Learn about the BSc (Hons) Football Studies programme: course length, placement options, entry requirements including Abitur and English standards, fees for 2026/27, and next steps to apply
BSc (Hons) Football Studies is a three-year, campus-based degree at Preston that blends academic insight with practical training to prepare you for a wide range of careers across the modern game. Starting September 2026, the course appears on UCAS as CF11.
You can also choose a foundation year if you need extra preparation, or add a placement year to gain extended hands-on experience in the industry.
Who this course is for
This programme suits people who want to understand football beyond the pitch—its media, business and community roles, and its potential to support health and wellbeing.
If you’re drawn to coaching, performance analysis, scouting, community development or football media, you’ll find learning grounded in real-world practice. Staff bring current industry roles into teaching—academy managers, scouts, performance analysts and other practitioners—so you’ll see how theory maps onto everyday professional work.
Personal development plans and structured coaching support are woven through the course to help you progress.
What you’ll learn and how you’ll learn it
The course mixes lectures and seminars with practical sessions and workplace-style scenarios. You’ll study subjects such as media markets, supporter culture, governance, coaching and athlete development—and you’ll apply those ideas using the same analysis tools found in elite settings. Classes are discussion-led and often built around authentic case studies, so academic concepts are constantly tested against hands-on practice.
Placements and industry links
A placement year of up to 12 months is a core option for undergraduates; postgraduate routes include professional placements tailored to specialisms. Placements offer sustained workplace experience, industry mentoring and meaningful responsibilities that enhance your CV. Employers frequently help shape assessments, ensuring what you learn matches sector needs. Placement fees are lower than full tuition to encourage participation; supervision, assessment arrangements and health-and-safety agreements are settled with host organisations before you start.
Partnerships and real-world opportunities
We work closely with clubs, academies, agencies and community organisations. These partnerships bring guest lectures, live projects and access to professional analysis tools—and they continually inform module content and placement opportunities. That ongoing collaboration helps keep the curriculum current and gives you direct routes into the football ecosystem.
Teaching, assessment and outcomes
Teaching follows an evidence-informed approach, combining classroom discussion with site visits to football providers. Assessment is varied—essays, coaching evaluations, presentations and portfolios—so you can demonstrate both academic insight and practical skill in different ways. The programme develops analytical thinking, clear communication and the ability to design and manage development programmes.
Typical career paths
Graduates move into roles such as performance analyst, academy coach, scout support, participation officer and positions in football media, development and wellbeing services. Regular employer engagement helps keep placement options open and the curriculum aligned with what employers want.
Staff expertise and employability support
Academic staff bring a mix of research experience and current industry practice, so teaching reflects real professional contexts. You’ll receive structured career planning, access to networking events and chances to work on employer-led projects that translate classroom learning into workplace-ready skills.
Entry routes and requirements
Admissions take into account qualifications, predicted grades, relevant experience and the strength of your personal statement. Contextual factors are considered, and the Course Enquiries team can advise on alternative pathways and what evidence will strengthen an application if you’re unsure about meeting standard entry requirements.
Guidance for Abitur holders
Applicants with the Abitur should have a minimum GPA of 2.8 plus at least 10 points in two Leistungskurse (advanced subjects). In some cases, an Abitur English score of 12 points meets the English requirement. If you don’t meet the language threshold, the International Team can arrange approved English tests and runs preparatory courses.
Who this course is for
This programme suits people who want to understand football beyond the pitch—its media, business and community roles, and its potential to support health and wellbeing. If you’re drawn to coaching, performance analysis, scouting, community development or football media, you’ll find learning grounded in real-world practice. Staff bring current industry roles into teaching—academy managers, scouts, performance analysts and other practitioners—so you’ll see how theory maps onto everyday professional work. Personal development plans and structured coaching support are woven through the course to help you progress.0
