I knew I wanted to come to UCFB when I first came for an open day in year 11. I loved that I’d be having some lectures in a stadium, a practical part in another amazing facility and that the contacts I’d get would be amazing, especially to get me started in a coaching career. At the very start of first year, I was receiving tens of emails about opportunities out there for me to apply for and loads of ways to start building my coaching CV. These opportunities have continued to grow throughout my experience here at UCFB. I knew I would choose to stay in London to study at the Wembley campus, as I couldn’t imagine choosing any other stadium than the world-famous Wembley Stadium. It’s incredible having lectures overlooking the pitch, and living in the UCFB student accommodation which involves walking past the stadium any time I go out. The most amazing experience is when it’s a match day in Wembley, and it finally hits me that I actually live next to the stadium! The only downside to being in Wembley, is the travel to get to any facilities for the practical element of the course. Having to leave student accommodation nearly an hour before lectures and having to pay for travel to and from locations can be a bit inconvenient, but the opportunity to study at The Hive, with their incredible facilities, makes the travel and cost pretty worth it! I keep sharing my experience with family and friends, and to say that I study a football degree, in Wembley Stadium, sounds awesome to most of them, and creates such a conversation with new people I meet!

When there is a match at Wembley, the stadium has to be closed the day before. We always get told as far in advance as possible it there will be a stadium closure, and we are informed whether our lecture will be online or at Arch View House, just round the corner. We have 12 hours of contact time a week(4 hours, 3 days a week) with extra opportunities on Wednesday on everyone’s day off, and opportunities to be part of the sports teams who have matches on Wednesdays. The lecturers are all experts in their fields and can answer almost any question you throw at them. You really couldn’t ask for much more on the Coaching and Management degree!

Honestly, the accommodation is one of the most pricey in the area, but it’s so convenient being next door to the lecture building and a 5 minute walk from the stadium. I also love being in the same accommodation as loads of other UCFB students, as you can make friends simply by saying hello in the lift, or joining with a meet-up in one of the communal areas. The communication with the accommodation is quite poor in my opinion, but when there is an emergency, they are on top of it. The staff are lovely on the whole, and the facilities in the building are excellent!

I absolutely loved my time at UCFB and the course I studied. UCFB provides you with amazing and unique opportunities including internships and placements within the sports industry and the chance to network with industry professionals. I loved the guest speaker sessions we had and this is definitely unique to UCFB. My lecturers were brilliant. They had industry experience themselves and were very helpful, providing 1:1 help when requested or needed. Studying at the Etihad was great - location is close to the city centre and easily accessible via public transport. City life in Manchester is really fun. UCFB also held extra courses to increase employability like language workshops and they regularly share industry job and placement advertisements to students. I met great friends with the same passion for sport and drive to work in football.

The course was mostly taught in-class however sometimes online due to covid. You have good contact with lecturers who make themselves available to help on a 1:1 basis. Tutors are often in and around the university library so you can chat with them outside of class hours too. I enjoyed the course's split between lectures and seminars.