Overview
The global growth of the sports industry is creating exciting new opportunities for graduates with a Masters in Sport Management (source: Research.com 2025).
Our highly-rated course will position you to make use of these opportunities. You'll learn to combine management, marketing and financial skills with a specialist knowledge of sport.
Our Sports Management Masters teaches you to:
- explore the principles of management and learn how to apply them to sport organisations;
- examine issues in global sport such as the impact of sport on human rights, the environment and the relationship between sport and the media;
- assess the financial operations of a sport organisation;
- propose creative responses to challenges that sport managers and marketers find in the industry.
During your studies you’ll also have the opportunity to complete a placement with a local or international sport organisation. Former students have gained valuable experience during placements with Rangers Football Club, Royal Troon Golf Club, Active Stirling, The Falkirk Foundation, Scottish Volleyball and others.
Learn from leading, experienced experts
Our course tutors include trustees of National Governing Bodies of Sport and sport managers with wide professional experience. We have staff who actively consult with international sport organisations. These experienced professionals will give you unique insight into professional practice.
We also invite guest lecturers to share their knowledge throughout your studies. Previous lecturers include:
- Neil Doncaster, Chief Executive at the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL)
- Eve Muirhead, Scottish Curling
- David Edge, National Team Manager and Head of Rugby Operations at Scottish Rugby
- Jude Reid, Head of Sustainable Business at Scottish Sports Futures
Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence
We’ve developed an international reputation for delivering sport courses that get results. We have been designated as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence since 2008 for our commitment to driving wider sports participation, preparing world-class athletes, and informing public health policy with our research. We’re consistently ranked among the best universities in the UK for our sports facilities, which include a 50m swimming pool, tennis courts, football pitches, athletics track and extensive indoor gym and fitness spaces.
Study our MSc Sport Management and discover how you can be the difference in the global sports management marketplace.
Top reasons to study with us
Work placements
A period of professional practice (60 hours) is an integral part of this course, where you will have the opportunity to be placed with a local or international organisation.
Flexible learning
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Faculty facilities
The University of Stirling is Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence and we recently invested £20 million in our outstanding sports facilities. We’re consistently ranked among the best universities in the UK for our sports facilities, making Stirling the perfect destination to study sport and the science behind it.
Research overview
The University of Stirling is ranked 1st in Scotland for outputs in Sports and Exercise Sciences (REF 2021), with 80% of our research classed as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Former students have published articles in well-ranked international journals in the field of sport management, creating some competitive advantage for those who wish to follow an academic career.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
A minimum of a second-class Honours degree (2:1 preferred) or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.
Other routes of entry
If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore University of Stirling International Study Centre to see the pathway and pre-masters routes available.
International entry requirements
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each skill
- Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
- Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill
- IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
- Trinity ISE II Pass overall with a Pass in each sub-skill, ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills
Last updated: June 2024
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
Get real experience of working in sport management as you earn a Masters from Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence.
To earn your Sport Management Masters you’ll need to complete seven modules and a dissertation. Alternatively, you can graduate with a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma by completing limited aspects of the course content.
Modules
Teaching
Management concepts and theories will be taught in lectures, while theory will be applied through case study analysis, discussion with sport management practitioners, seminars and research.
You’ll acquire “softer” management skills such as problem-solving, team-working, leadership, analysis, evaluation and presentation through a range of learning activities essential to becoming an effective manager.
Assessment
The modules are mainly assessed by coursework and designed to encourage you to link theory to professional practice.
Classroom hours
Most modules have face-to-face teaching on campus on a regular basis during the semester. Typical modules include 2-3 hours of face-to-face discussion session per week. You will need to invest additional time in readings to prepare for discussion sessions and to prepare your assignments.
Course director
Key staff
- Dr. Claudio Rocha – Course Director – claudio.rocha@stir.ac.uk
- Robert Kielty – robert.kielty@stir.ac.uk
- Dr. Guy Wilkinson – guy.wilkinson@stir.ac.uk
- Caitlin Rattray – caitlin.rattray@stir.ac.uk
- Dr. David Stevenson – d.m.stevenson2@stir.ac.uk
- Dr. Andrew Jenkin – andrew.jenkin1@stir.ac.uk
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Scholarships and funding
Funding
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
Studying an MSc Sport Management prepares you for jobs in a wide range of organisations, such as commercial or voluntary sport organisations, governing bodies of sport or local authorities.
The average Sport Management salary in the UK is approximately £42,000. Entry level positions start at around £37,000 with experienced workers making up to £55,000 per year (source: Talent.com).
Our MSc Sport Management graduates now work for organisations that include:
- Arsenal Football Club
- Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
- International Tennis Federation
- Scottish Football Association
- Football Association (England)
Stirling’s unique position as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, our connections to professional sports organisations, and input from industry experts all help to ensure you graduate with the best possible preparation for a career in Sport Management.
Be the One: Aditya Sankolli
Hear from MSc Sport Management graduate, Aditya, who is making the most of his post-study work visa and his role as a Football Development Coach at Arsenal FC.
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