UCFB announces groundbreaking partnership with the English Football League and launch of Women in the EFL Scholarship

University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) is excited to announce a new strategic partnership with the English Football League (EFL), designed to provide UCFB students with unparalleled access to real-world learning opportunities, industry expertise, and professional development pathways across the football landscape.

Through this collaboration, UCFB students will benefit from:

• Guest speaker sessions featuring EFL executives and professionals, providing behind-the-scenes insight into league operations, strategy and governance

• Placement opportunities, including the chance to gain hands-on experience at major events,such as the EFL Play-Off Finals

• Insight days and organised visits to the EFL’s headquarters, offering students a closer look at the day-to-day workings of the world’s original league football competition

• Opportunities to contribute to collaborative research projects, allowing students to apply academic theory to real challenges facing the modern game

As part of this partnership, UCFB and the EFL are also proud to launch the Women in the EFLScholarship, supporting two female undergraduate students — one at UCFB Manchester and one at UCFB Wembley — with funding and the opportunity to apply for mentorships and a post-graduation internship at the EFL. The scholarship forms part of a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and representative future for the football industry.

Brendan Flood, Chief Executive at UCFB, commented: “Partnering with the EFL represents a major milestone in our mission to prepare students for careers at the heart of the football and sports industries. This collaboration opens the door to experiences and connections that are simply not available in traditional academic settings.”

David McArdle, Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the EFL, commented: “At the EFL we are committed to making the football workforce more representative of the communities that our clubs represent. 

“This innovative collaboration with UCFB will help to create more pathways and opportunities for students to get into a range of roles across the game, and I have no doubt that the work experience opportunities on offer will be of real benefit to their future careers.”

This partnership reflects UCFB’s ongoing strategy to align academic learning with real industry access, creating career-ready graduates and supporting the future growth of the game both on and off the pitch.

To find out more about how to apply for the EFL Women in Sport Scholarship, visit our Undergraduate Scholarship page, or register your interest now.