Sport Development and Management (MA)

Develop your leadership, management, and critical thinking skills. You’ll influence sport development policy and practice and boost your career prospects.

Attendance: Full-Time
Duration: 1 Year
Start date: 21 Sep 2026

Deepen your understanding of the key issues and challenges facing professionals in contemporary sport development settings in the UK and around the world.

As part of your course, you’ll:

• Critically examine aspects of sport development, including strategic management, leadership, governance, diversity and inclusion, and sport for development
• Develop a specialism in an area of interest and vocational relevance during your independent project
• Enhance your problem solving, creativity, decision-making and leadership skills
• Have the opportunity to undertake a professional project in partnership with a sport development organisation
   

This course is suitable if you’re a recent graduate or current practitioner in sport development/administration or related occupation.

Expert teaching
As a student in the Carnegie School of Sport, you’ll benefit from the expertise and experience of our team of tutors. The academic team boasts extensive industry experience and a strong research profile. 

We’ve been leaders in the academic sport development field for more than 20 years. 

Industry links
The course is augmented by a range of high-profile guest speakers and excellent partnerships with industry.

Study tailored for you
We understand that every students’ needs are unique and have therefore ensured that your course can be tailored accordingly. You’ll be able to select from a lengthy and diverse range of option modules, in areas such as:

• Events management
• Economic and financial decision making
• Physical activity and health

Assessments across the course can be applied to your own work circumstances. You’ll also be able to explore less familiar aspects of sport development to broaden your knowledge and understanding.

The Independent Project provides the opportunity to undertake a piece of consultancy on behalf of an external sport organisation. Alternatively, you may wish to complete an in-depth academic investigation that may pave the way for future doctoral study.

Modules, teaching and learning

Independent study is a crucial part of learning at university and you will be required to undertake many hours of self-directed research and reading, and preparation and writing of assessments. Your course is delivered through a number of modules, which will help you to plan your time and establish a study routine. Outside of your lectures, workshops and tutorials, a range of support is available to assist with your independent study. Our subject-specific librarians will be on hand to direct you to the specialist learning and study-skill resources. You’ll also be assigned an academic advisor to give you tailored feedback and support.

Why study Sports Development & Management at Leeds Beckett University?

1. Develop a specialism in an area of interest and vocational relevance
2. Global reputation - we're recognised as one of the top 100 institutions in the world for Sports-Related Subjects*
3. Meet internationally renowned guest speakers, giving you a wider view on the industry, and the direction it is heading
4. Benefit from our excellent partnerships with industry
5. Study in our £45m state-of-the-art Carnegie School of Sport building

*2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject

Career Prospects

Whether you are a recent graduate or current practitioner, our goal is to enable you to become more competitive in the employment market. For graduates, this course will help you to advance your critical understanding of the sport development profession. If, however, you are already a practitioner, it could help accelerate your career progression. Our international, national, and regional connections with the likes of the Football Association, StreetGames, Yorkshire Sport Foundation and the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment will enable you to network, build professional relationships and take advantage of rewarding career opportunities in the sport development sector.

• Sport development manager in public and voluntary sector organisations
• Sport project officer for sport-for-development organisations
• Senior manager within facility operators
• Community sports officer for community foundations based at professional sports clubs

Start your journey