The FIFA Master, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, has been named the number one Postgraduate Sports Management course in Europe for a record eighth time in new course rankings published by SportBusiness for 2020. The course was also named number three in the world by the same publication.

The announcement maintains the position of the FIFA Master, which covers modules in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, as one of the most respected in the world and follows previous number one in Europe rankings in 2012-2015 and 2017-2019. The ranking assessment criteria included alumni career trajectories, student satisfaction and perception, course intake diversity, analysis of networking opportunities and wider university partnerships.

The FIFA Master, which is delivered in partnership with De Montfort University (United Kingdom), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy) and the University of Neuchatel (Switzerland), is designed to prepare candidates so they are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to make an immediate impact and contribution when they enter the world of international sport. Course alumni are now working in senior positions for some of the biggest organisations in global sport such as FIFA, IOC, UEFA, AFC, CAF, F1 and various leading sporting NGO organisations.

Reflecting on the ranking announcement, CIES General Secretary Vincent Schatzmann added: "I am delighted the 2020 rankings continue to recognise the FIFA Master as one of the leading courses in the world today. This latest ranking success acknowledges the hard work of everybody at CIES and also our friends and colleagues at the course academic partner institutions. Further still, it is recognition of our course graduates and the work they do around the world across all sports."