Modules on the MBA in Sports Management

What is the UAX MBA in Sports Management?

It is not a master’s degree in sport in the traditional sense. It is an executive programme that prepares you to manage the business of sport: contracts, audiences, technology, sponsorship, fan engagement and the monetisation of sporting events and franchises. 

What sets it apart from other similar programmes is not just its content, but who backs it and how it is delivered:

• Designed in collaboration with Rafa Nadal and his team: two exclusive masterclasses with Rafa Nadal on leadership and resilience, plus sessions with Toni Nadal, Carlos Moyá and the rest of his trusted team.
   
• Case-based methodology: you learn by solving real-world challenges posed by the Champions League, the NBA, MotoGP and Wimbledon, with the very executives who managed those challenges right there in your classroom.
   
• 71 per cent of students are already working in the sports industry before completing the programme. The remaining 29 per cent are on work placements.
   
• Guaranteed work placements lasting 3 to 6 months with organisations such as Atlético de Madrid, Deloitte, PlayStation, the Rafa Nadal Academy or KPMG.

Comprehensive curriculum: all MBA modules

The programme concentrates its 60 ECTS credits into a single academic year, with compulsory annual modules that comprehensively cover all areas of the contemporary sports business:
 

OB = Compulsory · N/A = Does not count towards credits

All modules are taught in a bilingual Spanish-English format, reflecting the international nature of the sector and preparing you to work in any sports market worldwide.

How are the modules organised into thematic blocks?

The curriculum follows a very clear structure: to manage the sports business, you need to master three key areas. The MBA covers these in an integrated way, but it is useful to understand what each block contributes.

Block 1: Strategy, Governance and Leadership (22 ECTS)

This is the backbone of the programme. Before managing a club, a league or a sporting event, you need to understand how the sector works from the top down: its structure, its key players, its rules of the game and its business models.

• Overview of the Sports Industry and Strategic Management (8 ECTS): the most significant module in the MBA. A comprehensive map of the sector: the major players, the dominant business models, the trends transforming it, and how strategic decisions are made in elite sports organisations.
   
• Sports Governance, Regulation, Finance and Taxation (7 ECTS): the legal and financial aspects that every sports executive must master. Contracts, transfers, corporate structures, compliance and taxation as they apply to sport.
   
• Stakeholder Management and Leadership (7 ECTS): who the key players in the sports ecosystem are — federations, sponsors, agents, the media, fans — and how to lead an organisation capable of aligning all these interests.
   

Module 2: Technology and Digitalisation (16 ECTS)

Sport is currently one of the sectors undergoing the most rapid transformation driven by technology. This module equips you with the tools to lead that transformation, not just to understand it.

Technology and Digital Assets in the Sports Industry (5 ECTS): NFTs, sports data, streaming platforms, wearables and performance analytics. You’ll learn what digital assets sport generates and how they are monetised.

Disruptive Digital Business Models and Innovation (5 ECTS): how eSports, the sports metaverse and fantasy platforms are redefining the rules of the game. The case of the start-ups that are shaking up the sector.

Digitalisation: Channels and Products in the Sports Industry (6 ECTS): how to build and manage a digital sports ecosystem: apps, social media, OTT platforms and sports content distribution channels on a global scale.
 

Module 3: Marketing, Fans and Monetisation (16 ECTS)
 

Sport generates passion. This module teaches you how to turn that passion into a business, in a sustainable and authentic way.

• Marketing Funnel, Product Development and Merchandising (5 ECTS): how to design and execute a sports marketing strategy from start to finish, from fan acquisition to retention and product sales.
   
• Fans, Broadcasts and Match Day in the Sports Industry (6 ECTS): the fan is at the heart of the sports business. This module examines how to manage audiences, negotiate broadcasting rights and maximise the value of match day, both at the stadium and on digital platforms.
   
• Brand and Player Management in the Sports Industry (5 ECTS): the player is a brand asset. You will learn how to manage the image of athletes and teams, negotiate sponsorship contracts and build a sports brand with international reach.
  
   

Master’s Final Project (6 ECTS)

The Master’s Thesis is the project through which you demonstrate that you have integrated the programme’s competencies. It may focus on the strategic analysis of a sports organisation, the design of a business model or the resolution of a real-world challenge proposed by a company in the sector.

What else does the MBA include apart from the modules?

The formal curriculum is just one part of what the programme has to offer. The UAX MBA in Sports Management includes experiences you’ll struggle to find on any other programme:

Masterclass with Rafa Nadal: Two exclusive sessions with Rafa Nadal on leadership, resilience and competitive mindset. These are not run-of-the-mill lectures: they are direct conversations with one of the most successful sportsmen in history, from the perspective of the manager and entrepreneur that he also is.

Miami Sports Week: A week-long immersion in Miami, visiting top-tier sports franchises such as the Miami Heat and the Florida Panthers. You’ll gain first-hand insight into how an NBA and NHL team is managed, with access to executives who are not usually available.

International Business Programme at Duke University (USA): Six weeks at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, one of the world’s top business schools. An experience that, on its own, transforms any CV.

Guaranteed work placements lasting 3 to 6 months: with companies such as Atlético de Madrid, Deloitte, KPMG, PlayStation, YouFirst or the Rafa Nadal Academy itself. The transition from the classroom to the professional world is an integral part of the programme’s design.

Who is the MBA in Sports Management aimed at?

This MBA is designed for university graduates who wish to pursue a career in the sports industry or take a significant step forward in their existing career within it. The most common candidates are:

• Graduates in Business Administration, Marketing, Communication or Finance who wish to specialise in the sports sector.
   
• Graduates in Sports Science or Journalism who wish to add a business perspective to their education.
   
• Professionals already working in the sector who are looking to fast-track their career progression towards management roles.

You do not need prior experience in sports management, but you do need a genuine passion for the sector and a willingness to learn at a fast pace.

What career opportunities does the MBA in Sports Management offer?

The sports sector is one of the most dynamic and has the greatest global potential. The main career opportunities for MBA graduates are:

• Director or manager at sports clubs and franchises (sales, marketing, digital or operations)
   
• Sports event management (tournaments, leagues, major competitions)
   
• Sports representation and marketing agencies
   
• Broadcasting rights and sports media
   
• Start-ups and technology companies in the sports sector (e-sports, data platforms, performance apps)
   
• Consultancy firms specialising in sport (Deloitte, KPMG and PwC have dedicated divisions)
   
• Federations, leagues and international bodies (UEFA, FIFA, World Athletics, etc.)

The statistic that best sums up the opportunities: 71 per cent of students on the programme are already working in the sports industry before completing their MBA.

Summary

The UAX MBA in Sports Management is a 9-month executive programme worth 60 ECTS credits that comprehensively covers all areas of the sports business: strategy and governance (22 ECTS), technology and digitalisation (16 ECTS), marketing and monetisation (16 ECTS) and the Master’s Thesis (6 ECTS). Designed in collaboration with Rafa Nadal, it includes exclusive masterclasses, a week in Miami, six weeks at Duke University and guaranteed work placements at leading organisations. 71 per cent of its students are already working in the sports industry before completing the programme.

Sources used

Official curriculum for the MBA in Sports Management — UAX: uax.com/titulaciones/mba-in-sports-management

Programme employability data: UAX (2024–2025 academic year)