Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences>Courses>International Sport Management MSc

International Sport Management * - MSc/PgD/PgC

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​The MSc International Sport Management degree at Cardiff Met will enable you to develop the critical understanding, professional knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to take up a managerial position in the ever-expanding global sport and activity industry. This could be in leadership roles associated with researching the contemporary issues from across the globe, and challenges associated with the international business of modern sport; developing and delivering community sport and activity; developing and managing appropriate structures and environments for global elite sport and also the governance and administration of sport at a national and international level, in the modern, digital era.

An essential component of being able to achieve this will be through gaining an understanding of how sport is run across the world, from a local to a global perspective, considering both the participant and fan experience. You will also be afforded the opportunity to explore a wide range of management areas associated with making sport happen. These include finance, human resources, operations, events, media, communications and marketing.

We help you to understand and establish the guiding principles of what it means to be a manager in the global sport industry today. Concepts such as quality, strategy and policy will be explored alongside your own personal and professional development; this will be through an international sporting context but delivered in manner that will enable you to transfer your knowledge and skills into other sectors. The International Sport Management programme will provide you with well-defined building blocks, on which you can build your management career either in sport or wider disciplines, either in the UK or throughout the world.

Excellent on-site facilities together with top class venues in Cardiff, and the surrounding region, capable of hosting national, international and mega events combined with a network of supportive industry partners, helps us to provide you with a comprehensive work-related and work-based learning programme. This is designed to enable you to apply the knowledge gained from the Master’s degree curriculum in real-world settings and gain valuable experience to develop your career, in further study or future employment, in the global sport industry or other sectors.

We are a recognised education partner with the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and our current students receive student membership of this industry professional lead body.

Please note: MSc International Sport Management is not running for 2024 entry and will therefore not be accepting applications.

Course Content

The MSc International Sport Management degree at Cardiff Met offers you a module framework which provides the fundamental underpinning knowledge, skills and understanding to be able to work in a managerial role in the fast moving and exciting world of sport, together with the opportunity to channel your interests and aptitudes in subject areas that complement the overall learning within the programme. The module content will allow you to reflect on the underlying business principles that help to sustain and develop the sport industry and there is a strong focus on entrepreneurship and strategic thinking which offers the potential for you to define and develop your own ideas for sport related products and services. These principles are underpinned by management theory and practice applied in a wide range of sport related settings.

The course will cover the core topics of:

• Managing Sport Operations and Environments 
• Strategic Management & Governance of Sport 
• International Sport Marketing
• Strategic Human Resource Management in Sport 
• Research Methods in Sport Leadership


With opportunities to select one of the following:

  • Industry placement
  • International Business of Sport & Event Management 


All students will undertake a Dissertation Project, which requires them to undertake research in an area of their interest related to the International Sport Management curriculum. Dissertation projects are major pieces of work that may be a 'Traditional Thesis' format, a 'Plan/Portfolio' format or a 'Journal Paper' format.

Learning & Teaching

Effective learning, teaching and assessment methods underpin the educational aims and the learning outcomes of all of our programmes and modules. Learning and teaching methods may include lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials and work- related practical sessions. These are also complimented by guest speakers and/or industry field trips that help to assimilate the learning. Our Virtual Learning Environment is also an integral aspect of the learning package that supports the needs of our students.

Lead lectures introduce key topics and concepts, whilst seminars, tutorials, workshops and practical sessions focus on the application of key concepts with the aim of enhancing the student experience and engagement. You will also meet tutors on a one to one basis. As a school, we work hard to provide student-centred learning opportunities that deliver a high quality and flexible learning environment.

Learning and teaching methods emphasise and facilitate the development of your critical reasoning and encourage the integration of theory and practice. Throughout your programme, you will experience both tutor-led learning and self-directed methods of learning, increasing independence and reflection and encouraging you to develop a positive attitude toward lifelong learning.

Our teaching and learning methods embed the Cardiff Met 'EDGE' (Ethical, Global, Digital & Entrepreneurial) skills which aim to ensure that you will be well equipped to demonstrate graduate attributes expected of you in an increasingly competitive world of work. We therefore aim to help you to develop into reflective professionals and critical scholars. Your learning experience, from induction to graduation, will allow you to develop your professional identify to work either in sport or within a management role in other industries.

Specific features of the learning experience on the International Sport Management include:

  • Internationally renowned researchers and industry experienced tutors that are integral to the learning package offered to our students.
  • World-class on-campus facilities which are utilised in order to enhance the student learning experience and apply the theoretical knowledge in a real-world setting.
  • Excellent industry partnerships which are used to underpin and enhance the delivery of the programme.
  • All aspects of Learning and Teaching utilise the most recent research literature and are aligned to industry Professional Standards.


Assessment

The assessment strategies for each module vary to ensure that the most appropriate method is implemented for the relevant topics and stage of learning. Modes of assessment are designed to both enhance your learning experience and to acknowledge that you have fulfilled the learning outcomes linked to each module. Assessment also ensures that you have achieved the standard required to progress to the next stage or to qualify for an award (as articulated by the FHEQ and CQFW).

Assessments support your learning experience by providing opportunities for you to engage in formative and summative assessments to test your knowledge, ability, skill, and critical understanding and to also develop crucial workplace related skills.

The postgraduate modules are assessed by a combination of assessment types.


For example:

  • written coursework
  • poster presentations
  • oral presentations
  • portfolios
  • practical skills
  • other activities designed to assess, develop, and enhance academic and employability skills.


The nature of the International Sport Management programme requires students to demonstrate both theory (evidence-based practice) and application (practical skills), and therefore assessments within International Sport Management modules include both theoretical assessments alongside practical assessments in applied settings such as events and group activities.

Employability & Careers

The Cardiff Met EDGE supports you to thrive in the modern world. Throughout your degree you will experience a range of opportunities to develop your Ethical, Digital, Global and Entrepreneurial competencies through problem-based learning, real-world industry case studies, and opportunities for work-based learning placements. We will ensure that you get a range of opportunities to develop transferable skills such as communication, teamwork and leadership.

It is anticipated that students who graduate from the International Sport Management programme will go to work in careers both within and beyond the Sport Industry. The programme will allow students to access opportunities in professional and semi-professional sport, national agencies and governing bodies of sport, local authority and social enterprise-based organisations, community related organisations, as well as commercial sport and fitness both in the UK and around the world.

Many students may also pursue their own opportunities and set up businesses based on ideas that they have generated during their studies. There is on-going enterprise support available from the Centre for Entrepreneurship designed to help provide the best chance to create a successful enterprise. This includes business mentoring, funding advice, free office space and networking opportunities.

Entry Requirements & How to Apply

The School is committed to an Equal Opportunities Policy under which all applicants and students are treated equally regardless of gender, ethnic or national origin, disability, sexuality, age, beliefs or sporting ability. Each applicant is considered on their academic merits and their ability to demonstrate an interest and ability in the subject area. The School is committed to high standards of academic performance and involvement in sport and exercise. Each applicant must meet suitable criteria as outlined in the University criteria for the admission of students to modular Master’s Degrees (and for Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma programmes)​.

The policy of the Cardiff School of Sport & Health Sciences is to recruit students who are capable of successfully completing and benefiting from a designated Post Graduate programme offered by the School. 

Applicants for the MSc in International Sport Management are expected to satisfy the following requirements:

  • honours degree (normally 2.1 or above) in a complementary subject.
  • Non-graduates will be considered provided the candidate has experience in sport sector and a desire to undertake managerial training.
  • For non-UK applicants, the minimum IELTS English Language requirement for this programme is 6.5 (with 6.0 in each individual element) or equivalent.


International Applicants:

Students whose first language is not English will need to provide evidence of fluency to at least an IELTS 6.5 standard or equivalent. For full details about how to apply and English Language qualifications please visit the International pages on the website.


How to Apply:
Applications for this course should be made direct to the university via our self-service facility. For further information please visit our How to Apply pages at www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/howtoapply.


If you are interested in using credit from another institution, or have obtained qualifications and/or experience to study for a course at Cardiff Met, you can find further information on this as well as information on how to apply on the RPL page.

Additional Information

Tuition Fees and Financial Support:
For up to date information on tuition fees and the financial support that may be available. Please refer to www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/fees.


Part-time fees:

Charges are per Single Module unless specified:
Undergraduate = 10 Credits; Postgraduate = 20 Credits

Generally, we find most students will complete 60 credits per year for both Undergraduate and Postgraduate study; to obtain a true costing please clarify this by contacting the Programme Director directly.

Contact Us

For general enquiries please contact the Admissions Team on 029 2041 6044 or email askadmissions@cardiffmet.ac.uk​.

For course specific enquiries, please contact the Interim Programme Director, Sara Macpherson :
Email: smacpherson@cardiffmet.ac.uk
Tel: 029 2041 7076

We endeavour to deliver courses as described and will not normally make changes to courses, such as course title, content, delivery, and teaching provision. However, it may be necessary for the university to make changes in the course provision before or after enrolment. It reserves the right to make variations to content or delivery methods, including discontinuation or merging courses if such action is considered necessary. Please read our Terms and Conditions for the full information.

Key Course Information

Place of Study: 
Cyncoed Campus

School:

Cardiff School of Sport & Health Sciences

Course Length:
One to two years full-time.
Two to four years part-time.

Course Disclaimer
We endeavour to deliver courses as described and will not normally make changes to courses, such as course title, content, delivery, and teaching provision. However, it may be necessary for the university to make changes in the course provision before or after enrolment. It reserves the right to make variations to content or delivery methods, including discontinuation or merging courses if such action is considered necessary.

Please read our Terms and Conditions for the full information.

STUDENT & GRADUATE EXPERIENCE
Blog
My amazing experience with International Sport Management at Cardiff Met

Graduate Will has had gained a variety of experience within the sport event industry including working on events such as London Marathon Running Show, Wimbledon, and the UCI World Cycling Championships.
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