Football Performance and Coaching (with Placement Year)

University of Worcester

With specialised career pathways, strong industry partnerships, and a focus in both the men’s and women’s game, you’ll graduate with the necessary skill set and knowledge for a successful career in the football industry.

This course has been designed to provide you with a comprehensive education in football performance and coaching. It offers specialised career pathways in, but not exclusive to, coaching, performance analysis, strength and conditioning, player care and welfare aligning with in-demand roles in the football industry. Our strong industry partnerships with local clubs such as Worcester City FC and Worcester City Women’s FC, , Kidderminster Harriers, and Cheltenham Town, as well as clubs across the UK provide invaluable hands-on experience, professional networking, and exposure to real-world football environments. A distinctive feature of the course is its support for the growth of women’s football. With an emphasis on developing the women’s game through strategic partnerships and recruitment, the program aligns with UEFA’s strategic investment and the sport's increasing popularity. You will learn from a multidisciplinary team of experienced staff, including UEFA-qualified coaches and professionals with real-world expertise. Teaching integrates theoretical knowledge with practical skills through unique football-focused modules and industry-relevant assessments. The curriculum is designed to meet the rising demands of the football industry, particularly in the women’s sector, and prepares students for versatile roles both on and off the field

Hands-on experience is a key component of the course. Our links with active football programs and clubs ensure that you’ll gain valuable real-world experience and are well-equipped to enter the football industry upon graduation. There’s a 100-hour placement in the third year, allowing you to focus on specific areas of interest such as performance analysis, strength and conditioning, journalism, or coaching. All modules involve industry-relevant assessments, providing opportunities to work with children and young people, sports clients, and within sports science laboratories.

The University of Worcester is a campus university, meaning everything you need is on site. We’re based in a vibrant cathedral city just 40 mins south of Birmingham and an hour north of Bristol, and our beautiful green campuses have plenty of parking and quality on-site accommodation. At Worcester, small class sizes, supportive tutors, and professionally focused courses mean you’ll be prepared for your dream career. These are just some of the reasons why we’re first in the UK for both graduate employment and quality education. -

in the Times Higher Education Awards 2025. -

, further study or both, from any multidisciplinary university – Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) 2017 to 2025. -

– Joint 1st in the Times Higher Education’s University Impact Rankings 2025. Join us at one of our regular Open Days to see if the University is a good fit for you: www.worcester.ac.uk/opendays