MSc Sport Management

Advance your knowledge of the processes that have contributed to the emergence of sport as a global phenomenon and learn to critically assess and act on the implications for the future development and management of sport.

Delivery:
Full time according to Funding Council definitions, Part-Time, Full-time with placement

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Why study MSc Sport Management at BU?

Expand your knowledge about a range of sport management theories, international marketing tactics and analyse sport operations and leadership styles
Choose to complete a 30-week work placement to enhance employability and improve your performance as a manager
Learn from a team of research-active expert academics who have strong ties with industry
Benefit from the flexibility and study this course part-time or full-time
Engage and network with industry guest speakers, who offer specific sport management knowledge, experience and insights
Graduate with the skills and expertise to succeed within roles such as sport development, international sport event management and sport business.

Sports scholarships

If you’re a high-performing athlete and on a regional, national or international sports programme, you can apply for one of our sports scholarships – designed to provide you with the funding to take your sporting abilities to the next level.

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Image description — Aerial shot of Talbot Campus

Next start date:

January 2023, September 2023, January 2024, September 2024

Location:

Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus

Duration:

September: 1 year full-time (16 months with optional study exchange). January: 16 months full-time (18 months with optional study exchange). September & January: 2 years part-time or with optional 30-week work placement

Relevant subjects:

All subjects considered

Entry requirements:

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject or equivalent.

International entry requirements:

If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS 6.0 (Academic) with a minimum of 5.5 in each component. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

Course details

If you want to study part-time, you’ll study alongside full-time students over two years. You'll be expected to study a minimum of three units per year, along with your dissertation towards the end of your second year. The timetable for when units take place varies each year but the typical delivery for one unit is four hours a week, split between two sessions, so you will be required to be on campus at least two days a week. We can work with you to consider the timetable and make an appropriate individual plan in terms of which order to study which units.

Download the programme specification (pdf 355kb)

Core units

Contemporary Issues in Sport Management: This unit will introduce you to the nature, structure, environment and context of sport. It will also develop your critical understanding of contemporary controversies in sport management which will enable you to explore the problematic aspects of understanding and applying management practice to sport.
Sport Business Analytics: In this unit you will apply sport management theories to real-world problems that can be addressed and/or better understood through the collation of various forms of qualitative and quantitative data from a range of digital environments.
Managing Operations, People & Leadership: You will develop an understanding of how different types of sports operations analyse, plan, manage and evaluate operational resources necessary for the delivery of sports opportunities. You will also develop a critical awareness of the complexities of human resource management and leadership theory as applied to sports organisations.
Strategic Sport Management: You will develop the ability to undertake strategic analysis, develop strategic plans and understand the key issues in terms of strategic implementation relevant to public, private and voluntary sector organisations using a broad range of strategic tools, models and theories.
International Sport Marketing: You will develop the ability to undertake marketing analysis, develop strategic marketing plans and understand the key issues in terms of strategic implementation relevant a wide range of international organisations using a broad range of strategic tools, including models and theories.
International Sport Event Management: This unit will encourage you to think critically about global contexts for sport events and how management practices may vary according. In doing so, the unit will focus on the management of sports organisations, the role and importance of stakeholders, collaborators and delivery organisations in the organisation, provision and outcomes of sports events.
Dissertation: You will have the opportunity to demonstrate breadth of knowledge and analytical techniques through the preparation and presentation of a rigorous and analytically sound dissertation concerning a particular sport issue. The dissertation is the conclusion of your learning experience, where you’ll carry out a research project. You’ll use and present your chosen research methodology before application within and through your research design. The final written element of the dissertation will demonstrate your ability to collect and analyse data and present your findings, as well as your understanding of ethical issues associated with sound research.

Placement

You have the option to undertake a 30-week placement at the end of the course, providing an opportunity to apply your acquired knowledge and skills in the workplace. You are required to find your own placement; however, our Careers & Employability Service and your faculty placements office are on hand to support you.

The placement is intended to foster personal and professional development, and to help you to make a connection between academic learning and the working world.

Find out more

Optional study abroad

Studying abroad is an incredible opportunity to experience a new country and culture while continuing your degree. If you choose the study abroad option, you will complete a semester (around 3 months) overseas at one of our partner institutions.

If you start your course in September, you will complete semester one and two at BU then finish for the summer break. You will start the study abroad option in September of your second year, at the same time as completing your dissertation and complete the course in January of the second year.

If you start your course in January, you will complete semester one, break for summer and then complete semester two at BU. You will start the study abroad option in January of your second year, at the same time as completing your dissertation and complete the course in July of the second year.

You can choose to study abroad or take the optional work placement but not both.

Find out more about studying abroad.

Programme specification

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the university's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Your application

This course will be suited to applicants who:

Enjoy working with other people from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds
Are strong team players
Have a passion for sport management.

What we’re looking for

We are looking for applicants who have either been working within the sport industry and who want to further their education or who may want to get into teaching. We are also looking for individuals who work in ‘mainstream’ industries, for example marketing or finance who would like to move into the sports industry and understand that an MSc in Sport Management will give them the necessary background to do that.

We are committed and enthusiastic about the sports business world and are renown for our excellent teaching, research and industry engagement. We would like you to buy into our ethos of working hard to constantly try to make a real difference. Therefore, we invite strong applications from all around the world.

Selection methods

How and when to apply

There is no application deadline for this course. However, if you will need a visa to come to the UK to study, think carefully about the length of time it will take for your visa application to be processed and make sure your visa will be ready in time for the beginning of your course.

December and January is one of our busiest application periods and therefore it may take us a little longer to process incoming applications. For courses with a January start date, we recommend submitting your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Click the green ‘Apply now’ button to submit your application free of charge online through myHub, our application portal. You will create your own myHub account so that you can track the progress of your application. Don’t forget to save your application as you go; you can return to it at as many times as you want before you submit it. For more information visit our How to apply section.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

The normal requirements for embarking upon a postgraduate taught degree are:

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject or equivalent.

If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow - some based on experience. Contact the Future Students Enquiry Team for more information.

International entry requirements

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry:

India: Bachelor’s degree (4 years) from a recognised HE institution with a minimum overall result of 55%
Nigeria: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution with a minimum classification of 2:2
Thailand: Thai Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution with a minimum GPA of 2.5/4.0
Turkey: Bachelor’s degree (Lisans Diplomasi - four years) with a minimum overall GPA of 2.3/4.0
Vietnam: Bachelor's degree/Bang tot nghiep dai hoc with an average score of 6.5/10, or a Master’s degree/Thac si.

All applications will be subject to a minimum grade and your degree may need to be in a relevant subject area.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

Bournemouth University International College offers a number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes to prepare international students for postgraduate study at BU. Admission to the degree is guaranteed on successful completion of your course to the required level.

Placements

An exciting and valuable part of your studies with us is the opportunity to gain valuable experience through full-time industrial placements, for a minimum of 30 weeks. You will have the option to start your placement when the taught units of the course are finished, and after you complete your dissertation.

The placement should be a paid job but voluntary work can be just as enjoyable.

Find out more about placements for postgraduate students

Example placement roles

What support is available?

We provide a lot of support for you to help you find work, including a block of seminars, covering topics such as writing a CV and a covering letter, completing an application form, performing well in interviews, and we also provide language support to assist you with the written elements of your applications. However, it is ultimately your responsibility to find work.

The university does not guarantee that you will find a place. As you all probably know, it is hard work finding a job, and for this reason, many students change their mind once they are here, and choose a taught unit instead of doing the placement.

During your time on placement you will be supported by a unit tutor and a placement development advisor who will visit you on placement and keep in touch by phone and email.

International students

If you choose to do a placement as part of your course

If you have previously studied in the UK, we will consider any study limit that may apply. We will issue your CAS according to the length of time you are entitled to under UKVI regulations (if you do not have enough time left for a work placement year, we will issue your CAS to cover your course dates only).
If you decide after you have enrolled on your course that you do not want to do a placement, this will be reported to the UKVI when you have successfully completed your course.

If you choose not to do a placement as part of your course

We will note this on your CAS and your visa will only be granted long enough to cover your taught course, excluding placement.
If you change your mind while you are here and decide you want to do a placement, you will need to leave the UK to make a new Tier 4 visa application for the additional year of study. You would need to pay for your return travel back to your home country, as well as the cost of a new Tier 4 student visa application.

Find out more about placements by reading our student blog.

Careers

This course is ideal for those wanting to pursue a career working for national sporting governing bodies, sports consultancy enterprises, schools and specialist sports colleges, community groups and charitable sporting organisations.

Typical starting job roles

As a Sports Management graduate, you will be prepared to undertake a variety of roles in sport, teaching, management, marketing and events, including positions in areas such as:

Sport development
Sport facility management
Sports marketing.

As you progress through the course, selecting an option unit and setting up your placement – should you choose to complete one – will help you establish the exact career path you want to follow, and the contexts in which you want to put your studies to use.

Further study

Costs and fees

You can find full information about the deposits required and how to pay your fees in our postgraduate fees and funding section, including details of the Postgraduate Loan (subject to fee status).

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per annum. Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course.

Find out more about living expenses for postgraduate students

No hidden extras

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

Materials for any mandatory field-based teaching activity.
Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement
A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features.
IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
Disability and additional learning support
The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding BU financial support funds.
Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website.
Travel costs, outdoor wear and footwear for optional field trips.
Travel costs to and from the university campus. An annual bus pass is included in your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation.
Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of text books and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses
Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas). Information about funding your placement year can be found on our website.
SportsBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

Repeat units

Deposits

International (not Rep. of Ireland) students need to pay a non-refundable £3,000 deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. You will need to pay your deposit by the date stated in your offer letter. The remainder of your fee will be payable on registration/enrolment/ There are two exceptions to the non-refundable rule on the deposit.

You fail to meet the academic or English requirements of your offer
You are refused a visa to enter the UK, provided the reason for the refusal is not a fraudulent application.

Financial help available from BU

Our staff

On this course you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. Please note that teaching staff can change.

Dr Andy Adams - Programme Leader

Andrew’s teaching and research interests are primarily focused around political issues concerning the promotion and production and assessment of sport opportunities in a variety of contexts. Recent research includes examinations of ownership of sport, human rights in and through sport, and exploring issues of power and control in producing and assessing evaluation for sport. Research underway includes the employment of signalling theory in interpreting the value of some broader and common leisure forms, and applying critical management frameworks to sport programme evaluation. Andrew gained his PhD from Loughborough University and is the Editor in Chief of Managing Sport and Leisure.

View Dr Andy Adams' staff profile

Dr Bruce Braham - Senior Lecturer

Having started in commercial business, Bruce has spent most of his life working either in or in association with the public sector. His core business interest has been all aspects of the hospitality, tourism and motor sport industries.

Bruce's liking for technology led to his hobby of motor sport in which he has been involved since the late 1960s. This fed into his research interests where for his PhD study he has been examining the difference in sponsorship approaches between F1 and MotoGP. Bruce is constantly updating his motor sport knowledge as a Board member of both the British Automobile Racing Club and the Thruxton Motor Racing Circuit.

View Dr Bruce Braham's staff profile

Gary Evans - Senior Lecturer

Gary is a former industry senior manager as a business development manager, contracts manager and facilities manager as a chair, director and trustee of UK sports organisations, with 20-years’ experience serving on a variety of industry boards, forums and panels, such as the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and Sport England. In 2007, CIMSPA awarded Gary Fellowship for outstanding public service in the field of sport and recreation management.

His research interest is in how organisations translate their strategy to operations, to achieve the organisation’s objectives. The current translation of interest is the policy and strategy for sport and physical activity, especially when the intention is a physical activity, health and wellbeing intervention to change people’s behaviour.

View Gary Evans' staff profile

Dr Ian Jones - Associate Professor

Ian's areas of interest are sporting identities, sport fan behaviour, the phenomenology of well-being, and research methods for sport. He is author of Research Methods for Sport Studies which has been translated into several languages, and Qualitative Research in Sport and Physical Activity.

He is a member of the editorial advisory boards for Leisure Studies, The Journal of Sport & Tourism, the Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, and the International Journal of Festival and Event Management, and has acted as reviewer for a number of journals including The Journal of Sport Management, Leisure Studies, Leisure Sciences, The International Journal of Sport Management, the International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Sociology of Sport, and The European Journal of Sport Science.

View Dr Ian Jones' staff profile

Dr Daniel Lock - Principal Academic

Daniel’s research has featured in a variety of sport and marketing-based journals including, for example, the Journal of Consumer Behaviour, Journal of Sport Management, European Sport Management Quarterly, Leisure Sciences, and Sport Management Review. He is an Associate Editor of Sport Management Review and also sits on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Sport Management, European Sport Management Quarterly, and Sport and Entertainment Review.

Daniel's primary research interests focus on social perception and identity dynamics as they apply to sport consumption and participation. Specifically, his research addresses.

the influence of social identity processes on consumer and participant behaviour. In particularly, the complex array of group memberships that shape fan behaviour and attitudes.
social perceptions of organisational legitimacy with a specific emphasis on scrutiny of practices that inhibit or deter audiences from consuming or participating in sport.

He has previously completed research projects with the Australian Sports Commission, New South Wales Department of Sport and Recreation, Australian Football League, Football Federation Australia, and National Rugby League.

View Dr Daniel Lock's staff profile

Dr Richard Shipway - Senior Principal Academic

Richard's research interests focus on sport tourism, Olympic studies, the impacts and legacies of international sport events, crisis and disaster management at sports events, volunteering at sports mega events, and sport ethnography. His work has explored a series of Olympic related research themes ranging from resident perception studies to Olympic tourism. Richard's other research interests are linked to the experiences of endurance athletes, most notably distance runners and cycling tourists. Richard has previously received major research grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to develop research linked to sport tourism and sports events.

Richard is the Regional Editor (Europe) for the International Journal of Event and Festival Management (IJEFM), and is the Reviews and Commentaries Editor for the Journal of Sport and Tourism. Richard is currently a visiting scholar at the University of Queensland, and since 2010 he has served on the ESRC's Peer Review College (PRC), refereeing grant proposals within social sciences.

View Dr Richard Shipway's staff profile

Dr Carly Stewart - Deputy Head of Department

Carly's teaching and research interests are primarily focused around narrative identity, the sociology of storytelling and body-self disruptions in a variety of contexts. Recent research includes advocating for sport autobiographies as an analytical resource in sport, exercise and health, and exploring the trouble that Lance Armstrong's public story has caused in the lives of individuals heavily invested in him.

Research underway includes gender-based violence in gymnasts as part of an international research group and a British Academy funded project to explore a local transgender community group's experiences of swimming. Carly joined Bournemouth University in 2016 and is the Head of Education in the Department of Sport and Physical Activity. She worked at Cardiff Metropolitan University 2006-2016, having gained her PhD from the University of Exeter.

View Dr Carly Stewart's staff profile

Course changes

Changes for 2021

Date	Changes to this course
17/05/2021	Where the change was made: Course details Change: Programme restructure, completion of dissertation before optional placement year.

Changes in 2019

Date	Changes to this course
16/09/2019	Where the change was made: Course details Changes: Following a course review, the course content has been updated to reflect changing industry needs and the global nature of sport management. The option units have been removed.

Changes in 2018

Date	Changes to this course
05/06/2018	Where the change was made: Course details Changes: Addition of Crisis & Disaster Management option unit
05/06/2018	Where the change was made: Course details Change: Amendment of Food & Drink option unit from 'Food & Drink' to ' Global Food & Drink' Previous text: Food & Drink: Food and drink gives us sustenance, meets our nutritional needs, and forms the basis for many of life’s experiences. It's also central to the hospitality, tourism, retail and events sectors. As such, understanding our relationship with food socially, economically, politically, environmentally and technologically is valuable for strategic and operational areas of expertise.

Date

Changes to this course

05/06/2018

Where the change was made: Course details
Changes: Addition of Crisis & Disaster Management option unit

05/06/2018

Where the change was made: Course details
Change: Amendment of Food & Drink option unit from 'Food & Drink' to ' Global Food & Drink'
Previous text: Food & Drink: Food and drink gives us sustenance, meets our nutritional needs, and forms the basis for many of life’s experiences. It's also central to the hospitality, tourism, retail and events sectors. As such, understanding our relationship with food socially, economically, politically, environmentally and technologically is valuable for strategic and operational areas of expertise.

Changes in 2017

Date	Changes to this course
15/11/2017	Where the change was made: Fees Changes: After an annual review of the placement year tuition fee, a price increase in line with current inflation, equating to 3% has been introduced for September 2018 entrants. Previous text: £790

Changes in 2016

Date	Changes to this course
02/03/2016	Where the change was made: Course details Changes: Elective unit change. Removal of the unit Managing Organisations and addition of the unit Research Methods Previous text: Managing Organisations: Develop competence in organisational management and behaviour for a management career in the leisure sector. You'll investigate key roles and how these may be affected by operational environments and organisational structures and cultures, particularly in international and multinational organisations.

Date

Changes to this course

02/03/2016

Where the change was made: Course details
Changes: Elective unit change. Removal of the unit Managing Organisations and addition of the unit Research Methods
Previous text: Managing Organisations: Develop competence in organisational management and behaviour for a management career in the leisure sector. You'll investigate key roles and how these may be affected by operational environments and organisational structures and cultures, particularly in international and multinational organisations.

What our students say

James Lee

Your “Professional and Personal Development Framework” will support your academic performance and individual development and help to plan how to move towards that ultimate goal.

Hear from our staff

Professor Dimitrios Buhalis

You’ll learn from people with first-hand knowledge, well respected in industry. We use our experience and insights to give in-depth understanding of the subject.

What our graduates think

Natalie Brett

After graduating from BU I returned to Canada and was chosen to be a Capacity Support Officer with Commonwealth Games Canada, first in the Falkland Islands then in Botswana assisting in the preparation for the London Olympics.

Statistics shown throughout this page are taken from Unistats and BU institutional data unless otherwise stated.

MSc Sport Management

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Why study MSc Sport Management at BU?

Sports scholarships

Discover more about the BU Business School and explore our campus

Key information

Next start date:

Location:

Duration:

Relevant subjects:

Entry requirements:

International entry requirements:

Scholarships

Related courses

Student insight

Read why Nathan stayed at BU to study his Master's

Find out how Yisi Lu’s MSc in Sport Management led to an Adidas placement in Shanghai

See why Ollie chose to study MSc Sport Management

Our department

REF 2021: Shaping para-sport policy

Course details

Core units

Placement

Optional study abroad

Programme specification

Your application

What we’re looking for

Selection methods

How and when to apply

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

International entry requirements

Placements

Example placement roles

What support is available?

International students

Careers

Typical starting job roles

Further study

Costs and fees

No hidden extras

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Repeat units

Deposits

Financial help available from BU

Our staff

Dr Andy Adams - Programme Leader

Dr Bruce Braham - Senior Lecturer

Gary Evans - Senior Lecturer

Dr Ian Jones - Associate Professor

Dr Daniel Lock - Principal Academic

Dr Richard Shipway - Senior Principal Academic

Dr Carly Stewart - Deputy Head of Department

Course changes

Changes for 2021

Changes in 2019

Changes in 2018

Changes in 2017

Changes in 2016

What our students say

James Lee

Hear from our staff

Professor Dimitrios Buhalis

What our graduates think

Natalie Brett