MSc in Sport Management and the Business
of Football 
Our Master's programmes in Sport Management and the Business of
Football are designed for graduates who wish to develop a rigorous
understanding of the management, marketing, governance and regulation
of the football industry. The aims are to introduce students to the
modern football business and encourage an understanding of theoretical
debates around its functioning as well as to apply management and
business concepts to the modern football industry.
The programmes draw on the expertise of the staff of Birkbeck's Football
Governance Research Centre (FGRC) which has established itself as
the leading centre in London for research, teaching and policy advice
on the business of football, with regular conferences, seminars and
publications. In addition to research papers and academic articles,
four books have been published by members of the FGRC during the past
five years.
The programmes combine specialist taught courses on the football business
and the principles and practice of sport business management and marketing
with general training in management, business organization, strategy
and research methods. Students also complete a dissertation on an
aspect of the football business supervised by a member of the Football
Governance Research Centre. ESRC Studentships are available for Masters
plus PhD. There are possibilities for work/research placements in
the football industry.
Birkbeck's
Department of Management has ESRC recognition for its MSc, MRes and
PhD programmes on the Business of Football.
What students said about the course, their
placements and what they have gone on to do
.....In 2003/4, I
studied the 1-year full-time MSc Sport Management and the Business
of Football at Birkbeck, University of London. During the year,
I was fortunate to gain valuable work experience through a placement
with the Football Association (FA), based in their Soho Square
headquarters in London.
Reporting to the FA's Finance Director and working closely with
the Financial Advisory Unit, my role was to carry out research
exploring the business models of English football clubs. It
was a fantastic opportunity, allowing me to develop a rigorous
understanding of the current health of the football industry,
while giving me a rare insight into how clubs at various levels
of the game generate their income. During the placement, I was
also given the opportunity to visit ten clubs, each from different
levels of the game, which my research had identified as carrying
out 'best practice' with regards to their commercial operations....
Chris Cooper MSc (full-time)
Placement - Football Association |
|
.....My
placement experience, coupled with the high quality MSc in Sports
Business & the Football Industry at Birkbeck College, has helped
me gain the necessary education, skills, experience, confidence
and (very importantly) contacts to set-up my own business within
football. www.primarysoccer.co.uk.....
Chris Cooper MSc (full-time) |
......I am currently
studying for a PhD in Corporate Governance of the Football Industry
within the Management School at Birkbeck and also work part-time
as a Research Associate in the FGRC. I have have found various
modules on the MSc in Sport Management and the Business of Football
course to offer an excellent theoretical grounding for future
research at PhD level in sport and the football industries.
Equally, the seminars that the Football Governance Research
Centre run for all MSc students are informative, and offer plenty
of opportunity to gain first-hand empirical knowledge of the
football industry...
Geoff Walters PhD and Research
Associate (part-time) |
I am currently
working for FIFA as Project Manager on the FIFA Quality Concept.
It is a pleasure working with the “FIFA Family”
in a diverse international environment whilst simultaneously
helping develop football at all levels throughout the world
for the good of the game.
Previously I had completed an MBA (Football Industries) at Liverpool
University and was Director and founder of www.primarysoccer.co.uk
, a soccer education and coaching provider for children aged
between 4 - 11. I was previously
Director and Trustee of The English Sport Association for Learning
Disabilities and acted as consultant for the Football Association
on certain issues within FA Learning.
My advice to anyone
who has a passion or ambition to work in the football industry
is that the Birkbeck MSc is the perfect platform to create opportunities
to get involved in the football industry. To really succeed
you must have a dedicated and determined approach to make a
difference and have an open and collaborative management approach.
Learning is not a chore; it is a fun investment. If you are
not afraid to challenge the status quo and the majority, positive
and lasting change can occur at all levels in the football industry....
Nigel
Fletcher MSc (full-time) |
|
|
....The
Birkbeck MSc in Sport Management and the Business of Football
has enabled me to be at the cutting edge of developments in
football, given me a grasp of the wider issues facing the industry
and shown me how football affects so many different types of
stakeholders. The course at Birkbeck was a major turning point
and one I recommend for those who have passion for sport, football
and its related business issues.
The variety of in-depth analysis and the different teaching
styles made Birkbeck a ‘full learning experience, in addition
to being an excellent research environment.
My dissertation looked at the effectiveness of sponsorship
on how multinational brands can achieve their corporate goals
and objectives through football sponsorship. Using Mastercard
as a case study I carried out part of my research at their European
headquarters in Brussels......
Nigel Fletcher MSc (full-time)
Placement - Mastercard, Brussels |
Programme
Structure
MSc/PgDip
Compulsory modules:
Research Methods
in Management I;
Principles of
Organization and Management;
Sport Business
Management and the Football Industry;
The Economics
and Governance of Professional Football;
Strategic Sport
Marketing and the Football Industry
MRes
Compulsory modules:
Research Methods
in Management I
Research Methods
in Management II
Plus any two
from:
Sport Business
Management and the Football Industry
Strategic Sport
Marketing and the Football Industry
The Economics
and Governance of Professional Football
ESRC Studentships for Masters
plus PhD (1 + 3 Studentships)
The following programmes are recognised by the UK Economic and Social
Research Council (ESRC) for the award of 1 + 3 Studentships:
MSc
The Business of Football
MSc by Research in The Business of Football
MRes The
Business of Football
These studentships are designed
to fund students for a 4 year full-time (or 6-7 years part-time) programme
of postgraduate study combining a taught Master's degree and a PhD.
The scholarships provide fees and amintenance (currently fees plus
£10,300 per annum) for UK students, and fees only for non-UK
studnets from European Union countries.
The deadline for receipt of applications to Birkbeck for those wishing
to be considered to be put forward by us for an ESRC 1 + 3 Studentship
is the second Friday in March for October entry.
PhD (+3 Studentships)
The School of Management and Organizational Psychology also has ESRC
recognition for +3 PhD Studentships. To be eligible for these studentships
you must already have an ESRC recognised Master's degree. These studentships
are available for full-time and part-time study.
The deadline for receipt of applications to Birkbeck for those wishing
to be considered to be put forward by us for an ESRC + 3 PhD Studentships
is the second Friday in March for October entry.
ESRC
Collaborative Case Research Studentships
Collaborative (CASE) research studentships are designed for students
to carry out a research project at Birkbeck in collaboration with
a company or organisation. They are available on a 1 + 3 and + 3 basis,
though + 3 is the preferred route. Please note that there is a long
lead time for these awards and those interested in applying must contact
us by the third Friday in October for entry on1 October in the following
year.
Full details for all ESRC studentships are available from: www.esrc.ac.uk
How
to apply
All applicants need to complete an application form that can be downloaded
from the College Website: www.bbk.ac.uk
Alternatively you can contact the Registry on 020 7631 6390 for a
hard copy of the form.
Applications must include two references, at least one of which should
be an academic reference.
Further information
If you require further information about these programmes, contact
Andrea Rabe, the Department of Management Postgraduate Administrator,
on 020 7631 6767 or email: postgrad@mbs.bbk.ac.uk
PhDs
Students can take options from these degrees as examinable taught
courses. Contact Cari Caldwell
for more information.
PhD Studentships and Scholarships are available in the Football Governance
Research Centre. Contact Christine
Oughton for further details.
 
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