You are applying to The Academy of Football, a programme built on the proud West Ham United tradition of developing world-class players. Renowned as one of Europe’s leading player-development pathways, the programme has produced top-level professionals competing in the Premier League and beyond for many years.

The Academy delivers an elite, high-performance training environment, combining Premier League coaching methodology with the latest sports-science and performance technology. This intensive programme is designed to challenge, develop, and maximise each player’s individual potential. All coaching and technical staff are experienced professionals from the West Ham United Foundation, holding the highest UEFA coaching qualifications, and actively supporting the development of West Ham United youth players.

The programme includes a structured schedule of competitive match-play, giving players the opportunity to compete against leading academies affiliated with Premier League and EFL clubs across the UK.

Talent Identification Sessions take place at key stages throughout the programme. These culminate in a formal West Ham United showcase fixture, allowing players to demonstrate their development in a competitive, professional environment.

At this stage, only the assessment fee (£375) is required. Once payment is received, you will be invited to attend an online interview with the International Academy of Football leadership team. Following the interview, you will be assessed for suitability for the programme.

Pre-Registration Process

 
AGE RESTRICTIONS: Must be 16 - 22  (Player needs to be 16 by 30th August 2026 / the start of the season)

Academic Year Courses

- Football Academy Programme – £48,000
- International Foundation Year –  £17,600 £11,600 (with our Academy scholarship)
- International Year One – £16,000 £14,020 (with our Academy scholarship)
- Pre-Masters (two semesters) – £17,000 £14,980 (with our Academy scholarship)
- HND (two years) – £17,000 £14,500 (with our Academy scholarship)

English Courses Plus Football

- Academic programme – three terms (36 weeks) –  £12,468
- English programme – one semester (24 weeks)  –  £8,568
- English programme – one term (12 weeks) – £4,344
- USA College Scholarship Pathway –  *£5,000
*  Cost of Tier 1 (Top 50 Colleges) College Application: £6,000. An additional £2500 is payable if the student is accepted into a Top 50 US News-ranked university.

Football-Only Programmes

- 1 Semester (24 weeks) - £33,500
- 1 Term (12 weeks) -  £16,600

- Individual Coaching Sessions (5 hours per week) - £450


Registration Fee: £1,800
Refundable deposit: £1,600 plus £2,400 trip (excludes flights)
Insurance: £630 for the Academic year / £405 for one semester / £180 for one term.
*Registration for the Academic Year programme is additional to the fee paid. This fee is non-refundable.
**Registration for football training with an academic programme is also non-refundable.
Assessment fee: £350 is non-refundable, but will be deducted from the £1,800 registration fee if the player is accepted onto the programme.
Accommodation: Accommodation is not included in the course fees. We offer several accommodation options at different rates depending on the accommodation type. These include residences, host families, flatsharing and studios. It is compulsory for students under 18 to be placed with a host family. Please refer to our accommodation price list and confirm your preferred option. 

ACCOMMODATION PRICING (subject to provider changes):

​Home stay
Estimated total cost for the academic year: ​Half board £12,000

You may choose to add a full board option for an additional £8 per day. However, due to the daily schedule and travel times, we recommend keeping lunch flexible, as your daughter will have the opportunity to purchase lunch between classes and at the training facility. This offers more convenience and ​can be more affordable.

​Single room (half board): from £400/week
Estimated total cost for the academic year: ​Full Board £25​,000
​These costs are approximate of the 2025 costs and subject to change due to being a third party provider