Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No

This one year full time (two year part time) MSc programme is the first of its kind in the Republic of Ireland and is offered by the UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Sports Science. It provides graduates who are motivated and passionate about Sport the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills required to develop a successful management career in the Sport industry. It also provides current professionals with the opportunity to further enhance their management skills. 

How I will learn?

The underlying ethos of the programme is to support students in becoming critical and reflective professionals who use current evidence to guide their management practice.  We aim to provide a learning environment which is student-centred and encourages the evaluation of current policies and the resultant implications for sport related organisations. Students learn how to practically apply management strategies to a range of complex organisational contexts and issues within the Sport industry. Students are also supported to develop key transferable skills in leadership, communication, team working and project management. 

The programme’s teaching and learning approach is both theory-based and industry focused. To facilitate this approach,  students work with experts in the Sport industry to enhance their learning experience and these experts also have significant input into programme design and delivery.

Mode of delivery

Programme modules will be delivered one day a week (i.e., Friday morning and afternoon) across both academic semesters. In addition, there  are two weeks of intensive block lectures (i.e. Monday - Friday)  in each semester. The Programme Induction is typically delivered across the Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday prior to the first Friday of teaching in the Autumn Trimester. There will also be four day-long research skills seminars spread out over the course of the year.

Delivery is carried out by faculty members and external industry experts. These external contributors come from across the Sport industry continuum including national governing bodies, international federations, professional sports clubs, player associations and commercial sports organisations.

In delivering the programme the faculty and external lecturers facilitate a vibrant teaching and learning environment. Students have the opportunity to actively engage and learn through a variety of teaching and learning methods such as problem-based learning with an emphasis on reflection and peer-to-peer learning, research seminars, site visits, and group work. Assessment strategies include essays, critical analyses, case studies, oral presentations, reports, and project work.

Purpose: This programme is targeted at graduates aiming to develop a career in management within the sport industry and also experienced professionals who wish to enhance their career opportunities within this field.

Values: The programme’s underlying ethos is to support students in becoming critical and reflective professionals who can use current evidence to guide their management practice across a range of sport settings. We value and encourage our students to be autonomous learners and encourage students to share their own experiences with faculty and peers.

Nature of Learning Environment: We aim to provide a learning environment which is student-centred and encourages the evaluation of current policies and the resultant implications for sport related organisations. In doing so, students are facilitated in developing transferable skills in leadership, communication, team working, decision making and project management.

Teaching, learning and assessment: The programme utilises an overarching teaching, learning and assessment approach which is both theory based and industry focused.  Leading subject matter experts with extensive sport industry experience contribute to both the design and delivery of the programme curriculum. Students have the opportunity to actively engage and learn during the programme through a variety of teaching and learning methods, such as experiential learning, industry seminars, site visits, reflective learning and group project work. Assessment strategies will include, essays, case studies, oral presentations, reports, and project work.

On completion of this Programme, students should be able to: 

1. Critically apply knowledge and understanding of management theory and techniques to a range of complex organisational contexts / issues within the wider sports industry. (Knowledge)
2. Identify and critically analyse current trends or policy changes and their implications for sport related organisations.  (Knowledge)
3. Understand the processes which influence group behaviour and be able to  apply leadership skills and function effectively as part of a team utilising skills in listening, negotiating and resolving conflict ;  (Knowledge and Skills)
4. Communicate effectively through a range of mediums (e.g., oral, written) (Skills and attribute)
5. Self-direct and act autonomously in planning and implementing projects. (Skills and attribute)
6. Plan, conduct and report a programme of original research relevant to the management of sport organisations and/or events. (Skills and attribute)
7. Recognise career opportunities in the sports industry and utilise transferable  management skills to develop a career path within the industry. (Skills and attribute)

View All Modules Here

There are a range of innovative modules. Students complete six taught modules and a research dissertation.

Core Modules:

Sport Governance & Law

Sport Leadership & People Management            

Strategy & Operations Management in Sports Organisations

Sports Marketing & Communications

The Management of High Performance Sport

Sport Event Management & Sustainability

Research Dissertation

Course Structure

Semester 1:        3 core modules;

Semester 2:        3 core modules

Semester 3:        Completion of research dissertation

Modules lectures will primarily take place one day each week (i.e., Friday) for both Semester 1 and Semester 2. In each semester, there will  also be two weeks of block lectures  (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm each day). Finally, there will be four day-long research skills seminars spread out over the course of the year.

MSc Sport Management (Sport) (X762) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 9330
nonEU    fee per year - € 20950

MSc Sport Management (Sport) (X763) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 4700
nonEU    fee per year - € 13860

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.

This programme is intended for students with a primary degree in Sport, Recreation or Leisure Management, Sport, Exercise or Health Science or Business Studies. Students with a primary degree in other disciplines may also be considered. An upper second class honours, or international equivalent is typically required. Applicants must demonstrate a knowledge and passion for sport and sport related business. Experience working in sport is desirable. An interview with the Programme Director will also form part of the application process. 

• Official transcripts of undergraduate degrees
• 2 official reference letters (including letterhead, date & address)
• A CV
• A personal statement (outlining your suitability for the programme, your motivations for pursuing a career in Sport Management, etc.)

Substantial relevant work experience or experiential learning may be considered as an alternative entry route.

Due to the volume of applications received, early application to the programme is encouraged.

Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent. Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the English language requirements, may enter the programme upon successful completion of UCD’s International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes.

Please see the following link for further information: https://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/int%20pmp/

These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes 

Gerard Kelly, Football Association of Ireland

I currently work across two areas, International Team Operations and Corporate Relationship and Sales with the Football Association of Ireland. I am also Head of Performance Management with Drogheda United Football Club in the League of Ireland. The MSc programme covers many of the elements involved in the business of sport and provides a well-rounded educational environment to develop your skill set for working in this industry. Interacting with the guest lecturers who held senior roles in the industry ensured I was able to get great insight into the “real life” workings of sports organisations and the roles within those organisations. The experience of completing the MSc programme in a focused and intense environment really prepares you for life in high level sports organisations where everything can change from day to day and deadlines are very tight.

Erin Brown, World Rugby

I currently work as a coordinator for strategy and organisational performance at World Rugby. My work involves strategic and operational planning, supporting internal projects, and providing analysis and recommendations to management on how our organisation can continue to achieve its strategic goals. I considered a number of sport management programmes but UCD was best positioned to provide me with the skillset I was seeking to break into a career in sport. My favourite part of the programme was hearing from a variety of guest lecturers from across the sport landscape. It really gave me an appreciation for the breadth of the modern sports industry and encouraged me to continue to build my knowledge in areas that I would previously would not have considered related to the business of sport. For me, one of the key aspects was that I got a true sense of the skills in demand from the modern sports professional and was provided with knowledge that I could apply both inside and outside of the industry. I was also really pleased to discover after enrolling in the programme that the faculty were deeply interested in their students’ success post-UCD. The faculty were always open and available for a discussion over a coffee to delve into topics deeper, answer career guidance questions, or provide connections to someone in their network who had experience navigating the same career path. That really made a huge difference to my career prospects post-graduation.

Alison Nolan, Counties Manukau Sport in South Auckland, New Zealand

I am currently working as a Primary Sport Advisor with Counties Manukau Sport in South Auckland. I have always had an interest in working in sport and I chose the MSc based on the variety of content, high calibre of lecturer and guest speakers and because it seemed to sit well with what I wanted to gain from a return to education. Although it was difficult at the beginning, having to present during each module as part of a group really added to the learning process. Getting the perspective of class mates and peers for content and presentation techniques was really beneficial within the programme and in turn for outside delivery of information to sports groups. Interacting with and learning from individuals with first-hand experience of working within sport and within sporting bodies gave me an detailed understanding of the professional sporting environment and of the differences and similarities between sport and business. Having the MSc qualification has definitely helped to open more doors for me in the pursuit of a career in sport

This Msc programme may be taken one year full time or part time over two years.  This MSc award equates to 90 ECTS credits. 

The minor award of a Graduate Certificate may be attained when students accumulate 30 ECTS credits over one (full time) or two  (part time) academic years.

The minor award of a Graduate Diploma may be attained when students accumulate 60 ECTS credits over over one (full time) or two  (part time) academic years. 

Industry experts play an important part in the delivery of the MSc programme as they provide unique insight into the world of sport.  Senior leaders from across the sport spectrum have been recruited to contribute to the programme.  Some of the guest lecturers who have contributed to the programme in the last two years include:

• Peter Smyth, Research Director, Irish Sports Council
• Sarah O'Connor; Head of Sport, Wilson Harnell
• Conn McCluskey, CEO, Ireland Active
• Dr Kate Kirby, Head of Performance Psychology, Sport Ireland Institute
• Dr David Passmore, Coaching Science, Dublin City University, Institute of Sport & Paralympics Ireland Consultant,
• Liam Harbison,  Director Sport Ireland Institute and former CEO of Paralympics Ireland
• Ciaran Gallagher, CEO, Gymnastics Ireland
• Eugene Delaney, Head of B2B, Racing Post
• Simon Keogh, CEO, Irish Rugby Union Player's Association
• Andrew Smyth, Senior Manager at Baku 2015 European Games
• Steve Griffiths, Former Head of Orgainsational Development, World Rugby

The following entry routes are available:

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

This programme is intended for students with a primary degree in Sport, Recreation or Leisure Management, Sport, Exercise or Health Science or Business Studies. Students with a primary degree in other disciplines may also be considered. An upper second class honours, or international equivalent is typically required. Applicants must demonstrate a knowledge and passion for sport and sport related business. Experience working in Sport is desirable. An interview with the Programme Director will also form part of the application process.

All applications must be supported by official transcripts of undergraduate degrees, 2 reference letters, a CV and a personal statement. In exceptional circumstances where substantial relevant work experience or experiential learning can be demonstrated an applicant may be considered despite not holding a relevant degree.

Due to the volume of applications received, early application to the programme is encouraged.

Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.

Applications can be made from January each year for September entry.