PGDSM by IIM Mumbai & IISM: Course, Eligibility, Fee Details

IISM has been a pioneer of Sports Management education since the year 2010. From introducing the degrees of Bachelor of Sports Management (BSM) and Master of Sports Management (MSM) in the Indian education system’s nomenclature to shaping over 5000 sports management professionals — IISM has been a key contributor in grooming talent & building careers in sports. To further fuel this mission, IISM is collaborating with IIM Mumbai to launch a new Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management (PGDSM) course.

IISM & IIM Mumbai Collaborate for One-Year PGDSM

This PGDSM course will be a one-year programme based on IIM Mumbai’s deep management expertise and IISM’s extensive sports industry knowledge & network. This is a landmark academic collaboration for the Indian sports industry as IIM Mumbai is committed to share resources and align with IISM’s vision of building a world-class sports ecosystem in India via grooming the nation’s youngsters.

This PGDSM programme is aligned with India’s 2036 Olympics vision and will aim to groom professionals who can lead, innovate and manage the nation’s booming sports economy per global standards in the coming decade. The specialized curriculum of this course is going to sharpen the learners’ strategic decision making, leadership skills, and provide a deep understanding of the sports ecosystem. From general management, operations, logistics & supply chain, finance, marketing, management to sports event operations, sports sponsorships, sports media & broadcasting — IISM & IIM Mumbai’s PGDSM covers a broad spectrum of disciplines under its curriculum.

Nevertheless, to understand more, let’s dive deep into the specific details on this brand-new programme by IISM & IIM Mumbai: from it’s objectives to learning format, eligibility, selection process and who should pursue this course.

PGDSM – Programme Overview 

This One-Year PGDSM course is aimed to holistically develop a talent pool of sports management professionals, leaders, entrepreneurs who can not just understand the sports business world, but also reshape the industry amid the upcoming wave of growth. We need leaders who can balance these global industry demands with local managerial competence. And that’s exactly what this course by IIM Mumbai & IISM is looking to accomplish.

From teaching data-driven analytical expertise to inculcating an entrepreneurial & innovative mindset, anyone pursuing this PGDSM course will be able to derive well-researched actionable insights for the Indian sports ecosystem. Meanwhile, they’ll gain an understanding of how to build relevant, sustainable business ventures in the sports sector to contribute to innovative ideas in India’s wider business arena.

IIM Mumbai & IISM understand the need for leaders who can bring ethical & inclusive leadership perspectives in the sports industry. And this PGDSM programme aims to uplift such talent, who can effectively manage athletes, organizations & governmental stakeholders from varied backgrounds & work cultures on a local as well as global level.

Programme Structure 

The PG Diploma in Sports Management by IIM Mumbai & IISM will be a one-year course with five major modules — four of which based on theoretical subjects on sports management, sports finance, digital technology, sports marketing, sports analytics, athlete management and much more. Meanwhile, the fifth module will involve masterclasses, guest sessions and workshops, besides a capstone project that involved research, dissertation & entrepreneurship projects to be undertaken by the learners. The entire module-wise breakup of subjects & credits will be available to the enrolled students along with the academic calendar.

The delivery of the programme will be a blended learning format with online lectures conducted on weekends to enable flexibility for the working professionals pursuing this course. Meanwhile, there will also be four mandatory in-person campus immersions [one immersion per module]. These in-person campus immersions will involve face-to-face lectures, practical discussions, and any module-wise evaluations & assessments.

Programme Objectives  

Following are the programme objectives that perfectly summarize this mission.

• Cultivate industry-ready leaders to tackle the dynamic and complex challenges of the sports business landscape.

• Provide a robust foundation in general management while integrating innovations and sector-specific knowledge unique to sports.

• Enable reskilling and upskilling, empowering participants to drive growth, innovation, and strategic transformation.

• Build strong competencies in leadership, negotiation, analytics, marketing, finance, logistics, and supply chain, anchored in ethical and sustainable practices.

• Foster strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and an entrepreneurial mindset, enabling learners to capitalize on emerging opportunities.

• Enhance understanding of sports consumer behaviour, sponsorship dynamics, and digital transformation, reshaping fan engagement and operations.

• Prepare learners to lead across diverse functions, including sports marketing, league/team management, operations, consulting, and event planning.

• Offer insights into sports governance, infrastructure, regulations, and international frameworks, ensuring global readiness.

• Provide exposure to cutting-edge tools in data analytics, performance management, and digital media within the sports domain.

• Strengthen a peer-learning ecosystem, encouraging collaboration, cross-industry exchange, and continuous professional growth.

Who Should Pursue this PGDSM Course? 

• Working Professionals
  Any experienced professionals who are looking to step up in their career, having a strong background in the fields of management, consulting, finance, marketing, operations, logistics & media. Such individuals who wish to take up leadership roles and specialize in the sports industry should look to take up this PGDSM course.

• Sports Industry Practitioners
  Current sports industry professionals from sporting federations, leagues, franchises, academies, clubs, retail & event management firms, who wish to level up with managerial & leadership skills in the sports industry.

• Entrepreneurs & Start-Up Founders
  Any entrepreneurs aspiring to kickstart ventures in sports sectors like sports analytics, sports tech, fan engagement, digital media & content, facility management, etc.

• Policy Professionals & Administrators
  Any current & aspiring sports administrators or professionals wanting to work in sports governing bodies and level up their understanding of sports governance on all levels while uplifting India’s sports infrastructure & grassroots ecosystem.

• Athletes & Former Athletes
  Sports Management can be an ideal second career for athletes & former athletes, as their expertise & understanding of the sports ecosystem helps massively in building relevant business ventures along with financing the right kind of initiatives.

• Young Graduate Aspirants
  Any graduates who wish to level up in their career and enter the sports industry by improving their managerial expertise in a sporting context, as capitalizing on the scope of Sports Management could be pivotal for career growth in the next decade.

Why Pursue IIM Mumbai & IISM’s PGDSM 

There are a number of reasons why one should look to pursue this PG Diploma in Sports Management by IIM Mumbai & IISM. This course is designed per the requirements of the Indian sports industry in the upcoming decade as the country prepares to potentially host the 2036 Olympics. Every single aspect from experiential learning to industry expert guidance & mentoring support from faculties will help you upscale your career in various fields of Sports Management.

Here’s a list of all the key USPs of this PGDSM course:

• Blended Online Format
  A blended learning format with online lectures on weekends to enable flexibility for working professionals. As for in-campus sessions, there will be four mandatory module-wise in-person campus immersions at IIM Mumbai.

• IIM & IISM Alumni Status
  Learners graduating from this PGDSM course will we awarded a PG Diploma along with both IIM & IISM alumni status.

• Specialized Curriculum
  Combines general management with expertise of sports industry sectors like sports broadcasting, data analytics, sponsorships, sports retail, sports governance, etc.

• Olympics Alignment
  Directly contributing to India’s 2036 Olympics vision by shaping leaders & professionals who an uplift India’s sporting ecosystem and lay a solid foundation to grassroots level sports culture.

• Expert Faculty & Industry Mentors
  Learn from IIM Mumbai’s top academicians & IISM’s industry expert faculties aside from some sports industry stalwarts leaders, CXOs, entrepreneurs & policymakers.

• Experiential Learning
  Rich exposure through live case studies, simulations, industry visits, sporting arena/venue experiences, and hands-on projects.

• Practical Industry Engagement
  Structured internships, consulting assignments, capstone projects in research and real-world problem-solving projects with leading organizations in the sports sector.

• Mentoring & Incubation Support
  One-on-one mentoring from industry experts, along with access to incubation opportunities for entrepreneurial ventures in sports-tech, analytics, and sports business.

• Cross-Functional Depth
  Coverage of finance, marketing, sponsorship, operations, logistics, media, analytics, sustainability, and governance in sports.

• Technology & Innovation Focus
  Immersive learning in verticals like sports analytics, sports tech, digital transformation, fan engagement along with innovation-driven sports management models.

• Networking Opportunities
  A robust peer-to-peer, alumni & industry network across IIM Mumbai & IISM, connecting learners with sports federations, leagues, corporate leaders & global practitioners.

• Career Launchpad
  Opens diverse pathways in sports business management, consulting, analytics, event/facility leadership, sponsorships, and governance roles, while fostering entrepreneurial ambitions.

• Ethical & Sustainable Leadership
  Strong focus on integrity, governance, and socially responsible growth of the sports ecosystem.

Eligibility & Selection Process

The eligibility criteria for any aspirants wanting to apply for this PGDSM programme is as follows:

The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree, with at least 60% marks or equivalent CGPA [50% in case of candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Disability (PwD) categories], awarded by any University or educational institution as incorporated by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature in India or declared to be deemed as a University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification recognized by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

AND

Applicants must have taken at least one of the examinations namely, CAT (Common Admission Test), OR GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test), OR GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) not earlier than 5 Years (for the academic year 2026-27 it is June 2021 onwards) to apply for the programme.

OR 

The applicant must clear IMAT (IIM Mumbai Admission Test) conducted by the IIM Mumbai (based on CAT exam pattern).

EXEMPTION

There are certain cases in which exemption to these eligibility criteria shall be provided. Applicants with exceptional sporting or coaching achievements may receive direct eligibility and IMAT exemption, subject to document verification.

Candidates eligible for this exemption include:

• State/National Team Coaches with minimum one year of service

• Sportspersons/Coaches who have represented India internationally (Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, or other official events)

• Recipients of major Indian sports awards (Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna)

SELECTION PROCESS

• Online Application with Registration Fee & Eligibility.

• 5% and 10% relaxation to be given to candidates with sports participation at the

• National and International level, respectively.

• Shortlisting eligible candidates for the personal interview (PI).

• Personal Interview, Merit List, & Notification to candidates.

• Offer acceptance & confirmation of seat by payment

PGDSM: Fee Details 

The fees for pursuing this PG Diploma in Sports Management by IIM Mumbai & IISM is ₹8,50,000/- 

As for the programme fee payment methods, there are two options that enrolled students can undertake: One-time payment or Installment payments. Following is the breakdown with respective payment due dates.

PGDSM Admissions Open: Apply for IMAT

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)