- Location
- Cardonald Campus
- SCQF Level
- 5
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- NQ
- Course Type
- Short Full-Time
- Duration
- 18 weeks (August - January)
Applications open 15th January 2025
NQ Football Performance (Level 5) course is designed to let you study, train and play in the manner of a professional footballer.
This course is designed as 90% practical / football based and 10% theory-based.
You will focus on improving and developing your technical abilities, your tactical game understanding and knowledge as well as your physical attributes within the game.
You will also improve and develop fitness aspects such as strength, power, flexibility, agility, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance and speed.
Whilst on this course, you can be involved in competitive games with other colleges, campuses and universities.
You will receive weekly coaching sessions from Celtic Soccer Academy coaches.
What will I learn?
The NQ Football Performance course consists of SQA Level 5 units and college certificates which cover a range of practical and theoretical sports-related units. Units can include:
- Sporting activity football
- Technical and tactical within team training sessions
- Sporting activity: an introduction
- Health analysis, football preparation
- Sports conditioning for footballers
- Individual player development programme (IPDP)
- Football, health and wellbeing
A programme of team building and leadership skills is undertaken along with core skills.
Please note: A Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check will be required to undertake any coaching placements/work experience which may be included in the course.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- Three National 4 passes
- Personal statement on the application as to why you should be offered a place on the course
- You must have a vast and active interest in playing football and fitness
- Desire to develop football skills, knowledge and understanding of the game.
Entry requirement equivalency table
- If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
- Glasgow Life Sport
- United Sports
- Challenger Sports
- Camp America
- UK International
- Andy Robertson charity
- Glasgow Celtic FC
- Scottish Football Association
Jobs and further study
- NQ Football Studies (Level 5) January start
- NQ Football Performance and Coaching in partnership with Celtic Soccer Academy - Level 6
Take a look at the course progression map for coaching and developing sport courses.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply:
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
- invited to book an interview session
- advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- we aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date.
You will be contacted through your email address of course content, keep warm activities and other additional information to get you ready to study, train and play.