• Standard period of study: 3 semester plus 1 semester master thesis
• Campuses: Dortmund
• Degree: Master of Arts (M.A.)
• Accreditations: AACSB, FIBAA, German Accreditation Council
• Semester abroad: One compulsory integrated at a partner university abroad
• Practical experience: 12 weeks of compulsory internship, workshops and excursions
• Language: German with English modules

With the Sports Management Master's program, you train yourself for taking on management positions in the sports sector, a global growth market with above-average growth potential.

The basis of this practice-oriented Master's in sports is providing a sound theoretical management basis, followed by its practical application to the sports industry. A focus point of the sports management master's program is on the global future topics in sports such as strategic and practical subject areas. These include foremost leadership, digitalization, sustainability, integrative management, health and tourism, as well as consulting.

By acquiring management-specific knowledge as well as future- and practice-oriented skills, you are best prepared for the current and future trends and challenges in the sports business.

This lays the foundation for a successful career in sports organizations (professional sports, sport federations, sports clubs), sporting goods and sports equipment manufacturers, marketing and communications agencies, management consultancies, health insurance companies and hospitals, public sports administrations, sports facility operators, (sports) event agencies, (sports) travel providers and (sports) destinations, as well as sports media.

Only around 6% of business schools worldwide are AACSB-accredited – an internationally recognized mark of quality for excellence in teaching, research, and social impact.

Integrated in the Sports Management Master is a semester abroad at one of our 190 partner universities with elective courses depending on your individual study focus. You can either opt for supplementary content from Sports Management (specific) or for a specialization in Marketing and Management (general).

During your semester abroad

• you will deepen your sports management knowledge in an international context,
• perfect your foreign language skills in the country you'll study abroad
• get to know intercultural peculiarities, and
• have the opportunity to complete a second international degree (Double Degree) at a partner university.

• Integrated semester abroad at a partner university
• International Double Degree option possible
• Fast Track option with graduation in only 3 semesters

With the Strategic Sports Management Master's program, you train yourself for taking on management positions in the sports sector, a global growth market with above-average growth potential. The basis of the practice-oriented Master's program in sports management is a sound theoretical management basis and its practical application to the sports industry.

The focus is on the global future topics in sports as strategic and practical subject areas. These include foremost leadership, digitalization, sustainability, integrative management, health and tourism, as well as consulting.

1st Semester

Leadership Skills

• Corporate Governance & Business Ethics (2 ECTS)
• Negotiation, Communication & Executive Presentations (2 ECTS)
• Cross Cultural Leadership (2 ECTS)

Strategy & Innovation in Sports

• Business Models & Strategies in Sports (2 ECTS)
• Value Creation & Sports Platform Strategy (2 ECTS)
• Innovation Management (2 ECTS)

Strategic Sports Marketing

• Marketing & Sales Management in Sports (2 ECTS)
• Brand Management in Sports (2 ECTS)
• Sports Sponsoring & Media Management (2 ECTS)

Research and Evaluation in Sports

• Evaluation Methods in Sports (2 ECTS)
• Evaluating Sports Brands (2 ECTS)
• Research Project Management (2 ECTS)

Sustainability in Sports

• Sustainable Sports Organizations (2 ECTS)
• Sustainable Sports Events (2 ECTS)
• New Business Models & Design Thinking in Sports (2 ECTS)

2nd Semester

Digitalization in Sports

• Digital Transformations in Sports (2 ECTS)
• Digital Sports Products (2 ECTS)
• Management of eSports (2 ECTS)

Integrative Sports Management

• Stakeholder Management in modern Sports Organizations (2 ECTS)
• Developing and New Sports Markets (2 ECTS)
• Integrative Sports Facility Development (2 ECTS)

Nature, Sports and Tourism

• Sports Tourism (2 ECTS)
• Nature and Outdoor Sports (2 ECTS)
• Activity & Health (2 ECTS)
• Market Research/Consulting Project (6 ECTS)
• Internship possible - Practical phase I (6 ECTS)

3rd Semester

• Semester abroad (24 ECTS)

Elective classes depending on ISM partner university and individual specialization.

• Internship possible - Practical phase II (6 ECTS)

4th Semester

• Master's Thesis (30 ECTS)

Additionally, you can receive an international Double Degree from one of our partner universities.

In your third semester you will spend a semester abroad at a partner university of the ISM and then will write your practice-oriented Master's thesis in the fourth semester. This means that you will receive your degree with 120 ECTS in the fourth semester.

By acquiring management-specific knowledge as well as future- and practice-oriented skills, you are best prepared for the current and future trends and challenges in the sports business. This lays the foundation for a successful career in sports organizations (professional sports, sport federations, sports clubs), sporting goods and sports equipment manufacturers, marketing and communications agencies, management consultancies, health insurance companies and hospitals, public sports administrations, sports facility operators, (sports) event agencies, (sports) travel providers and (sports) destinations, as well as sports media.

Further options available for this Master:

• Fast Track: If you wish to shorten your studies to only 3 semesters, you can select the Fast Track option, in which you graduate with only 90 ECTS and skip the semester abroad. More details below.
• Double Degree: If you wish you can apply for the double degree option and graduate with a second degree from a partner university of the ISM.

After two semesters at ISM, you will spend the third semester of your Master's in Sports Management at an ISM partner university abroad. Our network comprises around 190 partner universities worldwide with a variety of specializations.

The semester abroad allows you to deepen your subject-specific knowledge. You will also set individual priorities and get to know the intercultural peculiarities of the chosen country. At the same time, you will perfect your foreign language skills. In this way, you will gain experience in sports administration, which will be very helpful when starting your career in the sports or related industries. Our International Office (IO) will support you with the application and study abroad planning process.

An international double degree can be obtained in the Sports Management Master. This means that, in addition to the Master's degree at the ISM, you can also obtain a second, internationally recognized Master's degree in two or two and a half years from one of our partner universities below. The decisive step for your international career is supported by the expansion of your personal network with international students and lecturers. In addition, you will consolidate your linguistic and intercultural skills with a double degree.

ISM partners with renowned international partner universities to provide you with a high-quality range of courses with program-specific focus areas, such as international business, management, global marketing management, or financial management - only to name a few.

• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• A successfully completed Bachelor's degree (if you have not graduated yet the transcript of records) or
• an equivalent course of study at a university or university of applied sciences or a foreign university of equivalent level, and
• examinations must be at least 30 ECTS points in the field of business sciences.
• Proof of English language skills (if available), equivalent to the B2 level, for eg. TOEFL, IELTS 6.0 or other (only needed if the medium of instruction in your high school/university was not English)

Note: If you have not studied a Bachelor's degree in the economics field or if your quantitative ECTS points are not sufficient, you can qualify yourself for your postgraduate management studies with the ISM Pre-Master (one semester, 30 ECTS points).