MSc in Sport Business, Management and Policy

From clothing and memorabilia to sponsorship deals and media rights, the sports industry is a booming, multibillion-pound industry. It continues to grow rapidly across the world and has developed into a complex environment, made up of players, sports agencies, broadcasters and more.

As the sector expands, new commercial opportunities are opening up for those with the drive, passion and knowledge to succeed within it. Our sports management degree will help you to build your knowledge and experience within the field so that you can take your career to the next level.

As one of the few management programmes taught by a UK institution which focuses solely on sports, the course covers a broad range of topics – from policy and entrepreneurship to sports marketing and data analytics. Each module is designed and taught by leading academics with connections to organisations such as Sport England and FIFA.

• Our master’s in sports management gives you the opportunity to study a management course that solely focuses on sport, instead of merely touching on it.
• Programme content is grounded in the real world of sport, along with its current practices and themes, to ensure students develop the expertise that leading sports organisations require.
• Benefit from the experience of top sports professionals from Sport England, the Football Foundation and more, who not only help our academics design the course content, but also regularly deliver guest lectures.
• As a 100% online course, this degree helps you balance your learning with existing work and life-commitments thanks to its flexible study route.
• Enjoy networking opportunities with students, alumni and other like-minded professionals, both nationally and internationally.
• Boost your knowledge of current global and local topics with live online seminars, recorded to watch at a later date. Content is informed by real-time data about students’ understanding of the topic.
• Collaborate with peers and experience virtual working by teaming up in small groups on weekly tasks.

Our Global Online MSc Sport Business, Management and Policy programme is designed to fit into your life, whether you’ve already got a full-time job or family commitments. The course can be completed within two years, with a recommended study week of up to 15 hours.

There are three intakes annually for this course, with programmes starting in January, May and September.

Typical units of study may include*:

• Critical Perspectives in Entrepreneurship (15 credits)
• Sport Policy and Politics (15 credits)
• Sport Events Management (15 credits)
• Business Analytics (15 credits)
• Sport Marketing (15 credits)
• Sport Business Management (15 credits)
• International Strategic Management (15 credits)
• Sport Law (15 credits)
• Research Methods for Sport (15 credits)
• Critical Literature Review (15 credits)

Research Project (30 credits)

The credits are earned with a research project, giving you the opportunity to demonstrate all you have learned during the course. You may also have the chance to conduct a piece of real-word research in collaboration with a professional sports organisation.

^{*Please note, these modules and their timings may be subject to change.}

All programme units are designed and taught by academics who have a wealth of experience in the sports business and management industry.

Your programme leads are:

Professor Jonathan Grix

Jonathan is a global leader in the field of Sports Policy and Politics and, as Professor in Sports Policy, he leads the Social Science study of Sport at Man Met. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles in the areas of Sports Governance, Sport Politics and Policy, and his latest research monographs include: ‘Sport under Communism. Behind the East German “Miracle”’ (co-authored with Mike Dennis, Palgrave, 2012) and ‘Sport Politics: An Introduction (Palgrave, 2016)’.

Jonathan has also written a popular book on the foundations of research, which has been used by thousands of students to undertake their projects (3rd edition, 2018) and he is the Chair of the Political Studies Association’s Specialist Group, Sport Politics, and the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics.

Dr Nicolas Scelles

Dr Scelles achieved his PhD in Sports Economics from the Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Caen, France in 2009. His research focuses on the economics of professional football, with his expertise more specifically looking at competitive balance and intensity.

He has also achieved a Master of Research in Sports Economics (2006); Master of Science in Sport Management (2005) and a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a speciality in Business Management (2004).

He has published extensively in international academic journals and is regularly invited as a speaker at international conferences.

To be eligible for this course, you will need to have:

• A good UK honours degree (minimum 2:2) or an international equivalent in a related subject

OR

• Proven significant professional experience (3 years or more) and/or qualifications in a relevant field.

English language requirements: 

Applicants whose first language is not English (and whose first degree was not taught in English) are required to produce evidence of English language proficiency. We provide a FREE Pearson English test to all applicants if required.

Read more about our English requirements.

If you’re applying with non-UK qualifications, you can find further information for international students on our international website.

Unit fee: £1,083*

Programme fee: £13,000

We offer a subsidised fee to students from certain countries:  

Unit fee: £916*

Programme fee: £11,000

Click here to see the full list of eligible countries.

*Fee based on 15 credits per unit  

For more information on our payment structures and financing your degree, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.