of graduate employers say relevant experience is essential to getting a job with them
Award
BA (Hons)
Duration
1 year FT
UCAS Code
N2C6
Placement
Included in course
Entry
September, February
Fees
View Fees
£44m invested in flagship facilities, including sport, to support your future career opportunities
Optional modules allow you to tailor your studies to match your interests
With more people than ever now aware of the link between an active lifestyle and good health, sports-related activities have become a booming business. If you want to boost your prospects of a career in this exciting sector, our Sports Management top-up degree course will arm you with the skills and knowhow needed to succeed.
Designed for anyone who has previously studied a relevant subject (up to Level 5), this course will enhance your skill set in vital areas such as analysis, communication and decision making, as well as the management and practical skills needed to make the most of business opportunities in sport, both in the UK and abroad.
Throughout your studies, you will have use of our wide range of cutting-edge sports facilities at University College Birmingham, helping you improve your practical skills for the industry. As we are a higher education partner of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), you will also enjoy other benefits including CIMSPA membership upon your enrolment.
Why should I choose this course?
- SPECIALISE YOUR STUDIES – Choose from a range of optional modules, covering subjects ranging from coaching to sports psychology or financial strategy
- IN-DEPTH RESEARCH – Carry out your own research project and analyse an area of sports management that matches your interests and career aims
- INDUSTRY APPROVED – Boost your employability by studying a course aligned with industry expectations, as well as becoming a CIMSPA student member when you enrol
Our facilities
Students on our sports courses at University College Birmingham have access to a wide range of excellent facilities. Our campus features a brand new Human Performance Centre, cutting-edge gym and sports injury and massage clinics, while you also have access to the state-of-the-art facilities at nearby Avery Fields, thanks to our partnership with local rugby club Bournville RFC.
Our new Human Performance Centre includes a 35m sprint track (with force plate) and sled track, eight lifting platforms, 7m rig and large screens displaying live analysis data
Our purpose-built Human Performance Laboratory features the latest equipment including an anti-gravity treadmill, isokinetic dynamometer, Monark LC7 cycle ergometer and SECA body composition analyser
Our sports clinics on campus are open to the public and provide the ideal environment for our sports students to put training into practice treating and assessing patients
The impressive £3m Avery Fields complex – which we share with Bournville RFC – boasts an all-weather pitch, two grass pitches and a clubhouse with function room and modern changing facilities
Course breakdown
- Modules
Core Modules
Development and Innovation in Sport
The business environment for sport is changing and managers need the skills and ability to identify and forecast change to create new services or adapt existing ones. You will understand the importance of innovation and creativity within the industry and learn to use a mixture of critical and creative thinking to make informed business decisions.
International Sports Environment
You will develop an awareness and understanding of the dynamic nature of the international sporting environment. This module will help you identify the social, economic and political factors driving change and proactive and reactive responses to issues relating to an increasingly chaotic business environment.
Research Project
You will have the opportunity to engage in an independent research project of your choice. You will have support with preparing your proposal and understanding the competent characteristics of good research. An appointed tutor will help guide you through this important and rewarding process.
Strategy in Sport
The global sports world is becoming more dynamic and managers need to formulate and implement strategies that consider their organisation and the current industry environment. You will examine the evolution of strategic management within sports, form and evaluate corporate level strategies and explore a wide range of alternative approaches.
Plus one option from:
Financial Strategy
An opportunity to consolidate your financial planning knowledge, you will learn how to synthesise and evaluate business performance and strategy. You will develop an in-depth knowledge of financial concepts and how companies portray themselves through their annual reports.
Sports Tourism
You will analyse the development and future prospects of sport tourism as an area of growth, focusing on environmental frame conditions and examining the relationship between sport and tourism in the context of future strategies.
Sports Coaching and the Development of Expertise
What does it mean to become an expert in the sports environment? You will gain an understanding of how to develop sport expertise through the use of evidence-informed coaching practice through theory, sampling and specialisation. You will also analyse and critique methods to facilitate motor and perceptual cognitive skills acquisition.
Work Based Learning for Sport
The aim of this module is for you to gain work-based experience within the sport and fitness industry. This experience will allow you to further enhance both your career-specific skills and transferable skills. Throughout the work-based learning module, you will have the opportunity to experience and observe a variety of different practices. The module further aims to develop your ability to analyse the work-based experience, with the use of reflection models. In addition the module is focused upon ensuring you are employment ready following the completion of your studies.
Sports Psychology II
You will design and implement a range of interventions addressing areas such as concentration, motivation, aggression, anxiety and injury. You will critically evaluate measurement tools and the impact of regulatory and ethical issues. Using sports psychology in this manner benefits all professionals working in the sports environment.
Sports Marketing
You will be integrating the concepts of marketing with sports-related products and services and the use of sporting events. This will give you the understanding and knowledge of the important factors that affect this area of business such as sponsorship, branding, digital marketing concepts, relationship marketing and consumer behaviour before examining their impact on the domestic and international markets.
The modules listed above for this course are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up to date and informed by industry as well as the latest teaching methods. On occasion, we may need to make unexpected changes to modules – if this occurs, we will contact all offer holders as soon as possible.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
Academic: A relevant HND or a foundation degree in the area of Sports Management, with 240 credits.
If you are unsure if your previous qualification is suitable, please contact us before completing an application. You can complete our enquiry form here or call us on 0121 604 1040
EU/international students
Academic: European and International qualifications studied in a relevant subject matter will also be considered. Applicants will need to have achieved 120 ECTS or equivalent (European Credit Transfer).
If you are unsure if your previous qualification is suitable, please contact us before completing an application. You can call us on 0121 604 1040 or send an email:
International: International@ucb.ac.uk
Key information
Teaching and assessment
Note: Indicative information only – actual timetables and assessment regimes will be issued at your induction.
Teaching
Example of a typical teaching week (up to 12 contact hours):
- Large group teaching – 6 hours
- Smaller group teaching – 3 hours
- Tutorials – 3 hours
You will also need to commit around 20 hours per week for individual study time.
Assessment
Estimated breakdown of assessment for this course:
- Coursework – 58%
- Practical assessment – 33%
- Written examinations – 9%
Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy 2021-2024.
Tuition fees
UK students
If you are a UK student enrolling on a standard length Foundation Degree or a BA/BSc at University College Birmingham, your fee for this academic year will be £9,250. A half-year tuition fee is £4,625. There will be no change to this tuition fee for the forthcoming two academic years (2022/23 and 2023/24).
View undergraduate fees
International students
If you are an international student enrolling on a full-time foundation degree or a BA/BSc in 2022/23, your fee for this academic year will be £13,500 per year.
If you complete a placement year, there will be an administration fee of £500 for a full year, or £250 for a half-year placement.
Kick-Start Scheme
As a new student studying this course full-time, you will receive £300 per year through our Kick-Start Scheme (UK students only, eligibility criteria applies). This scheme will support your studies and future career by contributing to course-related materials, uniform or selected items on campus. You may also qualify for an additional £500 per year.
Find out more about the Kick-Start Scheme here.
UCBconnect - meet other students on your course
Starting university is an exciting time, but we understand that it can sometimes feel a little daunting. To support you, we have created a platform called UCBconnect, where you can meet other students who have applied for the same course at University College Birmingham, before you start studying here.
As soon as you have been made an offer, you will be sent an invitation via text and email to complete your user registration and join UCBconnect. For more information, please visit ucb.ac.uk/ucbconnect.
Latest updates
Join the conversation and check out the latest updates from the department of Sport and Nutrition.
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UCB Sports |
This course is accredited by the University of Warwick.
University College Birmingham is a higher education partner of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).
University College Birmingham will be the home of Team Scotland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
University College Birmingham adopts the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) position that cheating, including doping, in sport is fundamentally contrary to the spirit of sport and undermines the otherwise positive impact of sport on society. View our Clean Sport Commitment statement here.
Accreditations, endorsements and partnerships
University College Birmingham works with a wide range of organisations to ensure you receive the best possible training and qualifications recognised by industry.
70%
Work experience
Work experience is vital for learning how to apply your training in the real world and for building your confidence and skills before you finish your course – and it may even lead to a job when you graduate. Our hired@UCB team can help you find suitable work experience.
We encourage students on our BA Sports Management top-up course to gain work experience throughout your studies. The 'Work-Based Learning for Sport' module incorporates a work placement.
Work alongside experts in your sector
A snapshot of some of the employers we have worked with:
- Sport4Life
- Anytime Fitness Edgbaston
- The Pumphouse Gym
- Tempest Executives
- The Clubhouse, Solihull
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, please be aware that opportunities to travel abroad for placements, project work or residential trips may be affected by government travel restrictions. Please visit our updates and FAQs page for information.
I loved the mix of business and sports modules. There are also annual residential course trips, small class sizes and plenty of variation in assessment methods. I was encouraged to embrace the business modules as much as the sport modules, as they are just as useful for my career.
Career opportunities
The example roles and salaries below are intended as a guide only.
Fitness centre manager
Average Salary: £23,000 – £30,000
Sports development officer
Average Salary: £30,000
Sports coach
Average Salary: £32,500
Event manager
Average Salary: £33,000
Marketing executive
Average salary: £26,500 – £30,500
Performance analyst
Average Salary: £35,910
Want to take your studies to the next level? Completing the BA (Hons) degree will enable you to move onto our postgraduate courses such as Enterprise Management MSc/PGDip or Global Meetings and Events Management MSc/PGDip. If you are interested in teaching, you could also progress onto our PGCE course.
Tom’s Story
Tom is having a ball as marketing strategist for a Canadian Major League Soccer team, and it all started at University College Birmingham.
Meet your lecturers
