Scholarships at UCFB & GIS

These scholarships are aimed at helping to encourage the next generation of students and industry professionals through developing their skills and supporting them on their work placements and internships.

Each scholarship is an award in the value of up to £1,500 and is offered in the following format:

Year One – Training and skills development courses (value of up to £500)

Students will typically be able to choose from a range of professionally delivered training sessions on subjects such as:

• Public speaking

• Assertiveness and building personal confidence

• Time management

• Stress management

• Governing body training/coaching qualifications

• There will also be opportunities to attend events with UCFB partners.

Year Two – Support with travel costs and allowance (up to £1,000)

UCFB recognises the importance of work-based learning through placements and internships. In order to support students in gaining valuable experience and picking up additional skills, funding will be available in the second year to cover certain costs for up to two work placements/internships. This can include internships in the UK or abroad and covers travel and sustenance up to a maximum of £1,000 in total over the two placements. Placements can include opportunities provided by UCFB or placements organised by the students themselves. Students have also used this investment to attend UCFB Global Summits.

Rachel Brown-Finnis

This scholarship is awarded to an individual who is passionate about breaking barriers and has a strong commitment to furthering a professional career in the football and sports business industry by applying skills learned on a UCFB degree programme. This scholarship is open to individuals on all Football Business degrees, Sports Business degrees and Law related degrees.

Alastair Campbell

This scholarship is awarded to an aspiring writer, broadcaster or journalist who can demonstrate that their choice of UCFB degree will benefit them in their career ambitions. This scholarship is open to individuals studying Football Business & Media, Multimedia Sports Journalism and Sports Business & Sports Broadcasting degrees.

Neil Doncaster

This scholarship is awarded to an individual who can demonstrate they had to strive through adversity to achieve a goal in their life and that studying at UCFB will assist them in reaching their potential. This scholarship is open to all degrees. All students with disabilities, including a physical, sensory or learning disability, or a mental health condition are very welcome to apply.

Paul Fletcher MBE

This scholarship is open to an individual who can demonstrate a passion for sustainability initiatives and addressing environmental issues within the sports industry and is looking to make a change in this area. This scholarship is open to all degrees, but may particularly suit students on the BA (Hons) Stadium & Events Management degree.

Brendan Flood

This scholarship is open to an individual who has taken a break from education and has now decided to return to study an undergraduate degree at UCFB. The student must demonstrate how the scholarship will contribute to their studies at UCFB and further their capabilities or forge a new career in the sport and business industry.

She Kicks Scholarship

Offered in partnership with She Kicks Magazine, this scholarship is open to an outstanding female applicant who can demonstrate that a UCFB degree can assist them with their career ambitions. Applicants will be selected based on their academic profile or extra-curricular activities such as community engagement or volunteering. Previous experience in football or sport is not necessary, just a commitment and drive towards working in the world of football and sports business and a belief that a career in football and sport is open to people of all genders and backgrounds.

The She Kicks scholarship will be awarded in the form of an internship at She Kicks magazine or a partner organisation, with all travel and accommodation expenses covered up to a maximum value of £2,000.

Previous interns had the opportunity to spend a week at the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, working alongside She Kicks at the fan embassies based in Nice and Valenciennes. They also had an opportunity to work within She Kicks head office based in Newcastle (accommodation, travel and sustenance all covered), working on the magazine content and articles, attending different industry events such as the premiere of “All or Nothing” the documentary based on Manchester City’s record-breaking Premier League season.

This scholarship has been designed in recognition of the significance of elite women’s football. It is open to an existing first team or reserve team Women’s Super League player, Women’s Championship player, and high-level academy players. Each scholarship is an award in the value of up to £1,500 and is offered in a format of £500 fee reduction, supplemented by a sports package that includes UCFB sports kit and travel support for training, matches with your club and or the UCFB Women’s Football (Academy) team and events.

UCFB offers an excellent environment to develop in sport whilst studying for a degree. This scholarship is awarded to acknowledge the sporting achievements of applicants who have competed in any sport within the past two years, within their relevant age group. Some of the previous years’ awardees include Elliot - Ultimate Frisbee athlete who competed at the European Youth Ultimate Championships, Andrew - FIFA Assistant referee, who refereed in the prestigious UEFA & FIFA matches and Sean – talented footballer who represents Manchester City and England amputee teams. This scholarship is inclusive to all athletes with all dis/abilities. As a part of this scholarship package, the student will receive UCFB sports kit and travel support for training and competition.

 The scholarships are awarded in two tiers:

National level

For students who have represented their country or were a member of a national level development squad. Each scholarship is an award in the value of up to £1,500 which includes £1,000 fee reduction with the rest supplemented by UCFB sports kit and travel support for training, competitions and events.

Regional level

For students who compete at a regional level. Each scholarship is an award in the value of up to £1,000 which includes £500 fee reduction with the rest supplemented by UCFB sports kit and travel support for training, competitions and events.

The 3-year scholarship funded by Sean Dyche Family and UCFB is open to all applicants holding an offer for any of UCFB sports coaching/ football coaching/ talent development undergraduate programmes. We are looking for applicants with an experience of one of the following: football coaching, player development or football operations. Applicants will be able to demonstrate special talents through academic or extracurricular achievements and provide compelling examples of leadership, resilience and commitment to values of equality, diversity and inclusion. The scholarship is an award in the value of up to £5,000 per year and is offered in the following format:

Year 1:

• £1,500 fee reduction 

• £1,500 for professional football and coaching equipment or software

• £2,000 to assist with the costs of accommodation

 Year 2:

• £1,500 fee reduction 

• £1,500 for travel to conferences and degree related trips and events (including GIS Global Sports Summits)

• £2,000 to assist with the costs of accommodation

 Year 3:

• £1,500 fee reduction 

• £1,500 for travel to conferences and degree related trips and events (including GIS Global Sports Summits)

• £2,000 to assist with the costs of accommodation

The scholarship programme is open to applicants holding an offer for an on campus (Wembley or Etihad) MSc programme with UCFB’s Global Institute of Sport. Applicants will be able to demonstrate special talents through academic or extracurricular achievements and provide compelling examples of how they have tried to make a positive impact in the football and sport industry at any level.

Aspects including access and widening participation (being from an under-represented demographic in football and sport) will also be taken into consideration in the selection process

Scholarship Value: FT: £3,000 (£2,000 tuition fees + £1,000 towards sports industry events/conferences such as UCFB Global Sports Summits) and/or training and development opportunities.

PT: £3,000 (the tuition fee value of the scholarship will be divided into two years of study)

The scholarship programme is open to outstanding female applicants holding an offer for an on campus (Wembley or Etihad), MSc programme with UCFB’s Global Institute of Sport. Candidates should have an interest in the wider sport industry, football and the ability to set clear goals and have a drive to achieve them. The recruitment process will address the diversity criteria, ensuring that a range of candidates from ethnic, socially diverse backgrounds, as well as from groups with other protected characteristics, apply for the programme.

The scholarship students will benefit from a partnership between UCFB and Women in Football in a form of a programme that will combine support towards tuition fees for a Master's degree at UCFB along with being exposed to professional expertise (seminars and training), mentoring and networking offered by UCFB, Women in Football and their partners. The programme will help to develop student’s football industry knowledge and experience and enhance their leadership and communication skills.

Scholarship value: £1,500 (£1,000 tuition fees + £500 for a leadership course run by Women in Football).

PT: £1,500 (the tuition fee value of the scholarship will be divided into two years of study)

Offered in partnership with the Jason Roberts Foundation, the scholarship programme is open to an outstanding applicant holding an offer for any of GIS Master’s programmes held at our Wembley campus. Candidates should have an interest in football, have the ability to lead, possess experience with outreach work within a community and should be able to demonstrate that they have strived through adversity to achieve a goal.

The recruitment process will address the diversity criteria, ensuring that a range of candidates from socially diverse backgrounds, as well as from groups with other protected characteristics, apply for the programme.

The scholarship students will benefit from a partnership between UCFB/GIS and Jason Roberts Foundation. Recipients of the scholarship will be expected to not only commit themselves to an academically rigorous programme of study but also become involved in some of the activities and programmes carried out by the Jason Roberts Foundation.

Scholarship Value: FT: £1,500 (£1,000 tuition fees + £500 towards sports industry events and costs associated with involvement in projects with Jason Roberts Foundation.

PT: £1,500 (the tuition fee value of the scholarship will be divided into two years of study).

The scholarship funded by Burnley FC Manager Sean Dyche and his family and UCFB’s Global Institute of Sport is open to all applicants holding an offer for any of the GIS coaching related programmes, including: MSc Football Coaching, MSc Football Coaching (Blended), MSc Football Coaching & Analysis and MSc Performance Analysis in Football.

We are looking for applicants with an experience of one of the following: football coaching, player development or football operations. Applicants will be able to demonstrate special talents through academic or extracurricular achievements and provide compelling examples of leadership, resilience and commitment to values of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Scholarship Value: FT: £5,000 (£3,500 tuition fees + £1,500 towards travel, professional football and coaching equipment and software)

PT: £5,000 (the tuition fee value of the scholarship will be divided into two years of study).