Program Overview

Master of Sport Directorship (MSD)

The Master of Sport Directorship (MSD) is a part-time, two-year postgraduate program designed for sports and business professionals seeking to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to take their next career step with confidence. The program is offered by Manchester Metropolitan University and is endorsed by industry partners such as the England Rugby League, Premiership Rugby, and Rugby Football League.

Course Overview

The MSD program is designed to equip students with the expertise to meet the demand of leading sporting organizations. The course covers topics such as leading for high performance, strategic operations, innovation and change, governance, and best practice. The program combines expert content delivery from the Business School teaching team with guest speakers who draw on their own specialist expertise from the national and international business and sports community.

Features and Benefits

• A global city for sport: Study in one of the UK's greatest sporting cities, home to two top premier league clubs, an international cricket ground, and a renowned velodrome.
• Triple accredited: The Business School holds the globally recognized trio of accreditations from EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA, placing it among the best business schools in the world.
• Masterclass Series: This series brings experts in from the industry, including past speakers such as the Head of Communications at British Cycling, CEO of the Essex Cricket Club, and the Development Director at the FA.
• Backed by science: The program delves into the science of performance management to help students appreciate and improve business performance.
• Learn from the experts: The MSD teaching team has a wealth of experience in areas such as leadership, strategy, operations, team performance, innovation, change, and governance.
• Endorsed by industry: The teaching on this course is endorsed by the England Rugby League, Premiership Rugby, and Rugby Football League.
• A world of opportunities: The program helps students prepare for director-level roles in global organizations, including Premier League clubs, Olympics, FIFA, and more.
• Executive Coaching: All students are offered the chance to work with an Executive Coach, a valued approach to individual development and a well-established practice in business.
• Diverse community: The program welcomes people from all aspects of sport, from grassroots to high-profile professionals, and also suits business owners wanting to grow their company.
• International scholarships: Manchester Met is committed to recognizing high-achieving students and provides international scholarships of £3,000 to eligible postgraduate students from outside the UK.

Accreditations, Awards, and Endorsements

• Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business: The Business School is accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, recognizing it for meeting global standards of excellence in business and management education.
• Business School Impact System (BSIS): The BSIS scheme is designed to determine the extent and nature of a business school's impact upon its local environment, providing tools to capture the added value and impact that the business school brings to businesses and communities.
• EFMD Quality Improvement System: The Business School holds the EQUIS accreditation, a leading international system of quality assessment, improvement, and accreditation of higher education institutions in management and business administration.

Year 1

In Year 1, students complete two core units that cover leading for high performance and managing strategic operations.

Core Modules

• Leading for High Performance: This module critically examines the application of models, theories, and behaviors for high-performance leadership, informed by leading research and practice.
• Managing Strategic Operations: This module develops a critical awareness of how operations management can influence and shape competitive strategy within sports, focusing on acquiring practical understanding of strategic operational management skills required for effective business function.

Year 2

In Year 2, students complete three core units, covering harnessing creativity and innovation for change, mastering governance, finance, and compliance, and sporting directorship in practice, which is the dissertation unit.

Core Modules

• Harnessing Creativity and Innovation for Change: This module explores how creativity drives innovation and change, adopting a systematic, critical, and practical approach to develop relevant theories, techniques, and models.
• Mastering Governance, Finance, and Compliance: This module develops the skills for effective directorship in a sporting context, analyzing and synthesizing principles, models, and frameworks for governance in relation to reflections of leadership experience.
• Sporting Directorship in Practice: Students identify, research, and strategically analyze a complex managerial or business issue pertaining to sporting organizations, developing deep expertise and competence essential for success as a sporting director.

Study and Assessment

• Study: Part-time, with 25% lectures, seminars, or similar, 0% placement, and 75% independent study.
• Assessment: 100% coursework, with no practical or examination components.

Entry Requirements

The Master of Sport Directorship is designed for self-starters who possess a rare combination of skills, experience, and ambition, providing the foundation for the role of Sports Director. Applicants may be working in a sporting environment or in a business role seeking to move into sport. The program is also suitable for ex-players and sports professionals currently in management looking to acquire the business skills needed to take the step into the position of Sports Director.

Fees and Funding

• Tuition Fees:
  • UK and Channel Island students: Part-time fee, £19,500, with Year 1 at £6,500 and Year 2 at £13,000.
  • EU and Non-EU international students: Part-time fee, £23,000, with Year 1 at £7,668 and Year 2 at £15,336. Self-funding international students are eligible for the International PGT Scholarship worth £3,500.
• Additional Costs: An optional estimate of £400 for books, printing, and a laptop.

Careers Support and Prospects

• Employed or in further study: 93.7% of UK-domiciled, full-time, postgraduate taught graduates are employed or in further study 15 months after graduation.
• Explore your options and build sought-after skills: The Careers Service supports students in getting ready for what comes next, whether continuing studies or pursuing work ambitions.
• A career as unique as you: The program prepares students to step up to the boardroom and prepare for the world of business, with many graduates qualified for the position of Sporting Director or moving into more senior roles within sporting organizations.