Sport Management (Leadership) (with Sport Foundation Year)

This is a four-year programme that includes a year of foundational study at our Cyncoed campus. Our foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence, before you advance to stage one of your honours degree.

The Sport Management Degree will enable you to develop the critical understanding, professional knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to take up a managerial position in the ever expanding sport and activity industry. This could be in leadership roles associated with researching the contemporary issues and challenges associated with modern sport; developing and delivering community sport and activity; developing and managing appropriate structures and environments for elite sport and also the governance and administration of sport at a national and international level, in the modern era.

An essential component of being able to achieve this will be through gaining an understanding of how sport is run from a global perspective and an appreciation of the sport consumer as both a fan and a participant. You will also be afforded the opportunity to explore a wide range of management areas associated with making sport happen. These include finance, human resources, operations, events, media, communications and marketing.

We help you to understand and establish the guiding principles of what it means to be a manager in the industry today. Concepts such as quality, strategy and policy will be explored alongside your own personal and professional development; this will be through a sporting context but delivered in manner that will enable you to transfer your knowledge and skills into other sectors. The programme will provide you with a well-defined, contemporary foundation on which you can build your career.​

Excellent on-site facilities together with top class venues in Cardiff and the surrounding region, combine with a network of supportive industry partners to provide us with a comprehensive work-related and work-based learning programme. This is designed to enable you to apply the knowledge gained from the degree curriculum in real-world settings and gain valuable experience to use as a foundation for further study or future employment. We are a recognised education partner with the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and our current students receive student membership of this industry professional lead body.

There’s still time to secure an award-winning university experience at Cardiff Met, ranked a top 3 Welsh university (Uni Compare Rankings 2026).

Whatever your goals, you’ll be supported to reach your full potential through expert teaching and a supportive environment. Gain real-world experience via placements and live briefs, and graduate with the skills to make a positive impact.

Professionally accredited courses prepare you for the world of work, alongside year-round careers support, entrepreneurship opportunities and options to study abroad.

Cardiff is also one of the UK’s most affordable cities (NatWest Student Living Index 2025), offering vibrant food, nightlife, green spaces and more on a student budget.

Into sport? Cardiff Met is a leading UK university for student sport, supporting both academic and athletic success.