UA92 to open campus at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium

A higher education institution set up by former Manchester United footballers has announced plans to open a new campus at the team’s Old Trafford stadium. 

The expansion will see University Academy 92 (UA92), founded by Gary Neville and his fellow former teammates, use several suites within the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand as teaching spaces from January 2026.

Courses delivered at the stadium – on non-matchdays – will include business of football, sports management, digital marketing, and football broadcast and journalism.

The institution said classes will be held there throughout the academic year and the stadium’s media facilities will be available for students on media courses, “offering hands-on experience in a professional setting”.

Gary Neville, co-founder of UA92, described the expansion as a “full-circle moment” for him. 

“Manchester United is where my dreams started and now we have the privilege of helping the next generation achieve theirs. 

“Old Trafford has always been a place where young people dream big, and now it will also be a place where our students can learn, grow and build their futures.”

UA92’s main campus has been located next to Old Trafford cricket ground since 2019 and the provider also has a business school in Manchester city centre. 

The institution was set up in partnership with Lancaster University, which awards UA92’s degrees. 

Like others in the sector, UA92 has faced financial challenges in recent years. The college’s 2024 financial statements state the business has “not performed in line with” directors’ expectations, mainly as it failed to reach its international student targets. 

“The international shortfall was primarily the result of a sector-wide reduction in international student numbers which impacted our planned intake by c200 students,” the report says.

“Broadly, our assessment is that the impact of international recruitment has put back our growth plans by twelve months. We have now re-set our financial plans, and our longer-term trajectory and our growth ambitions remain un-changed.”

Sara Prowse, chief executive officer of UA92, said demand for the institution’s courses – which are focused on flexible study and industry partnerships – continues to rise. 

“Having a base at Manchester United gives our students access to a world-class learning environment at one of the most famous sporting venues on the planet.”