University of Hertfordshire to become the official higher education partner of Watford FC

The University of Hertfordshire is to become the official higher education partner of Watford FC for the 2024-25 season in a move that will see a host of mutual benefits for students, the Club and beyond.

Building on an existing relationship between the organisations, the higher education partnership, announced today (28 June) will see Herts students gain exclusive access to a range of work and educational opportunities at the Championship club.

These will include industry days at the Club’s Vicarage Road stadium, where students will receive high level insight into what it really takes to operate a professional football club. Additional work experience and paid work opportunities will also be available; free tickets for matches and a chance to access the pitch itself during an exclusive play on the pitch session at the end of the season.

Watford FC is then set to work on a number of new degree apprenticeship programmes with the University, adding to the institution’s expanding range of vocational courses across a wide variety of different subjects, and strengthening its commitment to providing pathways to higher education outside of traditional degrees.

The organisations will also be collaborating on developing a new elite men’s football programme, to run at the University from September 2025, that supports players with alternative pathways after moving away from Watford FC Academy. The programme will include a number of student placements, mentored and supervised by the Club.

The University’s world-class sports science research and facilities will also play a big role in the new collaboration, with research projects in medical and sport science, nutrition, psychology and performance analysis aimed at progressing football techniques, performance, health and fitness and recovery to be developed by the Club and Herts researchers.

With the University of Hertfordshire logo displayed proudly on the sleeve of Watford FC’s new kit and across Vicarage Road stadium, it is hoped that the partnership will bring attention to the University’s extensive contributions to the world of professional sport.

Professor Quintin McKellar, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hertfordshire, said:

“We are hugely excited to become the official higher education partner of Watford FC, who we’ve had a highly valued relationship with for several years now. This is not just an opportunity to support a Championship team with the University’s high-quality research and sports science expertise but will bring a whole host of benefits for our students. They will have access to remarkable opportunities with Watford FC that will not only stand out on their CVs, but also chart pathways to careers in professional football.

“The University of Hertfordshire specialises in providing career-focused education that places high-quality skills and experience at its core, and we are proud to be working alongside such prestigious partners as Watford FC to deliver this. This partnership continues our history of working closely with employers to create bespoke, relevant education programmes and high-quality teaching, and we look forward to seeing our students’ success as a result.

“We’ll also, of course, all be cheering Watford on when the season kicks off this summer!”

Paul O’Brien, Watford’s Commercial Director, said:

"We are incredibly excited to partner with the University of Hertfordshire, and extremely proud to have their logo on the sleeve of the playing kit.

“The partnership however is not just for marketing benefits, we are delighted to have created what we believe will be a holistic partnership, with both parties working in unison to enhance our commitment to innovation, education and community connection.

“The partnership will give students and alumni of the University of Hertfordshire the opportunity for work experience, placements and employment, as well as industry days and club staff being available for lectures at UH.

“The collaboration represents a significant step forward in our commitment to innovation, education and community involvement. Together, we can achieve great things both on and off the field.”

Watford FC will compete in the English Football League Championship this season and has previously competed in the Premier League. Watford FC’s opening game of the 2024/25 EFL Championship will be on Saturday 10 August and will be played away at Millwall.

More information about Watford FC can be found online. Explore courses in the University of Hertfordshire’s Institute of Sport via the University website.