Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 8, 2026

University Campus of Football Business

University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) is a higher education institution offering undergraduate and postgraduate university degrees and executive education in the football and wider sports industries. UCFB is a college of the University of East London.

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Jun 8, 2026
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UCFB
University Campus of Football Business
TypeUniversity College
Established2011 (2011)
FounderBrendan Flood
Academic affiliation
University of East London
ProvostSarah Tudor
DeanProfessor Rob Wilson,

Dr Gerald Griggs

Arlo Wood
Location
London & Manchester
Websitehttps://www.ucfb.ac.uk/
Map

University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) is a higher education institution offering undergraduate and postgraduate university degrees and executive education in the football and wider sports industries. UCFB is a college of the University of East London.

UCFB became the world's first higher education institution with university degrees in the football and sports industry when it was opened at Burnley F.C.'s Turf Moor in 2011.1

History

Wembley Stadium source ↗

UCFB's first campus opened in 2011 at Burnley Football Club.23 Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visited the campus4 during their tour of Turf Moor as part of the Jubilee Celebrations.5

In 2014, UCFB expanded and opened its second campus, UCFB Wembley,36 with Wembley Stadium at the heart of the campus.7

UCFB opened a flagship campus based at the Etihad Stadium in 2016. The UCFB Etihad Campus, which replaced UCFB Burnley, facilities included access to sporting facilities such as the Manchester Regional Arena and National Basketball Performance Centre.

In the 2023-24 academic year, the Etihad Campus expanded across Greater Manchester, and was renamed 'UCFB Manchester Campus.' This involved moving business and media students to MediaCityUK, and basing students on coaching courses at Curzon Ashton FC's Tameside Stadium, as well as new facilities in Manchester, Salford, Trafford and Tameside.

In addition to the two UK campuses, UCFB hosts annual global summits at Chase Stadium, Miami, home of Inter Miami CF, as well as New York City, Toronto and Melbourne.

Courses

UCFB offers undergraduate degree programmes specialising in the football and wider sports industries.

Undergraduate

At undergraduate level, many programmes include a foundation year option, and entry requirements range from 96 to 112 UCAS points. The portfolio covers three broad areas:

  • Business and management programmes include degrees in football business, finance, marketing, sports law, and events management.
  • Coaching and performance programmes include degrees in football coaching and management, talent development, sports coaching science, and sport psychology.
  • Media and broadcast programmes include degrees in multimedia sports journalism, media and broadcasting.

Postgraduate

At postgraduate level, UCFB offers Master's degree courses including:

  • MSc Football Business
  • MSc Football Coaching & Analysis
  • MSc Football Communications & Digital Marketing
  • MSc International Sport Management
  • MSc Performance Analysis in Football
  • MSc Scouting & Recruitment in Football
  • MSc Sports Directorship

The MSc International Sport Management was ranked in the global top 25 postgraduate sport management programmes by SportBusiness.8

Executive education

UCFB have also delivered executive education offerings in collaboration with The Football Association,9 Johan Cruyff Institute,10 and United Nations Institute for Training and Research.11

Other ventures

UCFB's elite football academies based at UCFB's campuses in Manchester and Wembley are led by UEFA-qualified coaches and tailored for those who have recently been released by professional football clubs and those that possess an ability to play at a higher level.

In 2016, UCFB acquired a shareholding in scholarship agency FirstPoint USA.12

In July 2020, UCFB launched the Global Institute of Sport (GIS),13 furthering UCFB's educational breadth and delivery.

In 2022, UCFB Wembley launched the Wembley Basketball Academy, in partnership with local team London Elite Basketball, which was designed for aspiring basketball professionals in the UK to study alongside training, and as an effort to help grow the sport in the UK.

In June 2024, GIS launched a campus in Brussels, based at Lotto Park, the home of Belgian Pro League side RSC Anderlecht, alongside Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Later that month, a partnership with The Player Dubai to launch The Player Education Programmes, offering training and education for footballers of all levels and aspiring sports industry experts in Dubai.

Notable people

Previous guest speakers at UCFB have included Gareth Southgate, Harry Redknapp, Graham Potter, Eddie Howe, Dan Ashworth, Paul Barber (football executive), Gabby Logan, Chris Hughton, Mauricio Pochettino, Brendan Rodgers and Steve McClaren.

The UCFB Strategic Leadership and Management Programme is led by Neil Doncaster, CEO of the Scottish Professional Football League.

Notable alumni

UCFB alumni Wes Morgan lifting the Premier League trophy as captain of Leicester City F.C.
UCFB alumni Wes Morgan lifting the Premier League trophy as captain of Leicester City F.C. source ↗
References

References

  1. "University Campus of Football Business (UCFB)". The PFA. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  2. "UK university to offer only football business degrees". BBC. 10 June 2011.
  3. "Wembley announced as second home for Burnley's UCFB". Burnley Express. 27 February 2013.
  4. Daydy, Graham. "By Royal appointment". Total Football Magazine.
  5. "Queen's Diamond Jubilee tour reaches Lancashire". BBC. 16 May 2012.
  6. "UCFB in landmark deal with Wembley Stadium". FC Business.
  7. "UCFB Wembley launched". theFA.com. 26 February 2013.
  8. "UCFB course named among world's best sports Master's programmes". 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. "The FA Club Leadership Programme". 2026.
  10. "The Next Gen of Global Sports Leaders". 2026.
  11. "Executive Diploma in Sport Leadership". 2026.
  12. "First Point USA". www.ucfb.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  13. "Introducing the Global Institute of Sport".
  14. "VSI Executive Education". UCFB. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  15. "Wes Morgan discusses his experiences studying a Master's degree course at UCFB". 22 October 2024.
  16. "VSI Executive Education". UCFB. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  17. "VSI Executive Education". UCFB. Retrieved 15 April 2026.

Other references