Work placements

As a minimum, you’ll complete a six-week work project, though you can always extend this period and complete a sandwich placement if the opportunity arises. We have an established network of local, regional, national and international employers offering a number of placements. We also encourage students to explore opportunities within new and emerging areas of the sports industry. 

Live projects 

As part of your studies – you’ll have opportunities to engage in a number of industry-related projects – often working with sport organisations to solve problems or explore potential market opportunities. We have three world-class sport-related research centres where you can work on real-life events and projects with the Sports Industry Research Group. Recently students have worked at events such as The Olympic and Commonwealth Games, Wimbledon, The Open, The Ryder Cup and The Henley Regatta. 

Networking opportunities

With a superb alumni network and industry ties – as well as opportunities for work placements and research projects – this course offers ample opportunities for networking. 

Some of our students take part in the inaugural #SportsPro hackathon, competing with teams from other universities around the world. We also have a series of external speakers who deliver guest lectures and additional talks. Previous speakers have included representatives from leading national governing bodies, sports goods manufacturers, global motorsports and professional clubs, as well as health and fitness organisations and agencies. 

While we have strong internal support, we also partner with external organisations, including The Professional Body of Sports Leadership (PBSL).

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

The course is suitable if you don't meet the entry requirements for our BSc (Hons) Sport Business Management course, or you want extra preparation before starting degree-level study. You share the first year with other sport foundation students, then move on to the degree.

Alongside business and management concepts, you’ll learn about the role of sport in society to achieve a range of objectives. You’ll study modules ranging from the basics of financial management to the strategic positioning of products and services. You’ll also improve your employability skills and develop specialist knowledge of the sports industry.

In the foundation year, you build your Sport Business Management interest and knowledge alongside developing your academic skills. You receive face-to-face feedback regularly during your modules in order to prepare you for the completion of your assignments. This will be via tasks set for you to undertake in the module seminars or in your independent study time.

You learn through

• lectures
• seminars
• tutorials
• project supervision
• demonstration
• workshops
• field trips
• external visits
• placements

This course prepares you for a career in

• international, regional and national sporting bodies
• major venue and facility management
• event management
• sports consultancy
• sport-related government agencies
• partnership, sponsorship and marketing 
• research and insight
• facility operations and outsourcing suppliers
• local authority and voluntary sector sport
• sports goods manufacturing and retail 

The course also enables you to develop the transferable skills needed to pursue graduate roles in general business and other sectors. 

On this course, you will work with world-class digital resources and databases to support your learning, including access to sport-specific cases developed by academic colleagues around the world.

UCAS points

• 64

This must include at least 24 (Grade D) from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:

• DDE at A Level.
• MPP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
• A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels and EPQ.

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

GCSE

• English Language at grade C or 4 or equivalent
• Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalent

• Access - an Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course in a science based subject. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 or above, with a minimum score of 5.5 in each skill.

If you do not have any of the qualifications above but have relevant experience you are welcome to discuss potential opportunities with the admissions tutor.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

Important notice:

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.