Sport Management

Sport management is the study of how sporting organisations are run, how they generate and allocate resources, how they engage with fans and communities, and how the business of sport intersects with the social, cultural, and political dimensions that make sport matter so much to so many people. The global sports industry is enormous, encompassing professional leagues and clubs, governing bodies, media rights, sponsorship, retail, facility management, and events at every level from local community sport to the Olympic Games. Managing in this environment requires business acumen, strategic thinking, and an understanding of sport's unique characteristics as both a commercial enterprise and a cultural institution.

At the University of Edinburgh, this four-year full-time programme sits within one of the UK's leading research universities, combining academic rigour with practical relevance. The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study sport management in an international context, which is highly relevant in an industry that operates across borders and whose major events and organisations are global in scope. Edinburgh's four-year Scottish degree structure gives you additional breadth and depth across the programme.

You will study organisational management, marketing, finance, sports governance, event management, media and communications, and the social and ethical dimensions of sport, including questions about integrity, inclusion, and the relationship between elite and grassroots sport. Edinburgh's research strengths in sport policy and management, and its location in a city with a vibrant sporting culture and significant events activity, provide a rich environment for this kind of study.

Graduates of sport management programmes move into roles in professional sports clubs and franchises, national governing bodies, sports marketing and PR agencies, event management companies, public sector sport development, and sponsorship and media rights management. Some graduates go on to postgraduate study in sport management, business, or law.