RIASA Women's UK College Soccer Programme.

Reach your maximum playing potential at RIASA's female soccer academy in Leeds.

Earn a dual-accredited US/UK degree in International Sports Management and

play a 9-month college soccer season in the UK.

A New Women's Soccer Programme, Built on RIASA'S 13-year Success

RIASA was the first soccer programme to arrive in the UK, offering student-athletes the chance of playing high intensity soccer whilst studying for a top-class degree qualification. We’re renowned for developing players and have been the leading men’s soccer academy in the UK for over 13 years now.

Play & train for 9 months  

US soccer programmes typically run for just 3 months, whereas we offer 9 months of intense training, coaching & matches.

A programme that works for you

Our soccer programme combined with the degree enables you to thrive and is specifically designed to ensure your success.

Opportunities that matter

We organise showcase games and play in events across Europe to offer you opportunities like no other academy.

Building on the success of the men’s programme, RIASA is proud to offer a challenging and rewarding 9-month college soccer season to the next generation of talented female student-athletes who want to break into the professional sporting industry.

RIASA is the World's Only Women's Soccer Programme Offering a Dual Accredited US/UK Degree.

RIASA is the World's Only Soccer Programme Offering a Dual Accredited UK/USA Degree.

Why Choose RIASA?

We’re passionate about helping student-athletes succeed in life. By committing to the RIASA Women’s Soccer programme you will be investing in your future. It’s not just a degree or the place you develop your soccer, it’s an experience that will shape your life.

We've named the top 10 reasons why RIASA should be on your college soccer list.

Earn 2 University degrees in 1

Earn an International Sports Management degree, dual-accredited in both the United States & the United Kingdom. 

Professional environment

Experience a professional-standard UK soccer academy with highly experienced UEFA A & B licensed coaches. 

Develop yourself culturally

Live in the home of soccer and develop yourself culturally by travelling and playing across Europe.

We provide the ultimate pro soccer experience, from training sessions, video analysis, regular team meetings, strength & conditioning sessions and much more. We operate in the same way as any pro club, meaning we have high exceptions from you as players, however you'll reap the rewards of hard-work and dedication during the 9-month long soccer season.

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On average, we train 4 times per week for a minimum of two hours. That's over 150+ training sessions per season.

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Compete in leagues, play friendlies & break into our showcase squad. Play between 20-30 games per season.

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9-months of soccer development is roughly 250 days. You'll have the time needed to develop and grow on the pitch.

RIASA SOCCER ACADEMY

The Original Soccer Programme.

RIASA was the first UK Soccer Programme offering a US college alternative for Men. We're building on the success of the last 13 years and offering these opportunities to female student-athletes who are chasing their dreams of breaking into the sporting industry.

How is RIASA Different

We know there are a variety of soccer academies offering programmes similar to RIASA, however, our programme offers female student-athletes a more intense and rewarding UK college soccer experience. 

Objective led training

Get the most out of every session on the field. Our coaches develop & execute planned sessions that help deliver results.

A community campus

Live, study, compete and learn at RIASA’s well located campus. It’s the perfect environment in which to focus on your success.

Soccer, soccer & soccer

Get to grips with an intense schedule of matches, training sessions, fitness & gym sessions as you look to develop your game. 

we are leeds

Leeds. Our Home. Your Home. 

Leeds is one of the most diverse and exciting cities within the north of England. It’s vibrant, exciting and multicultural, offering a range of attractions, bars, restaurants and events across the city which makes it the perfect choice for students.

 Unrivalled Facilities 

The RIASA  female soccer programme has access to a mixture of 3G, 4G & grass pitches that are FIFA standard. You'll also compete at different venues and play in stadiums over the 9-month season, gaining valuable playing experiences across different playing surfaces.

Pro standard pitches

We train and compete on professional playing surfaces that are IRB regulation 22 approved, FIFA quality and World 22. 

It's more than just a soccer academy

Our programme isn’t just on the pitch, you'll have access to a state-of-the-art gym that is leading the way in sports performance. 

Experience the beautiful game

You'll play in stadiums, at training grounds and experience other pro soccer academies across the UK.

Bodington Football Hub

Bodington Football Hub is a brand-new state-of-the-art complex which offers Premier League standard facilities. The new development  includes three full size LED floodlit 3G Football Turf Pitches, a four-team changing pavilion with community café, meeting spaces, and a large accessible car park.

Opportunities to Make It Pro in Europe 

Our female soccer academy has strong relationships with professional clubs across Europe. We monitor the progress of every student-athlete to see how you're developing on the pitch. By showing ability, passion and commitment, and with our coaches help, you may be on your way to a pro trial. 

The pinnacle of soccer 

Europe is the hotspot for soccer, it has the wealthiest clubs and opportunities like no other. Making it pro in Europe could completely change your life. 

Connections that help

We are constantly developing unique opportunities for our student-athletes, this includes arranging showcase games & pro trails if we believe you can make it. 

We believe in you

It's not easy making it pro. You need ability, you need talent and you need to work hard. If you master these, with our help, you'll have a great chance.

FEMALE POWER

RIASA Female Soccer Academy 

It's a Life-Changing experience. 

RIASA offers a culturally diverse experience where you'll meet students from different backgrounds. You'll grow your soccer knowledge and develop your game in more than one way! 

The Location of RIASA Women's Soccer Academy

Our UK college soccer program is based 4 miles north-east of Leeds city centre, located in the grounds of Weetwood Hall Estate and Bodington Football Hub - which offers 'Premier League' standard sporting facilities. 

We’re based in Leeds

Leeds is vibrant & youthful. Over 200,000 students live and study here each year. It's the perfect place for our academy and your college experience.

Everything you need

RIASA is proud to be located in nine acres of beautiful woodlands and gardens at Weetwood Hall Estate. The accommodation and soccer facilities are within proximity too.

Women's football is on the rise

Female football in the UK is rapidly growing. Since the Women's Super League went pro in 2018 more and more females are embracing the opportunities on offer. 

Weetwood Hall Estate

Weetwood Hall Estate is set within nine acres of beautiful woodlands and gardens, offering peace and tranquillity from the near-by hustle and bustle of Leeds student scene. On the estate you will find a breathtaking 17th Century Jacobean Manor House - this is the location of our academic delivery. 

Oxley Residence

Oxley Residence offers comfortable and modern all-inclusive student living. Located in Weetwood, just minutes from Weetwood Hall Estate and the student neighbourhood of Headingley, this private complex allows ease of living. You'll find more stunning architecture on the grounds of Oxley, plus it has a wide variety of on site facilities for students.

Bodington Football Hub

Bodington Football Hub is a brand-new state-of-the-art complex which offers Premier League standard facilities. The new development  includes three full size LED floodlit 3G Football Turf Pitches, a four-team changing pavilion with community café, meeting spaces, and a large accessible car park.

Accommodation For RIASA Student-athletes

Moving to the UK, thousands of miles away from home, can be daunting. It's worth knowing that when you choose to join our female football academy, you will be staying in comfortable and secure accommodation.

Student living in Leeds

We’re based 3 miles from Leeds city centre, Weetwood and Headingley, the close neighbourhoods offer all the amenities you could wish for. 

Comfortable and modern

Oxley Residence offers all-inclusive student living in a safe and comfortable environment with large communal spaces and the perfect location.

The place you’ll call home

You'll love exploring Leeds and the nearby cities. From the city lifestyle to the rurality, Leeds is the perfect place for you to train, learn and compete.

UK COLLEGE SOCCER 

Reach Your Maximum Potential At RIASA. Play a 9-month Season In The UK.

We promise you'll leave our academy with more knowledge and understanding of the game. You’ll see your progression soar on the pitch as you develop athletically. 

Earn A Dual Accredited US/UK Degree In International Sports Management

Combine your passion for soccer with a BA in International Sports Management which will give you a head start on and off the pitch for a career in the sports and leisure industries.

Richmond University 

We are partnered with the leading liberal arts university which awards students both a US and UK degree. We are the only soccer academy in the world offering this dual accreditation. 

One Programme, two degrees

Once graduated, you’ll be unbeatable. You’ll have studied one programme and gained two degrees, which will open the door to more international opportunities.

It's your future 

Set yourself apart from a crowded market. Earning a recognisable degree can help you secure a job in the sporting industry. It’s up to you which direction you take.

In partnership with Richmond, The American University in London, the 4-year RIASA Undergraduate Programme is built around the core belief that student-athletes should not have to choose between academics or soccer.

The academic and soccer programme come together to give you the best opportunity to succeed and with the university being the only one in the UK that can award two dual taught degrees, you're going to be unbeatable after you graduate as you look to further your career within the sporting industry.

The undergraduate degree we offer, BA in International Sports Management, is based on the American liberal arts tradition which helps broaden perspective and develops practical skills which are highly appealing to future employers in a global economy.

As a result, you’ll begin the programme with a combination of modules on business and sport, together with topics such as Creative Writing and Scientific Reasoning, to provide a broadened outlook. The second year has a financial focus on Accounting, Calculus, Probability and Statistics, together with a look at other subjects such as Sports Psychology.

The third and fourth years see a blend of diverse subjects, including Marketing, Nutrition, Legal and Ethical Concepts in Management, Sports Events Planning and Promotion and Sports Journalism. Along with a wide-ranging choice of electives in the final year, you’ll also have the option to do an integrated internship in Sports Management, extending your knowledge and expertise in a specialist area of your choic

Year 1

  • Foundations of Business
  • Functions with Applications
  • Foundations of Computer Applications
  • Sport and Society
  • Tools for Change
  • Research and Writing I
  • Visual Thinking or Narratives of Change

Year 2

  • Managerial Accounting
  • Introduction to Microeconomics
  • Introduction to Macroeconomics
  • Introduction to Sports Business
  • Introduction to Sports Psychology
  • Probability & Statistics I
  • Research and Writing II
  • Social Change in Practice

Year 3

  • Corporate Finance
  • Principles of Marketing
  • Sports Economics
  • Sports Events Planning & Promotion
  • Sports Management
  • International Sports Governance
  • Research Methods and Data Analysis
  • Plus one of the following
  • Service Learning: Digital Collaboration
  • Service Learning: Leadership in a Changing World
  • Service Learning: Environment and Society
  • Service Learning: Global Citizenship and Migration

Year 4

  • Talent Identification: Principles & Practice
  • Sports Finance
  • Sports Marketing
  • Senior Project in ISM I
  • Senior Project in ISM II
  • Plus one of the following
  • Team & Leadership Dynamics
  • Social Change in Practice
  • World Internship in Sport Management
  • Integrated Internship
  • Internship in Sport Management
More detail about the degree

Find more detailed information about the degree, including the Programme Specification Document, Course Specification Documents and other useful information about the University.

Transferable credits

Richmond, The American University in London accepts transferable credits. This means there is more opportunity for you to study with us here in Leeds, or take your studying to the US.

Where Can BA International Sports Management Lead Me To After Graduating?

In a very competitive job market,  it’s never been more important to earn a highly recongnised dual accredited degree. There are hundreds of different directions in which you can take your career and the RIASA team will help you decide the best route for you.

Sports Management

Pro Soccer Player

Soccer Coaching 

Marketing

Digital Marketing 

Event Management 

Sports Agent 

Personal Trainer

Soccer Analysis 

Sports Marketing 

Sport Sales 

Sports branding 

Its more than just soccer

Sports Science, Fitness Testing, Gym Sessions & On Pitch Training.

Our girls soccer academy offers more than just soccer. We utilise state-of-the-art sports science facilities to help you understand what’s needed to make it to the top.

Academic Entry Requirements to Join RIASA Women's Soccer Academy 

To be able to join RIASA International Female Soccer Academy, all student-athletes need the minimum academic requirements. We also require your soccer history, including a video highlight of you playing. 

International students

To be considered for our unique soccer programme, US students need to achieve a GPA score of 2.6 or higher. 

UK & EU students

UK & EU students are welcome to join our Women’s soccer academy too. You will need a minimum of 96 UCAS points or higher. 

Language requirements 

All students need to meet the language requirements (IELTS 5.5, TOEFL (IBT) 80+, Cambridge English score of no less than 168).

What's Included at RIASA?

The RIASA Women’s Soccer Programme is designed to give you the best possible opportunity of reaching your maximum potential. We train four times per week, and compete against other pro academies in the UK & Europe as you embark on a 9-month long soccer season.

It's your time to shine

Join an International female soccer academy that puts your athletic development first. With exciting prospects and life-changing opportunities, RIASA is intense and rewarding.

  • UEFA A & Pro Licensed coaches
  • Play for 9 months of the season
  • Professional standard academy
  • Train at least four times per week
  • Objective led training structure
  • Learn the theory of the game
  • Full gym membership
  • Showcase games
  • Match analysis sessions
  • Live streaming & social media 
  • Play across Europe (tours & pro trials)
  • Culturally grow in new surroundings
More than just a soccer programme

It’s more than just soccer when you commit to RIASA. You'll be embarking on a journey of a life-time. You’ll grow culturally, play against UK soccer academies and live in a new city. 

Fees & Funding Breakdown

If you want to take your soccer development seriously and earn a dual accredited US/UK degree, you can find a clear breakdown of the programme costs. Don’t forget that some students may be entitled to scholarships and there is a variety of funding available for UK and International students. 

Header

Programme Cost

International Student

£32,150 p/a

UK Student

£27,750 p/a

Programme Cost Includes

The cost of your dual accredited US/UK degree

Academy admission which includes training & travel to all matches 

Full Nike RIASA Academy Kit & Full Nike RIASA match-day day kit

Comfortable and modern student accommodation

One cooked meal per day + supermarket food card

RIASA scholarships 

UK students who choose to join the RIASA Undergraduate Programme are entitled to a £3,085 scholarship discount. Funding/academic loans are available to both UK & International students.


Funding options for International students - FAFSA


Direct Subsidised Loans: For independent and dependent undergraduate students – the interest is paid by the Federal Government while in school.

Direct Unsubsidised: For independent and dependent undergraduate students and graduate students – the interest accrues while in school.

Direct Parent PLUS: For parents of dependent undergraduates to cover up to the full cost of attendance minus any other aid – subject to the parent’s credit rating. The parent can ask to defer repayment during the beneficiary student’s in-school status and for an additional six months after the student’s graduation.

Direct Graduate PLUS: For independent graduate students to cover up to the full cost of attendance minus any other aid or funding – subject to the student’s credit rating and can be consolidated after graduation. Graduate PLUS loans begin repayment six months after graduation.


GI Billing - US Veterans & Dependants of Veterans 


Richmond is registered with the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); therefore, if you are a veteran or veteran dependent student, you are qualified to apply for VA Benefits (The Post 9/11 GI Bill or DEA) to use toward your Richmond fees.

 Students can also use Sallie Mae Loans for funding. You can also self fund the programme.

We're in this together 

Join The Conversation. Follow RIASA International Female Soccer Academy

On Instagram.

Are you ready to take your game to a whole new level?

Technical focus 

Training at RIASA is intense, fun and rewarding. During every single session, there will be allocated time when we focus on technical development.

Testing, analysis and more. 

Our UK college soccer programme features all elements of the modern day game. We provide you with all the tools you'll need to enhance your game to the next level. 

Train, play, rest, repeat. 

Our college soccer programme is designed to help you reach your maximum playing potential, you'll see big improvements if you work hard all the time. 

Take a look inside training 

RIASA coach Martin Hunter provided a superb high-intensity technical session a few months back. Have a watch and see for yourself how detailed our coaching is. All of our training sessions are objective led, and we make sure they're intense, challenging and rewarding.

Girls do it best

If you're looking for more than an average female college soccer programme, then RIASA is for you! We are building a programme in which you'll be able to meet like-minded students who share the same passion as you. Along the way you'll meet new friends, tackle new challenges but most importantly, focus on improving your soccer development day-in-day-out.

The route to Leeds

Follow these simple steps to apply to join the RIASA Undergraduate Programme. Take the leap towards a more rewarding future with a dual accredited US/UK BA Degree in International Sports Management and experience playing high intensity football at our soccer academy in Leeds.

Apply to RIASA

Hit the 'Apply Now' button to begin your journey to joining Richmond International Academic & Soccer Academy.

Connect With Us

You will receive an email from our recruitment team to confirm your application has been received.

RIASA ID Camp or YouTube Highlight video

We encourage you to book a place on our next RIASA ID Camp in the US, or attend our next UK event so we can access your playing ability.

We will also accept your YouTube highlight video if you can’t wait for any of our upcoming ID camps.

Get Accepted by RIASA 

After the coaching staff have seen your talent, work ethic and potential, you will receive confirmation that you have been accepted by the soccer side of the programme. 


Apply to Academics

Once you have been accepted by RIASA, you will then need to apply to the University. We will provide you with everything you need to make sure your application goes through quickly.

It’s Time to Get Excited

Now that we have both applications, it’s time to start looking forward to joining our academy in Leeds. If there are any issues along the way, we are here to help.

Join RIASA Women's Soccer Academy 

Now you know the score, it’s time to submit your application. Why not schedule a call with our head of recruitment and download the university prospectus which features detailed information about the degree pathway. 

Submit your application today

You’re so close to joining RIASA. It’s time to take your soccer development seriously. Explode into the sporting industry with a dual accredited US/UK degree.

Book a call 

Looking for more information? Book a call with our head of recruitment who will answer any questions you have with regards to the academy side of the programme.

Learn more about the degree

Sold on the soccer side and want to know more detail about the degree pathway and how that can help you in the future? 

Sarah Crossland
Head of UK Recruitment 

Get in touch with Sarah, who has worked at RIASA for over 5+ years. Sarah is head of UK Recruitment and knows everything there is to know about our unique soccer programmes. You can email her or schedule a call if you require more information: crossls@richmond.ac.uk.

PRO SOCCER EXPERIENCE

10 Reasons Why RIASA Should Be On Your College Soccer List.

Our girls soccer academy offers more than just soccer. We utilise state-of-the-art sports science facilities to help you understand what’s needed to make it to the top.

Start Your UK College Soccer Journey.

Earn a dual accredited US/UK degree which will help you break into today's modern sporting industry. Train and compete for  9-months of the year in world-class sporting facilities. Your time is now!

  • Earn a US & UK Degree
  • Play a 9-Month Soccer Season
  • Reach Your Potential in the UK