FdA Football and Community Development

What you will study

YEAR 1 (LEVEL 4)

You will gain a strong foundation in understanding the role football plays within the community. You will gain practical coaching experience alongside theoretical knowledge, preparing you for careers in grassroots football, sport development, and community outreach. This year also introduces essential academic and professional skills to support further study and career progression in the football and sports industry.

MODULES:

Change Maker in the Community: This module explores the role of sport in fostering community engagement, social cohesion, and individual well-being. You will critically examine how sports initiatives contribute to societal development, community identity, and inclusivity. Through a combination of theoretical study and practical application, you will gain insights into the symbiotic relationship between sport and the community.

Asset-Based Community Development: You will explore the key principles of Asset-Based Community Development so that you understand the theory and can apply it to your practice context.

Football Coaching for Player Development: This module aims to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and methodologies required to effectively coach football with a focus on individual player development. It explores technical, tactical, physical, and psychological aspects of player growth, emphasising age-appropriate coaching strategies and performance enhancement.

Introduction to Management and Business: You will be introduced to some of the fundamentals of business, including organisational structure and the nature of modern business practices. You will also acquire a broad understanding of management by exploring the skills and characteristics of effective managers and leaders, and techniques to successfully manage a team.

Health Inequalities and Social Justice: This module will enable you to recognise inequalities in health, mental health and wellbeing and understand their role in contributing to the social justice agenda. It will provide knowledge and understanding of the nature and causes of health inequalities, discrimination, and marginalisation whilst discussing key policy and legislation.

Academic Discovery within the Sport Sciences: Within this module, you will explore key research methods, data analysis techniques, and academic writing conventions relevant to sports studies. Through independent and guided research, they will enhance their ability to evaluate scientific literature, formulate research questions, and apply theoretical knowledge to real-world sporting contexts.

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 5)

This year will build on the foundational knowledge, focusing on advanced engagement techniques, sport development strategies, and leadership in community football. Through practical experience and industry engagement, you will develop the skills needed to design and implement football programmes that drive both player development and community growth. This year prepares you for higher-level study or direct entry into careers in coaching, sport development, and community outreach.

MODULES: 

Be the Change: Football in the Community: You will explore the role of football as a tool for social change, focusing on its impact on local and global communities. You will also enhance your ability to design, deliver, and evaluate community-based football projects that promote inclusivity and sustainability.

Working with Communities: You will demonstrate personal and professional development by meeting the practice competencies required in the Youth Work National Occupational Standards Area F: Work with Communities.

Strategies for Health Improvement and Promotion: This module will provide knowledge and understanding of established strategies for promoting and improving health, mental health and well-being. It will cover strategies such as social prescribing, health education and a ‘settings approach’ and discuss the strengths and limitations of these, as well as their application within specific populations.

Becoming a Coach: You will examine the pedagogical issues faced by sports coaches when delivering in specific contexts/environments. Additionally, this module facilitates the development, understanding and application of reflective skills to enhance the development of personal and professional coaching practice.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation: This module aims to provide you with the opportunity to discover how ideas are developed, how entrepreneurship operates and an understanding of Innovation and entrepreneurship theories within a business context.

Sport Research Methodologies: From Theory to Practice: This module will enable you to develop critical understanding of the various research philosophies, ethical considerations, methods and analytic approaches that can be applied within a sport-related research area.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Entry requirements & applying

For entry onto our degree programme, we require the following:

• At least 48-72 UCAS points at A2 level or equivalent.
• Experience in a football/sport coaching environment is an advantage but not essential.

If you have educational records that are more than 5 years old, we will consider your application with a strong personal statement outlining relevant experience within last 5 years as a substitute, provided you have the relevant UCAS points.

The UCAS points may be counted from a wide variety of qualifications such as: 

• Welsh Baccalaureate  
• Progression and Advanced Diploma 
• BTEC/EDEXCEL both National Diplomas and Certificates  
• Scottish qualifications at Advanced Higher level  
• Irish leaving Certificate Higher examinations  
• International and European Baccalaureates 

Applicants may enter the programme at various levels with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) in accordance with the University General Regulations. Mature students with relevant experience are also welcome to apply and be considered on an individual basis.

Teaching & Assessment

Wrexham University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential and the introduction of our Active Learning Framework (ALF) helps deliver this commitment. Grounded in the University’s values of being accessible, supportive, innovative, and ambitious, ALF will support flexible learning that makes the best use of spaces on Campus together with digitally enabled learning opportunities designed to be accessed anytime, anywhere as appropriate. In addition, ALF embodies ways of teaching and learning that create and support a sense of belonging for students – critically important for us as a university that prides itself on being a supportive community. 

Incorporating everything mentioned above, our teaching will use a combination of face-to-face and online techniques. There are practical elements across all years that may include off-campus trips to environments that facilitate the learning experience. On average, students will receive 16 hours of taught content through the delivery of ALF per week.

In addition, the university offers workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our student support section has more information on the help available.

In terms of particular needs, the University’s Inclusion Services can provide appropriate guidance and support should any students require reasonable adjustments to be made because of a recognised prevailing disability, medical condition, or specific learning difference.

ASSESSMENT

A wide range of assessment methods will be used to test your knowledge and understanding. This includes essays, portfolios, practical sessions, reports, presentations, online discussions, and case study evaluations. You will be assessed on your ability to describe, explain, and analyse sport/fitness coaching concepts. This will be achieved through the investigation of previously published research, individually collected field-based data and specialist computer software and equipment. 

If Level 6 study is taken, your time with us culminates in the submission of an independent Learning opportunity (dissertation project), in an area that supports your future aspirations.

Fees & funding

You do not have to pay your tuition fees upfront.

The fees you pay and the support available will depend on a number of different factors. Full information can be found on our fees & finance pages. You will also find information about what your fees include in the fee FAQs.

All fees are subject to any changes in government policy, view our undergraduate fees.

For international students looking to study this course please see our international fees.

Programme specification

Accommodation

At Wrexham University, we offer on-campus en-suite rooms within our Wrexham Student Village. These private, fully furnished spaces are conveniently located, providing easy access to campus facilities, study areas, and social spaces. Plus, you’re just a 10-minute walk from the city centre!

With all bills included, free Wi-Fi, 24/7 security, and large social areas, you’ll find everything you need for a great student experience.

Explore our student accommodation options to find your perfect home away from home.

Subject to validation

Courses shown as “subject to validation” are new courses which are in development and the details of these courses are in the process of being finalised through the approval cycle, known as the ‘validation’ process. As soon as the programmes are validated the details of the course will be confirmed. The majority of new courses that are still ‘subject to validation’ are approved by the validation process; however, this is not guaranteed and should the course not go ahead as planned, or be significantly amended, you will be informed by the university and assistance will be provided to those who have been offered a place to find a suitable alternative course either at Wrexham University or at another provider.

International

If you are applying as an European / International Student, and live outside of the UK, you should make your application through our online application system, Centurus.

For information about the university’s entry requirements for EU/international students, please visit our international section.