Graduate Certificate of Business (Sport Management)

Course summary for international students

Year	2026 course information
Award granted	Graduate Certificate of Business (Sport Management)
Campus	This course is only offered Online
Fee paying annual fee - commencing 2026	$24,000 AUD
Level	Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
Deakin course code	M518
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
This course is offered part-time in Trimester 1 and full-time in Trimester 2 and Trimester 3. Note: Trimester 3 intake is available to domestic students only.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Get an insight into the business side of sport with Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Business (Sport Management). Study at a top 3 business school in Victoria^* and advance your sport career with skills in management, marketing, events, facilities and finance.

Designed to cover the fundamentals of the sport management industry, you will learn how sport is delivered in Australia and how business functions in a sports context while building the specialised knowledge and skills required by sport managers.

Are you looking to build your career in sport management?

The Graduate Certificate of Business (Sport Management) gives you the skills to start or build your career within the multi-billion dollar Australian sporting industry.

At Deakin you will learn from academics who are experts in their field. You will also benefit from strong industry connections such as the Geelong Football Club, Melbourne Vixens and Netball Victoria which ensure the relevance of everything we teach.

This course can be used as a pathway to further studies including Deakin’s Master of Business (Sport Management).

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Fees and charges

The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students completing this course within the same year in which they started. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.

The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together four credit points of study. Four credit points is used as it represents a typical enrolment load for a Graduate Certificate.

Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook.

Learn more about tuition fees.

Career opportunities

The Graduate Certificate is ideal for those beginning a career in sport management or looking to transition into the field.

Career opportunities include:

membership and ticketing coordinator
sport development or engagement officer
venue or event assistant manager
club administrator
sport marketing assistant
team operations support officer
sport programs or participation officer.

Course learning outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Develop a comprehensive understanding of the elements of management that are unique to the sport business through analysis and application of theory from business and allied disciplines in order to provide effective management and leadership in sport organisations.
Communication	Develop advanced written, oral and visual communication skills around complex concepts for diverse stakeholders 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	Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award
Problem solving	Demonstrate a specialised set of high order cognitive and technical skills including critical analysis and problem-solving skills for managing in the 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	Engage as a professional in the sport industry with the skills that are applicable to a variety of contexts (professional, amateur) and issues (global, social, ethical, cultural) in the sport industry.

Course rules

To complete the Graduate Certificate of Business (Sport Management), you must pass 4 credit points. This includes:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
3 credit points of core units
1 credit point of course elective units

Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.

All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

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

MMS711

Introduction to the Sport Industry

MMS712

Sport Marketing

MMS714

The Sport Workplace

Course electives

Plus one unit from:

MAA702

Accounts, Accountability and Governance

MMS704

Sport Ethics and Integrity

Admission criteria

Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements or higher to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.

A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.

Academic requirements

To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria:

completion of a bachelor degree or higher
at least two years’ relevant work experience (or part-time equivalent)

English language proficiency requirements

To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:

bachelor degree from a recognised English-speaking country
IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent
other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)

Admissions information

Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.

Not sure if you can get into Deakin postgraduate study? Postgraduate study doesn’t have to be a balancing act; we provide flexible course entry and exit options based on your desired career outcomes and the time you are able to commit to your study.

Pathways

This course can be a pathway to:

Master of Business (Sport Management) (M748)

Credit for prior learning - general

If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for Recognition of prior learning. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your Recognition of prior learning.
Your Recognition of prior learning is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.

You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.

Further study

M748 Master of Business (Sport Management)

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.

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.

Work experience

This course does not require students to complete compulsory work integrated learning units.

Participation requirements

Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.