Strategic Sport Leadership MA
STRATEGIC SPORT Leadership MA
January 2026
12-months
2.2 undergraduate degree
Online distance learning
(24/7 access to study materials)
Programme Overview
The Strategic Sport Leadership MA is ISH’s first international Master’s course.
This programme is tailored for leaders navigating the interconnected and dynamic world of sport. It is designed to provide the intellectual tools, the global vision, the interdisciplinary range and the sports network to drive transformational change, preparing participants to lead in a rapidly evolving global sports landscape.
It covers how sport has developed into what we see today, key frameworks for decision-making, the globalisation of sport and the emerging geopolitical role of sport in diplomacy, and the transformative power of Sport Mega Events in reshaping nations and fostering international collaboration.
The MA offers a flexible learning environment, suitable for professionals to study alongside busy lives.
SYLLABUS
12 months
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This module explores the crucial turning points which underpin the values and structure of the sporting world we know today and investigates how sport became a global phenomenon and what it tells us about the world we live in.
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This module interrogates the frameworks and habits which drive effective decisions, braver leadership and innovative organisations.
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The module explores ways in which sport governs itself and contests multiple, sometimes conflicting identities that sport brings to the fore in the symbolism of nations and means to address that through Sports Diplomacy.
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This module is a focused examination of both the Sport Mega Events and regional, local and grassroots events to understand their legacy and impact, and the context in which sporting events operate.
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The dissertation, which concludes the MA, can be on any subject of the student’s choice.
WHY STUDY THIS DEGREE
Develop into an impactful and sTRATEGIC sports leader equipped with a broad, interdisciplinary lens
lEARN FROM WORLD-LEADING ACADEMICS
JOIN A WORLD-CLASS NETWORK
FLEXIBLE delivery to fit around your current employment
AN INNOVATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
EXPOSURE TO INDUSTRY LEADERS
University partnership
The Strategic Sport Leadership MA is validated by St Mary’s University, London.
St Mary’s is a Top 10 University for Teaching Quality in the UK (The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025). The University has a history of success in elite sports, producing a number of Olympians and successful international athletes.
