3 to 5 years, part-time distance learning

Developed in partnership with FIFA, this highly flexible academic and clinical master’s course equips qualified doctors with the skills to conduct clinical practice in football settings.

Bath is the only UK university that works with FIFA to offer this type of academically recognised course through part-time distance learning. This means you can complete your master’s degree alongside your clinical practice and benefit from both Bath’s clinical expertise and FIFA’s industry insights.

During your studies, you’ll gain the skills needed to improve the preparation, development, and medical management of recreational or elite players; and deepen your clinical knowledge of musculoskeletal injuries, to allow you to better assess, treat, and advise the patients in your practice.

You’ll also develop your:

• clinical knowledge of the aftercare of injuries and rehabilitation
• ability to provide safe and effective pitch-side emergency care
• expertise in injury prevention in football
• awareness of the signs of mental health issues in sport and the ability to provide confidential support
• understanding of the ethical and medicolegal issues of working in football

This course will also provide you with a recognised qualification for indemnity insurance – many team doctor jobs will require this type of qualification.

Residential Weeks

During the first (optional) Residential Week, you will use the physiology and biomechanics suites on our Bath campus. These contain up-to-date performance testing and analysis equipment.

The second Residential Week, which will take place at FIFA’s facilities in Zurich, will give you hands-on access to FIFA’s expertise and leading set-up. You will also complete pitch-side medical training.

Graduate Prospects

By the end of your studies, you will be qualified to work with footballers and/or teams from grassroots to elite levels in a variety of football medicine roles (such as team doctor).

Throughout the course, you’ll become better equipped to assess, treat, and advise patients in relation to musculoskeletal injuries, and to advise patients about the health benefits of exercise more generally.

Recent graduates have gone on to work for leading organisations in the field of football, including:

• FIFA Medical Department
• The Premier League
• UEFA
• Manchester United FC
• The FA

If you want to continue your research alongside professional practice, we also provide an established Professional Doctorate, offering a route for MSc students interested in continuing their research to doctoral level while working part-time.

Applications are now open for September 2025 entry.

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