Tottenham Hotspur has become the first Premier League football club to run a degree programme, with students enrolling at its White Hart Lane stadium for lectures.

The club is turning its stadium into a "mini university", offering 25 places each on two foundation degree courses – one in applied sport and community development and the other in sports hospitality and nutrition. Both could be the stepping stone to a full honours degree at Middlesex University.

Grant Cornwell, chief executive of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation which runs the degree programme, said: "We're almost at capacity for the two courses."

Fees have been fixed at £6,000 a year, for which students are eligible for government loans as with mainstream universities.