Football Coaching, Development and Administration
The Football Coaching course, designed in consultation with National Governing Bodies and US Coaching Organisations to ensure it meets industry needs, offers the opportunity to complete paid internship placements in the US in partnership with UK International Soccer.
How to apply Apply Through UCAS Book an Open Day Chat to Us/prod01/channel_2/media/university-of-south-wales/site-assets/images/03-courses/sport/bsc-football-coaching-development-and-administration-1.jpg)
Key Course Details
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UCAS Code
2F33
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Start Date
September
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Location
Pontypridd
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Campus Code
A
Fees
Home students
£9,535*
International students
£16,200*
- Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.
You will study a broad array of subjects, from coaching to business management and sports development, leading to excellent employment prospects in a range of professions. You will also study towards a FAW C Coaching Certificate, and we will support you in working towards your UEFA licenses.
DESIGNED FOR
Aimed at students who want to work in roles such as coaching, development and management, and focuses on both the football and business-related knowledge needed to develop professionals for the football industry. Developed in partnership with professional coaching organisations, this course allows you to study and gain work placements across the globe.
Career Paths
- Coaching
- Teaching and Education
- Football Development
- Sports Management and Administration
Skills taught
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Communication
- Coaching and leadership skills
- Project management
- Independence
Course Highlights
Module Overview
Route 1: US Partnership (January intake only)
Partly based in the USA with UK International Soccer, you will complete paid work placements, and receive lectures, tutorials, and support by visiting members of USW staff and UKIS mentors.
Lectures, seminars, and tutorials will be delivered on site at the University of South Wales. In addition, you will have access to on-line material.
For more information on UK International and the studying the degree programme in partnership with them, please click on the following link, https://www.uksoccer.com/bsc
Route 2: On-Campus (September intake)
Complete year 1 on campus and be prepared to head to the US in Year 2 and 3 of the course with UK International Soccer.
Based at the USW Sport Park, our state-of-the-art coaching and performance development centre, you’ll be taught face to face by leading specialists in the field. You will have the opportunity to plan and deliver sports event with some of our key partners, including the FAW Trust, Cardiff City and local schools and clubs. Before heading to the US in years 2 and 3 of the course.
For more information on UK International and the studying the degree programme in partnership with them, please click on the following link https://www.uksoccer.com/bsc
Your first year will provide you with the underpinning theory and practice of football coaching, development, and administration. You will gain knowledge of how football is organised and managed in the community and will have the opportunity to lead football coaching sessions and events.
Football Coaching Theory to Practice (September intake)
The module focuses on the long-term player development model. Students will learn how various coaching styles are applied to the foundation phase and will apply these principles in their coaching practice.
Managing and Developing Football in the Community (September intake)
The module will involve students learning the key skills required to effectively manage dedicated football facilities and deliver successful community focused events.
Introduction to Sport Science for Football (September intake)
The aim of this module is to gain basic knowledge and understanding about sports science in relation to football and to identify how its application may aid the coach.
Academic Research and Professional Skills (September intake)
The module aims to equip students with transferable professional skills that enable them to function in a professional environment.
An Introduction to Football Performance Analysis (September intake)
The module will introduce the students to performance analysis, as a tool to deliver feedback. Student will develop practical skills for them to design, test and utilise a performance analysis system.
Professional Practice (September intake)
The aim of the module is to provide students with the opportunity to develop the vocational skills required of individuals within the sports industry. Students will undertake professional practice activities and training with the Host/Partner organization.
Football Coaching Foundation Phase- (January intake)
Identify, discuss and explain practical coaching skills, player development principles and talent identification principles related to the development of footballers across the foundation phase.
Managing Sport (January intake)
This module will introduce management skills and disciplines required in managing and developing sport from several operational contexts.
Football Science 1 (January intake)
The module will focus on football science principles that are evident within the current demands of them as modern coaches. The module will provide a foundation of scientific knowledge to allow coaches to develop players.
Academic Research and Study Skills (January intake)
The module will focus on developing students’ critical thinking, research, analysis, evaluation and writing skills within the context of a programme of study and their personal, pedagogical progression.
Children and Youth Sport (January intake)
This module will focus on the theoretical issues relating to coaching children and youth and develop a knowledge base and understanding about the developing child in relation to sport.
Professional Practice (January intake)
The aim of the module is to provide students with the opportunity to develop the vocational skills required of individuals within the sports industry. Students will undertake professional practice activities and training with the Host/Partner organisation.
You will enhance your breadth of knowledge by studying football in society and project and operations management and complete a sport placement, which will enable you to put your ideas and knowledge into practice. You will expand your understanding of football development and coaching and the different career options available.
Modern Football Coaching
The module will focus on the demands of the modern football coach which have become more complex as the global game and the profession of coaching has evolved.
Football Coaching: Youth Development Phase
The module and the embedded NGB award will identify and demonstrate practical coaching skills related to the development of footballers across the youth development phase in an integrated approach.
Project Operations Management
This module is designed to provide students with an understanding of the approaches and techniques associated with managing projects and the operational functions needed to implement them.
Sport Placement
The module is focused on the students’ industry placement with UK International Soccer, it will provide an opportunity for students to develop reflective practice and vocational skills.
Football Science 2
The module focuses on expanding key understanding of football science principles that are evident within the current demands of them as modern coaches.
Football in Society
The module is designed to introduce students to the concept of community sports development, with a specific focus upon football.
Your final year will consolidate your learning and start to specialise your work-based learning experience in line with your career ambitions. This year of study provides you with the opportunity to complete your UEFA B License whilst enhancing and developing your coaching skills within your placement setting.
Performance Football Coaching
The concept of the module is in line with the demands of industry in aiming to develop students who are theoretically aware but are also practically applied, the UEFA B license is embedded within this module.
The Business of Football
The module seeks to provide students with a critical awareness of contemporary issues, including sustainability, globalisation, corporate social responsibility, commercialisation and risk management.
Critical Issues in Sports Coaching and Leadership
The module aims to develop a student's critical awareness of contemporary topics across coaching, leadership, performance, and participation in sport.
Applied Professional Project
The module is designed to provide a platform upon which the learner can enhance the effectiveness of their workplace experience with UK international Soccer.
Course Highlights
How you’ll learn
You will complete coaching (work-based learning) that is managed through weekly tutorials and a mentoring programme. The work-based learning programme can be completed with UK International Soccer (UKIS) programmes or within your own football work environment. The UK International Soccer opportunities will provide opportunities to gain experience in areas such as, grass root club development, football development, and coaching, you will apply your knowledge working within specific roles and real-life football projects. You will have the opportunity to conduct collaborative learning completing modules, projects, and the placement alongside students across the course year groups.
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Teaching staff
The applied nature of the content, delivered by experts in the field, makes for an effective learning environment. This cross relationship with recognised and qualified industry professionals enhances employability and industry readiness.
Our staff have worked in the industry for many years and have experience of coordinating and managing sport in both local authorities and national governing bodies. Many continue to work as Coach Educators (UEFA) and high-performance coaches.
- Rachel Murray, course leader
- Lyn Jehu, Year 1 on campus course leader.
- Grant Kalahar
- Jay Probert
- Jonathan Jones
- Gavin Chesterfield
- Bobby Briers
- Paul Rainer
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Placements
The applied nature of this programme brings study to life and prepares students for industry and employment beyond the degree. Students undertake placements within clubs or community football settings through UK International soccer in the USA. This may involve hands-on coaching, community development work or supporting clubs with marketing and administrations. As part of their football coaching course, students complete their FAW Level 2 Coaching Certificate and have an opportunity to gain their UEFA B license.
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Facilities
Our full-size indoor 3G pitch is built to the FIFA Pro standard. We are the only university in England and Wales to offer this facility.
You'll also find a notational analysis suite and over 30 acres of playing fields, including five floodlit pitches. We have a sand-dressed 'AstroTurf' pitch, as well as 2 full-size FIFA approved 3G pitch in addition to these all-weather pitches, there are six grass football pitches, three grass rugby pitches, and a large changing pavilion. Our facilities are regularly used by international professional teams, such as the Wales national football team and Cardiff City Football Club.
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100% of our BSc (Hons) Football Coaching, Development and Administration Students were satisfied with their course (National Student Survey 2024).
94% of students are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating from USW.
Top in Wales
Sport Science at USW is top in Wales for Teaching Quality.
(Guardian University Guide 2025)100% of our BSc (Hons) Football Coaching, Development and Administration Students were satisfied with their course (National Student Survey 2024).
94% of students are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating from USW.
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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
UCAS points: 104 (or above)
Typical qualification requirements:
- A Level: BCC to include one Science, Mathematics, Physical Education or Psychology but to exclude General Studies
- BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit in a relevant subject
- Welsh BACC: Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade C in the Skills Challenge Certificate and BC at A Level Grade C and BC at A Level to include one Science, Mathematics, Physical Education or Psychology but to exclude General Studies
- Access to HE: Passing an Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject (mathematics, science or psychology) and obtain a minimum of 104 UCAS tariff points.
- T Level: Pass (C and above)
Additional requirements include:
Due to the placement-based nature of the programme all applicants are required to complete an application for the internship with UK International Soccer and will therefore complete an Interview to determine their suitability for the programme.
The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.
International applications welcomed:
We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.
English language requirements
International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing or equivalent.
Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.
If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.
If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.
USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.
We're here to help
Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.
Fees and Funding
£9,535
per year*£9,535
per year*£16,200
per year*£16,200
per year*ADDTIONAL COSTS
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
*Obligatory
Visa and travel are self-funded.
Students on work placement will need to pay for their own travel and subsistence costs. Costs will vary depending on location.
Students will have to fund the cost of travel to the residential elements of the course.
University Quality Assurance
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
Life at USW
Halls are a big part of your student experience and there’s accommodation at all three of our locations. If you don’t want to live near the campus, there are great transport links to keep you connected.
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How to apply
All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS. You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time.)
Advanced entry
If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.
International admissions
International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.
