Led by performance coach, and UEFA B licensed coach Pedro Bruno, the football programme at the University has being growing at a fast pace in the last couple years.

The women’s first team compete in the BUCS Premier South Division and the men’s in the South Eastern 1A. 

We are also proud that at Essex we are a FA Women's Football High Performance Centre too, supporting and developing the future women's game coaches from around the South-East and our students.

As a student at Essex, you'll benefit from not only our first-class sporting facilities, but unique partnerships with Football Clubs, such as Ipswich Town Billericay Town, Hashtag United, AFC Sudbury, and West Ham United Women too.

Football programme

Our programme

Led by UEFA B licensed coach, Pedro Bruno, we deliver an athlete-centred football programme for female and male players who are looking to combine their education with a route to playing professional sport upon graduation and giving them the chance to compete in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Premier South league. The University of Essex has a number of partnerships including TASS and Ipswich Town Football Club, where we are a Women's Superleague FA Academy delivery site, AFC Sudbury, and emerging links with Hashtag United, Billericay Town and West Ham United Women.

As part of the programme you will receive:

  • Performance Coaching
  • Strength and Conditioning Coaching
  • Performance Analysis
  • Use of the onsite Sports Therapy Clinic
  • Access to on-site accommodation
  • lifestyle advisor network
  • Comprehensive workshop programme
  • Complimentary Gym Membership
  • 2 Team Training sessions

Scholarship fee discounts

Alongside performance coaching, recipients of the Performance Sport Scholarship programme also receive additional support services package benefits such as free kit, use of facilities and access to a range of support services worth up to of £1,500 per year (details outlined below). Our Performance Sport Scholarship programme has three different tiers:

Scholarship type; Award
Tier 1* Tuition fee discount up to 100%, performance coaching and support services package.
Tier 2 Cash bursary (of varying amounts), performance coaching and support services package (available for undergraduate students only).
Tier 3 Performance coaching and support services package.

*Some exceptional athletes in receipt of a tier 1 scholarship may also receive additional financial support.

Under tier 1 of the Performance Sport Scholarship programme, we award a number of tuition fee discounts to students on University of Essex undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research courses.

Football fee discounts available for students commencing their studies at Essex in 2024-25 are:

Women's Football

Number of awards Scholarship Award
2 x PG awards for international students (full-time only) Between 50-100% fee discount
1 x PG award for UK students (full-time only) 100% fee discount

Men's Football

Number of awards Scholarship Award
2 x PG awards for international students (full-time only) Between 50-100% fee discount


Apply for a football scholarship

Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS)

The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) is a Sport England funded partnership between talented athletes, the University of Essex and national governing bodies of sport. We work together to bring the best out of our country’s most exciting young talent.

TASS helps athletes – aged 16-plus – to balance sport within the rest of their lives, be they in education, training or another form of personal development.

The TASS Dual Career Accreditation Scheme recognises an education institution’s commitment to dual career support for talented athletes who are in full time education. The Dual Career Accreditation Scheme acknowledges an enhanced level of academic flexibility and understanding within an institution, allowing talented athletes to balance their studies with a hectic sporting schedule.

Our football accolades

Accolades include:

  • BUCS South Eastern Tier 1 Women’s Champions 21/22
  • Women’s Premier South Promotion 21/22
  • I’ve enjoyed every moment being within the performance programme at The University of Essex. It’s advanced my footballing game, as well as physicality. The programme provides many opportunities to grow not only as a footballer, but as a person too. There are networking opportunities to improve your connections, as well as support whether that being in your athletic career or academic. I’ve met all my friends through the programme who I can see being lifelong friends with. The University of Essex has been an enjoyable and memorable experience in terms of my academic studies. The campus is very moreish which encouraged me to want to go and do extra pieces of work outside study times. The teaching staff are extremely knowledgeable and very helpful whenever I’ve been in need. I’ve enjoyed studying at this university just as much as playing for them. It’s been a real privilege.
    Callum Gough 3rd year sports therapy student (Including placement year)
    Essex Sport Mens Football team
    Essex Sport Mens Football team
    The Women's 1sr Football Team
    The Women's 1sr Football Team
    Rugby player in black about to be tackled by two other players in green and gold tops
    Athlete Village

    Both returning students who have previously represented the University in BUCS competitions, and new students who can evidence their level of performance in school, county or national level competition are welcome to apply to live in the Athlete Village.

    Find out more about the Athlete Village