The Sport Business Management degree at JAMK School of Business is aimed at sports enthusiasts who are working in the sports industry, interested in working with sports or willing enhance their knowledge. Join us, study in Jyväskylä, the Capital of Sport in Finland! 

  • Master: Master of Business Administration
  • Study mode: Full-time studies, Part-time studies
  • Length: 90 ECTS
  • Annual intake: 20
  • Application period: 8 Jan 2020 - 22 Jan 2020Add event to your calendar

By completing the program, students will be able to understand the concepts of leading and managing sport organizations, apply marketing concepts to sports, utilize the sport business intelligence to improve business performance and develop effective strategies for sport business organizations. International top sport management professors take care of the courses together with Finnish experts. These studies give you a great chance to expand your international network.

Benefits of studies

You will obtain tools to develop organisations in the changeable and highly international sport business environment. The focus of this programme is to enable you to extend your knowledge in the area of international sport business, create new business solutions to develop sport organisations and improve your personal skills and network in solving complex business problems within the sport industry.

Work and study

The studies are designed as part-time programme. The study programme concists both on-campus and online learning methods. On-campus days are planned to serve also students with full-time jobs. Lectures are held at JAMK’s campus in Jyväskylä. Students are expected to accomplish the programme in three years (approximately 30 ECTS per year).

 

Student requirements

In order to apply for the programme students are required to have at least two years of working experience in a relevant field. Upon completion of the programme, students will be able to understand the concepts of leading and managing sport organisations, apply marketing concepts to sports, utilize the sport business intelligence to improve business performance and develop effective strategies for sport business organisations.

Programme Structure

Programme structure

The 90 ECTS programme consists the following modules: Management Studies, Sport business management, Research and development, Electives and Master thesis.

Sport Business Management 20 ECTS

Sport Business Management modules includes areas such as economic and financial management in sport organizations, management and leadership in sport, sport business intelligence, modern sport marketing and service design in sport events. The modules cover both the national and international aspects of the sport business industry in advanced level.

Management Studies 10 ECTS

Management studies are compulsory for all the business programmes in JAMK Master’s programme. These studies include leadership dynamics and managerial accounting courses, which nicely supplement the sport business studies.

Research and development 15 ECTS 

The research and development module aims to develop students’ competencies throughout the studies, in particular to conduct individual research in the field of sport. Students learn to use qualitative and quantitative research methods to solve research problems and analyse them. An essential part of the research and development module is to gain understanding how to use business intelligence in sport context.

Electives 15 ECTS

Students have the possibility to choose elective courses from this Sport Business Management programme or other Master’s programmes from JAMK School of Business. Another options are study abroad programmes such as EASM Summer School or EASM Student Seminar.

Thesis 30 ECTS

The thesis is a research and development project which serves working life in the field of sport. It stresses practical application and supports students’ personal career development. The thesis combines the scientific and practical approach, and aims at developing the organizational goals of the selected sport organization.

Sport Business School Finland

Sport Business School is Finland’s leading research and development solutions provider in the field of sport business and experience industry. Use of modern information technology and applicable research methods enables efficient information production to support the sport organization’s strategic management and business processes. Sport Business School’s fundamental purpose is to invite academics, professionals, and students of sports management area to collaborate with the people working in the field of sports research and education, sports business, and sports management. Our aim is to be at the forefront in the development of the sport business industry.

Sport Business Education

In the field of Sport Business, JAMK offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, short-term and specialiced study programmes. Our partners are universities in Finland and abroad, sport clubs, sport companies, national and international associations, governmental institutions and the Research Institute of Olympic Sports in Finland. Students have participated in international research projects, such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa, WRC FIA World Rally Championships 2012, 2012/13 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships, Finland and Sweden, 2014 Field Hockey World Championships, the Netherlands.

Sport Events Research

Big and medium size sporting events provide both direct spending opportunities for sport tourists and indirect benefits for the hosting economy such as post-event tourism related destination awareness and improvements in infrastructure. Sport Business School has researched multiple sports events from different viewpoints, including e.g. fan surveys, customer satisfaction surveys, economic impact studies, brand image and customer experiences. The research data has given different sport organisations an opportunity to develop their events further, and due to the online Webropol survey model, react instantly to the customer feedback.

Neste Rally Finland

During the 9 years of collaboration with the WRC Finland rally organizer AKK Sport Ltd., Sport Business School Finland has conducted several research projects involving rally organizer's strategic business partners, event economic impact for the host city region, rally brand image and spectator values, non-spectator survey, and multiple customer surveys. This long term collaboration with the WRC Neste Rally Finland organizer is a good example of determined event development by using research data.

Watch video: Neste Rally Finland

kaksi lasta pelaa tietokoneella

eSport grows in Finland

eSports is growing fast globally, and its importance as a new sports discipline has been widely recognized. JAMK Sport Business School has been in forefront in researching this promising business sector in Finland. In 2018, Sport Business School conducted a national study investigating the structure and volume of the eSports industry in Finland. This survey was targeted to key stakeholders operating within the eSports, retail, professional gaming and game development sector but also electronic games players in Finland. SBS will continue eSports study in national and international research projects together with other research institutes and eSports organisations.

 

Jyväskylä, Capital of Sport in Finland

Jyväskylä is a sporting paradise for all interested in physical well-being. The city of Jyväskylä has approximately 450 sports venues that range from multipurpose halls to nature trails. Top athletes can prepare for competition in about 70 different sports thanks to well-equipped training facilities and high-quality coaching. 

- Taneli Maasalo, Sales Manager, Icehockey Team JYP

Why I applied to the programme?

After working in an icehockey team for over 4 years I wanted to develop my sport management skills and combine my practical know-how with current theory. This degree programme is an important and much-needed addition in the education market as there are still very few people specialized in the field of sports business.

- Taneli Maasalo, Sales Manager, Icehockey Team JYP

Tatiana chose Sport Business studies in JAMK

Tatiana Flores made a brave decision to move from Uberlândia, Brazil to Jyväskylä Finland in order to study Sport Business Management in JAMK. The efficient Finnish education system convinced her to apply and start her master-studies in Jyväskylä. She has worked long as public servant in the city of Uberlândia, doing for example marketing and sports events, such as the Rio Olympics in 2016.

You can also watch the video from here »

Jami recommends Sport Business studies

Jami Palsa has recently started his Master -studies in JAMK Sport Business Management. He tells about his work at Elämys Group, a Travelling and Event Management Company and the reasons why to study at JAMK. He has earlier graduated from JAMK, but wanted to strengthen his knowledge in sport business.

You can also watch the video from here »
You can also watch the video from here »

How Finland ranks?

 

How to apply

Application period 8 - 22 January 2020

Apply online 8 - 22 January 2020 by 3.00 (UCT+2) at studyinfo.fi.

Degree requirement: a bachelor’s degree in the field of business, in the field of sport /sport studies, or in the field of hospitality management.
Work experience requirement: in addition to the suitable bachelor’s degree you need to have at least 2 years (24 months) of relevant work experience from the field after graduation.

If you are applying with a non-Finnish qualifications, you need to attach the required enclosures (degree and work certificates) to the online application form by 29 January 2020 by 3.00 pm (UTC+2) (e.g. as pdf. files).

More information about the admission process and selection criteria

Pre-reading material

The pre-reading material cannot be utilized during the examination.

Academic journal articles:

Pre-reading material 1

Pre-reading material 2

And in addition to that:

Pre-reading material 3

The pre-reading material 3 is a survey article that the applicant should download/order by e-mail.

 

Entrance Examinations

If you have chosen to take part in the exam in Finland, it will be held online on 3 April 2020. Entrance examinations in Finland have been changed to online exams, and applicants have been notified by email during 26-27 March (check your email's spam and junk folders also). Emails contain information about content of exams, dates and other relevant information.

If you have chosen Finland as your exam location (on your application) and you have not received the information by email, send email immediately to admissions(at)jamk.fi.

FINNIPS will also organize the exam in twelve countries outside Finland during March.

The entrance exam includes an interview and a written exam. The written exam is based on a pre-reading material.

Read more about exams and selection criteria
Sport Business Management Apply 8 - 22 January 2020 by 3.00 pm at Studyinfo.fi Apply

Tuition fees

The tuition fee of Master's degree programme in Sport Business Management is €9,000/academic year. The tuition fees concern mainly those students who are not citizens of EU/EEA area. Read more about tuition fees and scholarships

 

More information

Ahonen Aila

Ahonen Aila

Lehtori, Senior Lecturer
Liiketalous, Business Administration
Liiketoiminta, School of Business
+358505921143