International Sports Business Management | MSc

Dr Hanya Pielichaty - Programme Leader

Dr Hanya Pielichaty is Associate Professor at Lincoln and focuses her pedagogic approach, research, and external activities in the area of sport, equality, and diversity (specifically gender and gender justice). She is committed to ensuring student experiences and their connected learning environments are inclusive, empowering and allow for 'voice'. Hanya is also the Director of Student Inclusion with the Eleanor Glanville Centre and ensures her passion for equality and diversity is embedded in student-centred activity and research.

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Welcome to MSc International Sports Business Management

Sport is one of the largest industries across the globe, and an industry that connects people at local, national, and international levels. This postgraduate degree has been designed to examine critically the business decisions that shape this lucrative global industry.

From the outset, the programme focuses on the international business management of the sports sector, and explores the culture, policy, impact, and delivery of sporting opportunities. The programme aims to empower students to be critical thinkers in the global world of sports business in order to lead and develop industry practices and processes in responsible and strategically mindful ways.

This programme benefits from industry contacts forged across the sports industry. Previous guest speakers at Lincoln International Business School have included former England and Liverpool football internationals John Barnes and Kevin Keegan, and football agent Dr Erkut Sogut, best known for working with former Arsenal FC and Germany international Mesut Ozil.

Students have the opportunity to explore the challenges facing sports leaders and sports managers across the globe, including the aspects of innovative value creation, strategic leadership, management, finance, equality, and sustainability.

Students are expected to develop their strengths ready to compete in the international jobs market. Proficiency in digital content, and understanding sporting brands and mega events, such as the Olympics, is at the heart of the course. Students who choose the Professional Pathway option will be supported in finding a relevant placement.

By developing the specialist knowledge and skills required, we aim for our postgraduate students to become globally prepared managers and leaders within an ever-changing society.

The course is offered with two separate pathways. Students can either complete one year of study, or undertake a two-year course where one year is spent in Professional Practice to gain hands-on experience through a paid placement. Students will be responsible for sourcing their own paid placements but will be supported by academic staff. Students need to choose which course route they intend to take at the application stage.

How You Study

The taught element of the programme consists of eight core modules and a range of optional modules. The core taught modules are:

- Innovation and Value Creation in Sport Business
- Strategic Challenges for International Sports Business
- Society, Policy and Ethics in Sport
- Leadership Development
- Marketing Communications
- Financial Analysis, Appraisal and Decision Making
- Research Methods
- Personal Professional Development

The following is an illustrative list of options. Optional modules will run as long as at least ten students select them. Timetabling arrangements may limit the availability of some modules. As the options reflect staff research interests, they may change over time.

- Digital Marketing
- Comparative Human Resource Management
- International Entrepreneurship
- Global Relationship Marketing

In the final term, students will undertake the taught module, Leadership Development and the compulsory final project. This final project provides an opportunity to apply and develop the skills and knowledge acquired during the taught element of the programme.

Professional Practice

Students must enrol for one of these options:
- the one-year option without placement, or
- the two-year option which includes a placement.

Students will not be able to change from the one-year option to the two-year option after enrolment. For the two-year option, students must choose the course title that states 'With Professional Practice' when they enrol.

The Professional Practice pathway provides the opportunity to undertake a period of professional practice at the end of the first year to gain hands-on experience through a paid placement. Students will be responsible for sourcing their own paid placements but will be supported by academic staff. Students who are accepted onto the Professional Practice programme will attend a consultation with a Programme Leader and Placement Coordinator early in their first term to discuss timelines, processes, and requirements.

The Professional Practice period is not assessed; however students will be required to present a placement project linked to their experience. Students who successfully complete their degree with a year in Professional Practice will receive the award title MSc International Sports Business Management (with Professional Practice). Those who do not will receive the MSc International Sports Business Management award, or equivalent exit award. There are no tuition fees for the Professional Practice year, but students will need to cover their own travel, accommodation, and general living costs.

Contact Hours and Independent Study

Weekly contact hours on this programme may vary depending on the module options chosen and the stage of study.

Postgraduate level study involves a significant proportion of independent study, exploring the material covered in lectures and seminars. As a general guide, for every hour spent in class, students are expected to spend at least four to five hours in independent study. For more detailed information please contact the Programme Leader.

An Introduction to Your Modules

† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.

Final Project 2023-24MKT9713MLevel 72023-24The final project provides an opportunity for students with a range of experiences and interests to apply and develop their existing skills and knowledge to an independent study project, which affords an opportunity for both the expression of original thought and creativity, together with the application of analytical skills and critical reasoning. Our approach to research projects is to facilitate innovative approaches and diverse pathways to the final assessed piece of work.CoreFinancial Analysis, Appraisal and Decision Making 2023-24ACC9703MLevel 72023-24The module aims to develop the student's ability to critically analyse the financial statements for single and group companies, understanding how the financial statements are prepared, considering compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the relevant International Accounting Standards. Students taking the module will examine both financial and non-financial matters that affect a business on a day to day basis and develop proactive ideas to solve these issues. The module will help to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand corporate financial performance and the relevance of accounting information, including the implications for the organisation, stakeholders, and for effective corporate governance.CoreInnovation and Value Creation in Global Sport Business 2023-24SBM9000MLevel 72023-24This module will examine commercialisation, globalisation, innovation, and value creation within a global sports business. The module applies underpinning business management principles to the nuances of sports business, exploring the developments in sport from the origins of a sport to the global community of sport that addresses contemporary issues. The introduction of innovation in the context of advancements in technology are appraised and includes a critique of the impact of change and value creation for sports consumers, participants and business. Students can critically evaluate the sustainability of sports business with the introduction of innovation alongside new technologies and novel scenarios or influences. Responsible management will consider the concept of success in a sports business and the extent to which the philosophy of winning at all costs is adopted.CoreMarketing Communications 2023-24MKT9125MLevel 72023-24Marketing communications is the process of informing, persuading and reminding customers, intermediaries, employers, and publics of a companys product and or services. The module aims to define the task of communications from a managerial perspective within an international context. The module principally focuses upon the nature of the communication process, the obstacles that are encountered in international communication and the ways in which these problems are overcome.CorePersonal Professional Development 2023-24TOU9166MLevel 72023-24This module aims to equip students for the business environment by incorporating a range of practical and professional skills. Students have the chance to be coached through the process by a team coach and receive mentoring support from academics and business representatives. The topics are selected and designed in close collaboration to industry in order to prepare students for a dynamic work environment.CoreResearch Methods for Tourism, Events and Hospitality 2023-24TOU9176MLevel 72023-24CoreSociety, Policy and Ethics in Sport 2023-24SBM9002MLevel 72023-24The Society, Policy and Ethics in Sport module will examine the way in which sport and sports business is shaped and influenced by socio-political issues from across the world. The module takes a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate the importance of culture within sport and society. Particular emphasis will be placed on how social and political norms and agendas shape and transform elite sport, spaces, and places. Furthermore, an examination of international sports ethics focusing on both historical and contemporary debates will also be of importance. A critical exploration of both the macro (global/professional) and micro (local/amateur) levels of sport and the sports industry will provide relevancy and value to this module. Sports governance and the political landscape of global sports business management will be connected to critical, social debates. This module will seek to understand the social, cultural discipline of sports management against a backdrop of politics, policy, and praxis.CoreStrategic Challenges for International Sports Business 2023-24SBM9001MLevel 72023-24This module can help develop an understanding of the critical trends in the global sports industry, and the factors which underlie these trends to equip, manage and lead at the strategic level in sport organisations. The module can provide the opportunity to analyse the strategy and performance of international sport businesses, federations and organisations in some detail, allowing to bring together the contexts and concepts in understanding complex management issues, while also considering the sustainable strategic management practices at the forefront of contemporary international sports business management.CoreTeams and Leadership 2023-24MGT9645MLevel 72023-24This module provides students with an understanding of how to create high-performing teams. Through a review of theories and models of leadership, team formation, motivation, communication, power, and diversity, students will gain a theoretically sound understanding of team behaviour and effectiveness. Practical class exercises will enable students to develop their skills as team leaders and members.CoreComparative Human Resource Management 2023-24HRM9039MLevel 72023-24This module is designed to introduce students to the principal issues underlying international and comparative human resource management (IHRM) in a global context. Such issues have risen in prominence due to increasing trade liberalisation, globalisation, spread of multinational corporations (MNCs), outsourcing to Asia, developmental focus on Africa and economic integration within the European Union. As firms increasingly internationalise, suitable strategies for managing human resources have become critical to competition between the MNCs. Students can develop an insight into managing human resources in different national contexts and examine those global and national factors that impact approaches taken to international human resource management. More specifically, the module aims to discuss and analyse those factors which result in variations in HRM practices and policies across national business systems.OptionalDigital Marketing 2023-24MKT9118MLevel 72023-24This module provides the opportunity to explore how the increasing pressures and opportunities created by new media formats and electronic communication tools are shaping marketing strategy. The module covers themes such as social media marketing, mobile marketing, data analytics, and digital marketing campaigns.OptionalGlobal Relationship Marketing 2023-24MKT9115MLevel 72023-24Relationship marketing can be seen as the process of creating added value for organisations by managing their connections with internal and external stakeholders. This can include customers, employees, suppliers and distributors. Central to the module is the development of a perspective that sees an increasing role for co-creation with consumers in relationships and the effective implementation of appropriate customer experiences.OptionalInternational Entrepreneurship 2023-24BUS9024MLevel 72023-24Entrepreneurship is an essential skillset in the development at global level of new and existing businesses, social enterprises, and more broadly societies and their economies. Enterprise is defined as the application of creative ideas and innovations to practical situations, combining creativity, ideas development, and problem-solving with expression, communication, and practical action. Entrepreneurship is the application of enterprise skills to creating and growing organisations in an international context in order to identify and build on opportunities. This module draws on the latest UK QAA Guidance on Enterprise and Entrepreneurship in Higher Education and aims to develop, at an international level, enterprise awareness, an entrepreneurial mindset, and entrepreneurial capability, which can lead to entrepreneurial effectiveness which can be applied in a range of contexts.OptionalProfessional Practice 2023-24TOU9167MLevel 72023-24This course is also available with a Professional Practice pathway. This two-year version of the degree provides the opportunity to undertake a period of professional practice at the end of first year to gain hands-on experience through a paid work placement. Students will be responsible for sourcing their own paid placements but will be supported by academic staff. Students will be interviewed before being accepted onto the Professional Practice programme to assess their understanding of the work involved and commitment to finding a Professional Practice placement. The professional practice (PP) period is not credit bearing and will not count towards the overall degree; however, to have the PP element attached to the degree, students are required to present a placement project linked to their experience while being in industry (e.g. learning outcomes, key skills developed, nature of the work and responsibilities). The presentation can be delivered face-to-face while the academic placement supervisor is visiting the student/organisation or via Skype if there are limitations (e.g. location). Throughout the PP period, students will be in touch with the University by having regular contact with their allocated supervisor. Students will be expected to complete a negotiated work based project as their dissertation.Optional

How you are assessed

The delivery methods on this programme are varied to ensure taught content is actively engaged with. Students are likely to attend lectures, seminars, workshops, field visits, and interactive sessions druing the course.

Students will receive formative feedback throughout the term to help them prepare for assessments. This may be through formative assessment (such as ungraded presentations or mock questions), directed activities in seminars, or informal discussions with the seminar tutor. Formative feedback may be received in verbal and/or written format and could be directed to a group as well as to an individual.

Students will also receive feedback on graded assessments. This usually includes comments detailing the quality of the work and how the student could improve their performance, as well as a highlighted criteria grid identifying performance against the assessed marks criteria.

The University of Lincoln's policy is to ensure that staff return assessments to students promptly.

Fees and Funding

For eligible students, there are more ways than ever before to fund your postgraduate study, whether you want to do a taught or research course. For those wishing to undertake a Master's course, UK students can apply for a loan as a contribution towards the course and living costs. Loans are also available to those who wish to undertake doctoral study. The University offers a number of scholarships and funded studentships for those interested in postgraduate study. Learn how Master's and PhD loans, scholarships, and studentships can help you fund your studies on our Postgraduate Fees and Funding pages.

Programme Fees

Programme-Specific Additional Costs

For each course you may find that there are additional costs. These may be with regard to the specific clothing, materials or equipment required, depending on your course. Some courses provide opportunities for you to undertake field work or field trips. Students may be required to pay for their own transportation, accommodation, and meal costs.

With regards to textbooks, the University provides students who enrol with a comprehensive reading list and you will find that our extensive library holds either material or virtual versions of the core texts that you are required to read. However, you may prefer to purchase some of these for yourself and you will be responsible for this cost.

Entry Requirements 2023-24

Honours degree at 2:2 or equivalent.

If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages for information on equivalent qualifications: https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/

Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page: https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/.

If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-session English and Academic Study Skills courses: https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/pre-sessionalenglishandacademicstudyskills/

These specialist courses are designed to help students meet the English language requirements for their intended programme of study.

Career Opportunities

Regardless of the pathway chosen, students successfully completing this course are prepared for a career in a wide range of sectors, including the leisure, tourism, events, and business industries.

The University Careers and Employability Team offers qualified advisors who can work with you to provide tailored, individual support and careers advice during your time at the University. As a member of our alumni we also offer one-to-one support in the first year after completing your course, including access to events, vacancy information, and website resources; with access to online vacancies and virtual and website resources for the following two years.

This service can include one-to-one coaching, CV advice, and interview preparation to help you maximise your future opportunities. The service works closely with local, national, and international employers, acting as a gateway to the business world.

Working in Partnership

Lincoln International Business School works with students and organisations to enhance the contribution of business to society. For students, that means developing their business skills and knowledge to improve their career readiness.

The University of Lincoln is a member of AACSB, a global nonprofit association connecting educators, students, and businesses to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders. Find out more.

Postgraduate Events

Find out more about how postgraduate study can help further your career, develop your knowledge, or even prepare you to start your own business at one of our postgraduate events.

Find out More

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Key Information

MSc International Sports Business Management