Sport Business Management BA (Hons) with foundation year

This module aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts in marketing, including digital and social media. Develop an understanding of the role of marketing within an organisation, and the influence of factors in the external environment on marketing decisions including ethics, social responsibility and sustainability. Also develop an understanding of key marketing theories, approaches and strategies related to areas such as buyer behaviour, segmentation, targeting and positioning, branding, digital and social media marketing.

Compulsory

This module aims to provide a holistic view of management and organisation theories and practices, exploring how people interact with each other in the workplace and the role that leaders and managers play in the organisation. Organisational culture, structure and type are examined to consider the impact they have on human behaviour, interactions and organisational outcomes. Examine the role of people management practices and how this affects individual behaviour in the workplace. By introducing concepts such as motivation, engagement and commitment, the module will explore how people work together as a team, and how leaders and managers can understand emotional and psychological responses to work.

Compulsory

Whether qualitative or quantitative, financial or non-financial, data is everywhere and plays a crucial role in informing decision-making. This module introduces the fundamental concepts and principles of business finance and data analytics, and how they can be applied to measure and analyse organisational and functional performance, and support decision-making. Data analytics is a skill set that is becoming increasingly important for finding actionable insights from data and guiding strategic business decisions. This module is designed to help deepen your analytical mindset, develop your understanding of financial information, and prepare you to use relevant financial management and data analytic tools, techniques, and methods to assist the decision-making process both in the short and long terms.

Compulsory

This module aims to enable you to engage critically with sustainability and entrepreneurship in the context of management theory and practice. Explore the relationships between organisations and societies and the impact of significant societal change on different types of organisations. Drawing on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), examine how organisations respond by altering their practices through innovation and entrepreneurial activities. Ethical business practices and sustainability are further explored, requiring you to reflect on your approaches to ideation in creating social and organisational value.

Compulsory

This module aims to develop your understanding of how well-designed investigations and research work. Develop your understanding of the research process, including literature review, research methodology and methods, data collection and analysis. This module provides you with the foundation for future research activity and the ability to design research to meet specific research objectives. Develop insight and the ability to understand and critique investigations and research undertaken by others. You will also have the opportunity to evaluate how conclusions are reached and analyse the methods used to get to those conclusions.

Compulsory

This module explores the strategic and practical role of operations management in the delivery of successful sport and event experiences. Examine how operations contribute to organisational performance, sustainability and competitive advantage. Key topics include capacity planning and crowd management, performance management, risk management, health and safety, service blueprint and sustainable venue operations. This module also investigates how operations integrate with marketing, finance, people management and design functions. Through real-world case studies and applied learning, you will have the opportunity to develop the ability to evaluate operational effectiveness and address key challenges in venue and event delivery, and prepare for professional roles in the sport and events industries.

Compulsory

This module aims to help you gain real-world project management experience in the sport and event industries. Develop essential project management skills for sport and events, and learn to plan, execute and evaluate projects using industry tools, and work collaboratively to deliver a live event. Build your understanding of the steps, tools and methods needed to successfully start, plan, run, control and close a project. Learn how to manage a project effectively while considering the broader sport or event business environment it takes place in. As part of the module, you will have the opportunity to work in groups to plan, organise, deliver and evaluate a small-scale live event, putting your project management skills into practice.

Compulsory

Explore the role of sport in society, critically analysing sport policies and social impact through case studies. Examine key sport development and policy debates, and their implications in terms of funding.

Sport organisations, whether they are public, private, or non-profit, operate in a wider social context. This module explores how social inequalities and broader social issues affect sporting organisations and interrogate the value of sport for achieving positive outcomes, individually and societally. Develop a critical understanding of how sport could help governments and international organisations achieve a wide range of outcomes. Examine the roles played in policymaking by a range of important stakeholders in sport. Debates around mass participation versus elite development, the role of sport development and how it is managed and funded are also among the important issues addressed in this module. This module will make extensive use of case studies to help you understand practical, real-life issues and allow you to apply theory to find solutions for real-world issues.

Compulsory

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

This module provides you with the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills to a real-world business issue. You may choose to undertake a research project, a consultancy-style investigation, or a management simulation. Through critical engagement with academic and industry literature, data analysis and reflective inquiry, develop evidence-based insights and propose realistic, practical recommendations. This module encourages independent thinking, problem-solving and analytical capabilities.

Compulsory

Explore strategic management and marketing in sport and events. Analyse branding, fan engagement and internationalisation strategies while balancing commercialisation and social responsibility. This module aims to provide you with both a theoretical and practical understanding of how business strategy can be formulated in the light of environmental and internal conditions and requirements. You will explore strategic management and marketing tools and frameworks; and apply them to develop marketing strategies considerate of both societal expectations and the social impact of sport and events.

Compulsory

Explore strategic communication in sport, mastering media strategies, PR management and crisis response. Apply theory to real-world cases, developing skills to engage audiences and manage reputational challenges effectively.

This module focuses on strategic communication through both traditional and social media with the public and other stakeholders in the sport context. It also takes a strategic approach to managing PR and crisis communication within the sport industry and includes discussion of practical strategies and techniques useful to managers.

Compulsory

Learn how to represent athletes and sports organisations, negotiate sponsorships, manage media rights and develop commercial strategies. Gain practical experience in talent representation, deal-making and branding in the sports industry.² This module focuses on branding, sponsorship, endorsements, licensing and media rights. Develop skills in strategic representation, negotiation, and commercial deal-making to prepare for careers in sports agencies, marketing, sponsorship and rights management.

Explore the commercial value of sports organisations—clubs, leagues, governing bodies, and event organisers—examining how they monetise broadcast rights, licensing, venue sponsorships and brand partnerships.

Gain hands-on experience in talent and rights representation through the development of a commercial strategy for an athlete or organisation and the delivery of a sponsorship pitch.² This module also addresses ethical considerations, reputational challenges, and the impact of media scrutiny on talent and sponsorships. By the end of the module, you should be able to understand the evolving nature of rights and talent representation in sports.

Compulsory