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Sports Management with Foundation Year

Course details
  • BA (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time including foundation year
  • September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
UCFB Manchester
Awarded by:
University of East London

Course summary

Degree Overview
A career in sports management is both challenging and exciting. Students will learn many operational, financial, marketing, and legal skills required for many management roles at the same time as developing specific and detailed knowledge of complex and contemporary developments in national and global sport.
 
As a student, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the business and operational aspects of the sports industry, from marketing and finance to event management and media relations.  This degree equips you with the skills and knowledge to succeed in various roles, whether you dream of managing a sports team, working in sports marketing, or launching your own venture in this dynamic field. Take the first step towards your future in sports management at UCFB!

Degree Content
This degree course explores the world of sports business, including finance, marketing and law, as well as best practice in people management and the planning of major sporting events, such as Olympic Games and World Cups. BA (Hons) Sports Management will explore the vast global sports industry and use modern and historical examples of good and bad practice from the industry to add context and further understanding to your studies.
 
Your first year will provide a strong foundation in sports business practice, with particular attention to understanding the sports industry, key sports marketing principles and fan and consumer behaviour. From here the course will advance your knowledge and skills development by focusing on sports-specific organisation management, legal issues in sports governance, entrepreneurship, before the final year teaches you how to engage with contemporary issues in sports management and build specific strategic management competencies.
 
Studying at UCFB comes with a number of valued benefits to enhance your career and employment opportunities through our Employability and Career Planning provision.

Teaching Locations
UCFB Wembley

  • Wembley Stadium

  • Arch View House, First Way

UCFB Manchester Campus

  • Exchange Quay

  • Quay Plaza

In addition to our teaching locations, we also use specialist facilities throughout the academic year as well as additional facilities where required.

Degree Specifications
University Campus of Football Business is an embedded college of the University of East London. All graduates will receive a degree from the University of East London.

Career Prospects
Career prospects for graduates of the BA (Hons) Sports Management degree include sports business development, sports  management and administration, club directorship, sporting facilities management, sports agency, sponsorship and commercial management, sport operations management and sports entrepreneurship.

UCFB Employability & Career Planning Programme
Over 90% of UCFB graduates are in employment within six months of graduating, with 62% of those graduates working within the global sports industry.

At UCFB, your career starts from day one. Alongside your academic studies, our Employability & Career Planning programme supports your development, helping you build the skills, experience and confidence to succeed in the sports industry.

Through a range of tailored opportunities - including best-in-class industry guest speakers, Premier Events, and work-based learning - you’ll gain valuable real-world insight and connections. With ongoing career support and access to placements, you’ll graduate as a well-rounded, career-ready professional.

Modules

Foundation Year
• Skills for Learning
• Mental Wealth
• Research Project
• Contemporary Issues in Sport
• Introduction to Business and Management
• Managing Football Operations and People

First Year
• Introduction to Marketing
• Understanding Sports Business
• Industry Competencies (Mental Wealth)
• Understanding Sports Fan Behaviour
• Financial Management Information Systems and Internal Controls
• Sport, Media and Society

Second Year
• Negotiating and Winning Contracts
• Managing Sports Organisations
• Industry Readiness (Mental Wealth)
• Research Methods
• Legal Issues in the Governance of Sport
• Entrepreneurship

Third Year
• Strategic Management
• Event Delivery
• Professional Project
• Industry Engagement (Mental Wealth)
• Contemporary Issues in Sport Management

Assessment method

A range of assessment types are used across this course, as appropriate to each module. Assessment is predominantly continuous, employing items that will include academic essays, reports, presentations, portfolios, reflective writing, as well as practical broadcast outputs.

Applied assessment tasks are used as far as possible to enable students to link theory with practice, thereby assessing knowledge and understanding alongside practical study-specific skills and key industry skills.

Students with disabilities and/or particular learning needs should discuss assessments with the Course Leader, Module Leader and Seminar Leaders to ensure they are able to fully engage with all assessment within the course.

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
SM1F
Institution code:
U10
Campus name:
UCFB Manchester
Campus Code:
E

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available.

Course options

International applicants

Our access to an International Licence is currently being reviewed. This means we are unable to accept applications for anyone who requires a student visa to study in the UK as we cannot issue Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

If you are still unsure whether you would need a visa to study in the UK, or for more information, please contact compliance@ucfb.com.

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
64 points

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Applicants should have a strong GCSE profile, including English Language and Maths at Grade 4 or Grade C or above.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6A minimum of 5.5 required in each specific band.

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

Sponsorship information

Our UCFB Scholarships have been designed to encourage students from all backgrounds and abilities to fully embrace their time at UCFB and graduate with more than just their university degree, while UCFB Bursaries aim to help level the playing field by providing additional support to students from lower-income, disadvantaged, and traditionally under-represented backgrounds in higher education.

Find out more at www.ucfb.ac.uk/scholarships

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