Bournemouth University is the official higher education partner of AFC Bournemouth, now in its 13th year — a partnership that puts students, staff and the local community right at the heart of a Premier League club.
BU is also principal partner of the club's girls' and women's teams, and the relationship goes well beyond sponsorship. Sport students train and research alongside professional coaching and performance staff, media students get real matchday work experience, and a purpose-built community pitch at Chapel Gate opens BU's sporting facilities up to local grassroots teams.
Students on BU's sport courses — Sport & Exercise Science, Sport Coaching, Sport Management and Sports Therapy — can move straight from lecture theatre into a professional football environment. One recent example: a Sport & Exercise Science student spent his placement year at AFC Bournemouth as Fan Experience Coordinator, shaping matchday experiences for thousands of fans.
A professional football club runs on far more than players and coaches. The partnership touches careers across:
BU journalism student Dan Davis, now working as a sport journalist at the Daily MailThe football club is one of the reasons I came to Bournemouth [University], because of that opportunity and the connection with the local football club. I think the partnership is really crucial, I can’t speak highly enough of how the club have been. Obviously we’re here with loads of professional journalists and we’re only university students, there is a bit of a gulf there, but we are treated exactly the same. The facilities are first class, I just can’t speak highly enough of the club, and obviously the university as well for providing that opportunity for us to come down and cover the games.
