The GOALS Master Programme – short for Governance & Administration of Leisure & Sports – is redefining what it means to study sports management in Europe. This two-year, 120-ECTS Master’s degree is offered entirely in English by a consortium of five leading European universities.
In an age when the sports industry is evolving rapidly – with digital trends, globalisation and rising demand for professional management – GOALS gives students the skill-set to thrive: combining academic theory, real-world internship experience, and cross-country mobility.
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What You’ll Study: Structure & Tracks of the Programme
GOALS is designed with flexibility in mind – allowing you to choose a path that best fits your interests. Here’s how it unfolds:
- Semester 1 (Core – at Université de Lille, France): Foundational courses such as “Governance of sports organisations,” “Management of sports organisations,” “Personal branding & networking,” “Intercultural management,” plus an integration week to bond with peers.
- Semester 2 (Pre-orientation – at either Mykolas Romeris University (Vilnius, Lithuania) or Nicolaus Copernicus University (Toruń, Poland)):
- Sport Industry track (Vilnius): modules in sport-industry resource management; sport marketing & communication; sports legal relationships; international sports markets; master-thesis preparation.
- Leisure, Sports & Events Management track (Toruń): courses in event-management legal aspects, finance, psychology for sport/tourism business, diversity management in events, leisure & sport marketing – ideal for those eyeing sport tourism, event organisation, or recreational-leisure management sectors.
- Semester 3 (Specialisation & advanced courses):
- Sport Industry specialisation (e.g. at University of Lisbon or LUNEX International University of Health, Exercise & Sports): diving into digital sport-management principles, sport business analytics & finance, facility & equipment management, sustainability & tourism, leadership, and research seminars.
- Leisure, Sports & Events Management pathway (e.g. at Université de Lille + digital courses via LUNEX): covers event production & management, sponsoring & activation, project management, sport-event communication – perfect for event organisers, promoters, marketing professionals.
- Semester 4: Final work placement / internship or research-thesis and defence. Upon successful completion, graduates earn the joint Master’s degree.
This structure – mobility plus specialisation plus real-world experience – makes GOALS a rare, globally oriented Master’s in sports management.
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Costs, Scholarships & Who Can Apply
Who is Eligible
- You need a Bachelor’s (or equivalent, roughly 180 ECTS) in sport management, sport studies (e.g. physical education, sport coaching, wellness), or business/management/social-science background (e.g. economics, marketing, event management).
- Final-year undergraduates may apply too – but must graduate before the programme start (usually by 30 August).
- Since the programme is fully in English, non-native speakers must prove English proficiency (IELTS 6.0-6.5, TOEFL iBT 88, or equivalent), or provide proof that their previous degree was taught in English.
Fees & Scholarships
- For self-funded students from non-associated (non-EU) countries: €8,000 per year.
- For students from EU / associated-countries: €4,000 per year.
- Applicants can also apply for an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (EMJM) Scholarship – which provides a full tuition waiver plus 1,400 €/month stipend for up to 18 months (over a 24-month programme). This stipend covers living costs, travel, accommodation, visa – making GOALS fully-funded for scholars.
- Important: For the 2026-2028 cohort, the programme notes that full scholarships are reserved for students from a specific list of countries (mainly in the Balkans). Others – including international applicants – must apply as fee-waiver or self-funded.
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Why GOALS Makes Sense for Students from Pakistan & Beyond
If you’re coming from Pakistan (or any non-EU country), GOALS still offers a unique opportunity – especially if:
- You can secure funding (self-funding, scholarship, employer support), or
- You apply as fee-waiver or self-funded and are ready to cover living, visa, travel costs on your own.
The programme’s global mobility, English-taught curriculum, and exposure to European sports industry standards can significantly boost your profile – whether you aim to work internationally or shape sports, fitness, or leisure industries back home.
Moreover, the digital track and sport-business analytics components align well with today’s demand for tech-savvy managers and consultants in sports, events, tourism, and leisure sectors worldwide.
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How to Apply – Step-by-Step
- Prepare required documents: Bachelor’s degree (or proof you’ll graduate), full transcript and grades (with English translation if needed), CV (Europass format preferred), valid English-proficiency certificate, passport or ID, and two recommendation letters (one academic, one professional).
- Fill out the online application (all candidates – scholarship or self-funded – use the same form).
- If shortlisted, attend a 20-minute video interview evaluating motivation, critical thinking, and understanding of sport or social issues.
- Final selection is based 50% on application documents and 50% on interview. Roughly 50 candidates get selected per cohort.
- If selected, sign the “Student Agreement” to confirm enrolment.
Deadline for the 5th cohort: 22 February 2026 (11 pm CET).
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Why GOALS Is Among the Best International Masters in Sports & Leisure Management
- International Mobility and Diversity: With five partner universities across Europe – France, Portugal, Lithuania, Poland, Luxembourg – you gain exposure to multiple cultural, legal and business contexts.
- Dual Career Pathways: Whether you aim for a career in the sports industry (clubs, sports marketing, analytics, equipment management) or events, tourism, and leisure – GOALS gives you that flexibility.
- Bridging Sport and Business: The curriculum combines governance, marketing, management, legal and digital-business skills – ideal for today’s global, tech-driven sports sector.
- Funding Opportunity via Erasmus Mundus: For many international students, the EMJM scholarship can turn GOALS into a fully-funded European Master’s opportunity, removing financial barriers.
