A Deakin Executive Graduate Certificate of Sport Business student sits in the grandstands.

Executive Graduate Certificate of Sport Business

#1 for sport business in the Australia and Asia-Pacific region

I am a domestic student ?Domestic students are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or New Zealand citizens.
Domestic International
I am a domestic student ?Domestic students are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or New Zealand citizens.
Domestic International

Check the entry requirements below to confirm your eligibility for this course, including academic qualifications and English language requirements.

View entry requirements
Campus
  • Online
Duration 1 year part-time
Intakes Trimesters 1, 2 View how to apply
Fees $20,000 - Full-fee paying place View fees and scholarships

#1 for sport business in the Australia and Asia-Pacific region

150+ industry links in elite sport organisations

Top 3 business school in Victoria

Why choose sport business at Deakin

Position yourself for senior leadership opportunities in a rapidly evolving sport sector with Deakin's Executive Graduate Certificate of Sport Business. Over the next decade, Australia will host major international sporting events culminating in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, creating demand for professionals with the strategic capability to lead sport organisations, events and programs through a period of significant growth and transformation.

Designed for managers and executives working in sport and allied industries, this executive-level qualification develops advanced expertise in sport governance, leadership, commercial strategy and stakeholder engagement. Study with the #1 sport business school in Australia and the Asia-Pacific and build the professional networks, industry insight and confidence to take the next step in your sport business career.

  • Leadership-ready skills

    Develop the strategic, commercial and leadership capabilities needed to advance your career in sport organisations, events and related industries.

  • Industry-connected learning

    Explore contemporary sport business challenges through industry-informed learning and insights from Deakin's extensive sport industry network.

  • Globally accredited business school

    Deakin Business School holds AACSB and EQUIS accreditations, reflecting internationally recognised business education standards.

  • Flexible postgraduate pathway

    Continue into the Master of Business (Sport Management) and build deeper expertise to support your long-term career goals.

Connected to industry

Our sport connections shape your learning and provide industry learning opportunities, with more than 150 industry ties, including Netball Victoria, Geelong Football Club, Cricket Australia, Swimming Australia, Tennis Australia, the Victorian Institute of Sport, Sport Australia Hall of Fame, Sportradar and TLA Worldwide.

A smiling postgraduate student walks down stairs on the Burwood campus.

Get more from postgraduate study at Deakin

Learn from industry experts, build valuable professional connections and develop the expertise to progress your career or take it in a new direction.

Deakin puts employability first

Career outcomes

Build advanced capability for strategic and senior roles across sport organisations, professional clubs and leagues, with opportunities spanning commercial operations, governance, marketing and stakeholder engagement.

Commercial manager

Lead commercial strategy, financial performance and business relationships. In sport, you may manage partnerships, contracts, sponsorship activity and revenue opportunities across clubs, leagues or organisations.

  • $165k

    Typical Australian annual salary

  • 9.3%

    Projected job growth in 5 years

  • 4.1/5

    Job satisfaction

Marketing director

Lead marketing strategy to grow audiences, strengthen brands and drive commercial success across sport organisations. Oversee campaigns, partnerships, teams and fan engagement to achieve business goals.

  • $170k

    Typical Australian annual salary

  • 4.3/5

    Job satisfaction

Other jobs

  • Senior sport manager
  • Sponsorship manager
  • Sport business strategist
  • Sport business analyst
  • Communications manager
  • Governance adviser

Key dates

Direct applications

Trimester 1 2027 applications close 7 February 2027

FAQs

Find answers to the most common questions about this course.

A Deakin postgraduate degree can help you advance your career, deepen your expertise in a specialist field, pivot into a new industry and stand out in a competitive job market. Every course is built with industry input and taught by academics who are active practitioners, so the skills you gain are immediately applicable. Postgraduate study at Deakin is also your chance to connect with leaders in your field and build a network of industry contacts who become valuable professional connections, giving you an advantage that goes well beyond the qualification itself.

Most Deakin postgraduate courses are fee-paying, but there are practical ways to manage the cost of study. You can defer fees with a FEE-HELP loan, repaid through the ATO once you earn above the income threshold. A number of courses have Commonwealth Supported Places where the government covers part of your tuition. Deakin scholarships recognise academic achievement, professional experience and financial need. If you've studied at Deakin before, you may be eligible for a 10% alumni discount. Recognition of prior learning can also reduce costs by crediting past study so you finish sooner.

Yes to all three. Most Deakin postgraduate degrees can be studied online, on campus or a blend of both, and you may be able to switch between full and part time at the start of each trimester to suit your life. If you want to move faster, select courses offer a one-year masters degree designed for working professionals. With three start dates each year for most courses – March, July and November – you don't have to wait long to begin.

The main differences are depth, duration and career outcomes. A graduate certificate is a short, focused qualification, typically six months full time, ideal for upskilling quickly in a specific area. A graduate diploma offers broader knowledge or supports a career change, usually one-year full time. A masters degree delivers advanced expertise and professional recognition, typically one to two years full time. You can also stack qualifications – complete a graduate certificate and use the credit towards a masters.

Each Deakin postgraduate course has a unique structure, check the course stucture section of the course page to see compulsory units, electives and any specialisation streams available. All courses are shaped by industry, so content reflects real challenges in your field. Many courses let you tailor your studies through elective units or specialisations, and some include a capstone project where you apply your learning to a genuine workplace problem.

Entry requirements vary by course, so check this tab on the course page for specific criteria. Most Deakin postgraduate courses require a relevant bachelor degree, though some may accept significant demonstrable work experience as an alternative. You may also be able to build eligibility through a graduate certificate or graduate diploma, which in many cases could count towards a masters degree.

Deakin postgraduate courses are built with industry input, so you're learning skills employers are actively looking for. Depending on your course, you may access work-integrated learning through placements, internships or industry projects with partners including Microsoft, KPMG, National Australia Bank and the Geelong Cats Football Club. DeakinTALENT, Deakin's career service, supports you throughout your studies and for life, helping you grow your network and connect with opportunities in your field.

Yes. Recognition of prior learning (RPL) may turn your previous study or work experience into course credit, reducing both your study time and tuition costs. For some masters degrees, you may be able to receive credit for up to two-thirds of the course, if eligible. Use the RPL calculator to get an indication of what you might receive, and note that prior learning must generally be within the last 10 years, although some courses have a shorter time limit. You can apply for RPL as part of your course application.

*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.

What will I study in the Executive Graduate Certificate of Sport Business?

The Executive Graduate Certificate of Sport Business develops the strategic, commercial and leadership capabilities needed to lead organisations, events and programs in a rapidly evolving sport sector.

Strategic leadership in sport business

Understand sport business leadership

Examine how sport organisations operate across professional, community and commercial environments.

Develop strategic capability

Build expertise in governance, strategy and decision-making to support effective leadership in sport.

Apply industry insight

Analyse contemporary sport business challenges and opportunities to strengthen problem-solving and strategic thinking skills.

This learning journey is intended as a guide only. Individual study journeys may vary.

Course structure

To complete the Executive Graduate Certificate of Sport Business, you must pass 4 credit points.

Most units are equal to one credit point. This course is available part-time only, with students typically studying one to two credit points each study period.

Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.

2
Core units
+
2
Open Elective unit
=
4
Total units

All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements

Units

Sport Workforce Planning
Sport Leadership and Governance

Professional recognition

Deakin Business School holds both AACSB and EQUIS accreditations. These prestigious accreditations are awarded to business schools that meet strict standards of quality, academic and professional excellence, and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing improvement and innovation in their courses, ensuring our graduates are employable worldwide.

Deakin student smiling and holding a bag, dressed in business wear.

What to expect while studying

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.

You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

This course does not require students to complete compulsory work integrated learning units.

At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.

If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.

When can I start?

When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.

Explore important dates

Campus
Trimester 1
Trimester 2
Trimester 3
Online

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS – Please note that due to Australian Government regulations, student visas to enter Australia cannot be issued to students who enrol in Deakin online courses.

Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.

Course Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate advanced, discipline-specific knowledge of executive leadership, management and workforce planning within the sport business sector, through the integrated analysis, synthesis and application of theories and practices drawn from business and allied disciplines.

Employ advanced written, oral, and visual communication skills to critically interpret, articulate, and disseminate complex and specialist sport industry knowledge to diverse stakeholder groups—including expert and non-expert audiences across government, corporate, and community-to-elite sport settings.

Critically employ advanced technical and cognitive skills—including high-level analysis, and evaluation to diagnose complex challenges and generate evidence informed solutions for leadership and decision making to lead sport organisations and the broader sport industry.

Analyse and interpret the complex interdependencies within management and leadership systems to formulate innovative, evidence-based strategic solutions that advance both commercial and social outcomes in sport organisations and the broader sport industry.

Award granted
Executive Graduate Certificate of Sport Business
Year

2027 course information

Deakin code
M539
Level
Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition

The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8

Your academic history, work and life experience, and individual circumstances will be considered. Meeting the minimum academic and English language requirements does not guarantee admission, but alternative pathways may be available.

Entry requirements

To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet the following criteria:

  • completion of a bachelor degree or higher in any discipline AND
  • three years' relevant work experience
  • OR evidence of academic capability judged to be equivalent.

Examples of relevant work experience include, but not limited to: Managerial responsibilities and non-executive directors and Chairs of sport and allied leisure organisations (i.e., sport governing bodies at all levels, professional sport clubs, government agencies, major facilities and event providers), with a minimum of 3 years’ experience in those roles.

To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:

You must provide the following with your application:

  • a current CV that clearly demonstrates professional / managerial experience
  • current contact details of two referees who can be contacted concerning your work experience
  • a one page brief outlining why you believe that your work experience would be valued by your peers in the course

Get credit for your experience

We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.

Admissions information

Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.

Not sure if you can get into Deakin postgraduate study? Postgraduate study doesn't have to be a balancing act; we provide flexible course entry and exit options based on your desired career outcomes and the time you're able to commit to your study.

Fees

Estimated tuition fee

$20,000

- Full-fee paying place

The estimated tuition fee above is based on a typical enrolment of 4 credit points undertaken within the same academic year and is provided as a guide only. Your tuition fees are determined by your course and unit enrolment. Your tuition fees will vary depending on your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning. You may also be eligible for a FEE-HELP loan to defer payment of all or part of your tuition fees.

Check your eligibility or learn more about a FEE-HELP loan.

Two Deakin students walking outside.

Scholarships

We want to help you excel at Deakin. Our scholarships recognise your dedication and achievements, providing financial support that can ease the cost of living and studying. With less pressure, you'll have more freedom to focus on what matters most – your education and future success.

Browse scholarships

Applications for 2027 are open

Ready to take the next step? Apply now to start your journey at Deakin and get ready for what’s next.

Key dates

Direct applications

Trimester 1 2027 applications close 7 February 2027

Apply now

Apply direct

Simply create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal and educational details, upload your supporting documents and submit your application.

Apply through Deakin

Recognition of prior learning

We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.