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Apply your passion for sport to business mechanisms and management practice

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NC26
3 years full-time
Bishop Otter Campus (Chichester)

Top 30

UK university out of 122 institutions

Guardian University Guide 2025

4th

in the UK for student satisfaction for Business and Management

Complete University Guide 2024

Top 15

for teaching quality across Business, Management and Marketing

Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

Top 30

UK university out of 122 institutions

Guardian University Guide 2025

4th

in the UK for student satisfaction for Business and Management

Complete University Guide 2024

Top 15

for teaching quality across Business, Management and Marketing

Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

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Overview

Understand the core concepts of management in the context of sport

Our three-year, Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA)-endorsed BA (Hons) Sport Business Management degree develops your knowledge and the understanding of some of the principal aspects of business and management in sport.

Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) education partner

Explore business and management within sport

By designing strategies, leading projects and creating awareness, you will help to solve the most pressing challenges facing the sport industry and become unmissable to employers.

You will learn the core principles of business and management through a sport lens and apply this knowledge when experiencing real-world environments. A work placement, regular visits to employers and guest lectures by those working in industry complement the expertise of our staff. Graduates of the programme have successfully advanced within sport and mainstream business pathways, demonstrating the transferable skills of the degree.

Learn from people that breathe sport

Our passion is to positively change sport. Our staff have decades of industry experience, undertake globally-recognised research and engage with some of the most important sport organisations nationally and internationally. We breathe sport and have a genuine enthusiasm for sharing this understanding in discussion with our students.

Work with industry practitioners on real projects

As part of the course, you will undertake a work placement module of approximately six weeks. This typically takes place in a sport/leisure organisation, a sports management company, or a sport/community development organisation.

Professional body endorsement

The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) endorses our sport business management degree, which means you will receive student membership of CIMSPA and have confidence that this degree is what employers are looking for.

The Course

Grow your curiosity for sport whilst benefitting from insights and expertise in business and management

A passion and curiosity for sport framed through an understanding of business mechanisms and management practice.

Year One

Delve into the core concepts and skills that will underpin your degree. We will introduce you to university life and support you to understand the key features of the sport industry, how and why some people are excluded from sport, how to manage an organisation and its central business systems, the key principles behind marketing, the fundamentals of law for managers, and why sustainability is so crucial.

Year Two

Advance your understanding with content focusing on leadership, finance, project and operations management, and the importance of data. These are woven to a focus on the commercialisation of sport and how we consume sport and physical activity. Afterward there is the opportunity to undertake a sandwich year with an employer or progress straight to year three.

Year Three

Apply your expertise to tackle real-world challenges. The most contemporary and pressing issues affecting sport globally are critiqued so that you know what to encounter and engage with after graduating. The culmination of your knowledge is showcased in a dissertation, whilst your professional skills are honed in a dedicated work placement.

Indicative modules

You will study a selection of core and optional modules during your degree. Each module is worth a particular number of credits and is delivered differently depending on the needs of the module.

This list is indicative and subject to future change.

Modules

This list is subject to change

Select a year

Academic & Professional Skills

This module is designed to facilitate a smooth transition when entering university, fostering both academic and professional skill development. It places a strong emphasis on personal growth, encouraging you to reflect on your development while also valuing the contributions of your peers. With a focus on academic skills and personal development, the module aims to equip you with the tools necessary for success in both your academic pursuits and future professional endeavours.

Assessment:
3,000-word Portfolio

Introductory Law for Managers

This module aims to introduce you to the subject of law relevant to the commercial world. The module looks to provide you with sufficient understanding of the law so that, as managers, you can recognise and understand its relevance and application within a commercial context.

Assessment:
1.5 Hour Exam
1.5 Hour Exam

Introduction to Sustainability

Collaborative exploration of sustainability not only fosters deeper understanding but also cultivates vital skills like ethical reasoning and effective communication. Encouraging you to examine sustainability within specific sectors or industries can lead to insightful discussions and innovative solutions to real-world challenges.

Assessment:
Poster and 10-minute poster presentation with Q&A.

Management and Organisations

This module is an excellent gateway to the world of management and organisational behaviour! By encouraging exploratory learning, it offers you a chance to develop not only academic knowledge but also self-awareness and interpersonal skills. Such an approach is vital for preparing you for the complexities of the modern workplace and can inspire a lifelong curiosity in the subject.

Assessment:
Individual 3,000-word report

Marketing Principles & Practice

This marketing module offers a comprehensive exploration of marketing’s significance in today’s business landscape, covering essential tools and concepts. You will delve into the extended services mix, buyer behaviour, segmentation and market research, while also examining broader business facets like contemporary society, digital advancements, and disruptive business models. Through real-world examples, interactive discussions and engaging activities, you will gain a practical understanding of marketing principles and their application in various contexts.

Assessment:
3,000-word Report

The Sports Industry Landscape

This module offers you a comprehensive exploration of key organizations and sectors crucial to the sports landscape, with a focus on the UK.

By delving into the core actions and aspirations of these entities, you will gain insight into how they shape, evolve, and impact the world of sports and physical activity.

Through critical analysis of strategic documents, you will be prompted to evaluate the efficacy of prominent organisations, fostering a deeper understanding of their roles and influence within the realm of sports.

Assessment:
15-minute Presentation
1,500-word Essay

Technology for Business

This module is designed to introduce you to the use of technology, primarily information systems, and how organisations adapt and leverage digital technology solutions to gain a competitive advantage.

Assessment:
3,000-word Report

Sport and Social Justice

This module offers you a foundational understanding of social justice in sport, emphasising concepts like equity, diversity, and inclusivity.

By exploring the intersection of sport and social science theories, you will gain insight into how sporting structures can either include or exclude various identities and social groups.

Furthermore, the module prompts you to examine how sports organizations address the needs of diverse populations. Ultimately, it fosters critical thinking about the role of sports in addressing broader societal inequalities.

Assessment:
3,000-word Essay

Consuming Sport and Fitness

This module explores modern society’s consumption of sport and fitness, examining evolving behaviours that shape beliefs and attitudes reflected in lifestyles. It delves into the health and fitness industry’s developments, notably media portrayal of athletic and ‘fit’ bodies, alongside the commercialisation of related products like supplements, performance drinks, and fitness tech.

Social media’s role in shaping ideals of the ‘perfect’ body, is analysed, highlighting how bodies are viewed as projects for cultivation. Furthermore, it scrutinises how our bodies serve as significant markers of health and happiness, subject to judgment by others.

Assessment:
3,000-word Essay

Data Driven Decision Making

The aim of this module is to introduce you to the concept of data and market research for decision making.

Assessment
2,250-word Leaflet, Brochure, Poster
750-word Explanation Document

Key HR Practices

This module provides you with a deep dive into essential aspects of effective people management. By covering theories, practices, and contemporary issues, it equips you with a holistic understanding of HR within diverse organizational landscapes.

The focus on workforce planning, performance management, and talent retention reflects the evolving needs of modern businesses. Integrating literature and practical tasks ensures you can apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios, both nationally and internationally. Overall, it seems like a robust foundation for future HR professionals.

Assessments:
1,500-word Portfolio
1.15-hour Examination

Management Accounting for Control

The aims of this module are to develop your understanding of a range of management accounting techniques and how these can be applied to support decision-making. Through the course of the module, you will be required to solve problems that require you to demonstrate thoughtful and effective reasoning in proposing solutions or responses to a given set of circumstances.

Assessment:
1-Hour In-class test
2-Hour Unseen Exam

Operations Management

Operations management is the backbone of how organisations create and deliver their goods and services. While the concept seems straightforward – input, operations, output – the reality is often much more intricate due to the complexities of business processes.

This module seeks to give you a deep understanding of how organizations navigate these complexities to efficiently manage their resources, facilities, and assets. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure consistent quality in delivering goods and services that meet customer needs effectively.

Assessment:
20-minute Presentation with 10-minute Q&A

Project Management

This module introduces you to the world of project management, a subject that is highly sought after whether the organisation is an SME or a multinational.

The content is based on the Association of Project Management (APM) Body of Knowledge (Bok). This is the leading association for project management in the UK and provides a holistic and generic approach to the wide range of skills necessary to manage projects efficiently and effectively.

Assessment:
3,000-word Report

The Professional Graduate

This module integrates practical elements to enhance career progression, emphasizing the significance of professionalism in the workplace for graduates. It promotes personal and professional development through activities such as career planning, professional placements, and projects.

Reflective practice is highlighted as a key tool for fostering continuous growth and the acquisition of relevant competencies.

Assessment:
3,000-word Assessment Portfolio

The Commercialisation of Sport

This module will allow you to critique the foundations and processes involved with the commercialisation of sport.

Contemporary issues from the UK and around the world are used to demonstrate the benefits and limitations experienced by sport as it develops according to business and commercial principles.

You will be looking at concepts and terms from sport business and sport management which are viewed through social science perspectives to challenge issues of control, exploitation and dominance.

The learning outcome of this module is to help you appreciate the opportunities and constraints of these relationships ahead of your employment in the sports industry landscape. 

Assessment:
3,000-word Essay

Advanced Contemporary Issues in Sport, Exercise and Health

This module will explore a selection of contemporary issues that may have ethical, moral and social justice considerations, in relation to sport, exercise and health.

A range of topic areas will be presented to you with the expectation that you will develop an advanced understanding and appreciation of contemporary issues within your chosen field of study.

You will be challenged through a review of case studies, expert knowledge and recently published peer reviewed research to express your judgements and reflect upon your knowledge and experiences.

You will be empowered to both formulate and articulate personal opinions and arguments on a topic area in the context of evidence-based research.

Assessment:
2,000-word equivalent Presentation
1,000-word Coursework

Research Project

The module offers you a chance to delve into a specific area of interest within various organisational contexts, fostering both professional and intellectual growth.

Under the guidance of a supervisor, you will undertake independent research, showcasing your ability for critical thinking and analysis. The chosen topic typically revolves around management issues in either public or private sectors, with a focus on generating findings applicable beyond specific cases.

There are optional placement routes – Industry, Consultancy, or Entrepreneurship – each tailored to align with career goals and academic pursuits.

Assessment:
At the end of stage 2, you will submit a final version of your research project. This will look like the following, depending on the option chosen:

  • Completed dissertation (industry route) or consultancy report (consultancy route) which is structured and presented according to the module guidelines (9,000 words)
  • Entrepreneurship 2 year growth strategy and professional discussion around key findings on the viability of the business idea from the experience of starting up the business (6,000-word report and 3,000-word equivalent presentation)

Sport as a Global Product

This module encourages you to critically analyse how commercialised sport is controlled and exploited globally.

The most pressing topics in global sport are selected because these will impact you upon graduating, given the issues will be at the forefront of employer thinking within and beyond the sports industry landscape.

The module is underpinned by insights from social science due to the advanced power relations encompassed within each topic. 

Assessment:
3,000-word Report

Women in Sport Leadership

This module will give you insight and understanding of women in sport leadership and management roles. Benefitting from expertise and industry practice located at the university.

Critically underpinned by insights from the social sciences, the module is structured according to barriers at the macro, meso and micro levels that women leaders encounter as well as the forms of resistance and change required to overcome them.

You will look at, and critique, the following areas:

  • Gender imbalanced leadership and management of sport
  • Formal and informal cultural procedures and processes that work to constrain women’s opportunities to lead and manage
  • The individual experiences and identities of women leaders in sport

Assessment:
3,000-word Report

Entrepreneurship

Optional

Ever wondered what it’s like to run your own business and unsure of how you would go about it?  This level 6 module adopts a practical approach to investigating the small business sector and developing business ideas.

The module concentrates on the planning involved when setting-up a new business venture.  The main output of the module is the creation of an early-stage business plan that could be used to either set-up a new or develop an existing business.

Even if you decide that running your own business is not for you, going through the experience of developing and writing a business plan, will provide insight into both strategic and operational small business decision making; and increased employability skills that will prove valuable to a future employer.

Assessment:
3,000-word Business Plan + Financial Appendices

Global Business Today

Optional

This module introduces you to current global issues relevant for organisations aiming to compete and thrive in a highly competitive global business landscape.

Weekly exploration of various global topics will utilise both quantitative and qualitative data from reliable sources commonly used by global decision-makers. This approach aims to give you a comprehensive grasp of the key responsibilities and challenges confronting diverse organisations, shedding light on the global dimensions of local and regional business issues.

Particularly appealing to those interested in understanding the intersection of world events and business, the module offers a diverse array of contemporary topics each week, emphasising their global ramifications and the diverse challenges faced by economies, countries, and organisational types.

Through analysis of organisation and country case studies, you will gain insights into business challenges, opportunities, and potential solutions.

Assessment:
20-minute conference presentation + 10-minute Q&A

Professional Practice

Optional

This module offers you a chance to gain 270 hours of experience in an organisation, building on your work in the Professional Development module. You will secure a placement and develop your Personal Development Planning for future career goals and better employability.

Typically paired with the Research Project, it allows you to focus on personal development within your work placement, enhancing skills for your chosen careers and gaining practical and research expertise in your field. You can choose from options like a Short Work Placement, a Consultancy Project (remote), or Entrepreneurship (requiring Entrepreneurship in semester one).

Assessment:
Assessment 1: 1,800-word Personal Portfolio
Assessment 2: 3,000-word Learning Logs
Assessment 3: 10 minute Personal Presentation

Strategic Management

Optional

The module encourages you to think critically and creatively about strategic management from the formation of strategy through to frontline implementation. It is aimed at those that may have little or no personal experience of strategic management.

Assessment:
10-minute presentation
2,000 word Assignment

Experience

Discover a wide range of excellent sporting facilities that support your learning

Teaching and Assessment

Innovative teaching methods that focus on practice

Smaller class sizes for better learning

You will build your subject knowledge and practical experience through lectures, workshops, and tutorials in small classes, which means our expert teaching staff really get to know you and what support you need.

Study modules that prepare you for your professional career

You will learn to write for a real-life organisation (e.g. a club or business), as well as to work closely with schools, residential care homes, district county councils, sport and health and fitness clubs.

In final year, you are encouraged to undertake a ‘real life’ research project for an organisation in the Sport and Physical Activity sector (e.g. competitor analysis for a business), rather than write a traditional dissertation.

Find supportive staff ready to help you reach your goals

Modules are assessed at every stage of the course, offering cumulative assessment of your progress, which means you can monitor your own progress throughout your degree and look to discuss and plan your development with your lecturers throughout the course.

Where appropriate, special arrangements can be made for students with an identified need/needs.

Assessment

Our course includes a mix of assessments to help you develop a wide range of transferable skills.

You will be assessed by a variety of methods, including:

  • Essays
  • Reports
  • Presentations
  • Business pitches
  • Poster presentations
  • Video blogs
  • Reflective pieces

 

 

Placement Opportunities

Utilise our extensive professional networks to support your learning

You will undertake a work placement module of approximately six weeks. This typically takes place in a sport/leisure organisation, a sports business management company, or a sport/community development organisation.

Students have undertaken placements at local businesses and found possibilities to continue after they have graduated. In some instances, they have progressed to become managers and leaders at the head offices of these companies. We pride ourselves on ensuring our students are unmissable to employers and are able and ready to join the workforce upon graduating.

Apply your learning to professional contexts

Through your work placement, you will develop skills that allow you to apply theory and knowledge in an operational sport or business setting. Work placements opportunities will provide you with a strong vocational focus.

Former placements have included:

  • A student completed a placement at Goodwood and saw a gap in recruitment and retention of event volunteers. They did some work on this and proposed a way to increase this.
  • Another student worked at Everyone Active, the local leisure centre, and evaluated outputs to help the organisation get partnership funding.

Dedicated placement coordinator

We have a dedicated placement coordinator who is available to assist students and has a network of contacts in local clubs and schools.

Where do students find placements?

Our students are from all over the UK, with the majority from the South and South East of England, with a few students from overseas. Many students find work placements in their hometowns, as well as local opportunities in Sussex.

We are flexible in encouraging you to approach any leisure or business-related organisation that is relevant to your needs and career aspirations.

Will I need to complete any additional documentation for my placements?

You will need to ensure you have all the necessary documentation in place before you start your placement. Some courses will insist that you complete a DBS check on entry to the course and others will require you to complete a check once you have started. Please check that you have completed all necessary documentation before commencing your placement.

Abi BA (Hons) Sport Business Management

Abi

BA (Hons) Sport Business Management graduate
'As part of the course, I conducted a 210-hour work placement at Westgate Leisure Centre in their Sports Development Team. This was a great opportunity for me to use the skills learnt on the course and apply them to an external organisation. For example, the skills enabled me to plan, organise and deliver many events such as the Chichester Half Marathon and Chichester Triathlon Series. The option of a work placement that the course provides is very beneficial as you gain experience as well as learn new skills which can be utilised within not only the course but post-graduation too.'

Study Abroad

Explore the opportunity to study part of your course abroad

As a student at the University of Chichester, you can explore opportunities to study abroad during your studies as you enrich and broaden your educational experiences.

Students who have undertaken this in the past have found it to be an amazing experience to broaden their horizons, a great opportunity to meet new people, undertake further travelling and immerse themselves within a new culture.

You will be fully supported throughout the process to help find the right destination institution for you and your course. We can take you through everything that you will need to consider, from visas to financial support, to help ensure that you can get the best out of your time studying abroad.

For their study abroad experience, one student went to the University of New Brunswick, Canada and was so influenced by the local culture they focused their dissertation on the marketing of ice hockey in North America.

For further information please email exchange@chi.ac.uk or visit our Study Abroad page.

Careers

Acquire the skills and knowledge required to gain employment within sports industry

Our BA (Hons) Sport Business Management graduates continue onto a variety of career paths, both within and outside of the world of sport.

We have graduates that have progressed into working in PR in Monaco for an ex-F1 World Champion, working for a national cricket association, working with National Governing Bodies, and working at district and council level in sport management.

Career progression options include:

  • Sports facility management
  • Sales and marketing
  • Sports coaching
  • Business management
  • Teaching
  • Sport development
  • Sports management
Rebecca

Rebecca

BA (Hons) Sport Business Management graduate
"The Sport Business Management degree has allowed me to gain a huge range of opportunities in regards to work placements, networking, and interesting subjects. I feel that I have gained valuable skills during the degree that will benefit me throughout my life. It has enabled me to gain stronger opinions and beliefs by opening my mind to a wide range of theories and subjects. I would have never experienced any of these without coming to university."

Further study

You can also progress to other postgraduate level study to continue the development of your knowledge and skills and increase your employability.

University of Chichester alumni who have completed a full undergraduate degree at the University will receive a 15% discount on their postgraduate fees.

Gifted Athlete Support Programme

Supporting athletes with their studies and sporting ambitions

The University’s Gifted Athlete Support Programme (GASP) helps students combine academic study with sport by offering support to compete at the highest level.

Our student athletes will have access to our experts in sport coaching, exercise physiology, biomechanics, strength and conditioning, performance analysis, sport nutrition, sport psychology, sport therapy or physiotherapy and receive:

  • Financial Support*
  • Fitness Suite at the Tudor Hale Centre for Sport
  • Administrative support from SU Sport
  • GASP branded kit

* Level of financial support dependent upon level of achievement in sport

Course Costs

Course Fees 2025/26

UK fee
£9,250
International fee
£16,344

For further details about fees, please see our Tuition Fees page.

For further details about international scholarships, please see our Scholarships page.

To find out about any additional costs on this course, please see our Additional Costs page.

Entry Requirements

UCAS
104-120
tariff points.
A Levels
BBB - BCC
BTEC
DDM - DMM
GCSEs
4/C or better
or better in both English Language and Maths.
IELTS
6.0 overall
with no element lower than 5.5

Contextual offers

We believe everyone deserves an equal opportunity to pursue higher education, regardless of their background.

When we receive your application we consider your personal circumstances and the factors surrounding your achievements to see if you are eligible for a contextual offer. This is an offer with a reduced entry tariff – typically the equivalent of 16 fewer UCAS points (two A-level grades).

Find out more about our contextual offers.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply?

Click the ‘Apply now’ button to go to relevant UCAS page.

What are UCAS tariff points?

Many qualifications have a UCAS Tariff value. The score depends on the qualification, and the grade you achieved.

How do I know what my UCAS tariff points are?

Head to the UCAS Tariff Points web page where you can find a tariff points calculator that can tell you how much your qualification and grades are worth.

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