Melbourne Victory Football Club

In 2017, VU began a five-year Strategic Partnership Agreement with the Melbourne Victory Football Club (MVFC).

This exciting engagement will initially see Victoria University provide sport science and performance support for the Melbourne Victory Academy teams. The Melbourne Victory Academy support will provide a range of unique learning experiences for current and prospective Victoria University students.

Further areas of collaboration include translational research projects, joint staff appointments, professional development, and community activities.

Melbourne Victory Academy players in action.

Student opportunities & placements

Victory University students have the exciting opportunity to work with the biggest football club in Australia. They will learn from the best in an elite sporting environment. This will help our students to finish their courses career-ready, with invaluable industry contacts.

Our graduate students in Masters of Sport Science (Football Performance) and Master of Sport Business and Integrity are eligible for Melbourne Victory Academy internships.

Undergraduate students in sport science, coaching and sport management can take part in placements as part of the Melbourne Victory Academy sport science and performance program.

"VU has a strong reputation for sports research, course delivery and world-class facilities, and we work closely with industry partners in elite sport.

The opportunity to gain practical work experience while completing my undergraduate studies was important, as I was eager to begin working in the field immediately."

Read Adam's story.

Our students have taken placements and found employment in various roles with Melbourne Victory Football Club such as:

strength and conditioning coach
video analyst
performance analysis coordinator
U15 team manager and assistant sports scientist.

"At the end of my bachelor degree I knew I wanted to further my studies in sport science, being able to do this at VU was great.

VU’s connections and partnerships have allowed me to undertake placements in sports that were suited to what I wanted to do; specifically, the Football Federation of Victoria and Melbourne Victory. This has led me to create contacts with professionals in the industry that I can learn from now and into the future."

Read Sharna's story.

Master of Sports Science (Football Performance) graduate Adam Cox

Adam Cox, Master of Sports Science (Football Performance) graduate.

Sharna Naidu, sports science graduate, working at Melbourne Victory.

Elite sport programs & world-class facilities

Melbourne Victory benefits from Victoria University's skills, knowledge and experience working with elite sporting organisations. We offer the team our expertise in sport science, high-performance coaching and sport management.

Our sporting partners have access to VU’s state-of-the-art sport and exercise training and research facilities.

Melbourne Victory’s football players are also be eligible for our elite student athletes program, which supports elite athletes to study while maintaining a high-level sporting career.

"We are thrilled to be working with Australia's leading Sports University for the next five years, and we're looking forward to building a strong and sustainable partnership with VU.

"We will truly benefit from the access to VU's coaching, sport science and high performance programs, and we're pleased to be able to offer VU's students an opportunity to experience working in an elite sporting organisation."

Melbourne Victory CEO, Ian Robson

Athlete on an exercise bike at our Footscray Park Campus physiology lab.

Industry expertise

Being one of the most industry-connected institutions in Australia, VU provides opportunities for students to gain industry expertise through our many partnerships.

VU’s Dr Fabio Serpiello, Head of Academy Performance and Sport Science, leads the sport science and performance program with Melbourne Victory Academy Director, Paulo Cardoso. Students will benefit directly from Fabio’s industry knowledge in the Bachelor of Sport Science and Master of Sport Science (Football Performance).

Adrian Juniper loves that he has the opportunity to work with industry leaders and professionals at the top of their game.

"I chose VU because of its reputation as the sports university.

I've learned that practical experience in the field is just as valuable as class work. Industry placements give students the chance to get on-the-job experience while studying. Working closely with people whose job you aspire to do is an enjoyable way to learn."

Read Adrian's story.