FIFA Master

What FIFA Master does

FIFA Master is the trading name of the International Master (MA) in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, a one-year full-time postgraduate programme delivered by CIES (Centre International d'Etude du Sport), an independent foundation headquartered in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, and created in 1995 by FIFA, the University of Neuchâtel, the City and State of Neuchâtel. The programme itself was launched in 2000 and is delivered across three European institutions in sequence: the Humanities of Sport Module at De Montfort University in Leicester (UK), the Sport Management Module at SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan (Italy), and the Sports Law and Final Project Modules at the University of Neuchâtel. Each edition admits approximately 30 postgraduates, drawn from around 25 different nationalities with an average age of 28, with tuition set at CHF 25,000 per academic year.

The broader CIES portfolio extends well beyond the flagship MA. It operates the FIFA/CIES International Programme in Sports Management delivered through a network of approximately 20 partner universities worldwide, a standalone Master in Sports Law (described as the only one of its kind in Switzerland), CAS/DAS in Sports Law continuing education, and four executive education programmes (FIFA Football Executive Programme for MAs, FIFA Diploma in Football Law, FIFA The Next 90 Programme, and CIES Intrapreneurship Programme). CIES also runs two research divisions: the CIES Football Observatory (created 2005), which produces proprietary statistical analysis of labour markets, transfer valuations, and performance for governing bodies and clubs, and CIES Sports Intelligence (created 2018), which provides governance, policy, and regulatory research. An on-demand research service delivers bespoke mandates to federations, leagues, and clubs, and the FIFA Research Scholarship programme supports doctoral and postdoctoral football research.

FIFA Master's commercial model combines tuition revenue (CHF 25,000 per student per year, paid upfront within 20 working days of acceptance) with a portfolio of six named scholarships (two full CHF 45,000 scholarships, four fee-only CHF 25,000 scholarships, and two FIFA/CIES Network scholarships). Distribution is sales-led through a central application portal managed by CIES, with the FIFA/CIES University Network acting as a regional feeder channel and the FIFA Master Alumni Association (FMA) of 700+ graduates across 120+ nationalities driving post-graduation employer placements. The programme has been ranked No.1 postgraduate sports management course in Europe by SportBusiness for 13 consecutive years (2012-2025) and claims a 90% sports-industry employment rate among graduates, with 50% working specifically in football at organisations including FIFA, IOC, UEFA, AFC, CAF, Adidas, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Inter Milan, and Chelsea FC.

Name

FIFA Master

Legal name

CIES - Centre International d'Etude du Sport

Website

https://cies.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FIFA Master is a one-year postgraduate MA in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, delivered by CIES in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, across De Montfort University, SDA Bocconi, and the University of Neuchâtel, serving approximately 30 mid-career professionals per cohort aiming to enter the global sports industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Postgraduate Sports Management Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Hospitality, Tourism & Sports Management Schools (within Business Schools) (EDAHAHAL)

Keywords

• Postgraduate sports management
• Sports management education
• Football industry programme
• Sports law programme
• Sports industry research

Headquarters

HQ city

Neuchâtel

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: The FIFA Master generates revenue primarily through tuition fees charged to students. The course fee is CHF 25,000 per academic year, covering all tuition and course materials, as well as various field visits in each country. Payment must be made in full within 20 working days of acceptance offer.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The FIFA Master delivers a one-year, full-time Master of Arts (MA) in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport through three sequential modules hosted at the University of Neuchâtel (CIES), De Montfort University Leicester (School of Business and Law) and the SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan. It is targeted at graduates from any discipline who aspire to senior careers in the international sports industry, admitting roughly fifty students per cohort drawn from more than 120 nationalities. Alongside the MA, CIES offers complementary executive programmes, continuing education (CAS/DAS) and research services through the Football Observatory and Sports Intelligence units.

Product overview

FIFA Master is primarily an educational institution offering the FIFA Master programme (International Master (MA) in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport) as its core academic product, along with the FIFA/CIES International Programme in Sports Management and Master in Sports Law as related academic programmes. The institution also offers executive education programmes including the FIFA Football Executive Programme for MAs, FIFA Diploma in Football Law, FIFA The Next 90 Programme, and the CIES Intrapreneurship Programme for the Sports Industry. Research divisions include the CIES Football Observatory (statistical analysis of football since 2005) and CIES Sports Intelligence (governance and policy research since 2018). The on-demand research service provides customized research to sports organisations. All programmes are coordinated by CIES (International Centre for Sports Studies) in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, in cooperation with FIFA and partner universities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FIFA Master Alumni Association (FMA): Official alumni association of the FIFA Master program representing over 700 graduates from 120+ nationalities.
• CIES Football Observatory
• CIES Sports Intelligence
• FIFA/CIES International Programme in Sports Management

Products and services

• FIFA Master - International Master (MA) in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport A one-year, full-time postgraduate programme comprising three sequential modules at the University of Neuchâtel (CIES), De Montfort University Leicester (School of Business and Law) and SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan, awarding an MA in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport. Targeted at graduates from any discipline aspiring to senior careers in the international sports industry, admitting around fifty students per cohort drawn from more than 120 nationalities.
• FIFA/CIES International Programme in Sports Management A nine-month shorter-format course providing a foundational education in sports management, taught by FIFA and CIES academics and practitioners. Designed as a stepping-stone programme for professionals and recent graduates seeking an applied introduction to the sports industry before applying to the FIFA Master MA.
• Master in Sports Law A specialist postgraduate qualification in sports law, intended for lawyers, in-house counsel, federation officials and sports executives who require advanced legal training in the governance of sport.
• FIFA Football Executive Programme for MAs An executive short programme designed for senior managers and executives already working in football and sports organisations, providing advanced management training tailored to federations, leagues and clubs.
• FIFA Diploma in Football Law A diploma-level programme focused on the legal frameworks governing football, including FIFA statutes, transfer regulations, disputes and disciplinary proceedings, aimed at practitioners in football governance and sports law.
• FIFA The Next 90 Programme An executive development programme co-organised with FIFA, focused on the next generation of football industry leaders, combining academic and applied training for emerging executives.
• CIES Intrapreneurship Programme for the Sports Industry An executive training programme aimed at developing intrapreneurial skills within sports organisations, helping federations, clubs and agencies build internal innovation capacity.
• CAS/DAS in Sports Law Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) and Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) continuing-education qualifications in sports law, designed for working professionals who need part-time, modular legal training.
• Social Sciences Course A continuing-education course in the social sciences applied to sport, covering sociology, politics and economics of sport for practitioners and researchers.
• CIES Football Observatory A research division within CIES that produces data-driven studies on the football industry, including player migration, club employment, transfers, coach demographics and competitiveness, serving federations, clubs, media and academics worldwide.
• CIES Sports Intelligence A research and consulting division within CIES producing strategic sports intelligence and analytics for federations, clubs and other sports organisations, extending CIES research beyond football into other sports.
• On-Demand Research A bespoke research service offered by CIES, providing tailored studies on demand for federations, clubs, broadcasters and other sports industry clients needing custom data and analysis on the football and sport industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of alumni employed in sports industry within their field of study
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• ECA (European Club Association)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005ECA partners with CIES Football Observatory for research projects. The observatory has become a reference point in the analysis of labour and transfer markets, technical performance, and transfer valuations for clubs including Arsenal, Olympique Lyonnais, Ajax Amsterdam, Atlético de Madrid, and Borussia Dortmund.
• De Montfort University (DMU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000De Montfort University in Leicester (UK) is a founding partner of the FIFA Master, providing the Humanities of Sport Module through its International Centre for Sports History and Culture (ICSHC). DMU is widely acknowledged as the leading centre for the study of sports history in the world.
• SDA Bocconi School of ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan (Italy) provides the Sport Management Module. As the leading Italian management school, it is one of the most prestigious in the world with excellent international standing and nearly 1000 executive courses annually.
• University of NeuchâtelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000The University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland provides the Sports Law Module through its top-rated Law Faculty and hosts the Final Project Module. The university is the headquarters location of CIES and the home institution of the FIFA Master administration.
• FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995FIFA co-founded CIES in 1995 and continues to endorse the FIFA Master program. FIFA provides field visit opportunities, guest lecturers, and employs many graduates. The program was created to promote management education within the sports world.
• IOC (International Olympic Committee)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIES conducts research projects and mandates for the IOC. The CIES Sports Observatory also collaborates with FIBA since 2012 to produce the annual International Basketball Migration Report (IBMR).
• FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2012, CIES Sports Observatory has partnered with FIBA to produce the annual International Basketball Migration Report (IBMR), documenting international migration of players and migratory trends in basketball.
• Arsenal FCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTop professional football club that has undertaken mandates and research activities with the CIES Football Observatory.
• Olympique LyonnaisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench football club that has partnered with CIES Football Observatory for statistical analysis and research projects.
• Ajax AmsterdamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch football club that has collaborated with CIES Football Observatory for research activities.
• Atlético de MadridminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish football club that has partnered with CIES Football Observatory for statistical analysis.
• Borussia DortmundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman Bundesliga club that has collaborated with CIES Football Observatory for research projects.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Johan Cruyff Institute: Barcelona-based postgraduate institution offering Master's and executive programs in sports management, with a similar global online and in-person delivery model. The most direct competitor for the FIFA Master's applicant pool and employer relationships, especially across Europe and Latin America.
• UCAM Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia: Spanish private university with an active sports management postgraduate portfolio and partnerships with professional clubs. Competes for Spanish-speaking postgraduate applicants and shares the European / Latin American recruitment corridor with FIFA Master.
• ISDE - Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economía: Madrid-based postgraduate institution combining sports law and sports management education, with strong placement into clubs, federations, and agencies. Direct overlap with FIFA Master's sports law + management curriculum and international postgraduate positioning.
• Coventry University - Sport Management: UK university with a long-established postgraduate portfolio in sport management, marketing, and leadership. Direct competitor for European postgraduate sports management applicants, particularly those seeking English-language UK-based delivery.
• FC Barcelona Innovation Hub / Barça Universitas: Club-affiliated executive and postgraduate offerings in sports management, innovation, and leadership. Comparable model of a top European football brand building an academic arm to develop industry talent and monetize its brand.
• Real Madrid Universidad Europea Graduate School: University-associated graduate programs in sports management and sports marketing backed by one of football's biggest clubs. Competes for the same postgraduate candidate pool seeking a sport-anchored management education with strong employer brand association.
• University of Lausanne (ISSUL): Swiss public university with the Institute of Sport Sciences offering sports management and policy education. Geographic and academic peer, sharing the same Swiss higher-education ecosystem and a comparable European postgraduate applicant base.
• Manchester Metropolitan University - Sport Management: UK institution with established postgraduate sport management and sport policy offerings, located near Premier League clubs that hire graduates. Direct competitor for the same postgraduate talent pool and a comparable UK academic delivery model.
• Ohio University - Sport Administration: One of the oldest US-based sport administration programs, training managers for leagues, clubs, and governing bodies. Comparable in longevity and career-outcome orientation, and a benchmark peer for FIFA Master's postgraduate sports management positioning.

Emerging players

• Birkbeck, University of London - Sport Business: London-based academic programs in sport business and management, often targeting working professionals. A relevant peer in the postgraduate European sports management market, particularly for UK-based applicants, though with a more conventional university framing than FIFA Master's FIFA-anchored model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sportCIES
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CIESChannel/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/180404608664200
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/293817
• Instagraminstagram.com/fifa_master_program

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FIFA Master