Executive Graduate Certificate of Sport Business
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Executive Graduate Certificate of Sport Business |
| Deakin course code | M539 |
| Course Credit Points | 4 |
| Course version | 2 |
| Faculty | |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2025 onwards |
| Campus | This course is only offered Online |
| Duration | 1 year part-time |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | The course map for students commencing from Trimester 1 2026 will be available soon. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8 |
| Supplementary Information | INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS - International students should note that, due to visa regulations, this course can only be undertaken while living outside Australia. |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Fees and charges
Course overview
The next decade is set to be a transformational era in Australian sport and will require skilled professionals to oversee the vast behind-the-scenes logistics. With no comparable courses in Australia, Deakin's Executive Graduate Certificate of Sport Business offers an unrivalled level of knowledge for managers and executives looking to grow their skills and take their next step in the sport industry.
Are you looking to develop the expertise to help steer Australian sport through the next decade and beyond?
Over the coming years, Australia will host major international events in rugby, football, netball and cricket, culminating in the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
This highly anticipated era in sport will present exceptional career opportunities for suitably skilled professionals in the sport management and allied leisure industries.
The Executive Graduate Certificate of Sport Business will prepare you to step up and navigate this dynamic era in sport. You will have the flexibility to tailor the course to your specific employment goals, with delivery designed to fit the schedule of busy working professionals.
Explore a variety of units, which will prepare you to:
-
understand the application of contemporary sport workforce planning tools and respond to current issues in sport
- develop negotiation skills and an awareness of the theories behind behavioural decision-making, game theory, decision analysis and dispute resolution
-
consider, articulate, and work within the ethical and social responsibilities of sport organisations
-
understand the governance functions and the role of non-executive directors as key leaders of sport leagues, professional clubs and national and state governing bodies
- understand the regulation and commercialisation of sport and the interaction between sport regulation and the law.
Deakin is world-renowned for sport academic excellence and is ranked #11 in the world for sport subjects.* You’ll learn from experienced academics and will build specialised knowledge in sport management to take the next step in your career.
* QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
Indicative student workload
You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Professional recognition
Deakin Business School holds both AACSB and EQUIS accreditations. These prestigious accreditations are awarded to business schools that meet strict standards of quality, academic and professional excellence, and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing improvement and innovation in their courses, ensuring our graduates are employable worldwide.
Career opportunities
This course is an ideal entry point for mid to senior-level executives and managers who want to elevate their career in the rapidly evolving sport industry.
As the sport industry enters a period of significant growth and transformation, graduates will be well-positioned to lead in a range of strategic and operational roles across governance, commercial operations, and stakeholder engagement.
As a graduate, you may pursue roles such as:
- development or engagement manager
- executive or senior manager within sport institutions, professional clubs, or national and state leagues
- commercial operations or sponsorship manager sport business strategist or analyst sport marketing or communications manager
- governance or compliance advisor in sport organisations.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Enhance and refine an advanced understanding of leadership and management that are unique to the sport business through integrated and comprehensive analysis and application of theory from business and allied disciplines in order to provide expert management and leadership in sport organisations and the broader sport industry. |
| Communication | Enhance expert written, oral and visual communication skills to interpret and transmit knowledge and ideas regarding complex and specialist concepts for diverse stakeholders (expert and non-expert) involved in the sport industry including organisations in government and corporate sectors, and those involved in delivery of sport at community through to elite settings. |
| Digital literacy | Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award |
| Critical thinking | Refine and articulate a specialised set of high order cognitive and technical skills including critical analysis and problem-solving skills for leading in sport organisations and the broader sport industry. |
| Problem solving | Identify interdependencies and relationships between aspects of management and leadership in order to devise strategic solutions to advance commercial and social enhancements in sport organisations and the broader sport industry. |
| Self-management | Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award. |
| Teamwork | Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award. |
| Global citizenship | Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award. |
Course rules
To complete the Executive Graduate Certificate of Sport Business students must pass 4 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
- 3 credit points of core units
- 1 credit point open elective unit
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.
Note:
- This course is part-time only
Course structure
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:-
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin |
Core units
| MMS707 | Sport Industry Regulation and Negotiation |
| MMS708 | Sport Workforce Planning |
| MMS709 | Sport Leadership and Governance |
Open electives
- 1 credit point of postgraduate open elective which can be chosen from:
- other postgraduate units offered by the University (subject to eligibility)
- two (2) 0.5 credit point microcredentials (total 1 credit point)
- recommended Sport Management units (see list below)
| MMS720 | Sport Business Innovation and Technology |
| MMS711 | Introduction to the Sport Industry |
| MMS714 | The Sport Workplace |
| MMS712 | Sport Marketing |
| MMS704 | Sport Ethics and Integrity |
| MLC710 | Sport and the Law |
| MMS702 | Fan and Participant Engagement |
| MMS713 | Sport Policy and Development |
| MMS773 | Sport Media and Broadcasting |
| MMS774 | Sport Events and Venue Operations |
Work experience
This course does not require students to complete compulsory work integrated learning units.
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin.