Sport Development and Management

Entry requirements

Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).

Every applicant shall have fulfilled one of the following conditions: be a graduate and have achieved an average grade of at least B in the relevant 300-level papers; have obtained a Postgraduate Certificate or a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Science with an average grade of at least B; have equivalent alternative qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).

In considering an applicant's qualifications, regard will be had to the detail of the course of study followed to gain the qualification, as well as the applicant's performance in the programme.

If your first language is not English you need to meet our English language requirements as follows: IELTS score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); we also accept a number of other English language tests. Due to COVID-19, we currently accept Duolingo English Test (DET), IELTS Indicator Test, and TOEFL iBT Special home Edition.

Don’t meet the English language requirements? The University of Otago Language Centre English for Otago programme offers a pathway for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students to meet the English language requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Months of entry

February

Course content

The Master of Sport Development and Management (MSpDM) is a 180-point coursework postgraduate degree designed for individuals who are employed in Sport Development and Management and want to up skill for professional development reasons. It is also intended as a pathway for those students graduating with a BSc or BA majoring in Sport Management and Development (or comparable qualification) into employment in the field.

It has the same structure as the Postgraduate Diploma in Sport Development and Management (PGDipSpDM) and also features a 30 point Practicum and associated 30 point Practicum Report. These papers offer students the opportunity to examine a topic of their choice within a sport organisation. The typical duration of the programme is 12 months.

Other important goals of the course are to develop in students:

• An appreciation of current and emerging issues and perspectives in global and national sporting communities.
• Commitment to the acquisition, critical evaluation and application of knowledge and policies relevant to sport development and management.
• Ability to accurately and effectively communicate information, arguments and analyses using written, visual and oral reporting formats.
• Advanced knowledge of ethics and ethical standards relevant to sport development; ability to operate ethically within the workplace and community.
• An understanding of the development of sport in local, national and international contexts in two fundamental ways: development of sport and development through sport. The first is based on sport being valued for its own sake where it is viewed as a public good. The second refers to the strategic use of sport to address and achieve specific social, educational, health, economic, and political objectives.

Information for international students

Otago offers students an unrivalled campus experience and a vibrant, social student culture. The majority of Otago’s 21,000 students live, work and play in Dunedin - New Zealand’s only true university city. Otago is home to over 3,000 students, from over 100 countries.

Fees and funding

New Zealand is a relatively affordable country to live in. Dunedin, being a student-focused city, has living and entertainment options for all budgets.

Students are eligible for the Otago International Excellence Scholarship.