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MSc Football Communications and Digital Marketing

Why Football Communications and Digital Marketing?

Looking to pursue a career in the dynamic world of football communications, marketing and media? The evolution of media consumption among football and sports enthusiasts has required content creators and marketers to adapt, evolve, and sometimes even integrate their roles. Get ahead of the game and accelerate your career into the most exciting industry in the world with UCFB!

Degree Awarded by:

Course Information

Full Time
Part Time

Start Dates:

September

Duration:

1 Year

Location:

Wembley

Start Dates:

September

Duration:

2 Years

Location:

Wembley

What you’ll study

Course Overview

It is now essential to understand digital viewing trends, social media audiences and how to plan engaging and effective digital media coverage for an ever demanding fan base. The MSc Football Communications and Digital Marketing degree course is designed for graduates and industry practitioners with a keen interest in football and sport. With academics and learning experience embedded in the industry, this degree provides an incredible route into your dream career in the football and sports industry.

Course Content

The course leverages contemporary themes from marketing, such as digital marketing, public relations, fan engagement and multimedia journalism, to enable students to evaluate the relationships between these areas. Those with a particular interest and experience relating to the marketing and communications industry are particularly suitable for this course.

 

No longer are fan bases constricted to the home country. International audiences are now a vital, and in some instances more important, base to tap into and engage with. Premier League football clubs are global brands within themselves, let alone their all-star cast of players. Social media videos and strong in-house story tellers help to promote the club and its merchandise.

 

Studying at UCFB comes with a number of valued benefits to enhance your career and employment opportunities through our Employability and Career Planning provision.

Seminars

Lectures

Guest Speaker sessions

99 %

Of UCFB graduates are either employed or in full-time study

79 %

Of UCFB graduates are working or studying in sport

97 %

of UCFB graduates are in highly skilled jobs

Modules

University Campus of Football Business is an embedded college of the University of East London. All graduates will receive a degree from the University of East London.

 

This module will explore the importance, variation and motivation which influence football consumer behaviours. You will identify key factors which explore the changing nature of football consumer typologies, including the globalisation of fan engagement and the importance of customer relationship management and data analytics. This module explores and analyses the dynamic nature of football fan engagement and the online and offline tools being used to capture existing and new fans. Finally, the module examines the metrics and insights required to drive the business of football consumption.

30 credits

Within this module, you will be encouraged to critically evaluate the place of traditional marketing theories in an increasingly digital world. Are these theories still fit for purpose or must marketers find new ways to understand and engage with their customers? You will also have the opportunity to engage with relevant industry technologies in order to research, analyse and execute an effective digital marketing portfolio to drive fan engagement and achieve football orientated business goals.

30 credits

This module will examine the key roles and responsibilities of sports journalists while developing the knowledge and practical skills required to work within an ever expanding and developing industry. It will prepare students to explore the potential of multi-platform news within a legal and ethical framework while examining the role and impact of sports journalism in society. You will be able to create content for a number of different platforms to share with key stakeholders and are encouraged to showcase your work in an in-house publication.

30 credits

Leadership is a fundamental element of both sport and business operating in a dynamic global arena. On this module you will review and conceptualise different approaches to leadership from both an applied and theoretical perspective to allow you to analyse critical incidents in order to judge organisational leadership performance. You will be able to apply leadership theory to examples from industry professionals who have experience of leading teams in a sporting setting. Cross-cultural leadership underpins many of the behaviours and skills discussed within the leadership framework, alongside diversity and inclusion, strategic leadership, communication and reflection. The module allows you to take responsibility for your own leadership development and effectiveness through the development of an eportfolio and skills audit, alongside exposure to sports leaders from the global network of partners contributing to the live case studies.

15 credits

This module will advance your research and critical thinking skills and support you in applying these to the sport industry and its associated workplace environments. This module aims to prepare you for research, reflective, and evidence-based development, important for your future career and higher study where applicable. The undertaking of an applied project will give you the opportunity to develop your problem-solving skills regarding topical issues in your area of interest, whilst also allowing you to evidence your academic ability and knowledge. By completing this project and consulting with your tutor, you will establish expertise in an applied area of interest, aiming to have real impact on the relevant industry.

45 credits

Working in the global sports business as a manager, you will be called upon to work on new projects and within new or existing project teams, where some of the team may be based in other countries. This will test your ability as a manager and your team-working skills. You will be asked to work in a group and be given a consultancy project by a sporting organisation. Assigning roles to each team member, you will have to carry our research in order to investigate the current situation that the company finds itself in, and find the data that you need to inform your report. You will need to demonstrate a critical aware ness of the current issues that face the sports organisation. You will then analyse this data and make your recommendations to the organisation.

30 credits

Faced with a rapidly changing marketplace, you will learn how to manage customer relationships using a range of techniques and identify the information needed to develop a customer-focused approach to the management of sports fans. It is important to understand how to manage relationships with current customers, lapsed and potential. You will learn how to identify patterns of consumption and how CRM supports the overall strategic planning of a sporting organisation. The importance of pricing, social media and communicating with customers will be covered and how these are important in developing the CRM plan.

30 credits

Campus Locations

Immerse yourself in our iconic campus location at UCFB Wembley, London. Be inspired by the home of English Football and embed yourself in the industry with an unforgettable campus experience.

 

In addition to our teaching locations, we also use specialist facilities throughout the academic year as well as additional facilities where required.

UCFB was extremely important in developing my skills and knowledge within my area of work and allowed me to create relationships with friends, academics, and professionals within the industry.

Grace Scott

UCFB Graduate

Ticketing, Media and Marketing Officer at Maidenhead United

Grace Scott Testimonial Image

Understanding your

Entry Requirements

 

University Campus of Football Business is an embedded college of the University of East London. All graduates will receive a degree from the University of East London.

 

For further information on entry requirements, contact our Admissions Team at admissions@ucfb.com.

Undergraduate degree – minimum 2:2 (ideally 2:1) or international equivalent.

 

Applicants with a 2:2 should have some experience of studying or working in business or sports related areas.

 

English language qualifications: Applicants from non-majority English speaking countries will be asked for an English qualification which tests Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing and will be asked to achieve an overall IELTS score of 6.5 (minimum of 6.0 in each section) or recognised equivalent.

 

Offers to applicants currently studying an undergraduate degree will be conditional on them going on to achieve the entry requirements on completion of their degree.

Applications that do not meet the standard entry requirements but demonstrate relevant education and/or work and/or life experience in the course subject area are welcomed.

 

Eligibility will be assessed on the basis of the information provided in the application – in particular the personal statement.

Your Career Starts Here

 

We strongly encourage you to submit your Postgraduate application well before our September 2025 priority application deadline to allow sufficient time for assessment of application, ensure availability on the course and enrolment in time for the beginning of your studies.

 

Applications received after this date will only be considered on a case by case basis.

 

To Apply for this degree – please click here and follow the instructions to complete your application via the UCFB Learner Portal.

 

Application Documents

 

What you’ll need to apply:

 

  • Application form.
  • Evidence of highest academic and/or professional qualifications.
  • Evidence of relevant experience where required.
  • 500 word personal statement.

 

Applications made through the flexible entry route may require a course leader review. The course leader will determine whether a professional reference or task is required.

Natalie Sawyer

There are a lot of people who do their jobs on a daily basis who don’t love it. Ultimately, working in football should be your passion, and to say you work while it’s a passion of yours – I think we’re very lucky.

Guest Speaker

TV and talkSport Presenter

Enhance your

Career Prospects

The specificity of sport, with its high media coverage and numerous stakeholders, requires managers to have uniquely honed business skills and an in-depth knowledge of the football industry. The course has been developed for those with aspirations towards senior positions within the core media and marketing departments of football and sports clubs and similar organisations.

Graduates of the MSc Football Communications & Digital Marketing degree have gone on to work in roles for organisations such as:

Brentford FC – Academy Analyst and Video Recruitment Consultant

EFL Trust – Marketing Assistant

Everton Football Club – Partnerships Account Executive

Rangers Football Club – Senior Commercial Strategy Executive

Legends Tour – Press Officer

Get to Know Our

Course Alumni

Minnie Roe

Fulham FC

Commercial Sales Executive

Read Profile

Hayley Carson

Brentford FC

Fan Engagement and Support Liaison Officer

Read Profile

99 %

of UCFB graduates are in employment and over two-thirds of them work within the global sports industry

Employability and Career Planning

 

At UCFB we bridge the gap between education and business, allowing a unique approach to education. We provide two curricula; the academic curriculum which encompasses exams and coursework and the Employability and Career Planning programme – a three year journey of professional and personal development.

 

This provides access to best-in-class industry guest speakers, additional qualifications and exceptional opportunities to apply for work experience placements to ensure our students graduate as well-rounded, empowered professionals.

ECP speaker from Arsenal FC

Fees

 

For further information on our tuition fees, email fees@ucfb.com or call our Student Recruitment & Admissions Office on 03330605114.

January 2025
September 2025

UK Fees

£11,950

Course Fee

International Fees

£17,950

Course Fee

UK Fees

£12,250

Course Fee

International Fees

£18,450

Course Fee

Understanding

Part Time Fees

 

For part-time courses the tuition fee will be split accordingly per year i.e 45 credits in year 1 and 135 credits in year 2 (for a two or 2.5 year course). For further information on our tuition fees, email fees@ucfb.com or call our Student Recruitment & Admissions Office on 03330605114.

January 2025
September 2025

Year One Fees: £2,987.50 (45 credits)

 

Year Two Fees: £8,962.50 (135 credits)

 

Total Over Two Years: £11,950

Year One Fees: £4,487.50 (45 credits)

 

Year Two Fees: £13,462.50 (135 credits)

 

Total Over Two Years: £17,950

Year One Fees: £3,062.50 (45 credits)

 

Year Two Fees: £9,187.50 (135 credits)

 

Total Over Two Years: £12,250

Year One Fees: £4,612.50 (45 credits)

 

Year Two Fees: £13,837.50 (135 credits)

 

Total Over Two Years: £18,450

15 %

Tuition Fee Discount

 

This discount is open to any UCFB or University of East London Graduate and UCFB Business Partners who has received and accepted an offer to study at postgraduate level with UCFB.

Working with

The FA logo
England Football Logo
Premier League

Looking to study this course online?

 

Check out our partners the Global Institute of Sport (GIS) for more information on studying this course online!

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