John Barton (United Kingdom)

The International Master provides students with an excellent theoretical and practical knowledge of the sports industry. The course is well structured and the teaching is of a high standard at all three universities. In addition to the teaching provided by professors from the three Universities, one of the major strengths of the Master is the quality of visiting speakers that come from the sport industry to pass on their insights and experiences. These speakers come from a wide variety of different areas within the sport world and enable students to get a real feel for the way the industry works. It also provides students with an opportunity to make contacts in the industry, which is also very important.

For me, the real proof of how much I had learnt came when I carried out a project with two other fellow students as the final part of the course. When I began the course, I was a fan of sports but knew very little of how the industry itself worked. However, when interviewing a wide variety of people in the football industry from governing bodies, clubs and leagues in order to carry out our project, I felt that we were able to communicate with them at a high level and felt extremely knowledgeable about the subject with which we were dealing.

The chance to live for a short period of time in three different countries and experience their different cultures was also an attraction for me, and whilst it did seem at times that we were constantly on the move, I think that, on balance, it is a strength of the course. More importantly, the chance to meet many other like-minded people from a wide variety of other countries and to share ideas and experiences is very worthwhile.

On the job front, whilst taking the Master doesn't guarantee that you will get a job in the sport industry, I do think that it gives you a distinct head start and I certainly don't think that I would be working in the industry now if I hadn't done the course. The Centre International d'Etude du Sport itself provides assistance for students to find a work placement or job at the end of the course and, with its impressive range of contacts in the industry, it has managed to help many of the students who have done the course so far in this way.

I had a fantastic year and would definitely recommend anyone who loves sport and who wants to try and break into the industry to take this Master.