MSc Sport Business and Leadership

Looking to work at the highest levels of sport, and have an impact off the field rather than on it? This specialist master’s in sport, business and leadership is for you.

Looking to work at the highest levels of sport, and have an impact off the field rather than on it? This specialist master’s in sport, business and leadership is for you.

It’s the ideal master’s for anyone with a passion for sport, who wants to work in decision-making roles within the industry.  Whether you’ve played yourself and chosen not to continue down that path – or simply want to mark your mark on helping to shape and improve the global sports industry.

During your year with us, you’ll be fully immersed in the business of sport, get to grips with diverse leadership models and build your own leadership capabilities, learning first hand from top leaders and Loughborough London’s sport leadership academic experts.

Sports-specific content

What does good leadership look like in sport – and how can organisations harness strong leadership to address current social, economic and environmental issues? We explore questions such as these, to set you up with the highly specific leadership skills today’s sports employers are looking for.

The ideal location to study sports business

You’ll be based in the former Olympic Park in East London, with numerous sports organisations located close by and plenty of opportunity to network and learn from them through our industry partnerships.

Benefit from our strong links with many of the London-based leaders in sport, including World Rugby, TNT Sports, West Ham United Foundation, Sport England and Chelsea Football Club. You’ll go on field visits, hear from guest experts, and have the chance to work with partners on projects.

The starting block to a successful sport leadership career

The course will provide the foundations for you to get involved in shaping the sports industry at a leadership level. Whether that’s helping a club develop their vision or set their strategic direction, working with a government body to improve sports participation, making sport more sustainable, or leading a specific group or function within a sports business.

Whatever direction you go in, you’ll graduate ready to pitch yourself ahead of the competition for leadership and management roles across commercial, not-for-profit and international sports organisations.

Why you should study this degree

• Explore leadership theories, models, tools and techniques, and carve out a leadership style that feels right to you.
• Reflect on how leadership can support sports businesses to address pressing issues like equality, diversity and sustainability. 
• Study at the heart of London’s sports community at our vibrant campus in the former Olympic Park.
• Learn from sports leaders to explore how they lead, and network with them on site visits and project work.
• Full immersion in each topic area through block teaching.
• Explore collaborative dissertation opportunities with key partners such as Sport England, Sports Interactive, West Ham United Foundation and Chelsea Football Club.

What you'll study

The modules on our MSc Sport Business and Leadership programme have been carefully put together to give you the most up-to-date and relevant set of skills and knowledge for progressing in your chosen career.

How you'll be assessed

You can expect to complete essays and reports of varying lengths, as well as presentations, projects and exams.

How you'll study

As well as your regular timetabled teaching, you’ll have the chance to take part in guest lectures and projects on a range of topics.

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Independent study
• Group work
• Workshops
• Practical sessions

Entry requirements

Our entry requirements are listed using standard UK undergraduate degree classifications i.e. first-class honours, upper second-class honours and lower second-class honours. To learn the equivalent for your country, please choose it from the drop-down tab.

Entry requirements for United Kingdom:
A 2:1 honours degree (with a minimum of 60% in final year), or equivalent international qualification, in  wide range of disciplines.

English language requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.

Your development

At Loughborough University London, you’ll get the strong grounding you need to move forward confidently along your chosen career path.

Look forward to plenty of opportunities to develop your skills, take part in career-focused activities and tap into all the support you need along the way. You’ll get to work on group projects set by real businesses and organisations, go on site visits and explore organisation-based dissertations as part of your course.

An impressive toolkit of skills

By the end of your master’s, you’ll have the skills and qualities to progress confidently in a sport leadership or management career.

By the end of the programme, you’ll be able to:

• Lead yourself, others and teams in diverse and effective ways.
• Engage and influence people to undertake difficult leadership challenges.
• Communicate effectively in a range of sport leadership roles.
• Apply leadership skills, emotional intelligence, and strengths and relationship-based leadership techniques.
• Critically reflect on the leadership styles of high performing leaders and effective teamwork.
• Use contemporary leadership models to tackle social, environmental and economic issues that are essential to good leadership and management in sport.

Your future career

The sport industry needs strong leaders to steer it to greater levels of participation, impact and success. This master’s will give you highly specialist leadership skills tailored to the needs of sports businesses.

You’ll be well prepared for middle and senior leadership positions. You’ll also have access to training and advice if you want to set up your own sports business.

Graduates of this course have taken their skills into wide-ranging roles in:

• Commercial organisations (Nike, Sky Sports, Sports Interactive).
• Professional sports teams (Chelsea FC, Tottenham FC, Nottingham Forest Women).
• National governing bodies (Sport England, Para Football, Royal & Ancient Golf Association).
• Not for profit organisations (Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, Badu Sports).
• International sport organisations (UEFA, German FA).

To apply for the course program click below to learn more.