Postgraduate Diploma in International Football Business

With the football industry evolving into a global, multi-billion-dollar enterprise encompassing everything from TV deals to player transfers, there is a growing demand for professionals with specialised qualifications in this field.

Course Length- One Year Full-Time. (September – May)

Diploma overview 

Taught from classrooms inside the stunning Lotto Park stadium - home of 34-time Belgian champions RSC Anderlecht - this Postgraduate Diploma is designed for those who wish to develop an appreciation of key areas shaping the current landscape of the football industry. The diploma provides opportunities to engage in different aspects of football business including areas such as football fan engagement, leadership and management, football finance and football operations. From TV deals to player transfers, football is now a global, multi-billion-dollar industry that is in need of more industry-specific qualified individuals. 

Diploma Content

This course provides comprehensive knowledge of the global football business industry. Students will gain insights into how football clubs manage service and product-oriented operations, with a focus on critical assessment. The curriculum addresses the unique logistical challenges faced by football-related organisations and encourages evaluation of these operational issues. Students will also learn about financial forecasting techniques and their applications, developing the ability to critically evaluate these methods. Understanding the influence of global, national, and local factors on communication and marketing strategies. Additionally, students will explore various football and sports frameworks, learning to critically evaluate their applications. 

DIPLOMA SPECIFICATION DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION
This course is delivered in partnership with one of Europe’s leading universities, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), through its Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy.

OVERVIEW

Course length: One Year Full-Time (September - May)

- Explanation of Diploma study Load:

Each course includes 72 hours (12 x 6 hours) of lectures with self study of 228 hours (72 hours follow-up oncourse material, 100 hours reading and processing of textbook, 56 hours preparation for course work). See Course specification for each module detail.

- Diploma Structure:

The Diploma is a total of 60 ECTS credits, split across four 15-credit courses. Two will be delivered in semester one, two in semester two. The modules cover a wide range of information about the football industry, allowing students to graduate with a deep and holistic understanding of the business of international football

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

- Standard entry requirements

• Non-EU students will require a valid visa to be able to study.
• Undergraduate degree or international equivalent
• Applicants should have some experience of studying or working in business or sports related areas.
• English language qualifications: Applicants from non-majority English speaking countries will be asked for an English qualification which tests Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing and will be asked to achieve an overall IELTS score of 6.5 (minimum of 6.0 in each section) or recognised equivalent.

Offers to applicants currently studying an undergraduate degree will be conditional on them going on to achieve the entry requirements on completion of their degree. 

Offers can be made to an applicant currently 30 credits or less away from achieving their undergraduate degree, however, the undergraduate award should be obtained within 12 months in order for postgraduate degree to be awarded.

- Flexible entry requirements

Applications that do not meet the standard entry requirements but demonstrate relevant education and/or work and/or life experience in the course subject area are welcomed.

Eligibility will be assessed on the basis of the information provided in the application – in particular the personal statement.

APPLICATIONS

Apply for the degree via the GIS Website.

CAREER PROSPECTS 

This course offers numerous career prospects within the dynamic and expanding football industry. Graduates can pursue roles in club management, overseeing operations, strategic planning, and marketing for professional football clubs. Additionally, positions in event and matchday management involve organising and managing football events and matches, ensuring smooth logistics and enhancing fan engagement. Careers in football federations and governing bodies, such as FIFA and UEFA, are also viable, with roles in administration, governance, and the implementation of football policies and programs. These diverse opportunities allow graduates to apply their specialised knowledge and skills in various facets of the football business globally.

Did you know – 99% of our postgraduate graduates are either employed or in full-time study and 79% are working or studying in sport! As a postgraduate student studying with us, you can build on your employability opportunities by expanding your knowledge and network!

Benefits:

All GIS students, including those studying online, and alumni have access to GIS Global Locations at London’s Wembley Stadium, Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium, Toronto FC’s BMO Field, Melbourne Cricket Ground Sydney Cricket Ground, and the Allianz Stadium. At each location, students and alumni can attend week-long GIS Global Summits, which are designed to enhance attendees’ knowledge and expertise of the international sports industry as well as build a global network for future employment prospects.

Additional benefits to GIS students and alumni include:

• Oversight from a 36-person strong Industry Advisory Board, allowing students to benefit from the network of sports executives from across the EMEA, Americas and APAC regions
• Employment, guest speaker and other unique opportunities from GIS’ partnership network, which includes The Premier League, The Football Association, League Managers Association, The National League, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Soccerex, Hudl, United Soccer Coaches, Football Coaches Australia, Women Sport Australia, A Leagues and MLS clubs, giving students access to some of the biggest and best minds in football and sport.

As a result of the industry-led degree and employment opportunities, 99% of GIS graduates are in employment with 79% working in sport and 97% in highly skilled roles, based on the 2023 Graduate Census. GIS degrees also rank in the top 25 sports programmes by SportsBusiness Postgraduate Rankings, and number 1 in the world in employment prospects in 2022 and number 1 in the world in employment salaries in 2023.

Apply now!