- AISTS offers the world’s number one sports management programme, ranked by Eduniversal for nine consecutive years.
- Located in Lausanne, the 'Olympic Capital', students engage with over 25 significant sports organisations.
- Graduates find success in top roles worldwide, with 90% employed in the sports industry after completing the programme.
- Intensive curriculum addresses crucial trends like sustainability and digitalisation, preparing students for diverse sports management roles.
The world of sport is competitive, and that goes for management roles as well as the games themselves. To work at the elite management level in sports organisations, you’ll need business acumen, networking savvy, and an understanding of how these organisations function. For that, you might choose AISTS for your sports management degree.
The International Academy of Sport Science and Technology (AISTS) is a specialised institution in Lausanne, Switzerland. Founded by organisations including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), IMD Business School, and L’École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), AISTS is a world leader in sports management research, consulting, and study.
Their flagship degree is the Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Sport Management and Technology, a 15-month programme aimed at professionals who want to work as leaders in international sport organisations. The degree attracts students from over 25 different nationalities, providing them with the opportunity to develop their management skills while learning from genuine sports leaders from around the world.
Interested in working at an organisation like FIFA, the FIA, or the International Olympic Committee? These are the three things you need to know before applying to AISTS for sports management.
AISTS for Sports Management: 3 things you need to know
1. It’s the number one sports management programme in the world
Lots of universities offer sports management degrees (we produced a breakdown of some of the best sports management programmes), but the MAS at AISTS is unique. Eduniversal have named it the best sports management degree in the world – not once, but nine years in a row.
Eduniversal evaluated three aspects of a school’s sports management programme to determine its ranking: programme reputation, career prospects (including average salaries), and student satisfaction.
The Master’s programme at AISTS is endorsed by the IOC and supported by world-class research institutions (including EPFL, which is one of the world’s best universities for engineering and technology studies). So, it’s no surprise that employers highly rate the graduates from this programme.
Additionally, the programme curriculum includes at least eight weeks of full-time work experience, providing students with the opportunity to apply their skills in sports institutions.
Student Review
The 15 months at AISTS were truly enlightening. What sets this program apart is its exceptional support system, offering unparalleled professional guidance and prioritizing mental health and wellness.
2. You’ll study in the sports capital of Europe
Lausanne is known as the ‘Olympic Capital’ and is home to 25 sports federations that are included in the Olympics, including disciplines such as cycling, fencing, and boxing. In total, there are more than 60 international sports organisations and federations in the city, including key organisations such as the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
AISTS makes the most of its location in Lausanne. During the MAS Sport Management and Technology, students visit some of Lausanne’s biggest sports organisations, including the IOC and related Olympic institutions. In recent years, students have also visited the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), which is headquartered in nearby Nyon, Switzerland.
As part of these visits, students attend workshops developed by the sports federation or organisation, and get the opportunity to network with senior management. Additionally, students can volunteer at sports events held in Lausanne, gaining experience in sports event management.
Student Review
Excellent program with a diverse set of modules to have an holistic view of the world of sports. Amazing location in the Olympic Capital which inspires all sport lovers. You are going to be surrounded by many sports federations, sport enthusiasts which translates into many events always happening.
AISTS is always helping its students and their professional development through networking with their community.
3. Alumni get top jobs in sports organisations
On the MAS in Sport Management and Technology, AISTS offers students an in-depth curriculum that addresses not just management skills, but also on-trend topics of vital importance to sport. For example, students explore how sustainability and digitalisation impact sports governing.
Modules range from sports law and contracts to sponsorship and marketing, ensuring students are prepared for a wide range of roles in sports organisations. Notably, while 90% of students on the programme work in the sports industry after graduation, organisations and roles vary, and alumni are found in more than 30 countries.
Some common graduate destinations include the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
Student Review
Like:
– group projects (useful for team work, learning how to communicate with people with different backgrounds, intentions)
– presentations (public speaking is always super important)
– visits to IFs (great experience of seeing inside how they are organiser and connect with people)
– staff (very helpful)
– coaches sessions with Celine
– client project (probably it depends on the client, but I was lucky enough and it was a great experience to work with Olympic museum)
– graduation ceremony (iconic place and good organisation)
– synathlon building (comfortable to have studies, work)
– meetings with alumni for exchange, mock-up interviews
– lectures: digital marketing, sustainability, law, sports governance, sponsorship
– participation in sports innovation challenge
Could be improved:
– lectures: I believe that there could be more on broadcasting and media rights (as it’s important for any Federation), event management and project management (more practical)
– finance was complicated to understand for people not from the sphere
– too much on technologies (don’t think it’s needed in so much details about sensors, etc.)
– visits to sports events with possibility to explore behind the scenes , meeting with LOCs
Conclusion
If your dream is to help organise international sporting events or make decisions for your favourite sport at the highest levels of leadership, then a sports management degree can help you do that.
If you decide to attend AISTS for sports management, you’ll be part of a small group of only around 40 students. This contributes to a close-knit community, but also means that you’ll have to be clear in your application about why you think the sports management degree at AISTS is the right step for you.
Find out more about admissions to the MAS in Sport Management and Technology here.
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