Stevie is currently completing his Masters in Chester via an online option. He has successfully applied for his graduate visa and intends to live in Chester for the foreseeable future.

"​As one of the first intake of UDA players to come to Chester it was a scary and risky decision. But after going through the 4 years I can honestly say that the risk was worth it. 

I graduated with my BS(c) Honors in Psychology combined with Sport and Exercise Science and then continued my education studying a Masters in Communications and Behavioral Analysis.

As well as the educational factor being successful, I also saw a huge improvement in my footballing ability. This is due to the exceptional coaching staff that coach at the highest level. We are also exposed to different levels of football to enhance our development.

I want take the time to thank all the UDA staff for making my footballing time in Chester enjoyable (Joel, Macca, Graham, Jared, Craig, Nathan. And Rich) I also want to thank Gaynor for making the transition to Chester and the transition to life after UDA easier cause without her we would be truly lost."

~ Stevie Thirawit

We offer a range of different opportunities for students because we know one-size doesn't fit all, so why should a university experience?

It is well documented that presently, US collegiate soccer with its limited season and oversized rosters means little true development opportunities for many talented players, restricting student’s optimal development.

​Across all our Academies, our goals remains the same, to provide the world's best integration of university education and football experience so students can reach their potential in the classroom and on the field. ​

As well as what you can expect, to help you determine if this is a good fit for you. ​

Located in Gloucestershire, England, the University of Gloucestershire is considered the UK’s most sustainable university (People and Planet League 2019). Across three specialized campuses, Gloucestershire is home to over 10,000 students, over 80 competitive sports, clubs, and societies, with over 4,000 placements and internships completed by students. Set in the idyllic countryside with close proximity to the iconic Cotswolds and Shakespeare Country, Gloucestershire offers the best of a small city with the beauty of England's green and pleasant lands. ​

The University of Chester is home to 20,000 students from 130 different countries, with over 300 courses offered across 30 programs. While studying in the UK you will be able to earn your undergraduate degree in just three years. Most undergraduate degrees include a five-week work placement in your second year anywhere in the world! ​

The UDA-US Academy follows the success and demand of the UDA-UK Academies located in Chester and Gloucestershire, England. The UDA-US Academy is open to students from around the world seeking to further their soccer development through multiple pathways, while studying at NMSU. ​

They don’t worry about me as much as they used to anymore, because they now understand that I will be fine on my own. However, my mom still gets concerned if I don’t reply to her messages or don’t respond as often, so I make sure that I talk to them and tell them about my life as much as I can. A lot of my friends are also international students and I have witnessed varied levels of concerns from parents.

TIP: The best thing for us as students to do would be to understand our guardians, communicate with them, and keep them updated on our lives to let them know how we are doing.

My parents also tell me that keeping busy has helped them not worry so much about us. My mom recently joined a university to get her Master’s degree, and she often tells me that this has been the perfect time for her to pursue education. 

​TIP: We have a family group chat where we keep everybody updated on what is happening here as well as back home, so I think the best way to ease concerns for everyone is to keep in touch with family and keep yourself occupied.

I try to go home once every year, but that wasn’t possible due to the pandemic. I’m fortunate because the longest I have not been home is a year and a half, but I know that some of my international friends have not been home for much longer.
​

It was difficult at first — I missed the comfort of home, my family, the food...everything. Being in a new environment was not easy, especially since I could not fly back home for months. But I started making friends here and kept myself busy. I started working so I was alright after a couple of months. I still miss home and my family, but I also appreciate my life here.

TIP: Find something to keep yourself busy — Whether that’s a new hobby or a campus club, having something to do can be the best way to combat homesickness or when missing a loved one. ​

Traveling to a new location is stressful for everybody, which is why as part of the UDA family, we make sure our students receive assistance while settling into a new place. From helping with travel arrangements, banking, to setting up phone plans, we help make sure your studies go as smoothly as possible. Learn about our staff and how we assist our students here. 

​If you have any questions about the application process, travel plans, or life at your university, please contact us.

Welcome to a new academic year! We are thrilled to be welcoming so many students from around the world to the UDA family. We are excited to see what our students will accomplish this term and we can't wait to share those successes with you!

As students begin to delve into the semester, they might need some advice along the way. Our support staff on both sides of the pond are here to answer all questions from how to set up a phone plan to the best ways to balance academic and social life. "[We] work directly with students to learn and understand their individual needs. "We view students as people who are working to achieve their goals, and we are here to help them in doing so. The personal approach we take helps us get to know each student so that we can best provide them resources and guidance in studying and living in the UK," stated Justin Karrenberg, Head of Student Recruitment and Advising. ​

As our second and third year students are beginning to consider where their degree can take them, that's where we come in! Our Dream Maker Program allows second and third year students to connect with companies that match their skills and aspirations in order to aid them in discovering their passions. 

Our Dream Maker Program allows second and third year students to develop a professional portfolio that showcases their academic interests, passions, and skills. We then share this portfolio with companies that match the student's skills and aspirations in order to aid them in discovering a future career. We want to ensure that our graduating students discover a field they are interested in that then leads to a purposeful life. ​

Do you have any hobbies?
I love to cook when I can as well as find and try all sorts of restaurants and cuisines.

Favorite pro team/player?
Professional team has to be Manchester United and Wayne Rooney. 

Favorite place you've ever visited?
Favorite place I've ever visited would be the Seychelles. 

Dream Job?
Dream Job would either be a lead project manager in any of the top software companies in Europe or back in the US. 

If you could event a holiday, what would you pick?
A mini holiday in the winter to go out and celebrate with friends and family after Christmas and before New Years. 

The situation during the pandemic was less than ideal, and almost all of us went home when COVID broke out last year. UDA was on course to win the Northwest when the season had to be cut short, which was a bummer. But the staff was really helpful in letting us know whether it was a good idea or not for us to go home. 

When we got back, we had a great couple months training but we had to wrap up again around November. The worst lockdown has been the third one, this January to March because we couldn't get to play — I have not seen a lot of my teammates since November. But we have now started training again so it's great to see my teammates."

"I work at UDA as the Head of Player Support. It has many strands by focuses on taking care of the boys and ensuring they have any support that is needed whilst they are in the UK — this can be in respect of personal, emotional, financial, academic and health issues, to name just a few. The student athletes are able to contact me at any time with issues or questions they have.

I also have an on-site presence at training sessions and accompany them to the majority of their games. When I am on the campus, I run one-on-one sessions where players can drop in for a chat. I also send out invitations for meetings with any of the boys who I feel need support. I do my best to keep them on track and address anything of concern if I become aware of any lack of engagement. The parents also have my contact details and they are able to contact me to discuss any issues or concerns. 

My favorite part of the job is being part of such a fantastic team. The staff at UDA show constant professionalism and work together to provide the boys with the best possible training and experience they can whilst in the UK. The UDA boys are such a great group to work with, the boys are always polite, respectful, and a joy to be around. I enjoy watching the boys develop and grow during their experience at UDA and being part of that journey and helping them to navigate through is very rewarding. 

I was lucky enough to be asked to become involved with UDA as I have worked with Joel Roberts for 13 years whilst at the College. Joel asked me initially whether I would help to set up the UDA program in the UK and assist with the safeguarding and welfare of the boys. If I'm being honest, I thought that this was a role that I would do for 12 months and then pass onto someone else. However, I feel in love working on the program, being around the boys and liaising with the families. The team in the UK are also a joy to work with so I have stayed and I hope to do so for the foreseeable future!