An insight from students into UCFB’s MSc Sports Directorship course

UCFB recently sat down with the current cohort studying MSc Sports Directorship, getting their thoughts on the executive education course which UCFB runs alongside VSI Executive Education.

The students spoke about why they initially applied to join the course, what they were enjoying and what they hoped to get out of the course at the end.

As we talked to them, the students were on their Innovation and Change module, with guest speakers from the FA coming in to enhance their experience of studying in-person in Manchester.

One of the students, Enda Barron, spoke about how the course was one he’d been looking at for several years to push him towards the next steps of his sports industry career.

“I wanted a change away from just being thought of as an analyst,” he said. “I want to be an executive manager, an executive leader.

“Hopefully by the end of the course, I’ll have a role with a club, whether that’s in football or another sport.”

Many of the cohort already have a career in sports, and use the course to further their skills and education to prepare them for life higher up the corporate ladder.

One of these is Hugo Thaxter, who has been working at Arsenal in a number of analyst roles since 2022.

Hugo said: “The professors and how much they know about the industry, and with their experience, really allowed me to feel as if I was in the right spot and made the right decision to join this course.

“It was the opportunity to learn more about leadership and how a club operates on a very deep level.

“It’s something I’ve always been interested in, and I believe that as I progress in my career, it’s something I should know about as much as possible.”

Professor Rob Wilson, course leader for MSc Sports Directorship, spoke about the benefits of having the students together in Manchester.

“Being in the same room as each other is really important and powerful,” he said. “You can solve problems over a 10-minute coffee break or lunch break, but really connect with each other and the module team.

“It can make a really materialistic impact on their impact, rather than just sitting behind a computer screen.”

He added: “These students are dotted all over the UK when they come here face to face, and they occupy a variety of different roles across a variety of different sporting organisations.

“Being able to come together and share challenges with people in their peer group gives them an opportunity to unpick that problem and see it through a different lens.

“It’s remarkable how many people come onto the programme for a couple of days, go away and all of a sudden, a lightbulb goes on and they’re able to make that change at work and it makes a big, big difference.”

Find out more about the different Executive Education courses which UCFB deliver alongside VSI Executive Education.

You can also learn about UCFB’s wide range of undergraduate degree courses, all tailored to the sports industry, to start the journey towards your dream career in sport.