University Academy 92 (UA92) is a higher education institution based in Greater Manchester, England, offering undergraduate degrees and apprenticeship programmes.
UA92 was first announced in September 2017, with plans to offer “broader courses than traditional degrees, designed to enhance life skills as well as employability”.[1][2][3] The institution was founded on three core principles: Social Mobility, Inclusivity and Accessibility. Following their successful football careers, the founders aimed to create an institution that would attract students who "otherwise might not go on to higher education".[1]
UA92 officially opened in September 2019 in Old Trafford, Manchester.[4]The Times described it as “a venture setting out to help disadvantaged young people in Manchester get a better education, with a new university that explicitly draws on the strategies and mindset of elite sport".[5]
In December 2021, it was awarded £2 million in funding by the Office for Students to develop a new Digital Academy on campus.[7] UA92 stated that “the new academy will increase UA92’s student capacity for digital students almost tenfold – from 65 to 634”.[7] The Digital Academy officially opened in 2022.
In April 2023, UA92 launched a health and wellness performance centre in the basement of the Old Trafford campus.[8] The facility includes a multi-lane Mondo running track, elite strength and conditioning racks and a cardio studio.[8]
UA92's academic structure operates on a year-round calendar, worth 120 credits per year.[14] Each degree is divided into six-week teaching blocks, with one module taught at a time. Students can begin their studies at five entry points throughout the year: September, November, January, February and April.[15]
Teaching is delivered in fixed morning or afternoon sessions for the duration of each student's degree, a model designed to make higher education more accessible to learners from a range of educational and socio-economic backgrounds.[4]
Assessment takes place within each teaching block, with no traditional end-of-year examinations, except for the BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance degree, where exams remain an industry standard.[16] Co-founder Gary Neville commented, "I don't believe you should work for 16 years at school and college, and then it all depends on a two-hour exam. I think it's prehistoric." [16]
UA92 places character and personal development at the centre of its educational philosophy through the '92 Programme'. This initiative focuses on cultivating professional and interpersonal skills, and is inspired by the principles instilled by Sir Alex Ferguson in the Class of '92, reimagined for the higher education experience.[23]
Campus locations
Although local opinion on the project was divided during the planning application stage,[24][25]Trafford Council approved plans for the establishment of UA92 in January 2018. A subsequent vote in August 2018 granted approval for the campus development.[26] Construction began in October 2018, converting the former Kellogg's building into UA92's main campus.[27]
The main Old Trafford campus comprises approximately 100,000 square feet.[28] UA92 initially occupied the ground and first floors (around 50,000 square feet), with the option to expand into the upper two floors in later academic years.[29] This was done in 2022, with the opening of UA92's Digital Academy.[30]
The campus was officially opened on 20th September 2019 on Brian Statham Way, Old Trafford, Manchester, with Gary Neville describing the project as "potentially the biggest thing we've ever done".[4]
In 2020, Microsoft opened a new flagship office within UA92's Old Trafford Campus. [31]
In 2023, UA92 announced the expansion of its facilities with a new Business School, located at Bruntwood's Baskerville House, opposite Salford Central Railway Station.[32] The Business School officially opened in October 2023, two years ahead of schedule, providing 36,000 square feet of space for up to 1000 further students.[33]
In 2021, UA92 launched the 'Make It For Real' campaign to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds.[35] Eligible students receive a Microsoft Surface Pro laptop, unlimited TalkTalk data for three years, lunch vouchers, £150 Dunelm home vouchers and free travel to and from campus.[36] To qualify, applicants are required to have been eligible for free school meals in their final year at school or college.[36]
The initiative was inspired by Marcus Rashford’s campaign for free school meals for primary school children across the United Kingdom.[35]
In November 2021, Wes Streeting MP, the Shadow Child Poverty Secretary, visited the UA92 campus to discuss the initiative and wider approaches to educational equality. He described the £5,000 support package as “a shining example of positive action to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education”.[36]
In 2023, UA92 introduced the 'Greatness Unlocked' scholarship programme, offering full tuition funding for two students from disadvantaged backgrounds across Greater Manchester.[37] Two additional students were awarded the scholarship in 2024. In 2025, the scholarship was rebranded as 'Unlock Your Greatness', allowing students to apply directly for the first time. [38]
Apprenticeships
UA92 launched its apprenticeship programmes in January 2023, initially focusing on digital and technology related disciplines.[39] Mirroring the structure of its undergraduate degrees, the programmes were developed in collaboration with industry partners and combine academic study with personal and professional development, as well as practical real-world experience. [40]
As of 2025, UA92 offers eight apprenticeship pathways: Level 3 Mult-Channel Marketer, Level 3 Information Communication Technician, Level 3 Cyber Security Technician, Level 4 DevOps Engineer, Level 4 Data Analyst, Level 6 Data Scientist and Level 6 Digital Marketer.[41]
Disputes
In August 2017, UA92's approval by the Department of Education to use the name 'University Academy 92' drew criticism from some observers, who argued the decision made it "too easy" for new institutions to include the term 'university' in their name.[42]
In July 2018, it was reported that UA92 had filed a lawsuit against Brendan Flood, founder of the University Campus of Football Business (UCFB). The suit alleged trademark infringement after Flood registered several companies and trademarks incorporating the name UA92 shortly after the institution's announcement. UA92 sought an injunction to prevent the use of the name.[43]
Staff
Dr Marnie Millard OBE, former Group Chief Executive of Nichols PLC, the home of Vimto, joined the UA92 Board as Chair in 2019. [44]
In 2021, Sara Prowse was appointed CEO of UA92.[45] Prowse has over 30 years of experience leading and developing well-known retail and lifestyle brands, including Hotter Shoes, Lands End and ISME at Shop Direct (now The Very Group).[5]
In 2025, UA92 appointed Emma Neville as its Women's Health Ambassador. Neville, an accredited menopause coach and founder of This Is Me, an online menopause community, was tasked with supporting the development of UA92's women's health policies, raising awareness and providing support for students.[46]
↑ Schouten, Charlie (22 October 2018). "Work starts on UA92 campus". Place Northwest. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
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