Master of Business (Sport Management)
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of Business (Sport Management) |
| Deakin course code | M748 |
| Course Credit Points | 16 |
| Course version | 1 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Business and Law |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2015 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Online | Yes |
| Duration | Depending on your professional experience and previous qualifications, the Master of Business (Sport Management) is typically 1, 1.5 or 2 years duration.
|
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2026 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS code | 078035M Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Alternative exits
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Other learning experiences
- Research and research-related study
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Study at a top 3 business school in Victoria* and prepare for a leadership role in the dynamic, fast-paced world of sport. Deakin’s Master of Business (Sport Management) is Australia’s leading postgraduate sport management course that will give you the practical skills and industry insights to lead at elite, semi-elite or recreational levels.
Learn from industry experts and benefit from Deakin’s strong connections with professional organisations such as the Geelong Football Club and the Melbourne Vixens. These strong industry relationships feed directly into the course design and teaching. As a result, you will gain the expertise to deliver on all strategic dimensions of the industry, including marketing, technology and innovation, governance, stadium and event management, as well as participation development.
Are you ready to develop the business skills needed to lead in this multi-billion dollar industry?
With one of strongest sporting sectors in the world, Australians take the business of sport seriously. Underpinning this multi-billion dollar industry are the professionals who lead, manage and grow sporting organisations across codes and contexts. Whether your ambition is to drive participation or run elite-level competitions, Deakin will prepare you to turn your passion into a rewarding career.
The Master of Business (Sport Management) has a hands-on, career focused learning approach to enable you to build workplace resilience and succeed in the field. Our sport management work-integrated learning opportunities help you combine the concepts you learn with practical workplace experience, integrating your knowledge as you connect and network with industry professionals.
You will have the opportunity to gain a global perspective on sport management through international consultancy experiences, internships, volunteering placements and study abroad programs – both face-to-face and virtual.
With options to study at our Melbourne Burwood Campus or online, you can tailor your study experience to fit your commitments. If you choose to study on campus, you will have a home advantage of being in Melbourne – one of the sporting capitals of the world and home to many major sporting events like the Grand Prix, Melbourne Cup and Australian Open. Our location opens the door to potential industry experience at Melbourne’s sports precinct – with opportunities to visit, work or volunteer at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne Park, AAMI Park or the National Sports Museum.
*AFR BOSS Best Business Schools 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
- sport marketing and sponsorship manager
- sport business consultant or analyst
- club or league operations manager
- athlete development manager
- event and venue operations manager
- sport partnerships and commercial manager
- player agent
- policy and planning advisor (sport and recreation)
- high performance program manager
- community engagement or development officer
- sport public relations or social media manager.
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.
Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.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.
Alternative exits
| Graduate Certificate of Business (Sport Management) (M518) |
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 organisation |
| 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 | Select and use appropriate digital technologies to manage and disseminate relevant information to stakeholders in the sport industry |
| Critical thinking | Demonstrate a specialised set of high order cognitive and technical skills including critical analysis and problem solving skills for managing in the sport industry |
| Problem solving | Identify and address issues, create high quality solutions towards commercial and social improvements and implement efficient strategic and operational outcomes in the sport industry |
| Self-management | Demonstrate advanced skills to work independently and take responsibility for continuing professional development |
| Teamwork | Work with others to contribute to collaborative outcomes and be able to take on roles towards demonstration of leadership within the sport industry |
| 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 Master of Business (Sport Management) you must pass 8, 12 or 16 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.
A 16-credit point Master of Business (Sport Management) includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 10 credit points of core units
- 6 credit points of open 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.
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 |
| MMS714 | The Sport Workplace |
| MLC710 | Sport and the Law |
| MMS712 | Sport Marketing |
| MMS704 | Sport Ethics and Integrity |
| MAA702 | Accounts, Accountability and Governance |
| MMS720 | Sport Business Innovation and Technology |
| MMS702 | Fan and Participant Engagement |
| MMS703 | Sport Governance |
| MMS736 | Strategic Management (Capstone) |
Open electives
Plus 6 credit points of postgraduate open elective units including up to 2 credit points of Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials).
Recommended Sport Management elective units:
| MMS706 | Sport Business Analytics |
| MMS713 | Sport Policy and Development |
| MMS773 | Sport Media and Broadcasting |
| MMS774 | Sport Events and Venue Operations |
| MMS776 | Sport Industry Experience |
Stackable short courses
Mix and match Deakin stackable short courses (0.5 credit point microcredentials) to earn up to 1 credit point of open electives, subject to eligibility. Any stacking must add up to a whole number to be used for credit. For more information, visit the Deakin stackable short course options.
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Other learning experiences
This course includes the option of other learning experiences including residential and study tour units.
Research and research-related study
Research-related learning tasks are embedded across units where student achievement is demonstrated in specific assessment tasks.
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. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.