120-150. GIS students may also be asked for an additional contribution fee of £10-20 for trips.

Part-time option

For part-time courses the tuition fee will be split accordingly per year i.e 50% in year 1 and 50% in year 2 (for a two year programme) as per below table.