MSc Football Coaching & Analysis

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

• Global Sports Leadership
• Applied Football Match Analysis
• Applying Football Principles – Tactics and Strategies
• Analysis of Football Coaching Practice
• Applied Research Project
• Football Statistics and Data Analysis (Option)
• Applied Reflective Practice (Option)

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

The main educational aims of the course are to:

• Conceptualise the knowledge and skills necessary for a career in the football industry.
• Develop the students’ capacity to critically interrogate theories that inform football coaching and analysis principles and practice in a football context.
• Develop systematic knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice of coaching and training to enhance football performance.
• Create an environment in which students are able to relate theory to practice, solve problems creatively, apply new and existing skills, and demonstrate awareness of emerging issues in football.
• Equip students with a range of research skills necessary to design and conduct applied research in a football context.

Applicants will normally have a 2:1 classification in a sport related degree. Applicants who hold a sport-related degree classification of 2:2 or below or, a non-sport related degree, or significant professional experience will be considered on a case by case basis and may be required to submit a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate sports coaching and/or sports management experience.

Recognition of Prior Learning Students with relevant previous study at postgraduate level or with extensive experience may be considered eligible for recognition of prior learning.

Admissions procedures prospective students may contact the course leader for further information about the course and guidance as to their suitability for the course. Online and postal applications are accepted, upon which, candidates demonstrating a suitable academic and experiential profile will be invited for interview.

Some candidates may be required to provide a coaching or management portfolio and/or complete a brief assignment in a relevant subject area to demonstrate suitable level of academic writing.

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 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 in each section) or recognised equivalent.

The course would be ideal for students graduating from BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Management and BA (Hons) Sports Business & Coaching.

We have revised our coaching entry requirements for 2021 to account for the difficulty in completing FA coaching qualifications due to COVID-19. Please find our 2021 coaching entry requirements here.

International students

GIS cannot currently sponsor non-EU students’ visas.

You will not need a visa to study in the UK if:

• You are a British citizen
• You are a citizen of a European Economic Area (EEA) member state or Switzerland
• You have a visa to stay in the UK for another purpose that allows you to study

If you are still unsure whether you would need a visa to study in the UK, or for more information, please contact admissions@ucfb.com. You can also study one of our Online Master's degrees.

Applicants should normally have graduated with an overall GPA of 3.0 (UK 2:1 honours degree) or be on course to achieve that score.

Graduates with a GPA of least 2.5 (UK 2:2 honours degree) will also be considered on a case by case basis.

Please see our detailed postgraduate coaching programme entry requirements here.

Please provide us with copies of all of your relevant coaching qualifications.

All applications should be accompanied by a personal statement from you, the applicant, your current CV and your degree certificate or degree transcript up to this point.

If you are still studying for your degree, please supply an academic reference from your teaching team and if you are applying based on your professional experience, please supply a reference from your current or most recent line manager.

The language of instruction for all of our postgraduate programmes is English so, if English is not your first language, please provide us with evidence of your highest English language qualification.

Applicants should hold a Bachelor (Honours) degree with Upper Second Class Honours or a Bachelor (Ordinary) degree with 70-75%. Applicants may be accepted with a Bachelor (Honours) degree with Lower Second Class Honours or Bachelor (Ordinary) degree with 60-65% provided they can otherwise demonstrate a strong profile.

Applicants must also have previous coaching experience and/or C level coaching qualifications. You can find a detailed list of coaching qualifications and experience that is considered in the entry requirements for this course here.

Professional experience and industry qualifications can be assessed for applicants without the standard entry requirements.

All applicants should submit a clear and comprehensive personal statement and provide a copy of their CV along with one academic and one professional reference.

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 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 in each section) or recognised equivalent.

If you are unsure whether you meet the entry criteria for this programme, or whether you require IELTS results, please email mastersenquiries@ucfb.com with a copy of your most recent CV including nationality, visa status if applicable, and undergraduate degree transcripts. Candidates with a strong CV may qualify for a supplementary admissions interview to support their academic application.

• Strong knowledge in the field of sports coaching or sports management suitable for Masters level academic work
• Evidence of engagement with professional and academic literature/publications relevant to CPD
• Ability to manage self-learning and professional duties where applicable
• Hold FA Level 2 Coaching Certificate
• Evidence of ability to manage work independently
• Proven track record of dealing with complex and multidisciplinary issues relevant to their chosen subject area

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.

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

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

Delivered across all GIS Master’s programmes to provide a foundation of knowledge of leadership and its application in sport, the Global Sports Leadership module provides a global sporting context to underpin each degree specialism.

Covering fundamental leadership principles including culture, performance analysis, diversity and inclusion, leadership styles and innovation within a contemporary sporting context, this module allows students to develop a broad appreciation of the sports industry and become leaders in their field.

A core aspect of the module is to bring in global leaders from the pitch, the boardroom and the industry to enable student to access and reflect on real life and current industry experiences and insight. Many of the sessions will be shared across multiple GIS degree programmes, allowing students to learn from and network with each other throughout the Global Sports Leadership module.

Visit our dedicated page about fees and student finance.