Northumbria University and England Football Learning launch strategic partnership

Northumbria’s transformative strategic partnership with England Football Learning, the education arm of the Football Association, reimagines the approach to professional coach education enabling students to obtain highly sought-after UEFA qualifications.

Northumbria University has developed a pioneering undergraduate programme in Football Coaching and Performance that creates unprecedented opportunities for aspiring high-level football coaches by integrating professional qualifications directly into a degree. This innovative approach makes the industry-recognised Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) certifications more accessible, opening pathways to elite coaching careers.

The programme will launch in September 2026, making Northumbria one of the only institutions in England to integrate UEFA coaching qualifications, fully funded within a degree framework. The new Football Coaching and Performance programme will help to grow coach workforce development by making these qualifications more attainable and open up opportunities for talented individuals within the industry.

Commenting on the exciting opportunity for students, Professor Joanne Atkinson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing at Northumbria University, said: “This collaboration establishes Northumbria as a pioneering institution in professional football education, combining academic excellence with the Football Association's coaching standards and expertise. By integrating fully-funded UEFA qualifications within a degree framework, we're making these highly sought-after credentials accessible to aspiring high-level football coaches from all backgrounds, opening up elite coaching careers. The endorsement validates the programme's quality and ensures graduates meet the rigorous benchmarks required for professional coaching careers.”

Throughout the degree, there will be a focus exclusively on football-specific methodologies and performance strategies. Students will develop the skills and competencies required to coach at academy-level, within professional football clubs and a real-world coaching environment. Within these experiential learning environments, students will have the opportunity to complete the UEFA qualifications at no additional cost.

Dr Marc Briggs, Associate Head of School for Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation at Northumbria University, said: “The collaboration between Northumbria University and the Football Association demonstrates a strategic approach to coach workforce development, creating scalable pathways for coach education, while maintaining rigorous professional standards. We are looking forward to accepting the first cohort of enthusiastic coaches in September and working with them to achieve their ambitions within the sport they love.”

Kim Hide, Director of FA Learning, said: “Our relationship with Northumbria University will enable us to expand opportunities and provide greater access to learning and development for students undertaking the Football Coaching and Performance Programme. Currently, students enrolled at a university would need to access UEFA qualifications independently through our England Football Learning website. By embedding the qualification directly into the degree, learners will now have the opportunity to achieve their UEFA Diploma alongside their undergraduate studies. This approach reflects our England Football Learning strategy, which is centred on working closely with partners like Northumbria University to raise standards across the game — from grassroots to the professional level — by creating clearer, more accessible pathways for development."

The new programme strengthens Northumbria's position in football education, building on recent successes and partnerships. In 2019, Northumbria University launched i2i International Soccer Academy, enabling students from around the world to work towards a full-time degree while also completing a pro-level football training programme with UEFA-licensed coaches. Last year the women’s team from the Academy competed against some of the world’s best women’s footballers after reaching the first round proper of the FA Cup.

The University's commitment to celebrating football excellence was demonstrated in December when Newcastle United Head Coach Eddie Howe, England international Dan Burn, and former Sunderland A.F.C. chairman Sir Bob Murray all received honorary degrees at winter graduation ceremonies, recognising their contributions to the sport.

In addition to football-specific coaching, Northumbria University also offers a broader Sports Coaching degree designed for future coaches, teachers and educators working across multiple sports disciplines, further demonstrating the institution's comprehensive commitment to developing the next generation of sports professionals.

Find out more about the Football Coaching and Performance programme on Northumbria’s website as well as the UEFA B and UEFA C diplomas.

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Image caption:

Left to right: Jack Garner, Head of Business Operations at the FA; Andy Coyles, Programme Leader for Football Coaching and Performance at Northumbria; Dr Marc Briggs, Associate Head of School for Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation at Northumbria; and Amanda Green, Partnership Lead at the FA.