2024/25 entry
BSc (Hons) Science and Football with Foundation Year
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Minimum UCAS points required: TBC
Why study Science and Football with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University?
- Teaching from industry professionals, including coaches and applied practitioners from a variety of professional clubs and governing bodies within the UK and Europe
- Key industry partners including professional clubs, the FA, UEFA, FIFA and Prozone
- World-leading research institute attracting high-level professionals to give talks
- Every student has the opportunity to do a sandwich year. We have excellent industry links, including the Football Association, FIFA, various Premier League football clubs and the Professional Footballers' Association
- Stepping stone to careers in community football or with elite professional teams
- Endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme
- The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences is ranked 6th for Sports Science (QS World University Rankings 2024)
About your course
The BSc (Hons) Science and Football at Liverpool John Moores University is delivered by world-leading experts and informed by extensive links with key industry partners, such as the Football Association, FIFA, various Premier League football clubs and the Professional Footballers' Association.
About the Foundation Year
The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the ability to study for a degree but don't have the qualifications to enter directly onto the BSc (Hons) Science and Football degree programme. Once you pass the Foundation Year you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).
About BSc (Hons) Science and Football
The last 15 years have seen a marked rise in demand for sports science graduates in the professional football industry. Sports scientists who can identify talent and develop and enhance players performance from a physical, physiological and psychological perspective are employed alongside coaches and managers to get the best out of our teams.
This bespoke degree programme has been designed for graduates who want to work either in community football to help address health-related problems and promote positive behaviour or as support to elite-level professional football teams. It attracts students from all over the world.
Your tutors will be representative of the vast array of industry professionals, semi-professionals and amateurs, from elite coaches and players to support staff in community clubs. In addition, our reputation as a world-leading research centre ensures we attract high-level professionals to come and talk to you about the reality of working in the industry.
We ensure that the programme is as current and relevant as possible by working closely with key industry partners and by engaging in extensive research to identify the skills and knowledge that football organisations look for in graduates.
In 2018 we celebrated 20 years of delivering the Science and Football programme at LJMU. As part of a series of events to mark the anniversary, Kasper Schmeichel visited LJMU to meet undergraduate and postgraduate students from the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
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Go on a tour of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences
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Find out more about studying BSc (Hons) Science and Football
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LJMU internships at Everton Football Club
"Completing the BSc in Science and Football helped me to understand the science and processes within a football and sporting environment, whilst also challenging me to gain the required skills and intellect needed to perform in an elite organisation."
Professional accreditation/links
This course is endorsed by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme.
Partners include professional clubs, Prozone, the Football Association, The Professional Footballers' Association, UEFA and FIFA. As part of its commitment to development of the football industry, the School recently launched the Football Exchange, which encourages students to get involved in industry-related activities.
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- Library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to programme-appropriate software
- Library and student IT support
- Free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
A DBS check is not required for your application, however a DBS may be required for modules where there is a work based learning placement option. Work based learning placements that do not require a DBS check are available.
Employability
A number of our former graduates are now employed in the football industry in the UK, Europe and further afield in sports science support, player development and community programmes.
Our graduates work for a number of elite organisations including - among others - Manchester United Football Club, Liverpool Football Club, Everton Football Club and the Football Association.
Typical roles include performance analysis, sports psychology, fitness and conditioning, education and welfare, and nutritional advice.
Find out more about career opportunities in sport and exercise sciences.
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
A life-changing experience
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 4
Core modules
Talent Identification and Development in Football
20 credits
This module introduces current issues in football. Topics cover early talent identification, developing players for the professional level and guidance of elite football players.
Level 5
Core modules
Research Methods 2
20 credits
This module will enhance your understanding of the research process and related methodological approaches, whilst also developing your knowledge, skills and to complete investigations involving data collection, analysis and interpretation.
Optional Modules
Sandwich Year - Science and Football
120 credits
The aim is to provide you with an extended period of work experience at an approved partner that will complement your programme of study at LJMU. This will give you the opportunity to develop professional skills relevant to your programme of study, as well as the attitude and behaviours necessary for employment in a diverse and changing environment. This extended placement forms a key part of a sandwich degree. Split placements of a shorter duration may be possible. There is an expectation that a minimum of 1,200 hours will be spent in the workplace.
Level 6
Core modules
Applied Placement in Science and Football
20 credits
The module will provide you with the opportunity to develop and reflect on your theoretical knowledge and applied practice skills by engaging in a work-related learning project.
During the module, you will be provided with an opportunity to lead your own learning while drawing on links between theoretical principles and your application in a professional environment.
Specifically, you will critically explore how sport science is being used within the football industry to enhance player development and performance. This will develop your awareness of the craft skills and knowledge required to successfully provide sport science support within a football organisation. In doing so, you will have critically appraise the importance of reflection to applied practice.
Physical Performance in Football
20 credits
The aim of this module is to develop your knowledge, understanding and ability to critically evaluate key psychological concepts that influence development and performance in and through football related contexts, and to develop your critical understanding of the application of these principles in football settings.
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
Teaching is via a combination of lectures, interactive seminars, one-to-one tutorials, online activities, laboratory-based practical work, online workshops and group work. Guided independent study using our Learning Resource Centres and the web accounts for 70-80% of each module. Web-based content is also available through through our virtual learning environment Canvas (including wikis and blogs for Level 6 modules).
Work-related learning
Every student will have the opportunity to do a sandwich year where you will put into practice the skills and knowledge gained during your studies. We have excellent industry links, including the Football Association, FIFA, various Premier League football clubs and the Professional Footballers' Association.
Support and guidance
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
From day one of the degree programme, you will be allocated a personal tutor and remain under their guidance throughout your time at LJMU. They will be available to discuss any academic or personal issues on a one-to-one basis as well as helping you to put together your educational and future career plans. You will also work with your personal tutor in small groups to develop study skills essential for the science and football programme.
The school is fully committed to promoting a learning environment that supports a culture of equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) and has a Disability Support Coordinator, an EDI Coordinator and a School EDI Working Group. Personal Tutors also play a vital role in promoting awareness of support services for students.
Assessment
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
We acknowledge that all students perform differently depending on how they are assessed, which is why we use a combination of assessment methods. These include: written assignments (essays and brief response questions), exams (seen and unseen), practical work, portfolios, presentations (group and individual), and reflective practice/diaries.
Your tutors will provide feedback on assessments within three weeks, allowing you to quickly identify your successes and the areas where you may need to put in more work. This is provided via Canvas, face-to-face and/or as written comments for coursework and one-to-one for exams. You are also welcome to arrange further meetings with staff to discuss your feedback.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Dr Kevin Enright
Programme Leader
Kevin is an accredited Strength and Conditioning coach (ASCC), a Chartered Scientist (CSci) and an accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist with the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). Prior to working in Higher Education, Kevin was an Applied Sport Scientist for 10 years, supporting athletes preparing for Olympic and Commonwealth Games, Scottish and English Premier League footballers and the U17 English national football team who won the UEFA European Championships. He was awarded his PhD from LJMU on the impact of concurrent-training on the physiological adaptations to sports specific exercise in elite football players.
I enjoy seeing each student develop and implementing what they have learned throughout each module into the research project. Across this journey, we can see the students evolve to become independent, critical thinking individuals
Facilities
What you can expect from your School
You will study in Liverpool city centre at our City Campus. Our sport and exercise sciences facilities are world-leading and feature state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for our current and future sport scientists. The Avril Robarts library is within easy walking distance and here you'll find all the information you need to support your studies.
The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.