Department of Sports Management

Master's Degree (MTS)

Since 1992, the UFR STAPS in Montpellier has offered a master’s degree in sports tourism management as part of its sports management program. The Master’s in Sports Tourism Management (M.T.S.) has trained more than 800 professionals in the sector. Today, it is supported by a team of 10 professionals recognized in their respective fields (tourism marketing, communications, facility management, tour operators, outdoor sports consultants, etc.) and 11 university faculty members (professors, research professors, and assistant professors).

Program Director, Master's 1 (MTS)

  • Eric PERERA – Assistant Professor(HDR)
    University of Montpellier
    Email 

Program Director, Master 2 MTS

  • André GALY – Formerconsultant at PAST
    , professional coach at Tendance Montagne
    Email

UNIVERSITY SPEAKERS

  • Sylvain Ferez, Associate Professor (HDR), University of Montpellier
  • Nathalie Le Roux, Assistant Professor, University of Montpellier
  • Robin Recours, Assistant Professor, University of Montpellier
  • Olivier Thomas, Assistant Professor, University of Montpellier
  • Rémi Richard, Assistant Professor, University of Montpellier
  • Jean Michel Haddad, Ph.D. (CPA), University of Montpellier

ASSOCIATED PROFESSIONALS

  • Olivier Obin, PAST, Montpellier

PROFESSIONAL SPEAKERS

  • BARREDA, F., DREETS Occitanie
  • CALVET, J., Communications Consultant
  • CANELA R., TO Germany
  • CASAS F., Attorney
  • CHATARD S., Community of Communes of the Pays Viganais
  • COSTE D., Tourism Consultant
  • MAES A., Digital Communications Consultant
  • D. Pichard, Professional Coach
  • POUGET J-F., Hérault Tourism
  • SALEY T., Certified Public Accountant
  • SCHMID, P., Hérault Tourism
  • TAMAGNE F., Professional Coach
  • F. Zamuner, Millau Tourist Office

sports tourism professionals…

Learning Objectives

The curriculum has three objectives, which are developed through five areas of cross-disciplinary skills:

Objective 1: Strengthen the fundamentals of management

Objective 2: Understand and learn about sports tourism: stakeholders, challenges, and strategies

Objective 3: Develop advanced skills in communication, marketing, and management.

  • Competency Area 1: Managing the operations of sports tourism businesses;
  • Competency Area 2: Managing resources and people. Adaptability and cross-functional collaboration;
  • Competency Area 3: Ensuring the quality of sports tourism services, both internally and for customers;
  • Competency Area 4: Marketing sports tourism products and services in line with societal changes;
  • Competency Area 5: Communicate and market effectively. Two internships help students apply what they’ve learned and build a professional network: Master’s Year 1: 280-hour internship Master’s Year 2: 700-hour internship

Career opportunities and targeted career paths:

The latest survey on career placement, conducted in 2016 among 103 graduates from 2009 to 2015, shows that 93% of students are employed upon completion of the Master 2 program. In addition, six graduates have started their own businesses. The speed of career placement is one of the strengths of the MTS Master’s program.

More than 60% of alumni say they are satisfied or very satisfied with their career situation.

Future managers will hold positions involving strategic and operational responsibility in tourism and/or sports organizations in the private or public sector:

  • Project manager or development manager in the “source” or “destination” sectors: tour operators, recreational centers, vacation villages, outdoor lodging facilities, regional tourism agencies, host regions, associations of municipalities, regional nature parks, etc.;
  • Entrepreneur in the sports tourism industry;
  • Manager or department head at companies in the tourism and sports and recreation sectors.

Science in the service of sports tourism…

The Sports Tourism Management program is supported by a network of teams conducting research and studies in economics and management sciences.

The research associated with this specialization aims to:

  • how organizations evolve and adapt to change,
  • the economic processes involved in the development of the sports tourism sector,
  • a study of sports service consumers.

MASTER 1 MTS

MASTER 2 (MTS)

The MTS Master's 2 program is the final year of the program. You will prepare for your entry into the workforce through hands-on experience with professionals. An active, innovative teaching approach focused on professional development:

  1. More than 50% of the course hours are taught by professionals working in the field
  2. Appropriate teaching methods: case studies, group work, role-playing exercises
  3. Field studies conducted as part of the training (audits, feasibility studies, etc.).

ADMISSION TO THE FIRST YEAR OF THE MASTER'S PROGRAM

The M.T.S. Master’s program is designed for students in their initial training who come from a variety of backgrounds (Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science, Bachelor’s degree in Tourism, Bachelor’s degree in Information and Communication, or Bachelor’s degree in Languages and Civilizations, depending on their application and academic plans).

Each year, one continuing education student is admitted to a specific program (such as career transition or a business startup project in the tourism and sports sector).

In addition, we make a point of welcoming international students to enrich our program (between two and three in the first year of the Master’s program over the past three years—from Morocco, Vietnam, Peru, Mali, and other countries). These students generally go on to the second year of the Master’s program.

Admission to the M.T.S. Master’s program is subject to a review of the applicant’s file, which assesses the quality of their undergraduate grades, the breadth and diversity of their experience in the field of sports services and tourism, their proficiency in communication tools (languages, computer skills), and, above all, the presence of a clearly defined career plan in the field of sports tourism.

  • Number of spots in the Master's 1 program: 25
  • Number of spots in the Master's 2 program: 20

For more information: staps-admission@umontpellier.fr

Alternative options and continuing education

To further develop your academic project and enhance your language skills, you can participate in a year-long international or professional exchange program through the University Degrees: Mobility + Professionalization initiative, coordinated by the MS Department.