Excellence in Sports Management

Do you want to acquire the key skills needed for a long-term public-sector management role in the Swiss sports system? This unique EMBA enables you to specialise as a sports manager.

Are you interested in specialising in sports management and mastering sport’s intricacies and rationale? In this EMBA, you can benefit from the expertise, experience and dedication of a range of experts from different business sectors.

This study programme is run jointly by the Bern University of Applied Sciences Business School and the Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen (SFISM).

Factsheet

  • Degree/Certificate Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) in ‘Excellence in Sports Management’
  • Duration max. 8 years
  • Schedule depending on the chosen CAS
  • Application deadline The application deadline may vary depending on the chosen CAS program
  • ECTS credits 60 ECTS-Credits
  • Costs CHF 34,000
  • Teaching language German
  • Location Bern, Schwarztorstrasse 48
  • School Business School
  • Next session Please visit the German website for more information

Structure + Content

Portrait

Excellent. Interdisciplinary. Outcome-oriented. The EMBA Excellence in Sports Management teaches the key skills required for the sustainable and efficient development of sports organisations and sports systems, with a focus on the public sector in Switzerland.

The EMBA centres on the identification, analysis and deployment of agile business processes and models, the opportunities and risks involved in the sports system and its environment, and examines innovation and digital developments.

Learning outcomes

Through this continuing education programme in management, you will acquire the key skills needed for a long-term public-sector management role in the Swiss sports system. 

  • You will learn to identify and utilise trends, economic changes and the latest innovations and digital developments in the sports system.
  • You will become proficient in the concepts and methods used for analysing sports systems and sports organisations.
  • You will implement concepts and tools and learn to take forward-looking decisions in VUCA situations.
  • You will develop an interdisciplinary approach for your project.

Content

This is a modular, part-time, interdisciplinary continuing education programme in sports management. You will begin with the CAS Strategy, Leadership and Governance in Sports Organisations. You are free to choose the order in which to take the remaining CAS programmes.

Core programmes

SFISM electives (1 of 2 CAS programmes must be completed)

  • CAS Sustainable Development of Sports, Sports Regions and Elite Sports Systems
  • CAS Sports Facility and Performance Centre Management

BFH Business School electives (1 of 2 CAS programmes must be completed)

If you have any questions, please contact our administration office or the head of the programme, who will discuss the programme options with you in person.

You will benefit from a range of didactic approaches in a harmonious and stimulating learning atmosphere that will help advance your professional and personal development.

  • Lectures, tutorials, exchange of experience
  • Presentations and technical discussions
  • Group work and action learning
  • Study of best practice with reflection, case studies
  • One-to-one discussions
  • E-learning and MS Teams learning platform
  • Follow-up activities

Networking and exchange with lecturers and participants

Assessments are taken in various forms. Traditional written exams are usually the exception. You will demonstrate your acquired competencies, for example with:  

  • Transfer reports, papers and case studies 

  • Oral presentations or oral exams 

  • Group work, based on real-world examples 

  • Learning groups 

Title + qualification

Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) of Bern University of Applied Sciences in «Excellence in Sports Management» (60 ECTS credits)

Lecturers

Our lecturers are proven experts with extensive practical and theoretical knowledge in their subject areas. They have at least a university degree plus many years of experience in higher education. 

Requirements + Admission

Are you working in public sector management at national, cantonal or local level and looking to specialise in sports management or expand your skills in the field? The EMBA Excellence in Sports Management is your perfect management programme if you are looking to acquire specialist expertise and transferable public sector management skills while focusing on the needs of a typical sports organisation.

You belong to one of the following groups or want to develop your expertise in the following areas:

  • Executive and specialist with key positions in management
  • Top-level functionary in national and international sports organisations
  • Representative of private, profit-based or charitable organisations. You are looking to consolidate your sports-based skills in order to strengthen your positioning in the sports system.

Then the EMBA Excellence in Sports Management is the perfect choice for you.

University degree

You will be admitted to the programme with a degree from a university, university of applied sciences, university of teacher education, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, or an equivalent foreign university and at least two years of professional experience.

Higher vocational training

If you have a qualification from a higher vocational education institution (Diploma Höhere Fachschule HF, Federal Diploma, Federal Certificate of Proficiency) and several years of professional experience, you will also be admitted to the programme. However, you will be required to attend our Introduction to Academic Study before starting the CAS. Completion of this module is a prerequisite for admission to the CAS.

Exceptions

In exceptional circumstances applicants may still  be admitted. The head of the degree programme will make a decision based upon your application and extenuating circumstances. Please contact us. If you are admitted, you will in any case attend the course «Introduction to Academic Writing» (in German) before the first CAS.

Important notes

There are specific admission requirements for individual CAS programmes.

Exceptions

The head of the programme decides according to your application – ‘sur dossier’ – after you have applied.

Applications from abroad 

Please register with the online registration form or contact the responsible head of programme. 

Organisation + Registration

The maximum duration of the course is eight years. Admission to the programme depends on the starting dates of the individual CAS programme. The application deadlines can be found in the descriptions for the specific CAS programme.

Please register directly via the specific CAS programme.

Documents required for registration

You can register online via registration form. For registration we require following documents (in PDF format, max. 1 MB per document): 

  • Diplomas 

  • Curriculum Vitae 

  • Passport-sized photo (in JPG format) 

Please upload these documents even if you have already submitted them for another application. 

Information about the EMBA

CHF 34,000

All tuition fees for the individual CAS programmes total CHF 34,000. Additional costs for the master’s thesis module (CHF 2,500) are not applicable if all ECTS credits have been earned at BFH or within the framework of our cooperative study programmes.  

All compulsory literature, course materials and examinations are included in the costs. 

Location + facilities