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The University of South Australia and AFL’s Adelaide Crows are launching a new sports management diploma from next year to benefit future students who want hands-on experience and insights into working at an AFL club.

The Diploma in Sport Management is a 12-month program that provides students with foundational knowledge and practical skills for a career in sports management.

The diploma will include eight courses over two semesters, which will be taught both online and in-person at the Adelaide Football Club and UniSA’s City West Campus. The first intake will run from August 2025 to June 2026.

Covering areas including commercial operations, marketing, and managing the athletic pathway, the program will also see students complete a minimum of 100 hours of placement at the Club, including on match day, and in the community programs and membership department.

The Adelaide Football Club will offer two full-time employment positions to the top graduates each year. All students who successfully complete the diploma will obtain credit towards a Bachelor of Business (Sport Management) at the new Adelaide University, which is being created through the amalgamation of UniSA and the University of Adelaide and will open in January 2026.

Adelaide Crows Chief Executive Tim Silvers says the new offering is a unique and exciting opportunity for anyone passionate about pursuing a career in sport.

Silvers noted “the diploma is more than just a qualification, but a stepping stone towards a career in sports management..

“To be able to study in a full-time professional environment of an AFL club is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the Club and learn directly from management and staff.”

UniSA Vice Chancellor, Professor David Lloyd, says the initiative is a great match to the University’s values and goals and added “UniSA is globally recognised for our world-class teaching in business, which has a focus on practical work experiences, and our lecturers include some of the world’s leading sport management researchers.

“Blending our expert teaching with the opportunity to complete a placement with the Adelaide Football Club is a fantastic option for students interested in this field.

“The Adelaide Football Club is not only a highly successful sporting business, it’s also a leader in delivering community programs that align with UniSA’s commitment to education, health, equity and reconciliation. We’re delighted to expand our partnership with the Crows through this initiative, which will help shape sports management leaders ready to succeed in South Australia and beyond.”

For information about the diploma and to register interest 

For all study enquiries, please call UniSA’s Future Student Enquiries team: (08) 8302 2376

Image. Crows Chief Executive Tim Silvers (centre left) with Executive Dean UniSA Business Professor Andrew Beer (centre right), and high school students Ella Litchfield (left) and Thomas Mansfield  (right)

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