MA Sports Agency

Intake Date: September 2024

Our Distance Learing degrees are taught by the same leading industry experts who teach our on-campus degrees with teaching delivered online via our dedicated Online Hub which can be accessed anytime making this a flexible study option that fits around your existing commitments.

Each module typically has 6 live teaching sessions for you to attend, enabling you to interact and collaborate with academics and your peers. These sessions are also recorded.

Click here for our Distance Learning degree FAQs.

This module is designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of how agents manage athletes and coaches. This covers a wide range of topics and skills required for the field, including sponsorship, financial management, recruitment and agency skills. Students will critically understand not only about the novel business landscape in sports agency, but also ways in which to navigate and manage sports events and stakeholders in this environment. The scope of a sports agent’s remit and role will be interrogated.

This module provides critical insight into the operation and practice of football agency. It is designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of the pertinent aspects of the FIFA Football Agent Regulations. An in-depth understanding of how to represent football players in accordance with FIFA regulations will be provided. This module will help prepare students for undertaking the FIFA Football Agent exam. Ongoing support will be provided to students who do not pass the FIFA exam at the first attempt.

This module delves into the legal principles and skills required for sports agency. This covers a wide range of topics designed to equip students with the legal knowledge and understanding to represent of athletes of different sports. The areas of law covered include contract, intellectual property and employment. This module will assist students in conducting transfers and maintaining professional relationships with athletes in accordance with integrity and relevant laws.

This module will examine the key roles and responsibilities of sports journalists and media content creators, while developing the knowledge and some of the practical skills required to work within an ever expanding and maturing industry. It will prepare you to explore the potential of multi-platform news within a legal and ethical framework while examining the role and impact of sports journalism in society. You will be encouraged to create written and audio/visual content for a number of different platforms in order to
develop a professional portfolio and personal profile to help you make strides in a competitive industry.

Successful media relations and solid communication strategies are vital for all sport organisations. Media managers must understand how the media works and have a toolbox of skills to be able to manage and deliver successful communications. Media managers who combine strategic planning, relationship building, creative thinking and outstanding organisational skills – and who have the ability to work under pressure – can help navigate clients through the trials and potential pitfalls of a career in sports media, as well as maintaining and enhancing the brand image of an organisation through effective communications. An effective media manager should possess a keen interest in shaping the brand image and reputation of individuals and organisations through insightful and powerful communications, and be able to not only cope in a crisis situation, but have the ability to develop a strategy that can mitigate reputational damage and rebuild the client’s corporate and social identity

This module will advance your research and critical thinking skills, and support you in applying these to the sport industry and its associated workplace environments. This module aims to prepare you for research, reflective, and evidence-based development, important for your future career and higher study where applicable. The undertaking of an applied project will give you the opportunity to develop your problem-solving skills regarding topical issues in your area of interest, whilst also allowing you to evidence your academic ability and knowledge. By completing this project and consulting with your tutor, you will establish expertise in an applied area of interest, aiming to have real impact on the relevant industry.

This module will give you a live insight into sport business issues. You will gain a thorough practice-based understanding of project design, conduct and action. As a result, you will be able to design and manage an applied project, and show potential to contribute to academic knowledge and industry practice – making
you highly desirable for potential employers.

Leadership is a fundamental element of both sport and business operating in a dynamic global arena. On this module you will review and conceptualise different approaches to leadership from both an applied and theoretical perspective to allow you to analyse critical incidents in order to judge organisational leadership performance. You will be able to apply leadership theory to examples from industry professionals who have experience of leading teams in a sporting setting. Cross-cultural leadership underpins many of the behaviours and skills discussed within the leadership framework, alongside diversity and inclusion, strategic leadership, communication and reflection. The module allows you to take responsibility for your own leadership development and effectiveness through the development of an e-portfolio and skills audit, alongside exposure to sports leaders from the global network of partners contributing to the live case studies.

• Undergraduate degree - minimum 2:2 (ideally a 2:1) or international equivalent
• Applicants with a 2:2 should have some experience of studying or working in business or sports related areas.
• English language qualifications: Applicants from non-majority English speaking countries will be asked for an English qualification which tests Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing and will be asked to achieve an overall IELTS score of 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 in each section) or recognised equivalent.

Offers to applicants currently studying an undergraduate degree will be conditional on them going on to achieve the entry requirements on completion of their degree.

We welcome applications from those who do not meet the standard entry requirements but can demonstrate relevant education and/or work and/or life experience in the course subject area that will enable them to succeed on the course.

This may include those that have been out of education for some time and/or who do not have an undergraduate degree. We will assess your eligibility from the information provided in your application – in particular your personal statement - to help us decide on your eligibility for the course.

To apply for this degree, please click here and follow the instructions to complete your application via our Learner Portal.

• Application form
• Evidence of highest academic and/or professional qualifications
• Evidence of relevant experience, where required
• 500 word personal statement

Applications made through the flexible entry route may require a course leader review. The course leader will determine whether a professional reference or task is required.

These discounts are open to any UCFB, Buckinghamshire New University and University of East London graduate who has received and accepted an offer to study at postgraduate level with UCFB’s Global Institute of Sport.

• 15% fee tuition discount on all Master's programmes, excluding MSc Sports Directorship
• 15% fee tuition discount on MSc Sports Directorship and CEO of a Sports Organisation

If you’d like to extend your time with us, we’re pleased to offer all GIS graduates:

• 15% fee tuition discount on all Master's programmes, excluding MSc Sports Directorship
• 15% fee tuition discount on MSc Sports Directorship and CEO of a Sports Organisation

We're pleased to offer all UCFB and GIS business partners 15% fee tuition discount on all Undergraduate, Master's programmes.

In some instances, optional activities provided may carry an additional cost for participants (e.g. qualifications with external certification such as FA Coaching Badges). Any additional costs will be provided to students in advance of any such sessions running.