Welcome Week

A Message from our Chairman

Welcome to UCFB and the start of your academic journey with us this academic year. As part of the UCFB family, you will have access to our unique and engaging degree courses, designed to enable students to graduate and thrive in the world of football and sport.

This is an especially exciting time for UCFB, with new developments to facilitate your learning; and exciting industry partnerships with a wealth of opportunities to implement what you have been taught during work placements.

Our Academic and Registry teams are here to support you throughout your time at UCFB and to enable you to achieve your full potential, on and off the pitch. We are excited to be part of your journey of personal and professional development, building on your passion, ambition and enthusiasm, developing your knowledge, and providing a unique experience to further yourself as an accomplished and confident professional.

We’re proud that over 90% of our graduates are in full time employment or further study within six months of graduation, and almost two-thirds of those work in the football and sports industry with leading organisations such as The Football Association, the Rugby Football League, Manchester United, Opta and EDP Soccer in the USA.

Your experience is important to us, and the UCFB team is dedicated to ensuring that your hard work is balanced by excellent social and sporting events.

This is the start of an exciting adventure, and we look forward to welcoming you to the start of this academic year at UCFB.

Best wishes,
Brendan Flood
UCFB Chairman

Late enrolment

From Monday 14^th October, we have closed enrolment for new students.

Where individual students have known issues which are preventing them from completing their enrolment, we are supporting them for a further week, and this should be confirmed via UEL.

It is critical that every student completes both their UCFB consent form via the UCFB Learner Portal and their UEL enrolment task via their UEL account to be given full access to our systems and services.

Key information

We appreciate that starting at university is exciting however there is a lot to remember so rather than tell you everything at once we have broken this down so that the information is easier to digest.

In Welcome Week we will cover what information you need at that point however there is other information you need to know. We have created a number of essential videos that explain what services you receive as a student and where you can find out more information. We have broken these down into the service categories so that you can go to the area that you need to know about.

This information is also available on our Online Hub within each of the support areas so you can always refer back to it there.

IT Induction

Pastoral and Wellbeing

Learning Support and Disability

Access and Participation

Student Experience and Student Union

Library and Learning Development

Library Manchester

Library Wembley

Study Skills Manchester

Study Skills Wembley

Employability and Career Planning

Student Finance

International Opportunities

Road to the World Cup - UCFB Miami Experience

UCFB System Access

Once you have enrolled at UCFB and have received your UCFB congratulations email, we will prepare your UCFB system access.

From Tuesday 27^th August, you will receive an email informing you that your system access has been set up to support your academic studies.

An important part of commencing your studies, is to login to UCFB’s Online Hub. Although your access has been created, we need you to confirm some details so that this can be completed. It can take up to 48 hours for the system to update and for access to be given, so it’s important you do this immediately.

We take security very seriously and keeping your information safe is important to us, so we need you to complete a few security questions. We have created a short video which takes you through these steps, we recommend watching this first so that you are aware of them.

To log in for the first time go to https://my.ucfb.com and follow the on screen instructions.

Within this email it confirms your Online Hub login details so please keep this safe.

Your Online Hub username is in the format of <NUMBER>@ucfb.ac.uk

Your first time set up password is: your date of birth and surname e.g. 05/06/1969Smith (please include leading zeros and make sure there is no space between your date of birth and surname). This is based on the UK date format dd/mm/yyyy

If you have a double barrelled surname, please enter your surname as submitted at enrolment. If you are unsure, this can be checked in the Learner Portal, in the 'My Personal Details' section.

It’s important you complete this set up as soon as possible so that you have access to your course material and applications to begin your studies.

Remember, we will email you from Tuesday 27^th August and only if you have fully enrolled at UCFB and received your congratulations email. If you experience any technical issues when trying to access the Online Hub, Office 365 or your student email account, you can contact the IT Helpdesk at IT@ucfb.com

UCFB Student ID passes

Once you have enrolled at UCFB and have received your UCFB system access you be able to complete your Facilities Induction which is the first step on the way to getting your Student ID pass.

Below are the details of how the production of UCFB Student ID and Access Control Passes takes place.

All of this information is available to you on UCFB’s Online Hub on the Facilities page, provided that you have fully enrolled at UCFB.

Students must first read the e-learning module from the Facilities Department which provides detail on the following:

General operational information about facilities (locations, opening times, security etc)
Overarching Facilities policies and protocols and specific details for each facility
Fire (and evacuation) and first aid processes and protocols

Wembley - Arch View House (AVH) and Wembley Stadium

New students:

(Following completion of the e-learning module)

Returning students:

Stadium Access Cards will be reactivated remotely by the Stadium Security ready for use at the start of the academic year – this applies only to students who are fully enrolled.

Distance and Distance with attendance students:

Stadium Access Cards will be reactivated remotely by the Stadium Security ready for use at the start of the academic year – this applies only to students who are fully enrolled.

Manchester - All venues

New students:

(Following completion of the e-learning module)

At the end of the quiz please email a photograph of yourself to MCRreception@ucfb.com (passport style on a plain background – please include your name and student number in the email).
The Manchester facilities team will then produce access cards. Coaching students can collect their pass at Belle Vue, with all other students collecting their pass at Quay Plaza. These will be ready for collection during Week 1.
Any queries regarding collection should be addressed to MCRreception@ucfb.com
Distance Learning and Distance with Attendance: follow the same process as above and passes can be collected or posted out if a student requests (via mcrreception@ucfb.com)

Access to UCFB Facilities during Welcome Week and beyond

The aim is to ensure that all students, whether fully enrolled or not, are able to access facilities during Welcome Week with the minimum of fuss.

Due to Wembley Stadium Security, any bags that you bring will be scanned on entering the stadium and on occasion may be scanned on exit. Only bring what you need and factor this into your time to enter the stadium.

Wembley: The Admissions / Resolutions Team will be located as follows through the week:

Monday – Arch View House inside reception
Tuesday – Wembley Stadium inside the main entrance
Wednesday – Arch View House in the Sports Cafe
Thursday – Arch View House in the Sports Cafe
Friday – Arch View House in the Sports Cafe

The team is contactable remotely via enrol@ucfb.com.

Manchester: The Admissions / Resolutions Team will be located as follows through the week:

Monday – at Old Trafford Football Stadium for the afternoon
Tuesday – The Study Hub at Piccadilly Place
Wednesday – The Study Hub at Piccadilly Place
Thursday – The Study Hub at Piccadilly Place
Friday – The Study Hub at Piccadilly Place

The team is contactable remotely via enrol@ucfb.com

Please ensure that until you have received your UCFB Student ID pass that you carry photographic ID with you (passport or driver’s license) to ensure access to UCFB facilities.

Please allow sufficient time to get through registration and security procedures at all facilities.

Course Timetable Information

Course timetables for 2024-25 are available below. The timetables are provisional and subject to change until Welcome Week.

Teaching will commence the week starting 30th September 2024. Your individual course timetable, including group allocations, will be available on the UCFB Learner Portal during Welcome Week, but only if you have completed your enrolment with UEL & UCFB.

Click here to view your semester dates

Wembley Campus Course Timetable

Undergraduate Degree Courses:

Level 3:

Level 4:

Level 5:

Level 6:

Postgraduate Degree Courses:

Level 7:

Manchester Campus Course Timetables

Undergraduate Degree Courses:

Level 3:

Level 4:

Level 5:

Level 6:

Postgraduate Degree Courses:

Level 7:

Distance with Attendance Course Timetables

Level 4:

BA (Hons) Football Coaching (Distance with Attendance)

Level 5:

BA (Hons) Football Coaching (Distance with Attendance)

Level 6:

BA (Hons) Football Coaching (Distance with Attendance)

Distance Courses

Level 7:

MSc Sports Directorship (Distance) (Part Time)

Student Life

Make sure you are prepared ahead of starting your studies, whether you are preparing to study at one of our iconic campuses, or flexibly on one of our distance or distance with attendance courses. Click here to learn more about student life at UCFB.

UCFB Merchandise

New for 2024!

We have partnered with Campus Clothing to offer UCFB branded merchandise, such as T-shirts, hoodies, mugs and more. Visit the online store and get your purchases delivered direct to you.

Visit the shop now!

Finding your campus

UCFB Manchester - Click here to download the UCFB Manchester campus map

UCFB Wembley - Click here to download the UCFB Wembley campus map

Welcome Week Schedule

Welcome Week took place from Monday 23rd September to Friday 27th September.

We have produced schedules for new and continuing students which can be found below. The sessions will cover introductions to your academic course leaders and provide you with an overview of what to expect from the coming year. You will be able to meet with our academic and support staff, take part in Society events, Fairs, and in-person activities and hear about the fantastic opportunities available to UCFB students.

Click on the relevant section below depending on whether you are a new or continuing student.

New students

We are looking forward to welcoming you to UCFB and below is your detailed schedule covering all the events and activities planned during your Welcome Week.

Undergraduate study

If you are a new Level 5 student joining UCFB through Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL), please see the relevant continuing student campus schedule below.

Distance / Distance with attendance

All distance/distance with attendance students are invited to attend our on-campus Welcome Week activities, alongside our campus-based students to meet us in person if you are able to do so.

If you are unable to come to campus don’t worry, we will confirm everything in September and provide all of the information including timings, locations and links to join the virtual sessions.

Postgraduate study

The information below lists our postgraduate courses, and which schedule you need to review.

Schedule by campus:

Continuing students

We are looking forward to welcoming you back to UCFB and below is your detailed schedule covering all the events and activities planned during your Welcome Week.

Undergraduate study

NOTE: You will also need to sign up to our Campus Welcome Events based at either Old Trafford Football Stadium or Wembley Stadium using JobTeaser, check out your campus schedule above for more information.

If you were a Foundation student last year and have continued to Level 4, please see the New Undergraduate Student Welcome Week schedule for your relevant campus and course.

If you are repeating a year, please refer to the table below which details which schedule you should refer to:

Distance / Distance with attendance

All distance/distance with attendance students are invited to attend our on-campus Welcome Week activities, alongside our campus-based students to meet us in person if you are able to do so.

If you are unable to come to campus don’t worry, we will confirm everything in September and provide all of the information including timings, locations and links to join the virtual sessions.

Postgraduate study

The information below lists our postgraduate courses, and which schedule you need to review.

Schedule by campus

Course leader contact details

Things to know before you start

Welcome information

We are excited to welcome you to the start of your journey with UCFB! We just want to take you through a few things so that you understand the weeks ahead.

From Thursday 15^th August, UCFB will post out a welcome postcard to all students that have received an unconditional offer or are a continuing student. This might take a few days to get to you depending on Royal Mail. For students based outside of the UK these will be sent digitally to you via email, to the email address you have used to enrol with us.

Once you have received an unconditional offer or have successfully progressed, you will be invited to enrol.

Enrolment

In the weeks leading up to starting with us, you will be sent an enrolment invite with detailed information about how to enrol by both UCFB (Part 1 of Enrolment) and our validating partner University East London (UEL) (Part 2 of Enrolment) – please keep checking your inbox and ensure you have provided the correct email address with your application.

Why enrolment is important

You need to be fully enrolled for your student funding to be released and to access all your learning platforms and course information.

Tuition and Maintenance loans

Once you have fully enrolled with Student Finance England (SFE) will release your maintenance loan for when term starts.

Timetable

Your course timetable will be made available to all enrolled students by Welcome Week.

On campus events

Once enrolled, you will be able to get your UCFB student ID, allowing you access to teaching facilities.

UCFB Online Hub

Access all of your course materials and JobTeaser.

Student Finance

All UCFB courses are listed under our validating partner, the University of East London (UEL), so please find your course there.

Student accommodation

Moving into our partnered student accommodation? All the information you need about moving in can be found on our Welcome Week web pages. Any queries please get in touch with the accommodation team in key contacts.

Explore our accommodation options

Pastoral and Wellbeing

Our team has expert knowledge in a wide range of areas, from budgeting and pastoral support to knowing how to help you get involved with activities and the student community during your time at UCFB. We can signpost you to a range of external services that you may need, including our Student Assistance Programme, where you can access crisis support 24/7 and 365 days of the year.

We offer 1-2-1 pastoral support that is specifically tailored to meet the needs of students on an individual basis. Our Student Support Advisors are dedicated to ensuring you have all the support you need to get the most out of your time with UCFB.

Learning support service

Here at UCFB, if you have a diagnosed learning difficulty, long-term health condition, mental health difficulties, autism spectrum disorders and sensory difficulties, we can support you. It is essential that you inform us as soon as possible so that we can work on any requirements you may be entitled to. Once you have informed us we will continue to support you with any requirements throughout your studies.

With proof of a confirmed diagnosis, we are able to put in reasonable adjustments on an individual basis. For example, we can ensure slides are provided in advance, arrange regular check-in meetings and put exam adjustments in place. However, if you do not have evidence, we can advise you on how to obtain this.

If you are a UK student you can also apply for additional support for your studies, through the Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA). You can get the allowances to cover the cost of the additional support, on top of your other student finance. This allowance does not depend on your household income, it is dependent on your needs and you don’t have to pay these back. For more information on DSA.

You can find out more information about learning support at on our Student Support page.

Please contact learningsupport@ucfb.com if you have any further questions or would like to register to the service.

Access and Widening participation

The Access & Widening Participation team focuses on increasing fair access, supporting the participation and success as well as the progression of lower household income students, historically disadvantaged or under-represented groups. This may include those from neighbourhoods with low participation in higher education, independent and mature students, students from diverse backgrounds, students with additional support needs, care leavers and estranged students.

We offer UCFB Means Tested Bursaries and Scholarships Programmes that provide financial assistance towards various costs associated with studying a degree (for example, accommodation, travel, costs of study or tuition fees).

To find out more about our offer, contact our team at scholarships@ucfb.ac.uk for more details on eligibility and how to apply for financial assistance.

Employability & Career Planning

Throughout your time at UCFB you will get the opportunity to connect with global sports organisations and individuals to support your next steps in the industry. Our dedicated Employability and Careers Planning team will provide incredible opportunities for you to access for each year that you are with us.

Gain real-world experience through internships and placements empowering you with practical skills and confidence. Our JobTeaser platform is the place to go for the latest placement opportunities.

Your Bespoke Journey

More than 100 guest speakers join UCFB for successful Premier Events initiative

LinkedIn Learning

Unlock your full potential with LinkedIn Learning – the ultimate platform for professional and personal development. Students have access to over 16,000 expert led courses, you can learn at your own pace, anytime, anywhere. From in-demand employability skills to Office Suite software and interview techniques, the diverse library caters to all interests and career aspirations. You can access LinkedIn learning using your UEL email address and password.

UCFB Employability Award

The UCFB Employability Award is a supplementary achievement award supporting your career and personal development by officially recognising the extra-curricular activities you take part in whilst at UCFB. The UCFB Employability Award is designed to help you gain experience, confidence and skills, whilst exploring different career options!

JobTeaser

The Employability and Career Planning team use the JobTeaser platform to promote all events and resources during the academic year. JobTeaser allows students to:

View and sign up to a wide range of ECP events, such as workshops, conferences, careers fairs, networking opportunities & industry insights trips!
Book 1:1 appointment with a careers coach, to discuss your ambitions and navigate the sports industry!
Access exclusive job opportunities, student work placements, industry projects & access to volunteer at major sporting events!

You can create an account HERE

Watch this short video to help you HERE

If you have any issues with regards to Enrolment for the 2024-25 academic year, please visit our Enrolment web page. You can also email our Enrolment Team enrol@ucfb.com who will be happy to support.

We offer pre-arrival webinars for UCFB, please visit our events page for more information.

UCFB Sport

The UCFB Athletic Union enables students to take part in a number of sports during their time here, whether competitive or recreational. We have teams across both campuses for male and female students, including (but not limited to) football, rugby, squash and basketball, with more sports being added all the time.

The links below covers everything you need to know around our Sports trials and open sessions before and during Welcome Week.

UCFB Manchester

UCFB Wembley

2024 Football Varsity - UCFB Manchester v UCFB Wembley

FAQs

What is Welcome Week?

Welcome Week otherwise known as orientation or induction is one of the most important weeks in the academic calendar. It is designed to give you the best possible start to your academic journey, providing you with information to help you navigate university life. Welcoming new and returning students, providing you with an opportunity to meet your fellow students as well as academic and support staff, and learn all about the activities that will be happening when you start your course. We’ll prepare you with the necessary information to hit the ground running when teaching starts and also how to access the information in the future.

What to expect during Welcome Week

Your academic induction explains the expectations and standards of your course, helping you become familiar with the requirements, as well as getting you used to using some of our key systems.

The week will include on-campus and virtual events and activities designed to help students familiarise themselves with the campus, systems and key staff as well as making connections with the students on your course.

From early August, your Welcome Week timetable will be made available. You’ll be able to explore all of the induction activities and welcome events on offer to start your student journey.

The sessions will cover introductions to your academic course leaders and provide you with an overview of what to expect from the coming academic year. You will be able to meet with our academic and support staff, take part in Society led events, Fairs, in-person activities and hear about the fantastic opportunities available to UCFB students.

Is Welcome Week compulsory?

For all new and returning students, there are several compulsory informative sessions organised by the university to prepare you with the necessary information for the start of your course. All other events are optional although we very much encourage you to come along to make the most of meeting your fellow students, experiencing guest speakers and to get to know your campus. Please note that formal teaching commences from Monday 30^th September 2024.

How do I sign up for events and activities?

Your Welcome Week timetable will go live in August. It will be pre-populated with core events arranged to prepare you for the start of your degree programme. These events are compulsory, unless otherwise stated, and will give you the opportunity to find out more about your degree and to meet other people on your course.

Enrolment Frequently Asked Questions