This degree begins in September and is available full-time (one year)
Diploma overview
Taught from classrooms inside the stunning Lotto Park stadium - home of 34-time Belgian champions RSC Anderlecht - this Postgraduate Diploma is designed for those who wish to develop an appreciation of key areas shaping the current landscape of the football industry. The diploma provides opportunities to engage in different aspects of football business including areas such as football fan engagement, leadership and management, football finance and football operations. From TV deals to player transfers, football is now a global, multi-billion-dollar industry that is in need of more industry-specific qualified individuals.
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.
Diploma content
This course provides comprehensive knowledge of the global football business industry. Students will gain insights into how football clubs manage service and product-oriented operations, with a focus on critical assessment. The curriculum addresses the unique logistical challenges faced by football-related organisations and encourages evaluation of these operational issues. Students will also learn about financial forecasting techniques and their applications, developing the ability to critically evaluate these methods. Understanding the influence of global, national, and local factors on communication and marketing strategies. Additionally, students will explore various football and sports frameworks, learning to critically evaluate their applications.
Your campus
GIS Brussels. Located at the iconic Lotto Park, the home of RSC Anderlecht, our state-of-the-art campus offers unparalleled access to world-class facilities and an immersive stadium learning environment right in the heart of Belgium.
The 22,000 seater stadium will be your home while you study with us, embracing all of the fantastic networking, experiential learning and incredible opportunities to the global sports industry it provides!
Studying with GIS inspired me and set me up perfectly for my dream career in sport. I knew that the networking options that GIS would provide me would be like no other.
Modules
This course is delivered in partnership with one of Europe’s leading universities, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), through its Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy.
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?
Requirements overview
- 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.
For more information, please contact study@gis.sport
Applications are still open to Belgian Diploma holders to start this course in September 2024, applications close 30th September. Non-Belgian European and International students can now apply for September 2025.
GIS has created a step-by-step guide to assist you through the 2-part application process, to download, click here.
Please click here to download our step-by-step guide which will help navigate you through the 2-part, GIS & VUB, application process.
To apply for this diploma, please click here and follow the instructions to complete your application via our Learner Portal.
If you require any assistance, please contact us immediately at study@gis.sport and a member of the Future Students Team will be more than happy to help.
- 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.
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.
We are also excited to introduce the GIS Brussels Global Leadership Scholarship. This scholarship is available to candidates from any region around the world who have accepted their offer for the Postgraduate Diploma in International Football Business for the September 2024 intake.
Career prospects
I wouldn't be where I am today without the sports industry knowledge and connections that I made
These discounts are open to any GIS, UCFB, Buckinghamshire New University, Vrije Universiteit Brussel 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
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.
