About the degree programme

Sport is a rapidly expanding global business. Our unique BSc Sport Management degree will prepare you for a career in this exciting industry.

Immerse yourself in a dynamic programme that blends theory with real-world experience. With a diverse range of courses on offer throughout your time on the programme, BSc Sport Management equips you with the tools you need to transform your passion for sport into a lifelong profession.

What you will learn

In the course of studying sport management, you will learn about:

  • the principles of management at operational and strategic levels
  • policy and governance across and within the sports industry
  • the value and purpose of sport in society
  • the role of marketing and communication in sport
  • the social, cultural and economic importance of sport
  • the intersections between sport and technology
  • a range of contemporary and global issues in sport
  • the relationship between sport and other industries, including health, education, and tourism and heritage
  • a range of research methods and traditions

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

This programme is studied over 4 years.

A key benefit to studying a 4-year degree programme is that you have the flexibility to study a range of subjects, outside your chosen degree programme, in Year 1 and Year 2.

This allows you the opportunity to study other courses that interest you or enhance your degree. By the end of Year 2, you can decide which of these subject areas you want to focus on in the honours years of your programme.

Programme rankings

Ranked in Europe's top 6 universities for sports-related subjects in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025.

Programme benefits

  • The University benefits from strong connections with a range of major sports organisations. These provide excellent placement opportunities and guest speakers to enhance your learning.
  • Deepen your understanding of sport management in practice during professional placement in Year 2 with a local, national, or international sports organisation.
  • You can choose to study abroad in Year 3.
  • We have state-of-the-art research equipment and excellent facilities, including a specialised building in the city centre with sports biomechanics and exercise physiology labs.
  • Many of our students have managed to combine studying with successful sporting careers. Professional athletes who have studied with us include:
    • Sir Chris Hoy, Olympic gold medallist
    • Kelly Brown, former Scotland Rugby Captain
    • Sarah Adlington, Commonwealth gold medallist
    • Grace Reid, Olympic diver

Find your entry requirements

Use the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.

  1. Select the country where you are studying or where you studied your qualification.
  2. Select the qualification you are studying or studied.
United Kingdom,

Tuition fees for BSc (Hons) Sport Management

View the tuition fees for one academic year of BSc (Hons) Sport Management.

Additional costs

Some courses will require you to pay additional costs, depending on whether specific activities are involved. 

For example, you may choose to do a particular type of research where you will work with children or vulnerable adults. In this case, you will be required to pay the cost of applying to the Scottish government's Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme.

This currently costs between £18 and £59.

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.

This estimate covers the costs of:

  • accommodation
  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel within Edinburgh
  • health and wellbeing costs

Scholarships and funding

Funding information

You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section.

What you will study

In Year 1, you will study four compulsory courses:

  • The Sport Industry
  • Sport Marketing and Sponsorship
  • Sport History
  • Sport and Society

These four courses provide a strong foundation from which to develop your learning over the next years of your degree. 

These courses will teach you a range of skills including different forms of written communication and group work. 

You will also take courses offered elsewhere in the University. For example, you can complement your learning through courses in:

  • the Business School
  • the School of Social and Political Science
  • the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures
Find Year 1 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

In Year 2, you will take four compulsory courses:

  • Sport Operations Management
  • Events Management
  • Research Methods
  • Professional Placement

In Semester 1, you will again have access to other courses offered elsewhere in the University.

Professional Placement

The Professional Placement course is a six-week research-based placement with a local, national, or international sports organisation.

Learning outcomes

Through these courses, you will develop:

  • presentation skills
  • report-writing skills
  • the use of case study approaches
  • an understanding of how management works in the real world of sport
  • an understanding of how to conduct your own research project
Find Year 2 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

In Year 3, you will take the following compulsory courses:

  • Sports Development
  • Sport and Communication
  • Strategic Sport Management
  • Critical Sociological Critiques of Sport
  • Advanced Research Methods

These further develop your knowledge of the sport industry and key concepts and research in social science and management studies.

Option courses

You will also select one additional course from the following options:

  • Sport, Physical Activity and Public Health
  • Sport, Education and Social Justice
  • Sport, Tourism, and Heritage
  • The Dark Sides of Sport
  • Sport and Technology
Find Year 3 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

You will take the following compulsory courses:

  • Sport Industry in a Global Context
  • Sport, Media and Ideology
  • Contemporary Issues in Sport Management
Option courses

You will also select one additional option course. For this, you can do one of the following:

  • pick a course from the same range of options you had in Year 3
  • take the Sport and Social Enterprise course, which is available in Year 4 only
Dissertation

In Year 4, you will research and submit a dissertation report on a sport management topic of your choice. A member of staff will supervise this project.

Find Year 4 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Study abroad

It is possible to study abroad in Year 3 in:

  • USA
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Singapore
  • Malaysia
  • a number of European countries

What are my options for going abroad?

Placements

In Year 2, you will complete a compulsory placement with a local, national or international sports organisation. The placement is research-based and lasts six weeks. 

This invaluable work-based learning will:

  • further your understanding of sport management in practice
  • enhance your employability

Previous student placement organisations include:

  • community sports clubs
  • health and fitness clubs
  • football clubs, including Celtic and Manchester United
  • golf courses, including Gleneagles
  • sports marketing and media companies, including Sky Sports, IMG, the Scotsman
  • sport governing bodies, including:
    • Sportscotland
    • Scottish Hockey
    • Jogscotland
    • Basketball Scotland
    • Rugby Football Union (RFU)
    • Scottish Rugby Union (SRU)
  • local authority sport and leisure services including Edinburgh Leisure

Read more about our placement opportunities

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

You will be taught through:

  • lectures
  • tutorials
  • site visits
  • practical work
  • problem-based and case-study work
  • seminars

Assessment

You will be assessed through a range of coursework methods, including:

  • essays, reports and other written assignments
  • group and individual oral presentations
  • posters presentations
  • placement project reports
  • videos and vlogs

You will complete a dissertation in Year 4.

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.

Our academic staff

You will join a community of researchers and academics involved in:

  • sports and health-related research
  • advising government departments
  • local, national and international governance of sport
  • providing analyses to media outlets
  • organising international conferences
  • international development initiatives

Where you will study

Study location

Most of your teaching will take place within Moray House School of Education and Sport. The school is part of the Holyrood campus in central Edinburgh.

Academic facilities

The school has its own IT labs and library. You will also have access to all University computer facilities and libraries.

Virtual tour

You can take a closer look at Moray House School of Education and Sport and explore our facilities and campus on the University's Virtual Visit site.

Take a virtual tour of Moray House School of Education and Sport

Career paths

Recent graduates have gone on to work in professional fields such as:

  • sport marketing
  • sport tourism
  • events management companies
  • national governing bodies
  • local authorities
  • health and fitness clubs
  • sports media companies

Some graduates have started their own businesses or continued with their education, taking a range of postgraduate courses.

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals.

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies.

With the Careers Service, you can:

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions

How to apply

You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline.

What you need to apply

As part of your application, you will need:

  • your academic qualifications
  • a personal statement
  • evidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications)
  • a reference

How we select

If you have met, or are predicted to meet, all our entry requirements by the relevant deadline, then your application will go into our selection process.

As part of this selection process, we will review all the information you submit in your UCAS application when we decide who to select for this degree programme.

When to apply

  • 2026 entry UCAS deadline: 14 January 2026 (6:00pm GMT)

This is the deadline for all UK, EU and international applicants to non-medicine and veterinary medicine programmes.

To find out if any degree programmes have spaces after 14 January 2026, search the University of Edinburgh on the UCAS website.

After you apply

After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:

Applying as an international student

As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS.  

Visas and immigration 

If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme.  

Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. 

Agents  

An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. 

We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact.  

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

The city of Edinburgh

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life.

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include:

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustment