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BA (Hons)
Hosted by Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy (RIASA) in Leeds, UK*
*Location may change from mid-August 2023
Looking for an International Sports Management degree with a difference? Achieve a US and UK degree and combine your passion for soccer with a BA in International Sports Management which will give you a head start on and off the pitch for a career in the sports and leisure industries.
Join our highly qualified, internationally renowned team at Leeds-based* Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy (RIASA) for your coaching training and all of your studies.
RIASA is the only programme of its kind in the world, offering student-athletes, the opportunity to study for a dual-accredited US/UK degree whilst playing soccer in a professional UK soccer environment in Leeds*. This BA provides students with the opportunity to pursue their ambitions in soccer with a respected, reliable and transferable degree if their path doesn’t lead to the professional game.
About the programme
Once graduated, you’ll be unbeatable. You’ll have studied one programme and gained two degrees, achieving a BA in International Sports Management from both the UK and US, opening the door to more international opportunities.
Not only that, you will have gained an English Football Association Introduction to Football Coaching Certificate, a highly prized and practical asset for your future career.
RIASA is based in a beautiful 100 acre parkland at Leeds Beckett Headingley campus* which has superb facilities that RIASA students can fully access. Leeds has a lot to offer students. It’s a bustling city that has a thriving independent food scene, a vibrant creative community and a renowned retail destination.
At RIASA you’ll have the fantastic chance to play in a top quality soccer academy with professional coaching and playing opportunities. You’ll be taken through a rigorous soccer training and playing schedule, with coaching focusing not only on your technique, speed and tactics on the field but on your nutrition and health. Get career advice from our professional UEFA A licensed coaching team on your future soccer options, such as how you can achieve a licensed UEFA coaching qualification.
Alongside the practical side of the programme, you will examine the theory and practice surrounding the management and the business of sports in various parts of the world, and gain the vital business skills required for a successful career in sports management.
Like our other undergraduate programmes, our BA in International Sports Management is based on the American liberal arts tradition, which helps broaden perspective and develops practical skills which are highly appealing to future employers in a global economy.
You’ll begin the programme with a combination of modules on business and sport, together with topics such as Research and Writing and Visual Thinking, to provide a broadened outlook. The second year has a financial and business focus in modules on Sports Business, Macroeconomics and Microeconomics, together with a look at other subjects such as Sports Psychology.
The third and fourth years see a blend of diverse subjects, including modules on Sports Marketing, Sports Events Planning and Promotion, Sports Finance, Sports Economics, Team and Leadership, and Talent Identification. Along with a wide-ranging choice of electives in the final year, you’ll also have the option to do an integrated internship in Sports Management, extending your knowledge and expertise in a specialist area of your choice.
As a RIASA Student-Athlete, you will have the opportunity to play against professional academy teams across Europe on our annual tour to countries such as Finland, Slovenia, Latvia, Sweden and more.
On completing this programme, students will be able to apply for four exemptions (all certificate level) from The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the world’s largest professional body of management accountants, entering into their Operational Level.
The location for RIASA may change from mid-August 2023. In order to provide our students with the best possible state-of-the-art studying and football experience, we are seeking alternative location options, ideally in the same area as the current RIASA location in Leeds. We will provide an update on the location as soon as possible.
What you will study
Richmond is the only university in the UK where the degree programmes are based on the US educational approach which is a four year pathway. Every undergraduate degree student will first enter our Liberal Arts programme before specialising in their Major.
Find out more about the Core Curriculum >>
YEAR 1Courses
Plus one of the following:
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YEAR 2Courses
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YEAR 3Courses
Plus one of the following:
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YEAR 4Courses
Plus one of the following:
Integrated Internship
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In addition to the courses outlined above, there are open electives in each year. Course content and delivery can be subject to change. For more detailed information on the programme specification, please find more details here.
A normal course load per academic year is 30 US credits, equivalent to 120 UK credits. Students complete 120 UK credits at Level 6 in their chosen major.
Entry requirements
At Richmond our undergraduate degree programmes, which are based on the US educational approach, are offered on a four year pathway. Every undergraduate degree student will first enter our Liberal Arts programme before specialising in their Major.
This programme can also be taken as a three year pathway depending on previous qualifications. The entry requirements for all undergraduate programmes at Richmond are the same, regardless of your chosen Major.
Below is information on our entry requirements for both 4 years and 4 years with foundation programmes.
4 YEARS
We understand that not every student is in the same situation, if you have any questions about your qualifications, please get in touch with us enquiries@richmond.ac.uk.
For more information on English Language Requirements for your country visit our How to Apply webpage.
Fees & funding
The fees for students starting their programme in the current academic year can be found in the table below.
Undergraduate fees include the following:
UK |
EU / INT / US |
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| Spring 2023 | Fall 2023 | Spring 2023 | Fall 2023 | |
| International Sports Management with Football - RIASA*
(per year) |
£24,250 | £24,750 | £28,000 | £28,500 |
(Hint: Scroll left & right to view the full table)
UK students who choose to join the RIASA Undergraduate Programme are entitled to a £3,085 Liberal Arts Award.
Please see here for more details on funding available for international students.
Funding is available for International students. We recommend using the most widely known funding providers, you can also self fund the programme fee. Here are the funding options for you as a student thinking about joining our soccer academy:
Employability
The University offers personal development seminars, leadership opportunities and access to work experience, volunteering and internships. There is also a dedicated, personalised service for assistance with CV writing, interview preparation tips and much more.
Throughout your studies, you will have the opportunity to build links with industry experts and Richmond alumni, connecting you to a vast and influential worldwide network.
Internships
We offer career support and advice through our Careers & Internships Office that will assist and guide you in your study choices to make sure you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Whether you are interested in gaining work experience in London or internationally, we will be here to help you find the best possible opportunities.
Through internships you will gain business acumen, beneficial work experiences and transferable skills which will give you a competitive advantage in a fast-paced working environment.
Work while you study across 5 continents through our partners Connect123 and CRCC Asia with destinations in Spain, Argentina, South Africa, China, Japan, Vietnam and Australia.
How to apply
What our students say
Register for an RIASA ID Camp with RIASA >>
Sign up and find out about our programmes, facilities and what academy life is like with RIASA.
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Alastair Wells2022-12-15 09:55:552022-12-15 10:14:04Senior Project Exhibition is excellent showcase for student work
“We believe the combination of education and sport are truly transformative experiences. RIASA is a unique programme that offers students the opportunity to develop their passion for sport within a combination of academic and athletic settings. The degree programme is innovative and rigorous – providing students with key skills needed to succeed within sports management and business environments, and preparing graduates for professional career opportunities offered by global sporting industries.”
– Dr Colin Howley, Director of RIASA Programme
“From the first time I stepped on campus, I knew the experience would be different to that back home in the US. Football is life over here in the UK and that’s exactly what I wanted to be around.
I was able to train around 4 times a week and travel all around Yorkshire, then Europe and even the world, through football. RIASA took me to places I had never thought about. Riga, Latvia then Kemi, Finland and even Shenzen, China.”
“The playing experience has been fantastic because of the experienced staff at RIASA. The international group of players that we have really broadens your outlook not just in football but culturally.
This programme has really helped me to look at football in a different way, looking at the bigger picture tactically but also helping me to look at my own game, right down to the small technical aspects as well. Football here is more physical than in the US and it’s a much faster paced game. The staff give you all the knowledge and tools to adjust your game.
There are also a lot of internship opportunities here. A degree in International Sports Management allows players to go into all areas of sports management whether it’s coaching, managing or marketing.”
“Four years ago, I chose RIASA because I was looking for an opportunity to develop as a footballer and continue my education.
Working with and learning from coaches who have experience at such high levels of football has allowed me to develop my game and become a more complete footballer. Along with the coaching, RIASA has provided me with the opportunity to play against very talented oppositions, both here in England and around the world. From playing professional academies of premiership and championship clubs in England to travelling around Europe and even to China.
I have been able to do all of this, the travel, the football, and the training, all while still working on my degree which I was able to complete in four years. Due to the unique structure of RIASA that allows athletes to play and study at the same time without having to sacrifice either along with the incredibly helpful academic and support staff, I was able to complete my degree while still prioritising my football development.
After four years here, I have experienced the world, met great people, become a better footballer, and completed university. It has been an unforgettable experience and am happy that I chose RIASA.”
