MSc Professional Development: Sports Officiating

at St Mary's University

Modules
 

• Academic Introduction to Professional Development
• Contemporary Approaches to Professional Development
• Strategic Leadership in High Performance
• Professional Development and Mentoring
• Independent Project
• The Psychology of Sports Officiating

Minimum 2.2 degree or international equivalent, preferably in a sports-related subject.

Additional requirement information
 

• We invite applications from individuals with a high level or experience in the field of officiating, whether as a practicing official or as a stakeholder in the development of officials. We will review each application on merit.
• Applicants are encouraged to hold or have the intention to work towards, an NGB L3 coaching award or international equivalent qualification and demonstrate continued commitment to coaching or professional practice.

Non-degree entrance
 

• Applicants without formal degree level qualifications, but with significant relevant work or playing experience are encouraged to apply. We will assess your suitability and any support you may need for the non-degree entrance through a two-step process. 
• Non-degree entrants will have to take an additional module (Academic Introduction to Professional Development) in the summer before the degree begins. This module is not assessed and is designed to help prepare you for your academic studies.

International requirements
If English is not your first language you will need to achieve an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any section (or equivalent).

• Home: £9,750
• International: £14,550

The tuition fees listed are for the duration of the course. Students will be charged for the modules undertaken per academic year. Module prices are calculated as a percentage of credits against the total credits and cost of the degree.

As an MSc Professional Development with a specialism in Sports Officiating graduate, you will be highly sought after by employers in a rapidly growing market both nationally and globally.

With half of the academic research into sports officials occurring in the last five years, there is tremendous scope for future roles to be created for those with a bespoke specialism in sports officiating.

Employment areas include:
 

• Practicing officiating roles
• Training and management roles in sports officiating
• Senior management roles at local and national sporting organisations
• Sports development officers
• Head of sport
• Disciplinary lead
• Safeguarding roles
• A variety of roles that rely on responsibility and integrity (such as the armed forces or emergency services)