How Do I Find a Place to Study and Play in the UK?

When our daughter decided she wanted to study and play abroad, she found it challenging to find programs, especially ones for female student athletes. The following provides some overall learning from our search as well as more detail about studying and playing in the UK.

Here are the sources of information that we found:

• Search for "International" on your soccer recruiting platform (e.g. NCSA, SportsRecruits, etc.) At the time of writing this, each only had a couple of international academies or universities listed. Note: having a profile on one of these platforms (or a highlight reel) that you can share with international programs is very helpful!

• Talk to your soccer club. Most large clubs have a person who helps with recruiting (possibly called something like a College Placement Director). Your club is really advanced if they have an international programs director that may have connections. Let all of the coaches and staff around you know that you are interested in going abroad as any one of them may have connections to overseas programs.

• Internet/AI search. There are programs in many countries that are recruiting US players. Be careful as we felt like some were scams or at least not very organized. Ideally, you will be able to talk to a student/player in the program to help determine its legitimacy. A pre-decision visit is also highly recommended.

Types of Programs that we found:

• University Teams: One option you have is to find a university that you would like to attend and ask them about the opportunity to play on the university's football (soccer) team. Depending on your skill level and desired commitment level, studying abroad and playing for a university team may be a perfect fit!

• International Football Programs: These tend to be private companies that recruit US student athletes to attend a specific university and train with their academy/coaches. Some play games against other academies or universities. Sometimes these teams play in a league (possibly in partnership with a local football club). You typically get an offer from the academy and then apply to the university through them as they may have a partnership with the university.

• Summer/Gap Year Programs: There are many academies that offer either summer or gap year programs if you are looking for international experience without the multiyear or educational commitment. They often have language classes so can be a great immersion opportunity.

How is Pitch & Degree different?

At Pitch & Degree, our primary mission is to support student athletes and their families throughout their journey of studying and playing abroad. We understand the unique challenges faced by young athletes pursuing both academic and sporting excellence, and we've tailored our services to address these specific needs.

Student-Athlete Centered Approach:

We partner with universities and football clubs in the UK to create a comprehensive support system. While universities provide academic training and football clubs handle athletic development, our focus remains on guiding student athletes and their parents through every step of the process. Our goal is for the student athletes in our program to be in a positive environment that fosters strong mental health. We will continue to work with both the University and Football Club to address any opportunities to build a more supportive environment.

Comprehensive Family Support:

Our services are designed to make the transition to studying and playing abroad as stress-free as possible for both students and their families. This includes:

• Facilitating connections between student athletes and suitable football clubs

• Assisting with university application processes

• Providing guidance through UK visa applications

• Offering support during the first-year arrival in the UK

• Addressing any additional needs beyond what universities or football clubs may provide

By concentrating on these crucial aspects, we ensure that student athletes and their families can navigate the complexities of international education and sports with confidence and ease. Our goal is to allow student athletes to focus on their academic and athletic growth while we help reduce the logistical and administrative challenges of studying and playing abroad.