Sport and Recreation Management (BSc Hons)

Sport is a rapidly expanding global business. This unique degree programme prepares you for a career in the sport and recreation industry and beyond.

The numerous sports events in society and dedicated sports mass media outlets are testament to the growth in Sport as a business worldwide. 

Programme structure

There are about 40 places available on the Sport and Recreation Management degree each year.

No specific subjects are required for entry but we recommend knowledge of a social science subject, for example, Sociology, Business Management, Economics, Modern Studies, Geography, History and Politics.

The programme also encourages mature students with appropriate industrial experience to apply.

Entry requirements and details of programme structure can be found on our 'degree finder' page.

Entry requirements / Programme structure

Course Description 2019-20

Teaching strategy

Before your arrival for the induction week, you will be allocated a Personal Tutor who will work with you on a one-to-one basis and also in small group settings to support you throughout your degree programme.

After induction, your learning experience on this programme will be a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, field trips, and placement or work-based learning.  

The programme makes use of a combination of assessment strategies which include coursework written assignments or extended essay papers, individual or group oral presentations, placement project reports, in-class tests, examinations and a dissertation report as a final research project as you exit the programme. These innovative approaches will enhance your employability as well as prepare you for postgraduate study.

Last Season, 2017/2018, part of my accomplishments include breaking the Scottish Record, in the 50m freestyle, at the British Summer Championships with a recorded time of 22.45 seconds. These achievements would not have possible without the continued support from the University, the academic and elite sporting systems. The support is towards my training as well as my part-time academic flexibility that has been generously offered at key points throughout my career. The University of Edinburgh is at the forefront in the UK higher education environment, providing the highest levels of support academically and also from a sporting performance perspective.

Professional Placement

You will have the opportunity to arrange a work placement in Year 2 of your studies. This is a compulsory placement that offers you an opportunity to bring together theory and practice or policy and practice within a real-world work context. This work-based learning experience will help you develop specific skills for the sports industry as well as enhance your employability through transferable skills.

Past placement opportunities have previously been with a wide range of organisations such as:

• Active Schools Schemes for Edinburgh / East Lothian / North Lanarkshire
• Basketball Scotland
• Crags Community Centre
• Cricket Scotland
• David Lloyd Leisure Ltd
• Scottish Institute of Sport
• Edinburgh Leisure
• GSi Events Ltd
• Harlequins FC
• IMG (UK) Ltd
• Jog Scotland
• Nuffield Health Club
• PlayerLayer Ltd
• Scottish Football Museums
• Spartans Community Football Academy
• Trans World Soccer
• West Lothian Council Sport Development and Facilities
• Youth Football Scotland

During my placement with Cricket Scotland, I was fortunate enough to be granted the opportunity to observe key players in essential operational and managerial roles such as the CEO, the Events Management team and other supporting staff members. This enabled me to translate the theoretical aspects of my degree programme courses into practice. As a cricketer, I also gained a more in depth understanding of the elite athlete performance pathway whilst working with the Performance Pathway Manager. Throughout this placement, I developed and enhanced key skills which included forming professional relationships, developing interpersonal networking skills, working within a large team and gained confidence in travelling independently to new venues. All these skills and character building opportunities will be beneficial in undertaking future engagements.

International study

In Year 3, international study opportunities are available on comparable courses in European universities as well as at a range of universities in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

This programme attracts and welcomes many international students. Current and recent graduates come from across the world, for example, Canada, China, India, Kuwait, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, USA.

After completing the course, I have successfully obtained a Masters Degree in Sociology in the USA. Sport featured in most of my work. At the moment I am back at the University of Edinburgh doing a PhD in politics as well as tutoring politics to undergraduate students. I am hoping to publish some my work on political, military, and social significance of sport in the nearest future.

Graduates careers /Employment 

Graduates careers

Cameron McLay, a graduate from our Sport and Recreation Management programme, is now working as Communications and Sponsorship Manager at Basketball Scotland. We asked him about his career and why he volunteers to advise current sports students.

Cameron’s sporting chances

Employment

Many students find employment in sport, others sometimes decide to use their range of graduate skills in professions such as teaching. As well as careers in a variety of different commercial settings, such as marketing, retailing and finance, or starting up their own businesses, some work in community and third sector organisations, others go onto postgraduate courses.

I'm working in Germany as an intern in the history department for ADIDAS and studying for a masters degree in Sport History.

I'm using my degree quite regularly in my current role as Event Manager for a company called MSL Global ltd; MSL is a hospitality management company with contracts in Formula One, the World Rally Championship, The Open Golf and other such international sporting events. In my role I manage hospitality units for motor sport teams and organising bodies; this year I have spent most of my time following the formula 1 calendar and attending European motorsport events managing the hospitality units for teams like Williams F1, Mercedes F1, Formula One Management, IMG Media and various car manufacturers. The job is extremely rewarding, especially for someone with an interest in motorsport like myself.

UCAS Programme Link

Sport and Recreation Management (BSc Hons) - N230

Contact us

For admissions advice, contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office:

Related Links

Student Stories blog - Hugh

Graduate Destination profiles