Professional Footballers Association Northern Ireland > Education Partners

Education Partners

The PFA work with a number of prestigious education partners to bring the best advanced learning options to all our members.
To find out more contact info@pfani.com or click any of the links below

Setanta College

An internationally renowned centre of excellence

Setanta College is an internationally renowned provider of higher education in human performance and sports science. At Setanta, the mission is to deliver industry-defining education, insight and application to communities at a local and global level. Led by an advisory board and lecturing faculty highly experienced in elite-level sport, Setanta operates campus locations in Ireland, the UK, USA, Italy, South Africa and India. Evolving out of Dr Liam Hennessy’s work in the industry, they have also worked with some of the world’s leading sporting organisations across multiple countries and continents.

Committed to providing our students with a progressive learning experience that leads to greater specialised knowledge, understanding and practical competence in strength and conditioning, sport, exercise and performance science.

With flexible learning options available, we provide the opportunity for anyone to further their education to suit their own schedule – including existing coaches, career changers, athletes, and more.

Setanta graduates work throughout the world with top professionals and athletes. Others support their local schools, clubs, special populations and communities by applying their knowledge to help improve coaching practices and general health and wellbeing.

Increasingly, there is a demand for suitably qualified strength and conditioning professionals in the general health and wellness industry and a number of our graduates have gone on to work in, or own and operate, their own facilities.

Delivery Method

Our programmes are delivered through blended learning, which includes both online lectures and practical workshops. Students will have access to weekly online lectures and class resources at any time. The theory element is completed entirely online in our virtual learning environment.

Practical workshops are also held throughout each programme, providing students with the opportunity to practically apply the elements they have learned through online lectures, led by Setanta experts.

Our Programmes

From short certificate courses in areas such as Sports Nutrition to our flagship MSc programmes, we have educational options for students at all stages of their coaching or performance journies.

We consider our Diploma in Personal Training and Strength & Conditioning as the entry point to becoming an S&C coach. From there, our strength and conditioning pathway is designed in a ladder format, that allows students to choose how far they wish to progress in their coaching education. Stages in this pathway include certificate, higher certificate and bachelor of science qualifications in strength and conditioning.

For those seeking to take their careers to the next level, we provide a range of Masters level programmes; Master of Science in Performance Coaching, Master of Science in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology and our Master of Science in Sports Rehabilitation and Performance.

PFA NI members can receive up to 30% discount on Setanta College courses.
Visit the website to find out more about courses on offer and how to enrol.

Open University

Rethink your future with The Open University

Playing professional football doesn’t need to stop you from learning new skills to prepare for your future.

With The Open University, you can study where and when you like, at a pace that suits you.

The Open University (OU) is the UK’s largest university with over 7,000 part-time students in Northern Ireland and a team of support staff based in Belfast.

Offering flexible and affordable online courses, the OU’s open access policy means you can study for a degree, even if you left school with few or no qualifications.

With a range of fee grants, loans and payment options available, studying with the OU could be more affordable than you think and if your household income is under £25,000, you could qualify for a fee grant worth up to £1,230.

MEMBER OFFER: PFA NI will be announcing funding support for eligible members in due course. Register by 5th January to start studying courses with OU.
Contact The Open University Student Support Team on 028 90 323722 or online https://www.open.ac.uk/contact#undergraduate-enquiries

Courses and qualifications

The OU offers over 200 highly respected qualifications in a range of subjects. Qualifications on offer include:

o Certificates of Higher Education

o Diplomas of Higher Education

o Honours Degrees

o Postgraduate courses

Learn more about studying with The Open University https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/choose/rethink-your-future

Learn more about fees & funding options https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/fees-and-funding

The OU Access Programme

An Open University (OU) Access Module Certificate is an ideal starting point if you need to develop your study skills and build your confidence. There are four Access modules to choose from and if your personal income is less than £25,000 you could study for free.

Find out more about Access courses https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/do-it/access

FREE courses with OpenLearn https://www.open.edu/openlearn/pfani

OpenLearn is a free learning platform from The Open University that delivers bite-sized learning designed to fit around your life. Studying with OpenLearn is a great way to start exploring new career paths or build on your current skills.

Visit the PFA NI Learning Hub on Open Learn

Tip: Complete an Open Learn course to earn a statement of participation or a free digital badge and add it to your CV to share your achievement with others

Sports Massage Courses

COURSE DETAILS

QUALIFICATION LEARNING OUTCOMES

Provide sports massage therapy to a range of clients who have dysfunctional tissue, without acute/post acute injuries or underlying pathological conditions.

– Assess clients and construct a sports massage treatment plan.

– Understand the principles of soft tissue dysfunction.

– Understand legislation required in Sports Massage.

– Understand how to assess and screen clients.

– Understand how to determine the appropriate techniques for specific clients.

– Apply a range of sports massage techniques and understand their effects on the body.

THE FITNESS GROUP

– The UK’s Leading Fitness Provider.

– Fully accredited Sports Massage courses.

– Internationally recognised qualifications.

– Industry-Leading 5-Star support from expert tutors

The Fitness Group also offers flexible monthly payment plans at 0% interest at a reduced rate for PFA NI Members.

Contact Paul Mooney at info@pfani.com for more information

Apprenticeships

Every year, thousands of adults return to learning at SERC to study and to increase their employability.

In terms of building on your sporting experience, we deliver relevant courses from Level 2 (equivalent to GCSEs) through Level 3 (equivalent to A-Levels), to foundation degrees across our Bangor, Downpatrick and Lisburn Campuses.

If you feel ready for a complete change of direction, SERC offers a massive choice of subject areas, from Art, Animal Care and Applied Science, to Retail, Travel and Tourism, IT, Plumbing, Barbering, Hospitality, Motor Vehicle and many more. We deliver learning at our campuses at Ballynahinch, Bangor, Downpatrick, Holywood, Lisburn, Newcastle and Newtownards, as well as at a specialist skills centre in Dundrod. You can browse SERC courses here and check out our online prospectuses here

For anyone who feels they missed out on basic qualifications when at school, our Restart courses are ideal.

If you want to get on track for a degree course, but perhaps you didn’t get the qualifications needed when you were at school – then The Access course at SERC – an Award year followed by a Diploma year – is designed to get you to university.

Other useful links

For more information on courses in Northern Ireland and career opportunities you can also check out NI Direct

NI Careers advice

Skills in Demand

Assured Skills Academy

You can take a quiz through the Prospects quiz which will help assist you in identifying a suitable career.