About

UCFB is a world first in sports education, offering university degrees and executive education in the football and sports industry. UCFB provides an exceptional environment to live and learn in, with state-of-the-art facilities in two inspirational campuses in London and Manchester, which have the iconic Wembley and Etihad stadiums at their heart.

UCFB is dedicated to the delivery of ground-breaking undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in the strategic, operational and business facets of the football business and wider sport and events industries. UCFB has developed a profile of pioneering qualifications to enable those working within the industry to drive forward their career, and to provide a gateway for those aspiring to pursue their ambitions of working in this global multi-billion-pound market sector. These degree programmes give each student the opportunity to study a traditional academic subject within the context of an industry for which they have a genuine passion and interest.

Postgraduate degrees

UCFB has developed a profile of pioneering postgraduate qualifications to enable those working within the industry to drive forward their career, and to provide a gateway for those aspiring to pursue their ambitions of working in this exciting global multi-billion-pound market sector.

As with all of our programmes, our postgraduate degrees are taught by leading figures in football business and sport academia. Our students will have the opportunity to hear from and work with leaders from the industry and develop specific interests through a research dissertation.

Each programme has been designed with the worldwide industry suitably in mind to ensure each student gains the best-in-class business and management skills required to be a success across the football, sport and events industries.

A unique and popular aspect of our Masters programmes is a ground breaking partnership with the Real Madrid Graduate School – Universidad Europea, the education arm of the world’s biggest football club, which sees MSc International Sport Management students gain the unprecedented opportunity to live, learn and work in the Spanish capital during the one-year programme.

Postgraduate degree programmes

• MSc Sport Management
• MSc International Sport Management
• MSc International Sport Management (online)
• MSc Football Coaching & Analysis

Facilities

UCFB Wembley

UCFB Wembley, London, has the iconic Wembley Stadium at the heart of its campus. What could be more motivating for a future career in the football and sport industry than walking into the most famous stadium in the world? Our UCFB Wembley campus enjoys excellent facilities with lecture theatres, seminar rooms, quiet study areas, library and media suites to name a few.

Just a short walk away from the stadium are our surrounding learning facilities at the Wembley Library and Drum Theatre at the Brent Civic Centre, and Wembley Holiday Inn, Hilton and Novotel Business Centres, with each offering professional surroundings to further your educational experience. UCFB has ensured these facilities maintain a consistent and exceptional learning environment for our students.

UCFB Etihad Campus

UCFB Etihad Campus is our state-of-the-art campus devoted to the football business and related industries in the heart of Manchester – one of the world’s most famous footballing cities with a thriving student population.

With the Etihad Stadium at the heart of the campus, students can live, learn and work at the centre of one of Europe’s most progressive football facilities. With impressive on-site facilities available to aid your studies, including stunning lecture theatres and seminar rooms, student social areas and cafeteria, library, media suite and quiet study zones, it is hard not to be inspired by your surroundings.

The world-class facilities available at the Etihad Campus include:

• Manchester Regional Arena – an eight-lane track and field arena with capacity for 6,500 spectators. The space was originally used as a warm-up area during the 2002 Commonwealth Games;
• National Squash Centre – the home England Squash and Manchester Squash Club;
• Regional Tennis & Football Centre – a mix of six indoor and three outdoor courts fully floodlit to LTA standards, along with three 5-a-side 3G football pitches.

In addition to the Etihad Stadium and Etihad Campus, UCFB students will be taught at the nearby Belle Vue Sports Village – a brand new multi-million-pound sports complex comprising of the following facilities:

• Belle Vue Leisure Centre – inclusive of two state-of-the-art all-weather pitches, health and fitness suite, dance studio and eight badminton multi-sport sports hall;
• National Basketball Performance Centre – three FIBA-standard courts and is home to Basketball England’s national teams;
• The National Speedway Stadium – home to Belle Vue Aces and a number of state-of-the-art teaching spaces.

Library services

Both campuses feature libraries with a wide range of textbooks available to aid your studies. State-of-the-art computer suites featuring Macs are also available, allowing students access to the best technology and equipment available on a daily basis.

Student life

The Students’ Union’s role is to represent UCFB students and make your time here as exciting and rewarding as possible. The SU is also responsible for student involvement around each campus, such as planning unforgettable social events and being the student voice and point of contact with senior management.

Each member of the SU is elected to their post and takes great pride in their role at UCFB. The SU is in charge of organising the always incredible annual Freshers’ Week at the start of each academic year. The week long party is a great opportunity for new students to meet and includes live music, a trip to a football match and fun games around London and Manchester – depending on your campus – to get to the know the area.

During your time at UCFB, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in a number of fun and unique trips that will live long in the memory. Previous trips have included a day at Cheltenham Races, boat parties and exclusive nightclub events.

The UCFB Athletic Union enables students to take part in a number of sports during their time here, whether competitive or recreational.

We have teams across both campuses for male and female students, including football, rugby, squash and basketball, with more sports being added all the time.

A number of our teams compete in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) leagues and tournaments – the leading organiser of competitive activity among universities. Our football teams across both campuses have enjoyed particular success in recent years. If a sport you play doesn’t have a team at UCFB, there may be the opportunity to establish one. Our sports coordinators are always happy to help and discuss new ideas to broaden the activities on offer to students.

Students who wish to participate in individual sports activities are also encouraged to compete and will be supported by UCFB to enter competitions throughout their time here.

For students who prefer to observe rather than participate, there are also opportunities to join the match day media teams of UCFB’s respective sides. The chance to film matches, interview players and write match reports not only aids students promoting each other’s successes, but it’s also an opportunity for budding sports media professionals to enhance their skill-set.

Living in London

In recent years, major studies have revealed London to be the most desirable place on earth to work, the UK’s favourite city, the ‘capital of Europe’ and the world’s most popular tourist destination. UCFB Wembley is just a 20-minute tube journey to the centre of the city and an abundance of world-famous landmarks, restaurants, sporting venues and cultural sights.

Living in Manchester

Manchester is synonymous with footballing success and is home to two of the Premier League giants, Manchester City and Manchester United. Aside from football, there are large followings for rugby league, rugby union, cricket and cycling too. Live music is also at the heart of this city, with many famous venues that the likes of Oasis and The Stone Roses graced showcasing bands on a nightly basis. Shopping, museums, bars and restaurants also make this city one of the UK’s finest.