Start dates:
September: UCFB Wembley or Distance (online)
Course length: One year (full-time) and two year (part-time) options available
Degree overview
It is now essential to understand digital viewing trends, social media audiences and how to plan engaging and effective digital media coverage for an ever demanding fan base. The MSc Football Communications & Digital Marketing degree programme is designed for graduates and industry practitioners with a keen interest in football and sport.
This degree is available at UCFB Wembley, London, which the iconic Wembley Stadium at the heart of its campus. What could be more motivating for a future career in the sports industry than walking into the most famous stadium in the world? Our UCFB Wembley campus enjoys excellent facilities with lecture theatres, seminar rooms, quiet study areas, library and media suites.
Our Distance Learning 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.
For our postgraduate degrees starting in September, the live online sessions are delivered early evening UK time.
For our postgraduate degrees starting in January, the live online sessions are delivered between 8.30-11am UK time.
Click here for our full list of Distance Learning degree FAQs
Degree content
The programme leverages contemporary themes from marketing, such as digital marketing, public relations, fan engagement and multimedia journalism, to enable students to evaluate the relationships between these areas. Those with a particular interest and experience relating to the marketing and communications industry are particularly suitable for this programme.
No longer are fan bases constricted to the home country. International audiences are now a vital, and in some instances more important, base to tap into and engage with. Premier League football clubs are global brands within themselves, let alone their all-star cast of players. Social media videos and strong in-house story tellers help to promote the club and its merchandise.
I studied at GIS because I knew they catered to the football industry. I knew that the networking opportunities would be like no other, GIS bridges that gap in terms of you connecting with these influential speakers.
Your Programme Leaders
Modules
The Global Institute of Sport is an embedded college of the University of East London. All Global Institute of Sport graduates will receive a degree from the University of East London.
The overall credit-rating of this course is 180 credits, students must study the 5 core modules, plus one of the optional modules.
Delivered across all GIS Master’s programmes to provide a foundation of knowledge of leadership and its application in sport, the Global Sports Leadership module provides a global sporting context to underpin each degree specialism.
Covering fundamental leadership principles including culture, performance analysis, diversity and inclusion, leadership styles and innovation within a contemporary sporting context, this module allows students to develop a broad appreciation of the sports industry and become leaders in their field.
A core aspect of the module is to bring in global leaders from the pitch, the boardroom and the industry to enable student to access and reflect on real life and current industry experiences and insight. Many of the sessions will be shared across multiple GIS degree programmes, allowing students to learn from and network with each other throughout the Global Sports Leadership module.
This module will explore the importance, variation and motivation which influence football consumer
behaviours. You will identify key factors which explore the changing nature of football consumer
typologies, including the globalisation of fan engagement and the importance of customer relationship management and data analytics. This module explores and analyses the dynamic nature of football fan engagement and the online and offline tools being used to capture existing and new fans. Finally, the module examines the metrics and insights required to drive the business of football consumption.
- Global Sports Leadership
- Football Fan Engagement
- Digital Marketing for Football
- Multimedia Football Journalism
- Applied Professional Project
- Global Sports Consulting and Analysis (Option)
- Customer Relationship Management and Analytics in Sport (Option)
Students will choose one option at the beginning of their course.
The main educational aims of the course are to:
- To unite, inspire and equip the current and future leaders of the global sports industry, with the skills knowledge and network to take the world of sport to continually new heights.
- Prepare students for a career in the football communications, journalism and marketing sector.
- Provide students with the extended knowledge of the football communications, journalism and marketing sector of the economy.
- Enable students to develop the communication, analytical, problem-solving and creative skills, demanded for career enhancement in football communications and marketing.
- Develop students’ ability to reflect on contemporary approaches resulting in best practice for a dynamic football communications and marketing environment.
- Develop students’ critical analysis and problem solving skills for business digital transformation.
- Utilise distinctive delivery locations and professional relationships to provide students with opportunities to engage with industry throughout the programme.
- Enable students to believe in bold, passionate leadership with a focus on success.
- Develop students’ ability to adopt a diversity of thought, and recognise and apply ethical practices which shape the choices within football communications.
Entry requirements
Applicants should hold a 2:1 honours degree or a recognised overseas equivalent. Applicants may be accepted with a 2:2 honours degree (or equivalent) provided that they can otherwise demonstrate a strong profile with 50% or above in their dissertation module.
Professional experience and industry qualifications can be assessed for applicants without the standard entry requirements. All applicants will be provided with an opportunity to be assessed and to discuss their suitability for the programme with the academic team. All applicants are also provided with information relating to student services, with whom they can make contact, should they require additional support or advice as well as information related to appropriate bursaries and funds.
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.
If you are unsure whether you meet the entry criteria for this programme, or whether you require IELTS results, please email mastersenquiries@ucfb.com with a copy of your most recent CV including nationality, visa status if applicable, and undergraduate degree transcripts. Candidates with a strong CV may qualify for a supplementary admissions interview to support their academic application.
International students
GIS cannot currently sponsor non-EU students’ visas.
You will not need a visa to study in the UK if:
- You are a British citizen
- You are a citizen of a European Economic Area (EEA) member state or Switzerland
- You have a visa to stay in the UK for another purpose that allows you to study
If you are still unsure whether you would need a visa to study in the UK, or for more information, please contact admissions@ucfb.com. You can also study one of our Online Master's degrees.
To apply for this degree, please click here and follow the instructions to complete your application via our Learner Portal.
Relevant documents for EU, UK and international applications:
- Completed and signed application form;
- Personal statement;
- Copy of transcripts of highest qualification achieved and English translations (if applicable);
- One academic and one professional reference and English translation (if applicable);
- Copy of proof of English language level e.g. IELTS (if applicable).
Scholarships
The Global Institute of Sport is proud to offer an extensive suite of scholarships to support outstanding students as they embark on their postgraduate study. From scholarships to aid our elite athletes, to attracting aspiring sports leaders, and scholarships which support inclusivity and diversity within the sporting industry, our scholarships are there to support students who want to make a meaningful difference to the future of the sporting world.
Career prospects
The specificity of sport, with its high media coverage and numerous stakeholders, requires managers to have uniquely honed business skills and an in-depth knowledge of the football industry. The programme has been developed for those with aspirations towards senior positions within the core media and marketing departments of football and sports clubs and similar organisations.
While on the cusp of completing GIS’ MSc Football Communications & Digital Marketing programme, Maria Hasler secured a full-time role at international sports media outlet DAZN, working within their Global Partner Marketing team.
Read more
A football fan her whole life, Laura D’Alessandro never gave it much thought as a career option. However, following her work at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019, the GIS student – who’s studying the MSc Football Communications & Digital Marketing programme – saw the possibilities for her future career.
Read more
Fees
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.
Visit our dedicated page about fees and student finance.
For part-time courses the tuition fee will be split accordingly per year i.e 50% in year 1 and 50% in year 2 (for a two year programme) as per below table.
| Full-time (one year) | Part-time (two years) | ||
| Home Students |
International Students |
Home Students |
International Students |
| £10,950 | £16,450 | £5,475 | £8,225 |
In some instances, optional Employment & Enrichment activities provided by UCFB 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.
GIS has a range of scholarship options to help with the cost of studying and to encourage students to embrace their time at GIS and graduate with more than just their university degree. Click here to learn more.
