The influential British “SportBusiness International” magazine has published the full version of its 2017 Postgraduate Sports Course Rankings, the sports industry’s only comprehensive guide to university sports management courses.  

The Master of Sport Administration course, run by the Russian International Olympic University (RIOU), has been voted the second best European course and tenth best course in the world.  

The rankings attract entries from postgraduate sports management courses around the world which have been running for more than three years. The rankings methodology is based on the scores gained for student satisfaction, quality of teaching, work placement opportunities, employment success and alumni experience. It is the first time in the history of the rankings that a Russian institution has been included.

RIOU’s Rector Professor Lev Belousov said: “We are delighted to have entered the rankings at such a high position, particularly in our first eligible year for consideration.

“We have worked hard to ensure our MSA provides students with the highest quality of teaching, as well as unique and exceptional work experience placements.”

Established as a legacy of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, the MSA has provided students with volunteering and placement opportunities at major sporting events, including the 2017 Formula 1 VTB Russian Grand Prix.

Belousov said: “We are ambitious to grow our reputation, and will work hard to become a European and global leader for sports education”.

The full version of the rankings, including RIOU’s position in the TOP-40 postgraduate sports courses, is published in SportBusiness International’s special supplement available from 1 July:

https://www.sportbusiness.com/system/files/sportbusiness_postgraduate_course_rankings_2017_pdf_3.pdf