In your first year, you’ll learn about the sports industry from both a national and international perspective, foundations of sports coaching and aspects related to physical activity and sports development.  You’ll also learn about sports within a global world and apply knowledge learnt to diverse groups. To help you settle into University life, you’ll take a module focused on developing the academic skills you need to be a successful student.     

Your second year, builds on what you learnt in the first year. You’ll study leadership and management of sport events, global perspectives of sports development and applied sports coaching. The module on research methods helps you to understand the principles and methods that underpin sports business management research. You’ll be able to use this to critique and understand the research done in the areas of sports business management. It will also come in handy for your final year dissertation. In addition, we also offer optional modules for you to choose from such as process and practices in high-performance sport, sports ethics or facilities and funding.   

Work placement/study abroad option*: Between your second and final year, you’ll have the option to study abroad or complete a work placement for up to a year. Not only will this give you an amazing experience to talk about, but it will also give your CV a boost. If you would rather go straight to your final year, that’s fine too. You can decide in your second year with us, so there is still plenty of time to think about this.   

In your final year, you’ll be able to develop your research skills through our research dissertation module and focus on a work experience dissertation within the field of sports business management. You’ll get a personal supervisor to support you with the research and/or work experience dissertation. Here, you’ll design and undertake your own project on a topic relevant to your area of study, and more importantly, it will be aligned to an area that interests you. You’ll also be able to study other modules in the final year, such as enterprise and entrepreneurship, behaviour change for physical activity and advanced sports coaching.    

Applying for this course is easy. Simply add us to your UCAS account by using the institution and course code mentioned in ‘Key information’. There is no interview for this course. We’re just interested to hear why you want to study this subject at degree level.     

Work placement

Graduate with invaluable work experience alongside your degree and stand out from the crowd.  

This course offers you the opportunity to enhance your study and CV with a work placement sandwich year. It’s a chance to explore career possibilities, make valuable contacts and gain sought after professional skills.  

Our dedicated Careers and Employment team are here to help guide you through the process.

If you take up a work placement between your second and third year of study, at the University of Hertfordshire you’ll pay no tuition fee for this year. We’ll ask you to make your decision in your second year, so there is plenty of time to think about it. 

What's next for my career?

Graduates are equipped for careers in sports management for example event management, sports administration, leisure centre leadership, private sector sport and leisure and operating their own business models in the area of sport. Sports graduates may also transfer into related sector graduate schemes within business or local government. Our students are also well equipped for postgraduate study.

After your course, you’ll be well equipped for careers in sports management including event management, sports administration and leisure centre leadership, working for private sector sports businesses or developing your own sport-based business model. You could also study at postgraduate level or join a graduate scheme, either in the public or private sector.