University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) and its Global Institute of Sport (GIS) received a record number of student applications for courses that started in September.
In total, UCFB and GIS processed almost 5,000 applications for the new academic year – a 25% increase over the past three years. Furthermore, across the past five years at UCFB, the annual student intake has risen by 32%.
Reflecting the unrivalled interest in women’s football after the England team reached the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™, applications from female students grew by 37% compared with 2022.
Record demand
To meet the record demand for its degree courses in the sports and football industry, UCFB has been progressing a £16million expansion plan across Greater Manchester creating three new academic centres to enhance its Manchester Campus.
This major investment sees UCFB and GIS open new facilities in Salford for the first time, with a dedicated academic centre for multimedia at Quayside, MediaCityUK, close to the regional BBC and ITV headquarters.
Situated next to the Millennium Bridge and overlooking Old Trafford Football Stadium, the Quayside site makes the most of its MediaCityUK location by specialising in the teaching of sports media, communications, and marketing degrees.
The 11,000 sq. ft. facility includes several lecture and seminar rooms, as well as a study lounge and staff facilities providing capacity for up to 410 staff and students at any one time.
New academic courses
There is also a new academic centre for Football and Sports Business at Exchange Quay, Salford Quays, a stone’s throw from Old Trafford Football Stadium, which will form a new home for the specialist teaching of business and management degree courses.
With new academic centres based at MediaCityUK and Exchange Quay in Salford, UCFB students will be even closer to employers within their chosen field of study. This closer proximity to industry provides greater connectivity to employment providing students with a line of sight to future roles.
Brendan Flood, chairman of UCFB and GIS, said: “Our record application figures speak for themselves: year after year more young people than ever before are coming through our doors to take their first steps into football or the wider sports profession.
“Diversity in sport is key, so we are especially thrilled by the number of talented young women who we’re helping to forge long-lasting careers for in this growing industry, with female students studying Media at almost double than last year.
“Our high-quality teaching facilities provide an innovative environment for the next generation of sports talent to learn practical skills and gain invaluable, on-the-job experience when combined with our industry-leading employability partnerships.”
Widening opportunities
Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “It’s fantastic to see the expansion of UCFB and GIS across Greater Manchester, widening opportunities for the region’s young people to access higher education, while developing a highly skilled workforce contributing to the economic growth of the city region.
“Connecting young people to employment by creating strong links between employers and the regional education institutions is a priority for Greater Manchester and it’s great to see UCFB and GIS succeeding in this area for its students.”
Belle Vue Sports Village and Curzon Ashton FC will continue to host UCFB’s academic centre for Performance and Football Coaching degree courses enabling students to study in high quality football and sport industry settings. Furthermore, a new inspirational series of Premier Events hosted by UCFB will take place at Old Trafford Football Stadium and the Etihad Stadium.
UCFB and GIS maintain a strong presence in Manchester city centre, including Student Support Services, a library and study hub at Piccadilly Place close to our student accommodation, ensuring our students can live, study, work, and feel supported whilst enjoying life in one of the UK’s greatest cities for students.
UCFB’s expansion plans will cater for up to 2,500 students studying in Manchester by 2027, nurturing and developing the next generation of young talent for sports industry in this historic football city.
