Starting Your Sports Studies: Top Tips from GIS Graduates

Starting at a new university can be daunting.

A new city, a new subject, and a new network of people are what make the university experience both nerve-wracking and exciting. To help students as they look to begin their studies in the sports industry, we asked some GIS students and graduates for advice they wish they’d received when they were in the same position just a few years ago.

An initial concern for many students is feeling out of place in professional environments, especially when attending networking events and conferences with industry leaders. For Katie-Leigh Scott, who now works at Manchester City as an Administrative Coordinator, overcoming this came down to developing belief in your own abilities.

“Have confidence in what you can bring to the table,” she told students, “And remember, everyone’s human. It’s just a normal conversation, and the more you do it the easier it gets.” 

Networking in itself is often a daunting task, with students often wondering how they should approach a professional they’ve never met before.

Tobias van Deick, who currently works at Miami FC as Director of Academy Operations, advises students not to see it as networking, but as building genuine relationships.

“One piece of advice I would give to students attending these events is to network with people and create relationships without asking for a job right away. Instead, have conversations by asking about what they do and what interests them, follow-up on LinkedIn after the event, and stay in touch with them every month.”

Doing this and doing it often can help get students their foot in the door of the industry, often leading to recommendations and even jobs later down the line. 

“Network relentlessly,” Paige Sutherland said, an MSc International Sport Management student currently working for Northern Territory Cricket.

“Get practical experience early—volunteer, intern, or take entry-level roles. Network relentlessly, build a portfolio of your involvement, and demonstrate passion combined with reliability.”

“Be adaptable, opportunities often come from persistence and being willing to start small.”

These opportunities often come in the form of internships, which students starting out should look to capitalise on as it shows you can put your theoretical knowledge from studying into the real world.

Getting these internships is often like applying for a job—students are frequently asked for cover letters and CVs before a typical interview process. The trick to nailing these interviews is more about your communication than your exact knowledge, says UEFA Venue Data Coordinator Sumer Rajora.

“My main advice would be to focus less on trying to give ‘perfect’ answers and more on demonstrating your mindset, reliability, attention to detail, and willingness to learn. In sport, showing that you can adapt and collaborate is often just as important as technical knowledge.”

“Always have a fresh perspective or idea that you can bring to the table,” added Molly Glinn, who secured an internship with The Sporting News (TSN) during the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euros in partnership with GIS.

“My ‘Remember Her Name’ series with TSN was a perspective not taken by them or any other similar outlet before—making it a unique selling point for TSN’s coverage of the tournament.”

“I’d advise students not to be afraid of asking for what they want. If you’d like to meet certain people, write about certain things, or find out about different areas of the organisation they’re working with, just ask!

“Put as much emphasis on pushing yourself to get what you want out of the placement as you would on meeting the employer’s needs.”

To make the most of the experience, Tobias further told students that they should take any placements as seriously as a full-time job.

Interning for Miami FC before landing his current role there, Tobias said: “Be dedicated and identify an area within the organisation that you can improve and add value to.”

“Even if I wasn’t needed I was passionate and dedicated to learning and thus would find ways to help out or even just network and shadow, you’d be surprised how much more you will be exposed to when you show up even if you aren’t scheduled.”

Overall, choosing to study so that you can launch a career in the sports industry is a big decision. Many of our students previously worked in other fields before deciding to pursue what they’re most passionate about, one of whom is Chris Jones.

“It was simple for me,” Chris concluded.“ Build the career you’d be proud to explain to your kids.”

Article by Zakaria Anani