Skip to main content
Southampton Solent University logo
Southampton Solent University logo

MScFootball Science

Apply direct
Starting in: 2025
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps

Why study a football science master's degree at Solent University

Designed specifically for those working in a professional football environment, this master’s degree will enable you to develop and enhance your existing knowledge and skills in elite football.

  • £0m
    invested in our campus estate and facilities in the last five years
  • 0th
    UK uni for sustained employment (Longitudinal Educational Outcomes, 2022)
  • Benefit from our extensive links with key industry partners, including the Football Association (FA), the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES), the Premier League, Football League clubs, and leading wearable technology companies.
  • You'll have the opportunity to enrol onto the BASES Supervised Experience route, offering you progression to full BASES-accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist and Chartered Scientist status.
  • You'll have access to our BASES-accredited physiology lab, marking it as one of the UK's leading sport and exercise science facilities. You'll also have access to our professional psychology and biomechanics labs, health and exercise gyms, and Test Park football centre, which boasts a full-sized all-weather 3G pitch, an FA Step 5 football arena, and modern teaching space.
  • You'll learn from current practitioners who, through our renowned guest lectures, seminar programmes and practical workshops, add vital applied insights from the world of football.
  • Employability is at the heart of the course, with the opportunity to undertake a work placement (up to 150 hours). You’ll be encouraged to apply your skills within a range of different clubs and in local community settings.
  • You'll be taught by a team with extensive research experience in football, both in the UK and overseas - and this master's degree will equip you with essential research and academic skills to pursue studies at PhD level or an academic career.
  • Benefit from free football science career consultation for life. Our careers advice service, Solent Futures is available to all Solent students and graduates for life, helping you to progress in your current career or discuss options for a change in career.
  • This course is eligible for the Postgraduate Master's student loan. The loan is from Student Finance England and can be used to cover costs (ie, accommodation, tuition fees) associated with postgraduate studies (it was up to £12,167 for 2023 entry).

Course overview

We’ve been at the forefront of football education for nearly two decades and our football programmes have emerged as leading supplier of graduates to the football industry. Our graduates have gone on to careers in the English Premier League as well as national federations overseas.

If you are already working in a professional football environment, this master’s degree is perfect for you. You'll apply your skills in four main strands of study:

  • Talent identification and recruitment (performance analysis)
  • Training and competition demands (sports science)
  • Rehabilitation and return to play (strength and conditioning)
  • Team leadership and management dynamics (coaching and leadership)

This will help to enhance your experience and knowledge with the application of a multidisciplinary age-appropriate programme for the development of academy through to professional players. In addition, you’ll develop your supervisory and people management skills by gaining greater insight into leadership, providing you with further career opportunities.

You'll take advantage of the University's extensive professional network in the game and attend regular lectures from guest speakers, including players, coaches, analysts and performance staff, allowing you to learn from and interact with experts who have first-hand, high-level experience within the game.

You'll benefit from the University's official partnership with Southampton FC, with access to real-world industry experience as part of the curriculum, including professional coaching and development from coaching, recruitment and performance staff. 

As part of the course you’ll also be eligible to enrol onto BASES Supervised Experience, the recognised path to full BASES-accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist and Chartered Scientist status. If appropriate, some students with prior experience may choose to receive guidance and support in the application for direct entry to accreditation.

Any questions?

Contact UK admissions

Email: admissions@solent.ac.ukCall: 023 8201 5066

Contact international admissions

Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066

Speak to a tutor

Speak to a tutor

Course features

  • Specialist facilities

    This course has access to specialist facilities

  • Apply direct

    You can apply direct to Solent University for this course

  • Further studies

    After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent

  • Part-time option

    You can study this course part-time

This course is for

This course is specifically for those currently connected with the professional football industry in the UK, Europe and further afield in sport science support, coaching and player development, performance analysis and talent ID and performance departments.

What this course leads to

As a practicing professional working in football, this course will enhance skills to help you develop your current role to work towards promotion or career enhancement.

See where our alumni are working

This course will enable you to develop roles in:

  • BASES-accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist

Meet the team

The course team blends highly skilled academics with experienced and qualified football practitioners able to bring context through real life experiences. Staff include former and current high-level sport science and coaching staff from various Premier League clubs, international set-ups, and professional, statutory and regulatory bodies.

The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.

Facilities

Students on this course will have full use of the many specialist health and sport science laboratories here at Solent. These include the BASES-accredited physiology lab, state-of-the-art biomechanics lab and psychology laboratory, as well as the high performance gym.

Our Sports Complex supports our sport and health and fitness degree programmes. The Complex comprise two sports halls, two fitness studios, strength and conditioning and high performance gym, health and fitness and personal training teaching teams, and sport and exercise therapy clinical space.

    Make your application

    Not ready to apply?

    Come to an open day