Degree overview
On this degree programme, you will cover core topics such as event planning and event design, as well as the key event components of marketing, finance and event legislation. This programme provides the unique opportunity to study the intricacies of stadium and events management within a world-class sport and entertainment venue. You will gain insights into venue management, winning contract negotiation, successful event planning and operations.


Degree content
The degree will provide an insight into the managerial and business facets of delivering a safe and customer focused event experience. This includes exploring various event operations and their impact upon delivering a successful and profitable event, whilst understanding the implications of the legalities and regulations.
Areas to consider range from liaising with the police on a match day to building relationships with stakeholders such as local authority and transport officials. You will learn about the importance of event legacies and impact, as well as other key areas such as sustainability.
The programme is designed to provide an understanding of developing a compelling visitor experience in a safe event environment, to analyse the various stakeholders associated with an event, and understand operational, logistical and marketing planning and the financial underpinnings needed to ensure income streams from a number of sources.
Teaching locations for this degree include:
UCFB Etihad Campus
• Manchester Sports Village, Belle Vue
• UCFB Study Hub @ Piccadilly Place
In addition to our teaching locations, we also use specialist facilities throughout the academic year as well as additional facilities where required.
From September 2021, 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.
Together with the University of East London, we are taking the opportunity to review and reinvigorate our curriculum. While at present we cannot confirm specific details of our new modules before they have been confirmed at a validation event, we are able to confirm that the new curriculum will have:
- More overall teaching hours
- Updated, fit for purpose, content
- A strand of academic and research skills to support your learning journey
- A strand of learning to better equip you for the 21st century workplace and enhance your employability opportunities
- More alignment to the needs of local, national and global industry
The structure of the advertised programme may therefore change prior to it beginning in September 2021, however, all applicants will be notified of any such changes prior to enrolment.
UCFB degrees fall under three subject benchmark statements – Business and Management (2015); Events, Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism (2016); and Psychology (2016). Visit the QAA website to access each of these benchmark statements.

A sport specific education is important because it gives you the understanding of how sport works – there are so many different areas to consider within any sport as a business.
Modules
Together with the University of East London, we are taking the opportunity to review and reinvigorate our curriculum. The modules below are planned for delivery on the programme beginning in September 2021, but are still to be confirmed at a validation event beforehand:
- Introduction to Stadium Management
- Introduction to Events Management
- Industry Competencies (Mental Wealth)
- Introduction to Football Finance
- Introduction to Marketing
- Introduction to Human Resources in the Events Industry
- Stadium Management
- Practice of Digital Marketing
- Industry Readiness (Mental Wealth)
- Negotiation and Winning Contracts
- Stadium and Events Organisation
- Research Methods
- Event Leadership and Management
- Strategic Event Delivery
- Industry Engagement (Mental Wealth)
- Contemporary Issues in International Events Management
- Professional Project
Entry requirements
Applications are welcomed from students with a genuine passion and ambition to work in the football, sport and events industries.
- UCFB Wembley course code: SEM1
- Institution: U10
- Campus: W
- UCFB Etihad Campus course code: SEM1
- Institution: U10
- Campus: E
The minimum academic requirement for this degree course is a 96 UCAS point score under the UCAS tariff system.
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 Baccalaureate (minimum of 28 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 will be expected to demonstrate a specific interest in their preferred area of study and should have a commitment to engaging with the subject through the academic programme and our complementary curriculum involving high profile guest speakers, master classes and short course opportunities.
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, after portfolio review and interview, using the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS). Under this arrangement, a student may apply to have previous academic credits or other learning or experience taken into consideration. Such applications are considered by the Faculty CATS committee and must be supported by the Academic Department.
Career Prospects
Due to the flexible nature of the BA (Hons) International Football Business degree programme, graduates will be able to access roles ranging from event operations to business development, including the possibility to work for clubs, sport businesses or governing bodies.
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

The UCFB Global Insight Series is a thought leadership series, exclusively collated and made available for all UCFB on-campus and online students. The UCFB Global Insight Series provides unprecedented access to UCFB’s elite sports network; including interviews with LMA managers and other UCFB guest speakers, and content from UCFB’s Global Sports Summits at New York’s Red Bull Arena, Atlanta’s brand new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Toronto FC’s BMO Field and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The UCFB students we have taken on have been working incredibly well, picking up on and developing their new skills rapidly, and have become an important part of the team in a very short space of time. They are personable, hardworking and dedicated and we are happy to have found such brilliant students.
Wembley Stadium is a busy place these days, just ask UCFB graduate Ben Friend. If it isn’t England internationals, it’s FA Cup matches. Then there’s the numerous games around the country with the Women’s team and the Under-21 side.
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Amber McGrath, a BA (Hons) Stadium & Events Management student at UCFB Wembley, spent time working with the Knights and the T-Mobile Arena, where the side play their home games, to learn about the inner workings of a major American sports franchise.
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Fees
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 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.
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.

New York’s Red Bull Arena, Atlanta’s brand new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Toronto FC’s BMO Field and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) play host to the Global Institute of Sport study hubs, enabling students and graduates to enhance their knowledge and expertise of the international sports industry.
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At UCFB we are dedicated to maximising the career opportunities of all of our students. This is why we offer unparalleled opportunities beyond the learning environment, enhanced by exclusive partnerships with some of the biggest and most influential names and organisations in world sport.
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