Some job roles for people with this degree include coordinating sports events, developing marketing strategies, negotiating player contracts, and managing sports venues. Candidates are expected to learn about the most recent trends in the sports industry after attaining this degree. Students with a minimum of 50% marks in the undergraduate program in any stream from a recognised university are eligible to enroll.  

Admission to this program is done based on merit, which includes class 10, 12 and graduation marks or entrance exam scores. CAT, NMAT XAT, SNAP and CMAT are the common entrance exams students need for admission. Numerous sports franchises, broadcasters, multinational corporations, and leagues offer jobs to an MBA in Sports. Professionals are mostly paid between ₹ 4.8 Lakhs per annum to ₹ 11.49 Lakhs per annum.

Highlights

Here are some of the important information related to the management degree in Sports Management. Students aspiring to have a degree in Sports Management can refer to the information given below:

MBA in Sports Management is a two-year postgraduate degree specialized in the field of sports. MBA in Sports Management provides knowledge and skills to plan, organize, control budget, direct and lead any sports team or sports events as a part of their curriculum. It is specially designed for students who are interested in sports and want to gain management knowledge. For the relevant competencies required for success in the sports sector, the MBA program in Sports Management is an academic and practical approach. Administrative know-how, leadership abilities and the capacity for planning and decision-making is a part of the curriculum for this program. Students are taught about issues of sports legislation, sports technology, operations, finance, human resources, research, and analytics among other topics. In the real world, they obtain such experience through different internships, project work, and planning events. The primary objective of this program is to support and advise students to enhance their professional growth in the sports management sector. By learning how to use a variety of management tools, students will be able to identify company possibilities, create various strategies, predict changes, optimize resources, and critically evaluate information.

Entrance Exam

In India, various entrance examinations are conducted to get admission to top management colleges. These are as follows:-

• CAT: CAT is also known as the Common Admission Test and is one of the most common entrance exams. It is conducted every year in India for admission to Management colleges. Students aspiring to be in top management colleges must get a high score in CAT. The three different sections include Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. The period of the exam is 120 minutes.

• MAT: MAT is also called the Management Aptitude Test and is a standardized test. It is conducted every year to facilitate Business Schools to screen candidates for admission to MBA programs. The period of the exam is 120 minutes.

• GMAT: The GMAT, also known as the Graduate Management Admission Test, is an online exam conducted every year by GMAC for students to qualify for admission to MBA programs. It is for universities in India and abroad. This exam can be taken multiple times in a year. It lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes.

• CMAT: The CMAT, also known as the Common Management Aptitude Test, is a 180-minute national-level examination conducted by the NTA every year.

• XAT: The Xavier School of Management administers the XAT exam which is open to final-year students and those with bachelor's degrees. The period of the exam is 180 minutes.

• Some entrance exams are conducted on a university basis. Some private universities conduct their entrance exams to qualify students for admission.

Admission Process

The steps that the admission process for an MBA in Sports Management includes are as follows:-

• Students must fulfill the admission criteria which usually include a bachelor's degree with a minimum passing percentage of at least 50%. 

• Few of the colleges/ universities have criteria that demand at least one year of relevant experience. Experience is important to understand management studies. The individuals can acquire the skills better for their advancement in the future.

• Students need to pass entrance exams like CAT, CMAT, XAT, GMAT, SNAP and other private university-based examinations depending on the requirements of different universities. Depending upon the cut-off or the score admissions will be provided to this course. 

• All candidates have to fill up the online admission form and attach all required papers, including their aadhar card number, proof of address, proof of residency, grade sheets for classes 10 and 12, and graduation grade sheet.

• After clearing the entrance exams needed by the respective universities, students need to appear for the group discussion round and the personal interview round. These rounds are conducted to assess student’s communication skills and problem-solving abilities.  

• Students are selected based on the overall score that is calculated depending on the entrance exam score, GD/PI performance and work experience. 

• The results of the entrance exam and interview help shortlist students for the MBA in Sports Management program. Colleges may have different degrees of importance assigned to the entrance exam and interview results.

• The students submit documents to the institution before paying the fee and can enroll in the classes further.

List of Colleges with specialisations in  Sports / Specialised PGDM/MBA in Sports: Fees 

The college names mentioned below are the top colleges for an MBA in Sports, according to the NIRF Ranking. The table includes government and private colleges. Government college includes IIM Rohtak with a fee of ₹ 7.86 Lakhs. Private colleges include MSRIM- M S Ramaiah Institute of Management, Bengaluru which offers both PGDM which is a 2 year course and PGP which is a one-year course. The table highlights the fees of the respective colleges.

Colleges with specialisations in  Sports/ Specialised MBA/PGDM in Sports: Average Package 

The colleges mentioned below are the top private and government colleges, according to NIRF, that provide a specialized degree in MBA in Sports where the curriculum primarily focuses on Sports management. The table mentions the duration of the course and also highlights the average package of courses from each college. 

MBA in Sports Management Subjects

The MBA Sports Management curriculum is made to provide knowledge of business ethics and marketing techniques that will enhance the student's proficiency in the field of sports. The program is holistic as it equips the students with the necessary ability, such as decision-making, and analysis abilities. The curriculum used in most schools and universities for their MBA Sports Management are as listed below:

Future Scope

Students who have a degree in MBA in Sports Management have a wide range of employment opportunities in academics and sports after the completion of this degree. The graduates can opt to continue with the job or may further pursue their education. Graduates after graduating from this program get placed in the field of sports. Such graduates get placed in fields like media, event management and government agencies as well as private enterprises. 

After this degree, the graduates may either start working or continue to study. For immediate higher education, one can continue with a variety of MPhil/PhD in management courses. A post-MBA degree in sports management will lead to many well-paying positions and opportunities for advancement in the same area.

They may find employment in other fields such as media, planning events, sports, various government agencies as well as some private enterprises. They can teach in reputable colleges and universities. Some of the professional career prospects open to them include sports marketing, franchise operations, player management, venue operators, sports logistics, sports consulting, and teaching at reputable universities and colleges.

Conclusion

Graduates from this field emerge with skills to navigate trends regarding sports and sustainability, while balancing profit-driven goals and ethical considerations such as community impact and ethical welfare. The sports industry continues to intersect with globalisation and social responsibility. Hence, MBA graduates are all set to turn challenges in this field into opportunities. 

Merging the passion for sports with business acumen, the future of this industry is in their hands. The skilled professional elevates fan experience, leading to sustainable success and the growth of income generated from this industry. Therefore, this degree acts as catalyst in the ever-thriving and zealous world of sports. In this field, one can work in different departments regarding the sports industry, such as the marketing branch of BCCI or the event organisation department, being one of the many branches. This shall highly pay the individual with an exciting work culture.