Program Overview

Do you want to turn your love for sport into an academic qualification and study for a sports-related honours degree here at Solent University? Leading directly on to our highly-regarded sports degrees, this one year foundation programme will equip you with the skills you’ll need to progress on to the full football studies degree.

Solent University has been at the forefront of football education for nearly two decades and our Football Studies degree has emerged as the leading supplier of graduates to the football industry. Graduates have gone on to careers at Premier League clubs including Southampton, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

Studying this foundation year could give students an opportunity to extend previous experience gained, or provide a route back into education. The course will help develop the key academic skills required to make the transition to studying a full honours degree.

This degree provides students with comprehensive knowledge and real-world experience of the national and international football industry. Students have the opportunity to study a range of contemporary areas within the game, and tailor their study to their own specific interest within football.

The six main strands of study include;

• Coaching.
• Football development.
• Psychology.
• Performance analysis.
• Critical research and study skills.
• Sociology and politics.

Students will be able to benefit from the opportunity to tap into the University’s extensive network of contacts in the game. Regular lectures from guest speakers - including former Premier League and international players, managers, academy directors, leading club chairmen, media professionals, match officials and England national team staff - enable students to learn from and interact with professionals who have first-hand, high-level experience within the game.

Gaining practical work experience is at the heart of the course, and students are encouraged to apply the skills learnt as part of their degree within a range of different clubs and in local community settings. Students are provided with the opportunities to undertake placements as part of the placement year built into the four-year degree programme. This year long placement can take place at football-related institutions anywhere in the world, and support is offered to students to help them undertake work and gain the experience that matches their future career plans within the game.

Students on this course will also benefit from the University's partnership agreement with Southampton FC, with access to real-world industry experience at the Club as part of the curriculum, including professional coaching and development from Premier League coaching staff. Solent and Saints will also be collaborating on research projects to help influence the future of the game using applied learning gained by students through working with the Club. The University has provided administrative education for FIFA, the Football Association, the Premier League, the Football League, the National League and more than 60 professional clubs.