This is an archived page and for reference purposes only
Studying Sport Management enables you to develop an excellent understanding of the management expertise needed to be effective in the sport and exercise industry. You study management modules alongside sport-related modules, with an emphasis on building up practical experience of how management theories can be applied in the workplace.
Overview
The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences benefits from excellent purpose-built facilities, housing state-of-the-art equipment; these include sports science laboratories, teaching and student clinics, and a rehabilitation gymnasium.
The School is also part of the exciting £11 million Medway Park development, a regional centre of sporting excellence, which provides students with the opportunity to study sports management in real-life situations. Lecturers in the School are also involved in some of the latest sports research developments and work with prominent sports teams and bodies, such as the RFU, British Cycling, Real Madrid, EIS and UK Sport.
The MSport Sport Management programme provides a learning environment that prepares students for a career within the sports industry. Upon graduation, students will hold a qualification that lies between an undergraduate and a Master's degree. This four-year course allows more opportunities for work experience, with industry placements in stages 3 and 4, helping you to develop a stronger network of contacts for achieving employment.
Independent rankings
Sports Science at Kent was ranked 13th in The Complete University Guide 2017.
For graduate prospects, Sports Science at Kent was ranked 8th in The Guardian University Guide 2017. Sports Science students who graduated from Kent in 2015 were the most successful in the UK at finding work or further study opportunities (DLHE).
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
Teaching and assessment
The programme involves traditional lectures, tutor- and student-led seminars, tutorials and self-directed learning. Guest speakers and involvement with external sports organisations will develop students' practical awareness and understanding of the sports industry. Strong links have been developed with sports development departments and sports providers in Kent.
Theoretical modules are assessed through a combination of examination and coursework assessment. A number of the vocationally/practice-based modules are assessed using a combination of coursework assessment and observation. Other methods of module assessment include presentations, reports, essays, peer assessment and time-constrained exercises.
Programme aims
The programme aims to provide:
- multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary education that maximises local provision opportunities for students who seek professional careers within the field of sport management. The programme further aims to prepare them to meet the challenges of an expanding and rapidly changing industry
- an understanding of key concepts, skills and techniques within the field of management studies and appreciation of how these are applied in the world of work
- a curriculum that enhances student employability
- a challenging and valuable educational experience providing students with the opportunity to learn through the integration of theory and practice
- the level of academic knowledge and relevant professional competencies required by the sport industries
- key transferable skills with applications in management
- the opportunity to conduct in-depth enquiry in selected areas relevant to Sport Management
- individuals with the ability to critically apply marketing theories in a range of different contexts, through the development of cognitive, critical and intellectual skills, research skills and personal and interpersonal skills.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- management – the processes, procedures and practices for effective management of organisations, including theories, models, frameworks, tasks and roles of management, together with rational analysis and processes of decision making within organisations and in relation to the external
- concepts and marketing models within a sporting context, to include the role of media and sponsorship
- management of employees in sports industries
- markets, customers, people, operations, communications and IT, business policy and strategy, and contemporary and pervasive issues, within the framework of the areas of ‘Organisations’, ‘External Environment’ and ‘Management’
- leadership theory and styles and the relevant models
- contemporary and pervasive issues deepening and/or integrating core knowledge
- social processes that influence individual and group behaviour
- the development of appropriate strategies within changing environments to meet stakeholders' interests
- the use of a range of marketing and/or business research methods and techniques (qualitative and quantitative) and an understanding of the situations in which they should be used for providing marketers and/or managers with information to make informed decisions.
Intellectual skills
You gain intellectual skills in the following:
- effective application of the skills needed for academic study and enquiry, including critical evaluation
- effective self-management in terms of time, planning and behaviour, motivation, self-starting, individual initiative and enterprise
- application of knowledge to the solution of familiar and unfamiliar problems, either independently or with others, in order to develop reasoned arguments and challenge assumptions
- self-appraisal and reflection on practice
- critical evaluation of arguments and evidence
- recognition of and response to moral, legal, ethical and safety issues that directly pertain to the context of study
- analytical skills necessary for the analysis of problems and the application of a systematic approach towards the identification of appropriate strategies and/or tactics
- critical thinking and creativity; managing creative processes in self and/or others; organising thoughts; analysis, synthesis and critical appraisal
- how to conduct research into business/management issues for project work, using a variety of sources and appropriate methodologies that inform the learning process.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in the following areas:
- creating, evaluating and assessing options in a range of business situations, applying concepts and knowledge appropriately
- communicating effectively, orally and in writing, about business issues
- the ability to conduct research into business and management issues, either individually or as part of a team, requiring familiarity with a range of business data, research sources and appropriate methodologies
- applying and evaluating relevant managerial skills to a range of vocational and professional situations
- Identifying, formulating and solving business /decision-making problems using appropriate qualitative and quantitative tools
- ethical and value management, recognising ethical situations, applying ethical and organisational values to situations
- problem solving and decision making, establishing criteria, using appropriate decision techniques including identifying, formulating and solving business/management problems; the ability to create, identify and evaluate options.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following areas:
- communicating effectively, orally and in writing, using media appropriate for the purpose
- working in groups effectively and applying other interpersonal skills
- problem solving
- time management, so as to plan and deliver required outputs effectively
- identifying and making effective use of information from various sources to assess ideas
- applying numeracy and IT skills appropriately
- listening, negotiating and persuading or influencing others; oral and written communication using a range of media, including the preparation of business/management reports
- personal effectiveness, self-awareness and self-management; sensitivity to diversity in people and in different situations, the ability to continue learning.
Careers
The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences has an excellent reputation and a graduate in Sport Management has a number of career opportunities. The degree can lead to:
- employment in sports development with local authorities, national or regional sports governing bodies
- employment within public or private leisure centres, health and fitness clubs
- posts in community leisure centres
- self-employment as a personal trainer.
Additionally, you can choose further study to pursue a career in teaching (PGCE), research (MPhil/PhD), or other Master’s programmes.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | BBB |
| GCSE | Mathematics and English grade C |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | 18 units at Distinction, Distinction, Merit, plus GCSE Mathematics grade C |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 15 points at HL including Mathematics 4 at HL or SL |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | ||
| Part-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Additional costs
All Students who are part of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences will receive a complementary uniform which includes: 1 x Tracksuit bottoms, 1 x Shorts, 1 x Hoodie, 1 x Nike Shirt once they have started the course. Although there are currently no mandatory extra costs specified for this course students do have the option to purchase extra uniform If they want to, as you might be required to wear your uniform for some practical sessions. Current cost of the uniforms are:
Nike T-Shirt - £17.49
Unisex Shorts – £10.20
Men’s Tracksuit bottoms -£21
Women’s Tracksuit Bottoms –£21
Unisex Quantumn Jacket - £40
Unisex Hurricane Jacket - £31
Unisex Hoodie - £14.40
Please be aware these prices are subject to change each year
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.