Start dates:
September: UCFB Wembley
Course length:ÌýOne year (full-time) and two year (part-time) options available
Degree overview
UCFB's MSc International Sport ManagementÌýdegree provides an unparalleled educational and experiential opportunity for aspiring sports leaders.ÌýThis pioneering course has been developed as a transformational journey suited for graduates of all disciplines, as well as for current professionals working within various sectors of the sport industry, for example in management, marketing or operations.
This degree is available at UCFB Wembley, London, which the iconic Wembley Stadium at the heart of its campus. What could be more motivating for a future career in the sports industry than walking into the most famous stadium in the world?ÌýOur UCFB Wembley campus enjoys excellent facilities with lecture theatres, seminar rooms, quiet study areas, library and media suites.
Sharing the stage with the world’s most elite institutions, thisÌýdegree ranked 23rd in the world in the prestigious SportBusiness Postgraduate Rankings.ÌýIt also ranked 1st in Average Salary.
Did you know – 98% of our postgraduate graduates are either employed or in full-time study and 69% are working or studying in sport!ÌýAs a postgraduate student studying with us, you can build on your employability opportunities by expanding your knowledge and network!
The best thing about working in sport is being able to work in an industry that you’re not only passionate about because you enjoy it, but making a difference and seeing how your work applies to that and evolves with it is really rewarding
Your Course Leader
Modules
The main educational aims of the course are to:
- To unite, inspire and equip the current and future leaders of the global sports industry, with the skills knowledge and network to take the world of sport to continually new heights.
- Enable students to focus on the skills needed to work effectively as a manager in the international sports industry and enable them to become active, autonomous learners.
- Equip students with a range of research skills necessary to carry out effective research in international sports management and encourage independent learning.
- Encourage students to develop a critical awareness of the financial implications of managerial decisions.
- Equip students with the tools to develop an effective coordinated international marketing strategy.
- Identify the current business environment and the strategic considerations facing sports managers when developing a strategic plan in the international sports industry.
- Develop the skills necessary to successfully manage a sporting venue and sporting events.
- Produce a research project that can be in conjunction with a key stakeholder in the sport industry which offers insight into a key management issue within an international sports context.
- Engage with and critically evaluate current themes in international sports management.
- Create an environment in which students are able to relate theory to practice, solve problems, apply new and existing skills and show a critical awareness of the emerging issues facing the international sports industry.
Making a sports arena or stadium sustainable in the long term, requires insight into the different aspects of sustainable development policies and how these affect the sports industries.
This module is focused on the strategic management of stadiums and aims to develop your understanding of sustainable policies and how they influence the decision-making process.
The module will introduce you to a wide range of sustainable development policies and event management principles in the context of the global sports industry. At the end of this module, you will have a greater understanding of sports operation management, event management and sustainable strategies.
The world economy is becoming less predictable and less stable. Events over the last decade will define the events of the coming decade. This module seeks to arm you with the tools, the critical thinking and the practical skills you need to compete in the global economy of the third decade of the Twenty-First Century. Ultimately, strategy and strategic management are about achieving the long-term aims and objectives of the organisation, whilst taking in to account changes in both the macro and micro environment alongside shifts in emerging economies e.g. BRICS and their potential impact in the sports market place. Whilst there are many theorists writing in this area, there are a limited few, with practical strategic senior management experience, especially in the area of global sport. The purpose of this module is to ready you for the challenges of management and senior management, not just to be able to make, but to be able to understand why decisions are made. More importantly, with an over-arching and long embedded theme of illuminating strategy through strategic decision analysis, the successful student will learn how to make the best decisions based on solid evidence.
This is a practical focused module, offering you skills and knowledge from the real world of business with theoretical underpinning. You will learn how to produce effective decision analysis tools, how to justify choices and decisions whilst considering, and debating, the inadequacies of existing theories. You will
discover best practice from varied and disparate industries and will self-discover how these exemplars can be implemented in football and sport. Thus the ultimate aim of this module is to produce the highly effective and efficient senior management necessary to take football and sport into the third decade of the 21st century with all its challenges.
Globalisation is profoundly impacting the sports industry as a direct result of increased exposure through broadcasting and social media. Many sports brands are increasingly targeting overseas markets to reach new fans and customers, develop new revenue streams and gain competitive advantage. However,
navigating such opportunities and threats posed by new international markets calls for an acute understanding of national culture and the effective use of both traditional and digital marketing techniques. This course explores the key principles and practices involved with identifying new markets and creating
a winning marketing strategy for successful new market entry. It also addresses how digital and social media communications strategies have revolutionised the connection and conversation between sports brands and consumers.
Leadership is a fundamental element of both sport and business operating in a dynamic global arena. On this module you will review and conceptualise different approaches to leadership from both an applied and theoretical perspective to allow you to analyse critical incidents in order to judge organisational leadership performance. You will be able to apply leadership theory to examples from industry professionals who have experience of leading teams in a sporting setting. Cross-cultural leadership underpins many of the behaviours and skills discussed within the leadership framework, alongside diversity and inclusion, strategic leadership, communication and reflection. The module allows you to take responsibility for your own leadership development and effectiveness through the development of an e-portfolio and skills audit, alongside exposure to sports leaders from the global network of partners contributing to the live case studies.
This module will advance your research and critical thinking skills, and support you in applying these to the sport industry and its associated workplace environments. This module aims to prepare you for research, reflective, and evidence-based development, important for your future career and higher study where applicable. The undertaking of an applied project will give you the opportunity to develop your problem-solving skills regarding topical issues in your area of interest, whilst also allowing you to evidence your academic ability and knowledge. By completing this project and consulting with your tutor, you will establish expertise in an applied area of interest, aiming to have real impact on the relevant industry.
This module will give you a live insight into sport business issues. You will gain a thorough practice-based understanding of project design, conduct and action. As a result, you will be able to design and manage an applied project, and show potential to contributeÌýto academic knowledge and industry practice – making
you highly desirable for potential employers.
As a sport business professional, you will be immersed in an industry that is full of potential for growth and innovation. Perhaps you will feel there is a better way of conducting business, perhaps you feel there should be a different way to approaching a specific activity; or perhaps you just prefer to have your own business, in which case this module is for you.
From business model development to presentation skills, this module will provide you with essential skills to succeed as an entrepreneur in the sport industry. Not only that it will also cover the fundamental aspects and areas you should consider in order to best approach the world and the life of an entrepreneur in the sport industry.
UCFB is an embedded college of the University of East London. All UCFB graduates will receive a degree from the University of East London.
Requirements overview
- Undergraduate degree - minimum 2:2 (ideally a 2:1) or international equivalent
- Applicants with a 2:2 should have some experience of studying or working in business or sports related areas.
- English language qualifications: Applicants from non-majority English speaking countries will be asked for an English qualification which tests Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing and will be asked to achieve an overall IELTS score of 6.5 (minimum of 6.0 in each section) or recognised equivalent.
Offers to applicants currently studying an undergraduate degree will be conditional on them going on to achieve the entry requirements on completion of their degree.
Applications that do not meet the standard entry requirements but demonstrate relevant education and/or work and/or life experience in the course subject area are welcomed.
Eligibility will be assessed on the basis of the information provided in the application – in particular the personal statement.
For more information, please contact admissions@ucfb.com.
We strongly encourage you to well before our 2 SeptemberÌý2024 priority application deadline to allow sufficient time for assessment of application, ensure availability on the course and enrolment in time for the beginning of your studies. Applications received after this date will only be considered on a case by case basis.
To apply for this degree, please click here and follow the instructions to complete your application via our Learner Portal.
- Application form
- Evidence of highest academic and/or professional qualifications
- Evidence of relevant experience, where required
- 500 word personal statement
Applications made through the flexible entry route may require a course leader review. The course leader will determine whether a professional reference or task is required.
Scholarships
UCFB is proud to offer an extensive suite of scholarships to support outstanding students as they embark on their postgraduate study. From scholarships to aid our elite athletes, to attracting aspiring sports leaders, and scholarships which support inclusivity and diversity within the sporting industry, our scholarships are there to support students who want to make a meaningful difference to the future of the sporting world.
Career prospects
The specificity of sport, with its high media coverage and numerous stakeholders, requires managers to have uniquely honed business skills and an in-depth knowledge of the principles of sport management. The course has been developed for those with aspirations towards senior management positions within the core functional departments of the sport management industry, spanning business development, marketing, finance, operations and media. The international elements of this degree provide students with the skills and experience to progress in a multi-billion-pound global industry.Ìý
Graduates of the MSc International Sport Management degree have gone on to work in roles for organisations such as:
- Campaign Executive - DAZN
- Sports Marketing - Nike
- Stock and Sales Coordinator - Arsenal FC
- French Content Editor - 90min Media
- Marketing Assistant - West Ham United FC
- Head of Academy Recruitment - Morecambe FC
- Park Facility Project Officer - Lawn Tennis Association
- Catering System Manager - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Regional football associations around the country help to make the game tick along at grassroots level by running leagues, bringing together volunteers and initiating youth projects. Working at the Somerset FA is Conor, aÌýMSc International Sport ManagementÌý²µ°ù²¹»å³Ü²¹³Ù±ð.
Read more¹ó´Ç°ùÌýMSc International Sport ManagementÌýstudent Aman Jain, his internship at sports management group Vitae Sports gave him the opportunity to increase the company’s social media presence alongside interviewing a number of international cricketers…
Read moreTuition fees for 2024 entry
These discounts are open to any GIS, UCFB, Buckinghamshire New University, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and University of East London graduate who has received and accepted an offer to study at postgraduate level with GIS.
- 15% fee tuition discount on allÌýPostgraduate courses
Ìý
We're pleased to offer all UCFB and GIS businessÌýpartnersÌý15% fee tuition discount on all Undergraduate, PostgraduateÌýcourses.
Visit our dedicated page about fees and student finance.
For part-time courses the tuition fee will be split accordingly per year i.e 75 credits in year 1 and 105 credits in year 2 (for a two year programme) as per below table.
Ìý |
Total fee | 75Ìý credits | 105Ìý credits |
Home students | £11,950.00 | £4,979.50 | £6,970.50 |
International students | £17,950.00 | £7,479.50 | £10,470.50 |
*International students require a visa to study on campus
In some instances, optional activities provided by UCFB may carry an additional cost for participants (e.g. qualifications with external certification such as FA Coaching Badges). Any additional costs will be provided to students in advance of any such sessions running.
The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) offers this degree with online learning options, click the link to learn for more information about studying with GIS.