Sports business programmes feature in top ranking
The Management School’s MSc Sports Business and Management programme has ranked 1st in the UK, 3rd in Europe, and 14th in the world in the 2023 SportBusiness Postgraduate Rankings.
In addition, our Football Industries MBA (FIMBA) has climbed several places to #31 – the highest-ranking UK and European MBA programme on the list.
The MSc Sports Business and Management programme launched in 2017, following extensive consultation with senior professionals at regional, national and international sports organizations and consulting practices. Our aim was in to develop a future-focused course that married the key challenges facing the sports industry in the present day, with the skills and attributes required of future sports business leaders.
These connections continue to be leveraged today for extracurricular initiatives, including a regular guest speaker series, and in situ research-led internships with the Liverpool FC Foundation and Tranmere Rovers Football Club. Post study, our alumni now represent some of the largest sports business organizations globally.
Deputy Associate Dean (Postgraduate) and the former founding Director of Studies, Dr David Cockayne, said of the ranking success: “This is a wonderful reflection on the collective foresight and passion that our academic team and industry partners exhibit in shaping our students’ learning experience. It’s also a wonderful reflection on our past students and alumni, and how they have grown and developed in the sports industry”.
The MSc Sports Business and Management programme ranked 7th in the world in the Career Advancement feedback scoring.
Alumnus Raj Taprial (MSc Sports Business and Management 2021), who now works as an Account Executive at Nielson Sports, remembers his highlights from the programme:
‘Some of our projects and assignments were quite interactive. I love creativity and they were flexible in allowing us to deliver assignments in different ways, such as using video content, which really allowed us to put our own stamp on assignments. It all culminated in a dissertation on fan engagement and digitalisation, two areas I'm incredibly keen on building upon in the industry.’
The SportBusiness ranking is based on two surveys undertaken by course leaders and alumni who graduated three years prior to the publication of the rankings.
For students, the scores are calculated by looking at factors such as quality of teaching, support in finding a job in the industry and the ability to network with industry executives. Other score calculations include employment status, current salary, course leader choice and work placements.