Sports Management BA (Hons)

Course code C6N2

What is special about this course?

The BA (Hons) Sports Management degree is designed for those seeking a broad-based management qualification that will introduce you to all aspects of today's modern sporting business. This course will equip you with the skills you will need for a career in sports management, including marketing, human resources, business law and IT.

Special features

  • A key highlight is the project work you will undertake where you investigate real life situations, which enables you to put what you have learned into practice.
  • Small classes give you a more personal experience of university
  • The programme offers flexibility so that you can choose to develop specific knowledge and expertise in key business areas, such as: marketing; enterprise; human resources management; and IT

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

  • For 24/25, entry to this course is only available into year 2 
  • You must have achieved HNC Sports Coaching and Development or HNC Fitness, Health and Exercise Group Award (15 SCQF credits)
  • This is a Category 1 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required to successfully achieve target qualification, where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in key elements of the course. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage

Advanced Entry

Access routes

SWAP Access courses
If you are eligible to undertake Scottish Wider Access Programmes (SWAP), please visit our SWAP access list for further information on grade profiles and available subjects.

Alternatively:

  • NQ Sport and recreation
  • NQ Sport and Fitness
  • NQ Outdoor Adventure

For International students requiring Student Route sponsorship
Please note that international students with a Student Route visa can only take part in sports activities or as part of a work placement, as an amateur and not as a professional or semi-professional. You will not be allowed to become a member of a professional sports association while a student. This is due to ‘professional sportsperson’ restrictions imposed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as outlined in their Student Route Policy Guidance.

Year 1 - HNC

For 24/25, entry to this course is only available from year 2.

Year 2 - DipHE

Both the HND Sports Coaching and Development and the HND Fitness, Health and Exercise routes are available at Inverness and Perth:

The DipHE Sports Management is available at other locations.

Subjects in the DipHE include:

  • Applied coaching and leadership
  • Event planning and organisation
  • The contemporary workplace

Optional modules may include:

  • Economics for business
  • Introduction to business
  • Introduction to human resource management
  • Management accounting
  • Management of business information
  • Marketing fundamentals
  • Work placement: team working and communication

Year 3 - BA

Modules may include:

  • Developing entrepreneurial effectiveness
  • Research skills
  • The professional practitioner: ethics, policy and practice

Options may include:

  • Critical thinking in management
  • Collaborating in the digital economy
  • Employment law in the HRM context
  • Marketing communications
  • Niche tourism
  • Project planning and management
  • Small business planning
  • Sports science: a critical analysis
  • Work placement: specialist skills

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a dissertation and study modules in:

  • Delivering physical activity and sports development programmes
  • Physical activity for all

Option modules may include:

  • Business strategy
  • e-Business
  • Employee relations
  • Innovation and enterprise
  • Major event analysis
  • Work placement: professional practice

How will I study my course?

  • Full-time
  • Part-time
  • For the taught element of the course, you will learn through a combination of face-to-face lectures, tutorials and online study via the university’s virtual learning environment (VLE).

How long will my course last?

  • Full-time: 3 years (HND/DipHE, BA, BA (Hons))
  • Part-time: 6 years (HND/DipHE, BA, BA (Hons))

Where can I study my course?

  • Inverness
  • Moray
  • North, West and Hebrides
  • Orkney
  • Perth

Start date

  • September

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

  • EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
Year Level 2023-24 Full-time 2023-24 Part-time 2024-25 Full-time 2024-25 Part-time
Year 1 HNC £1,285 £86 (per HN credit) £1,285 £86 (per HN credit)
Year 2 DipHE £1,820 £305 (per 20 credit module) £1,820 £305 (per 20 credit module)
Year 3 Degree £1,820 £305 (per 20 credit module) £1,820 £305 (per 20 credit module)
Year 4 Honours £1,820 £305 (per 20 credit module) £1,820 £305 (per 20 credit module)

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term-time address in Scotland studying this course full time, the following fees apply:

Year Level 2023-24 Full-time 2023-24 Part-time 2024-25 Full-time 2024-25 Part-time
Year 1 HNC £7,110 £474 (per HN credit) £7,110 £474 (per HN credit)
Year 2 DipHE £9,250 £1,542 (per 20 credit module) £9,250 £1,542 (per 20 credit module)
Year 3 Degree £9,250 £1,542 (per 20 credit module) £9,250 £1,542 (per 20 credit module)
Year 4 Honours Free £1,542 (per 20 credit module) Free £1,542 (per 20 credit module)

4th year free only for students studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes.  Students will get an automatic scholarship for 2nd and 3rd year, with the 4th year of study free for those studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Year Level 2023-24 Full-time With scholarship 2024-25 Full-time With scholarship
Year 1 HNC £7,980 £7,980 £8,775 £8,775
Year 2 DipHE £13,980 £10,980 £14,988 £11,988
Year 3 Degree £13,980 £10,980 £14,988 £11,988
Year 4 Honours £13,980 Free £14,988 Free

Students will need Student Route visa sponsorship to study on the UK.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Year Level 2023-24 Full-time 2023-24 Part-time 2024-25 Full-time 2024-25 Part-time
Year 1 HNC £7,980 £532 (per HN credit) £8,775 £585 (per HN credit)
Year 2 DipHE £13,980 £2,330 (per 20 credit module) £14,988 £2,498 (per 20 credit module)
Year 3 Degree £13,980 £2,330 (per 20 credit module) £14,988 £2,498 (per 20 credit module)
Year 4 Honours £13,980 £2,330 (per 20 credit module) £14,988 £2,498 (per 20 credit module)

Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Further information on international course fees.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award, including where students are following a recognised ‘top-up’ degree structure where the first year is made up of an HNC award.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

What can I do on completion of my course?

Successful completion of the BA (Hons) Sports Management will provide you with excellent career prospects. This award enables you to develop knowledge and skills highly valued by employers, leading to roles in public, private and voluntary organisations such as:

  • Sports development officer
  • Leisure centre operative
  • Sports manager

You will also have the potential to become local entrepreneurs with business start-ups in the sport and fitness sectors.

Is there more information available online?

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What makes the course special is the small class sizes and the way you can build up good relationships with the lecturers. They are very supportive and easy to communicate with. The course is ideal for opening your eyes to the different opportunities sport and fitness has to offer. It’s a great pathway to my future career. 

Iona studies Sports at UHI Perth.  

Apply for Sports Management BA (Hons)

I want to start in Aug/Sep 2024

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.