Sport Management (Taught)

The Sport Management MSc programme explores the multi-faceted area of sport management, combining specialist sport modules with the chance to gain practical industry experience through multiple sport volunteering opportunities. You will develop the skills to excel in a broad range of roles that make sport organisations run and events happen, including within governing bodies, federations, clubs, sponsors, marketing, the media, government, or heritage organisations.

This course is ideal for individuals with a degree in sport (management, coaching or science), event management, marketing, media, business management or humanities who wish to have a career in the sports industry.

We have excellent industry links and you will be encouraged to volunteer at local, national, and international sporting events. Previous students have volunteered with British Gymnastics, UK Athletics, England Hockey, Archery GB and the Rugby World Cup amongst many others.

Key features

• You can exit the course with a Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate or an Institutional Credit award depending on the credits you have successfully achieved.

• Study a range of sports-related areas to give you knowledge across the industry and develop the expertise that will enable you to work at a local, national and international level.

• Gain the skills and experience to be well-positioned for this competitive sector. You can get hands-on experience and have the opportunity to investigate a real-world problem for a sporting organisation with a business focused project.

• Take part in volunteering opportunities to kickstart your career (see above).

• Benefit from teaching staff links to high-profile sporting organisations including the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association, Leicester City Football Club, Leicester Tigers Rugby Football Club, the British Basketball League, Leicestershire County Cricket Club and the Nottingham Open.

• Benefit from mentorship by sport industry professionals and insight from guest speakers from National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and other commercial and non-profit organisations.

• Learn in small groups and be part of a strong community in which students from across the globe bring their different perspectives, enhancing your international outlook.

• Enjoy opportunities with DMUsport which offers over 30 sports clubs and activities.

Modules

Block 1: International Sport: Events, Governance, and Ethics

This module introduces students to the contemporary landscape in global sport, focusing on mega-events, governance, and ethics. It will use historical and contemporary approaches and will, while teaching students about structures, governance, management, and commercial aspects, encourage critical thinking on political, social, cultural, and economic lines. On-going crises in international and national sport, ranging from doping and match-fixing to alleged corruption in governing bodies, mean that no individual within the sport industry can ignore the issue of ethics. It will consider the creation of national and international sport structures and the boom in major sporting events. The module addresses the historical perspective on how these events have emerged and how they link to the different contexts in which they have flourished before moving into critical contemporary analysis of existing events.

Block 2: Marketing Principles in Sport and Cultural Event Contexts

This module provides students with knowledge and understanding of key marketing principles and how to apply them to sport and cultural events in national and global contexts. Students will begin to explore, understand and debate key marketing concepts and relate them both to global sport and cultural event organisations and future opportunities.

Specifically, the module covers a variety of traditional marketing concepts, such as the marketing environment, segmentation, targeting and positioning, the marketing mix, marketing communications, sponsorship and branding, and consumer and audience behaviour.

Block 3: Sport Heritage and Communication

Sporting heritage is a growing phenomenon and an important part of sport organisations’ communication activities. Increasing numbers of sport organisations and clubs are developing ways of showcasing their history and heritage, through such avenues as halls of fame, museums, stadium tours, and heritage-based merchandise, alongside social media and digital mediums. In addition, the non-sporting heritage industry at local and national levels is increasingly taking note of sport, and is promoting sporting heritage through museum displays, commemorative plaques, and sports-themed tourist activities.

Block 4: Events Leadership

This module provides students with the tools to make a critical investigation of the context in which cultural, sporting and commercial events operate in contemporary Britain and globally, alongside issues of leadership and development support that are required for an evolving sector. It explores the needs of individuals leading events management organisations, and the skills required to motivate, manage and organise staff and other stakeholders to create excellent events.

Blocks 5 and 6: Consultancy Project

Consultancy Project

The Consultancy Project offers students an opportunity to complete a practical, business-focused project relating to their chosen industry. In completing the project, students will apply theoretical knowledge gained on their course from discipline-specific modules and link theory with real life practical issues and decisions. The Consultancy Project allows students, when applicable, to engage with parties external to the University and assists the development of skills relevant to future career enhancement.

https://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/courses/postgraduate-courses/sport-management-msc/sport-management-msc.aspx