Sport Management (BSc Hons) - Mockup

Sport is a rapidly expanding global business. Our unique degree programme prepares you for a career as a sports manager in this thrilling, fast-changing field.

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

Join a notable list of students who have combined studying with us with successful sporting careers:

  • Sir Chris Hoy, Olympic gold medallist
  • Kelly Brown, former Scotland Rugby Captain
  • Sarah Adlington, Commonwealth gold medallist
  • Grace Reid, Olympic diver

Apply now

Visit UCAS for more information and to apply.

Earn a sports management degree from one of the top Universities in the world

  • We're one of the top 10 schools in the UK for Sport Science (2026 Complete University Guide​​​​​) and top 20 schools in the world for Sport-related studies (2025 QS World University Ranking).
  • The most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) classified nearly 90% of our Sport-related research activity as ‘world leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’. That means you'll be taught by renowned experts performing cutting-edge research in their field.
  • We offer a professional placement with a local, national, or international sports organisation, so you'll have a chance to apply your classroom learning to real-world practice.
  • While studying at Moray House, you'll have access to a range of sports facilities to help with your studies. These include a Biomechanics Lab, a state-of-the-art Environmental Human Performance Lab, and strength and conditioning gym.

What you will study

Visit our Degree Finder for a detailed programme structure. You’ll also find indicative entry requirements, fees, international grade equivalency and language requirements.

There are about 40 places available on this degree each year.

No specific subjects are required for entry, but knowledge of a social science subject is helpful. For example: 

  • sociology
  • business management
  • economics
  • modern studies
  • geography
  • history
  • politics

We also encourage mature students with appropriate experience in the field to apply.

Teaching strategy

Last Season, part of my accomplishments include breaking the Scottish Record in the 50m freestyle at the British Summer Championships with a recorded time of 22.45 seconds. These achievements would not have possible without the continued support from the University, the academic and elite sporting systems. The support is towards my training as well as my part-time academic flexibility that has been generously offered at key points throughout my career. The University of Edinburgh is at the forefront in the UK higher education environment, providing the highest levels of support academically and also from a sporting performance perspective.

Jack Thorpe Former student and Freestyle swimmer in the Scotland Gold Coast 2018 squad

You'll learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, field trips and placement or work-based learning. You’ll be assessed through: 

  • written assignments or extended essay papers
  • individual or group presentations
  • placement project reports
  • in-class tests
  • examinations
  • a dissertation as a final research project

The range of work will prepare you for a career or postgraduate study.

Professional placement

You will  arrange a compulsory work placement in Year 2 of your studies. This offers you the chance to combine theory and practice or policy and practice in a real-world work context. This work-based learning experience will help you develop specific skills for the sports industry as well as transferable skills that will make you more competitive on the job market.

Past placement opportunities included:

  • Active Schools Schemes for Edinburgh / East Lothian / North Lanarkshire
  • Basketball Scotland
  • Crags Community Centre
  • Cricket Scotland
  • David Lloyd Leisure Ltd
  • Scottish Institute of Sport
  • Edinburgh Leisure
  • GSi Events Ltd
  • Harlequins FC
  • IMG (UK) Ltd
  • Jog Scotland
  • Nuffield Health Club
  • PlayerLayer Ltd
  • Scottish Football Museums
  • Spartans Community Football Academy
  • Trans World Soccer
  • West Lothian Council Sport Development and Facilities
  • Youth Football Scotland
Ikra Farooq

Ikra Farooq

'During my placement with Cricket Scotland, I was fortunate enough to be granted the opportunity to observe key players in essential operational and managerial roles such as the CEO, the Events Management team and other supporting staff members. This enabled me to translate the theoretical aspects of my degree programme courses into practice. 

'As a cricketer, I also gained a more in-depth understanding of the elite athlete performance pathway whilst working with the Performance Pathway Manager. Throughout this placement, I developed and enhanced key skills which included forming professional relationships, developing interpersonal networking skills, working within a large team and gaining confidence in travelling independently to new venues. All these skills and character building opportunities will be beneficial in undertaking future engagements.'

International study

In Year 3, you may study on comparable courses at universities in Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

In our video, Bobbie, a graduate of Moray House School of Education and Sport, talks about her year studying abroad.

Explore your options for going abroad

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 Advisor in your first few weeks at Edinburgh. 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.

Support for your studies

Careers

Our degree prepares you for a range of exciting careers in sports management.

Graduates of our programme have gone on to success in: 

  • commercial settings
  • marketing
  • retail
  • finance
  • entrepreneurship
  • community work
  • teaching
  • third-sector organisations
  • further study

Now I am a show and events team leader in the entertainments sector in south-west Germany. This involves mainly working with the Ice Show, Acrobatic Shows and entertainment gala dinners.

Zoe Breingan 2017 graduate

Annual careers event

The Careers Service and Development and Alumni team organise an annual careers event where we invite graduates to speak about their experiences and give advice to our current students. Graduates of the Sport Management (or its predecessor, Sport and Recreation Management) programme give short talks about their post-graduation work experiences, including how they have used the skills and knowledge developed from the degree, their decision-making in relation to their career progression and other professional development experiences.

This gives you the opportunity to ask questions about how you can progress in your career in sports management, and discuss topics such as networking, interviews and getting the most out of your university experience to support your future goals.

The University of Edinburgh's Careers Service supports all current students (and graduates for up to 2 years) to develop their potential and achieve satisfying and rewarding futures.

Join in and make use of:

  • individual appointments
  • group sessions
  • wider campus-based activity
  • online services and resources

We also deliver a diverse programme of face-to-face and online events throughout the academic year.

Visit the Careers Service website


Our students

Zoe Breingan

Zoe Breingan

'The best thing about my programme was the lecturers – they all had very diverse personalities but all with true passions on what they were talking about. They guided me well and even though they were busy, you felt like you could ask them anything. They treated you like respectful adults and were always friendly and easy to get on with.

'My experience at Moray House helped me understand how sport events and business works. It was a great experience and allowed me to meet many people with diverse personalities and understand how people work differently in teams.'

Cameron McLay

Cameron Mclay

'I have to say that the University’s Sports Management programme does a really great job of covering the wide variety of disciplines in sport and really allows you to understand what motivates and excites you.

'One piece of advice I would love to have known was that - similar to participating in sport as an athlete - the world of working in sport is really competitive. You have to have a go-get-it attitude and be ready to create opportunities for yourself.'

Morgane

Morgane Jarles, BSc Sport and Recreation Management

'[My degree] helped me understand how organisations work. Everything you learn in organisational management, managing events, marketing, communications, managing volunteers, sports policy, strategic management etc. is highly transferable.

'I will also be putting into practice what I learned about managing people and performance management in my new role [with mental health charity Penumbra].'

Sam

'I'm using my degree quite regularly in my current role as Event Manager for a company called MSL Global Ltd. MSL is a hospitality management company with contracts in Formula One, the World Rally Championship, The Open Golf and other such international sporting events. 

'In my role, I manage hospitality units for motor sport teams and organising bodies. This year I have spent most of my time following the Formula 1 calendar and attending European motorsport events managing the hospitality units for teams like Williams F1, Mercedes F1, Formula One Management, IMG Media and various car manufacturers. The job is extremely rewarding, especially for someone with an interest in motorsport like myself.'

Lucille Tong

'The best thing about my programme was the wide mix of topics that were covered and the people I met along the way. I still find myself referring back to concepts learnt at the time as I navigate my current career and I have made some lifelong friends from the course. 

'I enjoyed being able to adapt assignments to my interests. While my peers had the freedom to use examples from your typical sports like football or rugby, I was thrilled to be delving into slightly more fringe sports like snowboarding, motorsports and rock climbing. This framed my 3rd year work placement choice of working at Snowsport Scotland and I believe set me up for the role I am in today.'

Contact us

Questions about the programme

For programme-specific enquiries, contact the Programme Director.

Dr Guilherme Nothen

Programme Director

  • Moray House School of Education and Sport

Contact details

Questions about your application or how to apply

For enquiries about your application or how to apply, contact the Undergraduate Admissions office.

Undergraduate Admissions Office

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Contact details

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