Further Education Course 

NCFE

Buxton Football Club Academy Level 3

View Key Course Details

Why study Buxton Football Club Academy Level 3 at Derby?

  • Industry-standard facilities – access a multitude of facilities including high performance gyms and local club’s football pitches.
  • Learn from experts – You will learn from tutors with real industry knowledge and experience, including holding UEFA A QUALs and working with national football clubs.
  • Top quality support – benefit from top quality coaching and daily access to a UEFA Licensed qualified coaching team as well as access to a nutrition coach, and strength and conditioning coach.
  • Perfect for students who are interested in a healthy, active lifestyle and are currently involved in sport related clubs or activities, such as athletics, football, gym or group exercise.
  • Create new opportunities – This programme is designed to prepare 16–19-year-olds for work or higher education so you can create your own pathway to your dream career.
  • Play competitive football at an elite level – you could be selected to represent Buxton FC in the National Alliance Under 19’s League, playing teams such as Tranmere Rovers, Preston North End, Crewe Alexandra & Rochdale AFC.

This football academy programme provides a unique opportunity to experience an elite performance environment alongside an academic study programme. You will gain a breadth of knowledge and understanding and develop skills that will be highly transferable within the professional sports industry.  

What you will study

The units covered may include:  

  • Fitness Training 
  • Sports Coaching 
  • Current issues in sport 
  • Psychology for sports performance
  • Anatomy & Physiology 

This course will also timetabled coaching sessions, statistical analysis and a tailored physical development programme including Video Analysis Technology & PlayerTeK GPS analysis, heat mapping and more. 

In addition, you will benefit from top quality coaching and daily access to a UEFA Licensed qualified coaching team, access to optional extra courses such as refereeing or coaching pathways, and possible work experience or employment opportunities. 

As part of this programme, you could be selected to train with and potentially begin integration into the First Team, alongside shadowing professional coaches and players. Previous UoDB students have represented the First Team in the FA Cup Round 2 fixture and during the successful promotion campaign into the National Football League. 

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

How you will learn

You will be based predominantly at Buxton Football Club’s Tarmac Silverlands Stadium, where you will be able to take advantage of their fantastic facilities and resources. These include the Academy Hub, gym, media room and 4G pitch, where you will be able to put your theory into practice and develop the key skills needed for a future career in the industry. Some theory lessons may be delivered at the Devonshire Dome, Buxton Campus when appropriate. 

Being part of an elite sports environment shapes character and develops skills that are highly transferrable to any workplace. Many employers are looking for staff who are motivated, disciplined, able to critically analyse situations and understand how to excel as part of a team. In a highly competitive job market, these are the skills that can set your CV apart from others that may have stayed at school to complete post 16 education. 

Careers

With this qualification you could look forward to a future career as a semi-pro or professional First Team player, coach, physiotherapist, sport science technician or PE teacher.

Entry requirements

You will need a minimum of four Grade 4 GCSEs (at least one must be Maths or English)

You must also take part in a compulsory trial selection process based on fitness, football ability/potential.

Fees and funding

If you are aged 16-18 on 31 August 2025, you will not usually pay tuition fees for your course. Most full-time college-level study programmes are fully funded for this age group.

However, you may still have additional costs, including: travel to and from college, uniforms, kits, and equipment, educational trips, meals while at college, childcare (if applicable).

This is where the college bursary can help support you.

How to apply

Submit your interest in the programme so that a representative from Buxton Football Club can contact you to invite you for a trial.

Apply directApply direct

Additional information about your studies

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.