Recently finished your A Levels or BTEC Level 3? Looking to study Higher Education in a football specific environment? Come and study with us and the degree programmes on offer through our academic partner Plymouth Marjon University.
For further information or a one-to-one discussion about your higher education options, please contact our Higher Education Coordinator Tim Dudding tim.dudding@pafc.co.uk.
BA (Hons) Football Coaching and Development
At Argyle Community Trust, we offer a unique higher education experience in partnership with Plymouth Marjon University. Since 2013, we have worked together to create a Football Coaching and Development degree pathway that includes the chance to study the football industry, including:
- Coaching
- Player development
- Talent identification
- Inclusion
- Leadership and Management
- Performance analysis
- Practical football development
- How football can be used as a force for positive social change.
The degree, run by Plymouth Marjon University, allows you to turn your passion for football into a varied and exciting career, with learning contributions from Plymouth Argyle, Argyle Community Trust, and Devon FA industry professionals.
This academic programme considers the role of football within the wider sports industry and provides lots of opportunities to apply theory to practice in real-life situations in football focused projects and initiatives. As part of studying with us, you’ll have the chance to ‘Earn as you Learn’ with a number of paid and voluntary roles available to students within the Trusts’ Football, Education, Health, Disability, and Community Engagement Teams.
You will have the chance to gain an array of industry-recognised football coaching qualifications. Plymouth Marjon University provides a coach education bursary to be spent by the learner on relevant coaching qualifications including the FA Introduction to Coaching Football, UEFA C, and, UEFA B. Qualifications will be matched to your level of experience and expertise. The UEFA B licence is for experienced coaches and subject to a successful application with FA England Learning (and is the minimum qualification needed to coach at a professional football club academy). These coaching awards will boost your employability and give you a richer variety of experiences.
BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Development is inclusive of students from all backgrounds regardless of physical ability, gender, race, sexuality, heritage or age and welcomes applications for underrepresented groups to further the inclusion and diversity agenda in football and the football workforce.
For more information on the course including how to apply, entry requirements, and modules that you’ll study please visit the BA (Hons) Football Development and Coaching webpage.
Degree Course in partnership with Devon FA.
BSc (Hons) Football Science
BSc Football Science has been developed in collaboration with our football industry professionals, right here with Plymouth Argyle Women at the Trust, and Plymouth Argyle. It offers an outstanding quality of education alongside the skills and expertise required to work in football. With a specific focus on the scientific elements that underpin practical football performance, including:
- Age-Group Specific Principles including physical growth and maturation
- Performance and Technique Analysis
- Football Specific Psychology
- Football Specific Nutrition for performance and recovery
- Talent ID
- Physical Performance for the reduction of injury risk
Embedded in the course are industry recognised qualifications from an array of professional bodies – at no extra cost. These include, but are not limited to:
- FA Introduction to Coaching Football
- UEFA C Licence
- Catapult Athlete Tracking Level 1 and Level 2
- Level 2 Gym instructor
- Level 3 Personal Trainer.
These enable you to develop specific, vocational and academic skills that are necessary to embark on a career in the football industry. You will be encouraged to undertake work-based learning with our network of football industry partners right here at the club, but also at the FA Women’s High Performance Football Centre based at Plymouth Marjon University.
BSc Football Science degree teaches you to apply scientific principles to all aspects of athletic development across the age-appropriate phases of player development. There is a strong emphasis on practical learning and how to apply these scientific principles to player or team performance. It is taught by highly qualified academics and industry professionals who are employed in the football sector, enabling students to benefit from their knowledge and experience.
As part of your education, you will be taught in the Marjon Sports and Health science laboratory – the only British Association of Sport & Exercise Science (BASES) accredited facility in the south-west. It draws elite athletes from across the region and students get valuable experiences from working with them.
Currently there are a number of students studying this course on placement at the football club and with PAWFC at the ACT, gaining valuable experience whilst working in a professional environment. These students are supporting player recruitment (1st Team), Performance Analysis and Physical Performance.
For more information on the course including how to apply, information about the optional professional practice year, entry requirements and modules that you’ll study please visit the BSc (Hons) Football Science webpage.
What Football Provision is on offer at Marjon?
As a talented footballer you will have the chance to study, train and play in an environment that’s as close as it gets to a professional club. Delivered by Argyle Community Trust, the BUCS provision available at Plymouth Marjon University has an outstanding track record of developing players and preparing them for a career beyond their sport.
We’ll help you balance your studies and your football commitments. You’ll benefit from our extensive link with Plymouth Argyle, allowing you to combine playing for the University BUCS programme and your external clubs.
You will learn from some of the best Trust coaches at Plymouth Marjon University. We will support you to achieve excellence in your academic studies and your football. All coaches are UEFA Licensed coaches who have extensive experience in academy youth football, non-league men’s football and the professional women’s game. With both academic and practical experiences, our coaches will seek to develop every part of your game in accordance with the FA’s National Development Model and our own DNA. We have designed the BUCS Football Provision with you in mind, meaning you’ll get the best from your qualification and your training. As well as weekly sessions from dedicated coaches, you’ll have opportunities to compete at the correct level of BUCS sport.
The male and female BUCS offer at Plymouth Marjon University reflects the professional standard evident within our fantastic facilities. Currently used professionally by Plymouth Argyle Academy and Plymouth Argyle Women, you’ll have the chance to improve all aspects of your game on-site with access to the incredible facilities available at the University. Performance squads will benefit from strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists, sports massage students through to lifestyle management and performance analysis to keep you performing at your peak. Within our football provision we play according to our football philosophy, guiding players through relevant language and principles that underpin their performance. We want to:
- Play attacking and creative football.
- Display a positive attitude, showing respect and sportsmanship for all.
- Win the game, but not at the expense of the above.
For more information on visit the dedicated Plymouth Marjon University Football web page.
What if I wanted to study another course option?
Good news! We’ve got you covered!
If you would like to take part in our football provision, but the course option isn’t right for you – there is a number of alternative options within the wider School of Sport, Physical Education, and Coaching. A full list of sports-related courses is outlined below:
- BSc Sport and Exercise Science
- FdA Sports Development and Coaching
- BA Sports Coaching and Physical Education
- BeD Physical Education – Secondary Ed (with QTS)
- BA Physical Education with Dance
- BA Physical education (non QTS)
- BSc Sport and Exercise Psychology
- BSc Sports Therapy
- BSc Sports Business Management
- BSc Sports Rehabilitation and Conditioning
Furthermore, Marjon University offers 46 undergraduate courses in a number of academic fields. Visit the Plymouth Marjon University website for the full list of degree options available.
See what our students and graduates have to say…
Jas
COURSE: BSC (HONS) SPORTS BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
CURRENT JOB TITLE: PAFC WOMEN’S 1ST TEAM GK
CURRENT EMPLOYER: PLYMOUTH ARGYLE FOOTBALL CLUB
“I really enjoy the broad range of topics and modules we cover. I enjoy discovering new things about sports that are less known and understanding their role within the community.
My course has enabled me to start developing critical analysis skills and writing in a professional manner. Personally, the course and the staff members have been accommodating with my playing commitments to both Plymouth Argyle and the women’s performance team at Marjon. I am able to organise my time with the clear communication of work and assignment due dates, and it has been interesting to apply the knowledge learnt from lectures and seminars to learn more about Plymouth Argyle.”
George
COURSE: BA (HONS) FOOTBALL COACHING & DEVELOPMENT
CURRENT JOB TITLE: HEAD OF ACADEMY OPERATIONS
CURRENT EMPLOYER: PLYMOUTH ARGYLE FOOTBALL CLUB
“My passion and ambition has always been to work in the sport that I have always enjoyed participating in. Football brings so many positives to society and it’s extremely rewarding being able to contribute to the delivery and development of a professional football club academy which helps to provide fantastic experiences for young talented footballers. I really enjoy the fast-paced, ever-evolving aspects of my current role.
The modules I completed on the degree programme were great and provided me with fantastic opportunities to develop further knowledge alongside gaining real-life experience, such as completing my UEFA B football coaching qualification. This has ultimately led to me securing full-time roles in the football industry.”
Harry
COURSE: BA (HONS) FOOTBALL COACHING & DEVELOPMENT
CURRENT JOB TITLE: 1st TEAM ANALYST
CURRENT EMPLOYER: PLYMOUTH ARGYLE FOOTBALL CLUB
“What I love most about my job is the level of detail I am able to go into when preparing for fixtures. With access to various different software and companies databases I am able to go into massive amounts of detail to help aid the thought process and preparation for our first team coaching staff. I learn from the vast knowledge within the professional game accessible to me through other members of staff.
University life helped me to understand the importance of planning and working to time constraints – understanding the importance of being prepared for whatever may happen. It also assisted in improving skills I already possessed but helped me learn new skills and develop more to be successful in my field of work.”