Postgraduate Diploma in International Football Business

Intake Date: September 2024

This degree is available at our new campus in Brussels, Belgium. Located at the famous RSC Anderlecht Stadium - Lotto Park, you will be immersed in study surroundings of the famous European club.

Each course includes 72 hours (12 x 6 hours) of lectures with self study of 228 hours (72 hours follow-up oncourse material, 100 hours reading and processing of textbook, 56 hours preparation for course work). See Course specification for each module detail.

The Diploma is a total of 60 ECTS credits, split across four 15-credit courses. Two will be delivered in semester one, two in semester two. The modules cover a wide range of information about the football industry, allowing students to graduate with a deep and holistic understanding of the business of international football.

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.

In this module you will explore the impact, vision and activities of commercial operations and project management in a footballing context. You will develop an insight and understanding of approaches for managing football operations, in order to achieve successful delivery. You will be able to comprehend and apply alternative academic and best practice perspectives in terms of operational outcomes with a project management perspective.

This module will introduce you to the importance of finance as a discipline and decision tool in professional football clubs. You who may not have experience of accounting or finance, but want to build an understanding of its growing importance as a core management discipline in the football and sporting industries. In order to work in a management position in the business of football, an appreciation of the underlying financial mechanisms, regulations, and cash flow has become increasingly important. You will learn about the European Football Finance Landscape, and the importance of match day, broadcast and commercial revenue, through to financial regulation, cost management and all aspects of revenue generation. You will consider how existing governance frameworks have evolved, corruption and the function of Boards of Directors. There will be a strong focus on interpreting and monitoring financial outcomes and appraising club financial data, KPI’s and valuations.

This course aims is to support strategic leaders in football explore the features of leading high-performing organisation and professional football clubs. The course will focus on the key skills to run a successful organisation of football club from both the football and the broader sport business world in order to overcome challenges. The course will examine football clubs and organisations, leadership, aims, strategies, culture and talent management.

The focus of the course is on two critical questions:

• What is a high-performance football clubs or organisation?
• How do we build, lead and sustain a high-performance organisation?

• Non-EU students will require a valid visa to be able to study.
• Undergraduate degree or international equivalent
• Applicants 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 6.5 (minimum of 6.0 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.

Offers can be made to an applicant currently 30 credits or less away from achieving their undergraduate degree, however, the undergraduate award should be obtained within 12 months in order for postgraduate degree to be awarded.

Applications that do not meet the standard entry requirements but demonstrate relevant education and/or work and/or life experience in the course subject area are welcomed.

Eligibility will be assessed on the basis of the information provided in the application – in particular the personal statement.

To apply for this diploma, 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 GIS, UCFB, Buckinghamshire New University and University of East London graduate who has received and accepted an offer to study at the Global Institute of Sport.

• 15% fee tuition discount on all Master's programmes

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.