MSc Sports Management

  • Mode of study: Full time or part time
  • Duration: 1 year full time, 2 years part time
  • Entry requirements for 2013 entry: A 2:1 or First Class honours degree in a Sport, Business or Management subject. Applicants who hold a non-related degree will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For those who do not hold a degree or relevant professional qualification, extensive experience together with evidence of scholarly ability will be required.
  • IELTS score: English Language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 in all individual components, or equivalent.
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Find out more:

Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 5550
Email: sci-pgrad@port.ac.uk
Department: Sport and Exercise Science

Course overview

The sports industry is an exciting, dynamic environment that requires people with ambition, expertise and management skills; people with the desire and ability to lead, plan and deliver. This in turn has created many opportunities for postgraduates with the necessary management skills.

The MSc in Sports Management is designed to enhance the student’s professional career, whether this is for existing employment, or helping to open up new career pathways. This course provides professional preparation for management or leadership positions in a variety of sport, recreation and health promotion areas. It also encourages students to look at the career opportunities not only in a domestic setting, but increasingly in a global context.

The integration of theory and practice within this course will enable you to develop and improve your knowledge specific to the sector through developing appropriate skills in a sport management context.

Course content

The programme is offered in two formats:

  • a full-time (one year) course
  • a part-time (two year) course

The delivery of the course in either format is modular with most of the delivery taking place on one day (full time) or half a day (part time) per week, usually on a Thursday.  Units have 30 credits attached (one credit equals ten hours of learning), with the exception of the final MSc Project (60 credits). The modular approach means that there is good level of flexibility for part-time students.

In the event that you are unable to complete the180 credits for the award of MSc, there are two additional exit awards:

  • Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) which is obtained if you have successfully completed 60 credits
  • Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) which is obtained if you have successfully completed 120 credits

An example of the course structure (this is subject to innovation and progression within the field and may therefore change slightly over the years):

  • The Sports Business Industry (core, 30 credits)
  • Strategic Planning and Management of Sport Events (core, 30 credits)
  • Professional Placement in Sports Management (core, 30 credits)
  • Applied Research Methods (core, 30 credits)
  • Research Project (core, 60 credits)

Career prospects

The MSc in Sports Management is designed to enhance the student’s professional career, whether this is for existing employment, or helping to open up new sport and related career pathways.

Specific careers directly related to this qualification would include becoming a:

  • Sports Development Manager
  • Health and Fitness Manager
  • Partnership Development Manager
  • Programme Manager
  • a tutor and/or a lecturer in sport

Organisations employing sports management practitioners include:

  • National governing bodies
  • Sports agencies
  • Local authority
  • UK Sport
  • National Health Service
  • Primary Care Trust
  • County Sports Partnership

The range of general employability skills developed throughout the programme allows graduates to go on to a variety of careers in other sectors (e.g. business, services).

Facilities and features

The Department of Sport and Exercise Science is a vibrant and dynamic environment in which to study. We strive to provide a high quality and satisfying educational experience within a stimulating and supportive environment.

In the latest National Student Survey (NSS, August 2011), 96 per cent of our students agreed that they were satisfied with the quality of the course. This places the Department in the top three for those offering sports science-based programmes in the UK and number one in England.

The Department has strong links with UK Sport and the Fuchs Foundation, and we are proud of the our three-storey, purpose-built teaching and research facilities that include a range of outstanding state-of-the-art laboratories enabling the department to remain at the forefront of research and teaching in sports and exercise science.

The Department has approximately 25 academic staff, supported by a dedicated team of technicians and administrative staff. Academic staff have a close affiliation with sport and are research active within their chosen specialism.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MSc Sports Management are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: Sport and Exercise Science
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 5550
Email: sci-pgrad@port.ac.uk