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Postgraduate Taught

MSc Sports Management

Please note: The below is for 2025 entries. Click here for 2024 entries.
UCAS code 1234
Duration 1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Entry year 2024
Campus

Streatham and St Luke's, Exeter

Discipline Sport and Health Sciences
Contact
Typical offer

View full entry requirements

A minimum 2:1 or equivalent.

Contextual offers

Overview

  • Explore a wide array of crucial current concepts in Sports Management from a powerful, multi-disciplinary perspective
  • Benefit from our links with external partners such as Exeter Chiefs Rugby Union Club, Exeter City Football Club, Yeovil Town Women’s F.C. and Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
  • Tailor your programme to your career ambitions or academic interests with our range of optional modules spanning business, marketing, entrepreneurship, sport and exercise psychology, and sport and leadership
  • Join our vibrant postgraduate research community and benefit from direct access to the latest research from the Business School and the Department of Public Health & Sport Sciences
  • Gain the expertise needed to pursue a range of careers such as consultancy, management, sport facilities management, international sport development or sport social enterprises
  • Option to study part-time and progress your continuous professional development (CPD) alongside work, or pursue sport while studying as part of Exeter Sport's high-performance teams. Part-time study provides further flexibility for extra-curricular experiences such as committee roles in societies, mentoring, and employability activities to enhance your career potential.

Apply online

View 2024 Entry

Fast Track (current Exeter students)

Open days and visiting us

Get a prospectus

Contact

Programme Director: Dr Lynsey Melhuish

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

Top 5 in the UK for Sports Science

4th (joint) in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

Triple accredited Business School

AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS

Business School of the Year

Times Higher Education Awards 2022

Top 30 in the world for Sports-related subjects

21st in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2023

Entry requirements

Applicants to this programme must have a minimum 2:1 or equivalent.

We do consider all applications where there is evidence of exceptional performance in modules relevant to the programme of study, significant relevant work experience or professional qualifications. Applicants wishing to select optional modules within the Department of Public Health and Sport Sciences must have a foundation in sport and exercise sciences at undergraduate level or equivalent.

Entry requirements for international students

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

Course content

You will explore strategic management and leadership approaches across a variety of sporting contexts, and learn how to critically consider and appraise their importance to sporting governance and development. We will discuss the role of sport in changing and reacting to societal agendas and the models that support effectual operational governance at a local, national and international level.

You can choose to undertake an academic research-based dissertation or complete a sports management business plan. You’ll also choose from a range of optional modules covering fields such as marketing, consumer behaviour, leadership, sport and exercise psychology, sport and exercise medicine, HRM and innovation management.

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

Hear why our current students feel the MSc Sports Management course is helping them to develop their leadership and management potential and accelerate their career in the dynamic and growing sports industry.

I think the Masters will definitely set me apart from others when trying to get into sports management. Many of my peers have studied sports science or business. As I come from a history background, I’m one of the few who hasn’t already been exposed to this area. Applying for jobs in sports management from just doing a history undergraduate would have been intimidating. The Masters has been really refreshing and has improved my confidence and sense of belonging in the sporting world.  

I studied history at Exeter for my undergraduate degree. I chose Exeter because not only was it really good for history, but there was a very strong hockey and cricket programme here. After graduation, I was looking to do a Masters in history or potentially a PGCE and train to become a teacher. As I was going through Exeter’s programmes, I saw MSc Sports Management and I thought that it would be a really good way to gain some business knowledge. 

Sport takes up most of my social life! I’m part of the performance programme for cricket and play for the Women’s 1s. I also play hockey for the Women’s 4s for BUCS. Playing sport alongside my studies really complements the Masters. I only joined the performance programme for cricket this year, so this paired with learning about sports management has been really interesting.

Read more from Evie

Evie

MSc Sports Management

Fees

2024/25 entry

UK fees per year:

£14,300 full-time; £7,150 part-time

International fees per year:

£29,700 full-time; £14,850 part-time

Scholarships

We invest heavily in scholarships for talented prospective Masters students. This includes over £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*.

For more information on scholarships, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

*Selected programmes only. Please see the Terms and Conditions for each scheme for further details.

Teaching and research

Teaching methods

A diverse range of teaching and learning methods are employed on this programme. This combination aims to facilitate interaction, optimise the use of contact time, provide practical experience and allow flexibility through independent study.

Methods include:

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Practical laboratory sessions
  • Practical clinical sessions
  • Group work and discussion
  • Independent study
  • Applied placement in a performance sports setting

Additional guest lecturers will provide specific applied expertise for some modules.

Tutorial support

Each student is allocated a personal tutor who is available for advice and support throughout your studies. There is also a postgraduate tutor available to help with further guidance and advice.

Read more

Careers

MSc Sports Management offers the expertise needed by graduates looking for jobs in or related to sports industries. You are able to access a huge range of opportunities and support when considering your future career options. After graduating, you might expect to pursue careers in a variety of professions in or related to the sport industries, including consultancy, management, sport facilities management, international sport development or sport social enterprises.

Dedicated careers support

You will receive support from our dedicated Career Zone team, who provide excellent career guidance at all stages of career planning. The Career Zone provides one-on-one support and is home to a wealth of business and industry contacts. Additionally, they host useful training events, workshops and lectures which are designed to further support you in developing your enterprise acumen. Please visit the  Career Zone for additional information on their services.

I chose to study MSc Sports Management at Exeter because I am looking to make a career change. Sport is a growing market across the globe, and it has always been my thing. I follow a lot of sports and I used to play back in my school and college days. It gives me a real adrenaline rush and I aspire to work for a club or a team, or even for a corporate consultancy or sporting company. 

I have been working for many years across industries in banks, real estate and healthcare into corporate operations, finance and business development, so coming back to studying is a completely different ball game. The course at Exeter is great because it gives you that leadership edge in the field of study as well as other domains and industries. It teaches you how to be a leader and equips you with the skills to take up leadership roles. Other universities didn’t seem to have such a focus on leadership, so that’s why I picked Exeter.

The course has been very enriching so far and the teaching has been great. The atmosphere at the University is absolutely lovely and I have felt very welcomed and secured which is the most important aspect when an expat or international student joins from a different country and settles down.

Read more from Khusrav

Khusrav

MSc Sports Management