University of Derby and Derby County Football Club Internship (Academy Performance)

Internship Details

Closing Date: Monday 7 July 2025

Interview Date: Monday 14 July 2025 (afternoon)

Start Date:

Person Specification

Please read the following information in full before applying. Emails requesting information contained within this specification will not be answered.

Department: Sport and Exercise Science / Derby County Football Club

Role title: University of Derby Internships (Sport Science)

Fees: £9270 – the internship includes a fee contribution of £5000 (successful applicants will need to fund the remaining £4270)

Responsible to: Derby County Football Club / Postgraduate Coordinator (School of Sport and Exercise Science)

Start Date: Derby County Football Club induction: As soon as possible after interview/appointment
                   MSc enrolment will be week commencing 8 September 2025

Ref: MSc DCFC AcadPerf 

Derby County Football Club and the School Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Derby are providing a partial bursary award toward postgraduate fees as part of an ongoing initiative to support students and work collaboratively with local sport organisations. In this unique opportunity, the successful candidates will collect data to inform athletic performance and support the delivery of performance support and Strength and Conditioning to athletes and competitive teams within the Academy.

We are seeking one candidate who will operate under the supervision of the Derby County Football Club staff and be supported in their studies on the MSc programme. The candidate will use the data collected to complete their dissertation project and the broader experience can contribute to their compulsory placement on the programme. This opportunity is designed to support career development and will provide the opportunity to develop a range of skill within a performance sport setting.

Research project

The successful candidate will be required to complete their dissertation on the use of GPS metrics in elite academy football to differentiate match demands between teams. The exact research question and focus will be identified by the student, internship provider, and academic supervisor. Please note that applicants who are invited to interview will be asked to present on this topic - further details will be provided within the invite email.

The successful applicant will:

The successful candidate will be expected to:

  1. Fully commit to the MSc course, attending modules of study and meeting expectations of attendance throughout.
  2. Engage in at least 15 hours of internship activity per week to include research data collection and delivery of sport science performance support to athletes/coaches. Students will be supported to manage any additional hours alongside their degree.
  3. Work collaboratively with the other intern as required.
  4. Conduct a dissertation and share key findings from their research with the internship provider if requested.
  5. Attend regular update meetings with relevant staff and review progress at the end of each semester.
  6. Support the production of an internship Case Study to support future recruitment activities and showcase the MSc opportunity.

 

Criteria for the role

Our tables show you whether criteria are essential or desirable for this role and whether evidence of this is required on application and/or at interview.

Qualifications: vocational, professional, academic

Criteria Essential or desirable
A minimum 2:1 BSc (Hons) degree in Sport and Exercise Science or related subject Essential
Willingness to pursue UKSCA Accreditation Desirable
Coaching qualifications Desirable
IELTS 6 (if non-English speaking) Essential

Experience and knowledge

Criteria Essential or desirable
Experience of delivering S&C support to athletes                                           Essential
Experience of undertaking academic research, research methods, and data analysis Essential
Experience of working in elite sport or undertaking research in an elite sport environment Desirable
Experience and knowledge in one or more of the following areas
1. Strength and Conditioning
2. Sport Science/Coaching
3. Academic Study and Research Skills		 Essential

Skills and abilities

Criteria Essential or desirable
Excellent written and oral communication skills                                                                                              Essential
Excellent inter-personal skills Essential
Competency in a range of laboratory and practical skills as relevant Essential
Competency in relevant IT skills Essential

Applicant Information

Please read the following information very carefully

Application

There are two tasks to complete as part of your application:

1. Interested applicants are required to complete the MSc application form available through the course pages by the closing date detailed above:

Please ensure evidence of undergraduate degree classification is appended to the application where available.

2. Interested applicants must also email a copy of their personal statement to Dr Charlotte Chandler (details below) by the closing date. Applicants should quote the reference MSc DCFC AcadPerf at the start of their personal statement; failure to do so will invalidate your application.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted and invited to interview as outlined above.

Selection

Shortlisted candidates will be required to present their research topic to the panel as part of the interview process. Further guidance will be made available within interview invitations, which will be sent on Tuesday 8 July.

The panel will endeavor to make decisions on the date and inform successful applicants accordingly.

If you require any further information regarding the MSc programme and content, the internship position, or the research project, please contact:

Dr. Charlotte Chandler

Assistant Head of Discipline and Postgraduate Coordinator (School of Sport and Exercise Science) 
Tel: 01332 593373
Email: c.chandler@derby.ac.uk