The MSc Sports Management has been developed to provide a thorough sports management grounding for those who are excited by the new career paths opening up in the expanding field of sport management and sport business.  The programme is intended for those who have a background in business or management studies, but who wish to follow a professional career in the sports sector. It is also for those who have an academic background in sport, for example in sports science, but who wish to understand sports business and management. Those already employed in the sector but who wish to advance their career through part-time study, are also welcome.  The programme has a strong theoretical base in business and management studies but this is always combined with practical applications to the needs of sports organisations.

The programme offers students the opportunity to:

• Understand the place of sport in the economy and society
• Relate business and management theories to the specific nature of sports activity
• Undertake an extended management workshop
• Undertake an extended sports management consultancy project with an external organisation
• Connect with opportunities offered by the University’s Knowledge Dock and the Petchey Centre for Entrepreneurship
• Connect to sport business opportunities and Royal Docks Business School researchers and initiatives promoting knowledge exchange with business
• Understand how the 2012 London Olympic Games have been planned, organised and managed making full use of the University’s proximity to the Olympic Park, and UEL’s status as a legacy partner.

• A UK Honours Degree (2:2 minimum) in a business or sport-related subject
• Applicants with a degree in another discipline may be admitted after consideration on a case-by-case basis
• Equivalent overseas degree recognised by UEL Applicants without the above may be admitted provided that they have a minimum two years relevant professional work experience. Relevant work experience includes that gained in the sports sector; it also includes professional work experience gained in another sector, but with a demonstrable interest and involvement in, and connection to sporting activity.
• We shall also accept a pass in a recognised Pre-master’s or Master’s Qualifying Programme
• International students for whom English is a second language require an IELTS score of 6.5 (with no component score less than 6.0). Equivalent qualifications are also accepted.

In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.5  (or equivalent) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes.

Students that apply to enter stages of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption.

The programme includes three two-day blocks to ensure the opportunity for the fuller and more intensive development of relevant skills and behaviours. These workshops are an integral part of the learning programme and dates will be communicated to students in advance. One workshop will take place in the induction period, a second in over a weekend in the first semester of study and a third taking place over a weekend in the second semester of study for students in full-time mode.  The first two workshops are designed to develop students’ understanding of and skills in management, organisation, teams and professional self-development. The third workshop is designed to prepare students for the sports management consultancy project

The MSc Sports Management consists of five modules, four 30 credit modules and one 60 credit sports management consultancy module. All of the modules are core; however, students will have the option of exiting the programme on completion of four core taught modules and will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management.

We see the programme as highly participative; with everyone sharing information, ideas, experiences and values, and helping each other to gain the maximum benefit from the programme as a group and develop as individual sports management practitioners.  The teaching and learning activities have been designed to encourage these behaviours. Therefore; all modules will consist of a combination of the following learning approaches: scheduled lectures; seminars and workshops; visits to sports facilities or events and a block workshop focussing on the practical application of key theories. In order to support the development of your practitioner skills you will also be exposed to sports management professionals who will provide guest lectures on the programme.

Each module is assessed using a range of assessment methods. These may include group presentations, individual written essays, role play and case study report evaluation, unseen examinations and independent research reports.  The overall aim of the assessment strategy is to support the ethos of encouraging not just the acquisition of knowledge but also the ability to apply this knowledge in realistic and complex sport business and organisational scenarios. Many assignments will refer to sports organisations with which you are familiar.

Career pathways in the rapidly developing fields of sports management and sport business offer the prospect of rewarding and fulfilling employment in the commercial, public and not-for-profit sectors. At present there is no professional accreditation required to practice as sport manager. However, many areas of sport require management and business professional people, with a knowledge of the sport context and a high level of analytical and communication skills.

Opportunities include those provided by the following:

• Sport facility management
• Sport event management
• Sport marketing and sport sponsorship
• Sport media
• Sport goods and services

During the programme you will have the opportunity to conduct a management consultancy project for a sports organisation. You will act as a sports management consultant researching a particular management or business issue and produce a report that should be of practical assistance to the organisation. The nature of the consultancy work will vary according to circumstances. You may undertake a project for an organisation that you have yourself identified and engaged, or undertake a project for a sports management client who has approached the University. Alternatively, if you already have employment in the sector you may undertake a project for your employer. The project will enable you to apply the knowledge and skills acquired on the programme to real issues and problems. As preparation for the consultancy work, you will produce a paper evaluating research methodologies and a short inception report on the organisation and the project.   You will also produce a reflective log that will ask you to analyse your experience as you undertake the project.

• Contact with sports management professionals and field study visits to sport venues.
• Enhancement of leadership and people management capabilities and competencies through skill workshops and residentials.
• Teaching staff with a complementary blend of academic and sports management practitioner experience to support student’s development as effective sports management practitioners.

This programme will support you if you are seeking to develop as a senior sports management professional or if you are seeking to develop your sports management capabilities. On successful completion of the programme you will have a solid grounding in the economy and finance of sport, sport marketing and sponsorship and in sport policy and strategy for sports organisations. The focus on providing experience in practical management skills and the development of appropriate management behaviours is designed to empower you in accessing professional pathways in sports management.

On joining the programme you will have access to a dedicated programme team who will support you throughout your programme of study. This will start with a comprehensive induction to the programme and the learning resources available to you at UEL. The Programme Leader can be contacted throughout your programme of study if you wish to discuss any academic or non-academic issues.  He or she will seek to advise you on how to resolve issues and access specialist support and provide personnel tutorial and pastoral support. In addition during your sports management consultancy project, you will have a dedicated supervisor to provide guidance and assist you in formulating and developing your chosen brief. The supervisor will be able to provide dedicated academic support services to you. In addition to the sports management related books and journals at UEL, we are at the time of writing, investigating the availability of other resources. These include student membership of the Institute of Sport Parks and Leisure, that are gained through Royal Docks Business School’s membership of the Business in Sport and Leisure organisation, and through the University’s participation in the 2012 legacy strategy.

• Proximity to the 2012 Olympic Park yields opportunities for interaction with sports facility managers, and to understand how the Games are bid for, planned, managed and how the legacy strategy unfolds.
• Exposure to industry practitioners through placements, research projects and guest speakers. 
• Our agreement with Sport Business Group gives us access to the latest industry information.
• At the time of writing we are researching the benefits of students membership of the Institute of Sport, Parks and Leisure, and of an Inspired by 2012 ‘mark’ for the MSc Sports Management.
• We offer an opportunity to undertake the Certificated PRINCE 2 Project Management Foundation Course.