Degree overview
This programme is ideal for those looking for experience and understanding of the world of business and sport and to develop as a manager. It provides a unique learning experience and the opportunity to live, learn and develop within the live operations of a professional sports environment by our UEFA qualified coaches, some of whom have previously coached at the academies of leading Premier League clubs. This allows engagement and understanding across areas such as rehabilitation, physiotherapy, player acquisition and analysis. Studies will focus on the broad concepts involved in the sport business and surrounding industries.
This course is available with a Foundation year for those who do not meet main entry requirements. Please see ‘Modules’ and ‘Entry Requirements’ sections on this page for further information, including UCAS codes.


Degree content
You will develop your understanding of sports as a business and combine the opportunity to improve your coaching skills, long term athlete development and coaching pathways. You will explore different techniques for analysing performance including notational analysis and the use of technology to improve performance.
You will cover high performance coaching, with the opportunity to become a qualified STATS analyst; STATS is the global leader in sports analysis software. You will examine elite sports performance, gain an insight into leadership and management skills and develop an understanding of physical education and pedagogical issues.
Teaching locations for this degree include:
- Manchester Sports Village, Belle Vue
- UCFB Study Hub @ Piccadilly Place
- Curzon Ashton FC
- National Cycling Centre
In addition to our teaching locations, we also use specialist facilities throughout the academic year as well as additional facilities where required.

The skills that I learnt during my degree throughout all the different units really helped me, such as talent identification, and coaching specific units where I’ve learnt how to handle different age groups.
Modules
Below you will find the list of modules for this course.
- Skills for Learning
- Mental Wealth
- Research Project
- Contemporary Issues in Sport
- Theory of Coaching
- Principles of Coaching
- Fundamentals of Sports Coaching
- Understanding Sports Business
- Industry Competencies (Mental Wealth)
- Coaching in Education and the Community
- Understanding Sports Fan Behaviour
- Development of Sport
- Entrepreneurship
- Talent Development and Scouting
- Industry Readiness (Mental Wealth)
- Research Methods
- Event Planning
- Coaching in Education Settings
- High Performance Coaching
- Leadership and Management
- Professional Project
- Industry Engagement (Mental Wealth)
- Performance Analysis
University Campus of Football Business is an embedded college of the University of East London. All graduates that begin their degrees with UCFB from September 2021 onwards will receive a degree from the University of East London.
Click here to download the course specification.
UCFB degrees fall under five subject benchmark statements – Business and Management (2019); Communication, Media, Film and Cultural Studies (2019); Events, Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism (2019); Law (2019); and Psychology (2019). Visit the QAA website to access each of these benchmark statements.
Entry requirements
Applications are welcomed from students with a genuine passion and ambition to work in the football and sports industries.
- UCFB Wembley course code: SBCF
- Institution: U10
- Campus: W
- UCFB Etihad Campus course code: SBCF
- Institution: U10
- Campus: E
The minimum academic requirement for the degree course with Integrated Foundation Year is a 64 UCAS point score under the new UCAS tariff system.
International Baccalaureate - 30
Applicants will normally have achieved one of the following:
- A Levels with DDE or higher
- A BTEC Extended diploma grade MPP
- A BTEC Diploma grade MM
- A combination of BTEC and A-Level qualifications
Applicants are also expected to hold a GCSE grade C in Maths or English.
To be considered eligible for the programme, applicants must have completed at least two years of post-secondary education or work experience.
Applicants applying without the minimum required UCAS points can still be considered on a case by case basis and may be requested to attend an interview and assessment prior to receiving an offer.
International applicants will be asked to achieve IELTS for UKVI at grade 6.0 overall or above.
Enquiries are encouraged from anybody who does not meet the above criteria but would like to be considered for the programme. Please email admissions@ucfb.com for further advice.
International students
UCFB 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.
- UCFB Wembley course code: SBC1
- Institution: U10
- Campus: W
- UCFB Etihad campus course code: SBC1
- Institution: U10
- Campus: E
The minimum academic requirement for this degree course is a 96 UCAS point score under the UCAS tariff system.
International Baccalaureate - 30
Applicants will normally have achieved one of the following:
- A minimum of 2 A Levels including two C grades
- A BTEC Extended diploma grade MMM
- A BTEC Diploma grade DD
- A combination of BTEC and A-Level qualifications with at least two C graded A levels or Merit graded BTEC equivalents.
- International applicants will be asked to achieve Duolingo 95 or IELTS for UKVI at grade 6.0 overall or above.
- International Baccalaureate (minimum of 30 points)
- An Advanced GNVQ in an appropriate subject at Distinction level
- An Access Course: minimum of 60 credits, including at least 45 at Level 3
- An equivalent level 3 qualification
Applicants should have a strong GCSE profile, including English at Grade 4 or Grade C, or equivalent and Maths at Grade 4 or Grade C (specifically for Football Business & Finance, Sports Business & Sports Law and Sport Psychology).
Other equivalent qualifications, including those from your own country, will be considered for entry.
Applicants for whom English is a second language will need a valid Academic IELTS certificate with an overall score of 6.0 with no lower than 5.5 in each component for entry on to a degree programme (Level 4).
All qualifications are subject to approval by the UCFB Admissions team, based on UKVI requirements.
We also welcome applications from mature students who may not possess the above qualifications but may have relevant experience.
All applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong interest in understanding both sports business and coaching. Students will need to be able to synthesise and translate theory and knowledge from a variety of business and coaching disciplines to aid sportsmen and women achieve their potential and maximise their performance.
International students
UCFB 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.
Students are normally expected to start at Level 4, but can be admitted to any level of the course which is considered suitable depending on an assessment of their previous certificated studies or evidence of relevant experience. To be considered for entry with advanced standing, please contact our Admissions Team at admissions@ucfb.com for information, advice and guidance.
Career prospects
Career prospects for graduates of the BA (Hons) Sports Business & Coaching degree programme at UCFB are diverse, ranging from coaching at grass roots to high performance level within your chosen sport. The programme also provides students with the skills and competencies to rise to senior managerial roles within the sports business and coaching world due to the management aspect of the degree.
Over 90% of UCFB graduates are in employment within six months of graduating and almost two-thirds of them work within the global sports industry.
At UCFB 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 three year 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 about your career journey at UCFB

Each of our UCFB undergraduate degrees is underpinned by an embedded strand of learning and skills development, including a formalised a short work-placement opportunity, to better equip students for the 21st century workplace and enhance employability opportunities.
This allows students to develop a set of key transferrable skills to ensure they are ready for the modern workplace when they graduate, including emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligence, digital proficiency, industry and community connections, and giving back to the community through projects and volunteering.
Every UCFB degree has one Mental Wealth module in each academic year to cover these skills, and our learning outcomes for all modules are closely mapped to these same competencies in order to maximise graduate's industry readiness and career opportunities.
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Visit our dedicated page about fees and student finance.
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 UCFB.
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.
UCFB students may also be asked for an additional contribution fee of £10-20 for trips.
UCFB has a range of scholarship and bursary options to help with the cost of studying and to encourage students to embrace their time at UCFB and graduate with more than just their university degree. Click here to learn more.

UCFB provides an exceptional environment to live and learn in, with state-of-the-art facilities in two inspirational campuses in London and Manchester, which have the iconic Wembley and Etihad stadiums at their heart.
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