It's where the game was made, and it could be where you make your career in it. The UK isn't just home to many of the world's best players and teams – it also has some of its best football courses. Whether you want to get into coaching, analysis, administration or the media, the country's combination of quality education and vast sporting infrastructure make it a great place to go. Start exploring now, as we show you the top places to study football in the UK.
University Academy 92 (UA92)
Founded by iconic players and based minutes from the stadium they called home, UA92's football credentials are hard to beat. Manchester United legend Gary Neville established the institution alongside former teammates, hoping to bring the ethos of their all-conquering manager Alex Ferguson to ambitious students. With support from nearby Lancaster University, it does exactly that.
UA92 offers a range of courses at undergraduate level, including ones focused specifically on football. Its Business of Football BSc was developed with help from clubs including Manchester United, and the English Football League. The Football Broadcast and Journalism BA, meanwhile, is taught by media professionals with decades of top-level experience.
You can also bring football into your learning on other courses. Degrees in sports coaching, digital content production and sports and exercise science all enable you to make it your specialism. This is supported by UA92's partnerships with organisations across the sport and beyond. You could even arrange an internship inside Old Trafford.
Find out all about studying in Manchester.
University of Derby
If you want to work on the media side of the game, the University of Derby has a clear pathway. The East Midlands institution offers the only dedicated football journalism degree in the world. This undergraduate course is designed for the modern world, with core modules in social media and videography, as well as optional ones in esports and podcasting.
You'll also learn fundamentals such as news writing and media law, which you can test out on an optional placement year. The university has links across the industry, helping students gain experience at clubs including Derby County and top-flight Nottingham Forest.
Football employers also welcome graduates of Derby's other specialist sports degrees. At undergraduate level, these span business management, psychology and various aspects of exercise science. The institution's School of Sport and Exercise Science runs programmes all the way up to doctoral level.
Find out what it's like to learn at the University of Derby on Student Q&A, our home of real study abroad insights.
St Mary's University, Twickenham
Courses at St Mary's University connect grassroots and academy football to the highest level of the game. Delivered in partnership with Club World Cup winners Chelsea, the institution's foundation and bachelor's degrees in coaching and development take place at top-class facilities. Students enjoy classes at the club's training ground and Stamford Bridge home.
Distinctively, you must complete the two-year foundation course before starting the bachelor's, which is taught as a one-year top-up degree. Both offer a range of placements with the Chelsea FC Foundation, an organisation renowned for its community work. You could choose to focus on the pitch – in areas such as coaching and scouting – or elsewhere, in mentoring or inclusion.
Sport is very important at St Mary's. Numerous alumni have competed on the global stage, including four-time Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah. The athlete gives his name to the university's running track, which is just one part of its impressive sports facilities. Powerful sports teams, degrees and scholarships can all be found here.
Get inspired by the stories of some top athletes who studied abroad.
UCFB
UCFB (the University Campus of Football Business) was the world's first football-focused higher education institution when it opened in 2011. Today, it is an international success, with campuses in Manchester, Miami and the home of English football, Wembley Stadium. Most of UCFB's undergraduate and postgraduate degrees can be studied underneath the latter's iconic arch.
As its name suggests, many of UCFB's football courses are business-related. The institution offers several bachelor's and master's in football business with various specialisations. These include finance, marketing and media. There is also a similar range of coaching courses, with subdisciplines including management, analysis and talent development. You can even combine the two areas with a BA in sports business and coaching.
UCFB also runs many other sport courses that can help you kick off a career in football. At undergraduate level, these include degrees in sports journalism, sports law and stadium management. At postgraduate level, sports directorship alumni include Premier League winners Joleon Lescott and Wes Morgan. You could make illustrious connections while studying here, and once you've finished. Graduates have worked at all 92 clubs in the top four divisions of English football.
You can find even more great courses at UCFB's partner institution, the Global Institute of Sport.
Manchester Metropolitan University
Football is the people's game, and Manchester Metropolitan University truly understands that. On its undergraduate degree in community football coaching, you'll learn how to foster talent, confidence and healthy lifestyles at the grassroots level. What's more, it's run in partnership with Manchester City's City in the Community Foundation, with classes on the club's state-of-the-art campus.
Placements are central to the course. All students work with coaches for around 10 hours a week as they plan and deliver sessions in the community. You will also have opportunities to complete a full placement year at another organisation, and earn professional coaching qualifications.
The course is partly based at the university's recently opened Institute of Sport. This cutting-edge facility is also home to many other programmes, including degrees in both science and the humanities. Students of everything from youth leadership to nutrition and sports law can all connect here.
Interested in the legal side of football? Read our list of benefits of being a lawyer.
Wrexham University
The Welsh city of Wrexham became a lot more famous after its football team was taken over by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. A dramatic defeat by Grimsby Town in 2022 was their first step on the way to three successive promotions. This has been great for the local university, which has used the club's progress to attract international students.
At undergraduate level, Wrexham University offers a BSc in football coaching and performance. This course is the result of a partnership with the Football Association of Wales, giving it strong credibility and access to top-level facilities. You'll earn UEFA coaching licences while studying at the country's new National Football Development Centre.
Big opportunities are also available on the university's MSc in football science and coaching. This degree goes deeper into the technicalities of tactics and psychology, as well as the wider football industry. Graduates go on to work not only as coaches, but also as talent spotters and performance analysts.
Where else can I study football in the UK?
There are several more universities with football courses in the UK. Here is a quick run through some of your other options.
- Leeds Beckett University – You'll put learning into practice on Leeds Beckett's applied football studies bachelor's, with modules in various disciplines and placements with local clubs.
- Liverpool John Moores University – Sport and STEM blend on LJMU's Football Science BSc, which is taught by professionals from clubs and international governing bodies.
- Richmond American University London – Delivered in Leeds, Richmond's international sports management degrees allow you to focus on either men's or women's football.
- Southampton Solent University – You can find your specialism on Solent's Football Studies BSc, whether that's coaching, analysis or even sporting sociology. There's also a Football Science MSc.
- University of Bedfordshire – Bachelor's degrees are offered here in coaching, business and football studies, with placements available at Luton Town.
- University of Liverpool – Ranked in the top 150 of the QS World University Rankings 2026, Liverpool offers the world's only football MBA.
- University of South Wales – Gain UEFA accreditation here at undergraduate or postgraduate level. The MSc in advanced performance coaching is the only master's that integrates an A Licence.
- University of Staffordshire – This institution works closely with Stoke City to deliver its two-year Coaching in the Community foundation degree.
Now you know where to find universities with football courses in the UK, why not explore further? We have guides to applying for a student visa in the country, its top student cities and fully-funded Chevening Scholarship. You can also look for your ideal course with our simple search tool.
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