| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-18 | - |
Program Overview
Why This Course?
Sporting organisations are showing increasing demand for professionals skilled in the handling, analysis and presentation of complex data.
This Masters programme is designed to offer graduates the comprehensive skillset and experience required to succeed as an analyst in a variety of sporting sectors.
Via a mixture of lectures, seminars and practical exercises, you'll gain hands-on experience working with real data and professionals in the field.
The MSc Sport Data Analytics at Strathclyde is unique in:
offering opportunities to interact with professionals such as sport scientists, performance, data, recruitment, talent or notational analysts through guest lectures and networking opportunities
Programme
leaders:
Dr Xanne Janssen
Dr Allan Hewitt
Employers in the sports industry are looking to recruit staff who have proven skills and experience in handling, analysing, and presenting complex data. Our program aims to provide students with a strong applied understanding of quantitative and qualitative analysis, data processing and visualisation, feedback and reporting methodologies and how to collect and manipulate large, complex data sets.
Dr Xanne Janssen, Programme Leader
What you'll study
You'll:
The programme will cover data visualisation, with students deepening their knowledge of quantitative and qualitative analysis while developing the technical skills required in handling and presenting performance data.
You will undertake a supervised research dissertation in sport data analytics. This will rely on using the technical skills and knowledge covered in earlier modules to formulate, design and implement a piece of empirical research on a topic aligned to sport data analytics.
Work placement
The Professional Placement module is a compulsory module for the MSc Sport Data Analytics. You'll undertake 120 hours of agreed activity within an approved placement agency, which will be in a professional sports setting.
The structure of the hours will be agreed upon between you, the placement agency, and the placement coordinator. Usually, this will involve one or two days per week at the placement agency.
Research Dissertation
The Research Dissertation module provides you with the opportunity to apply previous learning from all other modules within a final research project.
The module offers a portfolio of dissertation formats. You can opt to undertake an individual academic research project or complete your dissertation project within a partner organisation. Your research should address a question which interests you and is relevant to professional sport.
Interested in postgraduate study?
At the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, our friendly and knowledgeable team will be available to provide you with all the information you need to kick-start your postgraduate journey at the University of Strathclyde. Register for upcoming events below:
Program Outline
Course content
Modules will feature regular guest lectures by industry professionals, drawn from a range of sports organisations who will share their invaluable insights and discuss real-life case studies.
Semester 1
Semester 2
Introduction to Sport Data Analytics
Explore the different ways in which data, and data analysis is currently used to support performance, training and selection within professional sporting settings, team and individual.
Recruitment Analytics in Sport
Learn about the use of data analysis and reporting to support talent identification and player recruitment within professional sports settings.
Video Analysis in Sport
Gain an introduction to the concepts and techniques that underpin the use of video data gathered in competitive sporting contexts. You’ll develop your understanding of how video data can be analysed to inform the coaching process, support squad selection and enhance tactical and strategic decision-making.
Professional Placement
Get hands-on experience of working with data in a professional sporting environment. Build your skills and confidence in this area and gain a deeper understanding of how sports data is used.
Data Visualisation in Sport
Develop your understanding of the challenges and complexity of sport performance and recruitment data and develop a basic set of technical skills in handling and presenting performance and recruitment data to coaches.
Research Methods in Sport Data Analytics
A critical understanding of research methods and analysis is fundamental to research and practice in sport data analytics. This module will deepen your knowledge of quantitative and qualitative analysis, and help you deal with the ethical and practical issues of conducting real-world research.
Dissertation
Undertake a supervised research dissertation in sport data analytics. Use the technical skills and substantive knowledge covered in earlier modules to formulate, design and implement a piece of empirical research on a topic aligned to sport data analytics.
Learning & teaching
Taught modules will be delivered across two semesters running from September to December, and from January to March.
You'll learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, group work and online learning tasks. You'll benefit from input from industry experts throughout the programme, including real-life case studies and the opportunity to analyse professional scenarios. The dissertation is undertaken during the summer months.
Assessment
Modules are assessed by various methods including infographics, essays, reflective pieces, data analysis plans, and presentations. The dissertation project is assessed with a final report appropriate to the research question.
Careers
Graduates will be ready to enter a range of professional roles within sport. Experience gained through the taught components of the programme and the applied experience provided from the placement module will prepare students to take on positions involving the application of analytical techniques to athlete and team performance, business performance, recruitment, and coaching.
Potential roles include:
Glasgow is Scotland's biggest & most cosmopolitan city
Our campus is based right in the very heart of Glasgow. We're in the city centre, next to the Merchant City, both of which are great locations for sightseeing, shopping and socialising alongside your studies.
Life in Glasgow
Overview:
- Founded in 1796 as Anderson's Institution
- Received its Royal Charter in 1964, becoming the University of Strathclyde
- Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK for engineering and technology
- Home to the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), a world-leading research center in metal forming
- Notable alumni include Sir James Black (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), Sir David Murray (former CEO of Rangers Football Club), and Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (astrophysicist)
Student Life:
- Over 23,000 students from over 100 countries
- 150+ student clubs and societies, including sports teams, cultural groups, and academic societies
- Student support services include counseling, health, and disability support
- Campus facilities include a sports center, library, and student union
Academics:
- Offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering, science, business, law, and social sciences
- Faculty includes world-renowned experts in their fields
- Teaching methodologies emphasize hands-on learning and industry engagement
- Academic support services include tutoring, writing centers, and language support
- Unique academic programs include the Strathclyde MBA, which is ranked among the top 100 MBAs in the world
Top Reasons to Study Here:
- Excellent reputation for teaching and research, particularly in engineering and technology
- Strong industry connections and opportunities for internships and placements
- Specialized facilities such as the AFRC and the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
- Vibrant student life with a diverse and inclusive community
- Located in the heart of Glasgow, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city
Services:
- Counseling and mental health support
- Health center with a range of medical services
- Accommodation services with a variety of on-campus and off-campus options
- Library resources with over 1 million books and journals
- Technology support including IT services and free Wi-Fi
- Career development services with support for job searching, CV writing, and interview preparation
Entry requirements
| Academic requirements |
|
|---|---|
| English language requirements |
Students whose first language is not English shall be required to demonstrate an appropriate level of competence in the English language with IELTS not less than 6.5. |
