MSc
Sports Management
Take a practice placement and become a trainee sports manager
Course Overview
Why take this course?
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.
The integration of theory and practice within this course will enable you to improve your knowledge specific to the sector while developing appropriate skills in a sport management context.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Gain a thorough grounding in how to manage people alongside the skills to be a confident leader
- Use specialist facilities and benefit from our strong links with UK Sport and the Fuchs Foundation
- Complete a professional practice placement as a trainee sports manager
What opportunities might it lead to?
With an estimated worth in excess of £110 billion, the global sports industry is growing rapidly. You can expect to find a career in many specific areas such as teaching, sports development, and the health and fitness sectors.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- national governing bodies
- sports agencies
- local authority
- UK sport
- NHS
- primary care trust
- county sports partnership
The units on offer were perfect for what I needed to be able to progress in this area and I am seeing the benefit already.
Lucy May, MSc Sports Management student 2013
Key Facts
- Duration
- 1 year full time, 2 years part time
- 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.
English Language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 in all individual components, or equivalent.- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £5,000, part-time students: £2,500 p/a* (2 years)
International full-time students: £10,500, part-time students: £5,250 p/a* (2 years)
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- sci.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 5550 - Department
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science
Structure & Teaching
You can choose to take this course in either full-time or part-time mode, with a mixture of core and compulsory units providing good 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
You will study several key topics; however these are subject to innovation and may therefore change slightly over the years.
Here are the units you will study:
- The Sports Business Industry (core)
- Strategic Planning and Management of Sport Events (core)
- Professional Placement in Sports Management (core)
- Applied Research Methods (core)
- Research Project (core)
Teaching and Assessment
Teaching and learning takes place through a variety of formats including formal lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials and industry-based experiences.
How are you assessed?
The varying teaching formats are reflected in the assignments. Here’s how we assess you:
- essays
- industry reports
- reflective accounts
- professional presentations
- projects and portfolios
Tutor's view
Mike Rayner
Sport and Exercise Science
The MSc in Sports Management provides professional preparation for management or leadership positions in a variety of sport, recreation and health promotion areas. The course is taught jointly by the Department of Sport and Exercise Science and the Business School, which provides a wealth of expertise from a range of different industry sectors.
Facilities & Features
Laboratories
You will learn in a several different environments
Learning Environments
We offer many facilities including sports halls and a 100 station gym
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books
Laboratories
We are one of the leading departments offering sports science-based programmes in the UK according to the National Student Survey (NSS), the Times Good University Guide, the Independent University Guide, and the Guardian University Guide league tables. You will learn in a several different environments including our biomechanics, physiology, psychology and kinanthropometry labs, home to some of the country’s finest facilities, including:
- 3 climatic chambers for manipulating temperature, humidity and altitude
- an immersion pool
- a swimming flume
- an automated tracking system
- visual 3D software
Learning Environments
You will also benefit from plenty of indoor space for practical activities. Along with our many specialist labs, dedicated seminar spaces and interview rooms, the Department is located next to the University’s Nuffield Sports Centre and very near to the University’s St Paul’s Sports Centre. These two centres offer many facilities including sports halls, a 100-station gym, squash courts and fitness studios, all located at the heart of the University.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
Graduating from this course provides professional preparation for management or leadership positions in a variety of sport, recreation and health promotion areas.
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- sports development manager
- health and fitness manager
- partnership development manager
- programme manager
- lecturer in sport
Career planning
One of the benefits of studying at Portsmouth is the support that we provide to our Master's and Research Degrees students in career planning. Our careers and recruitment service – Purple Door – can assist you in career research and finding employment opportunities. Help is also available if you wish to find a part-time job while studying your degree. We offer our postgraduate students and alumni one-to-one appointments with a careers adviser, or an online service for those not able to travel back to the University. Our alumni can call on our career services for five years after graduation.
In addition, regular employability events offer you the chance to meet employers, find out about different career sectors and improve your applications or CV. The Graduate Summer Programme provides a range of guidance and employability seminars and workshops.