Golf Management BA (Hons)
Course code N290
What is special about this course?
The BA (Hons) Golf Management course is based in Dornoch, close to the world-renowned Royal Dornoch Golf Club. It is the first honours degree of its kind in the UK and is aimed at those aspiring to a career in the golf industry.
The degree provides a balance of golf-specific and management subjects to give graduates the range of skills necessary to take advantage of excellent employment opportunities. You will have the opportunity to work in various roles, with a particular focus on all aspects of managing within a golf context.
Our strong links with the industry provide opportunities for work placements, guest lectures from leading industry figures and study trips. This includes associate membership of the Club Managers' Association of Europe (CMAE).
You will work alongside our BA (Hons) Professional Golf students.
Special features
- You will benefit from our strong industry links including the Royal Dornoch Golf Club, the PGA and equipment manufacturers as well as top clubs in the UK and abroad. Many of these will contribute to your learning via guest lectures and seminars
- State of the art, world class indoor golf facilities on campus
- Work placements can be arranged locally, across the UK, and internationally, including an international internship programmes
- Full-time members of staff are PGA professionals
- Enjoy a unique student experience and can participate in activities such as running the student golf club, individual coaching, personalised training and development, regular play, and competition including Scottish Student Sport and British Universities and College Sport events
Accommodation
We offer modern student accommodation in Dornoch ideally suited to students on this course.
Entry requirements
- 3 Scottish Highers at grade C or above OR
- 2 A levels at grade C or above
- You may be able to enter year two of the degree if you have an HNC in a relevant subject
- You may be able to enter year three of the degree if you have an HND in a relevant subject
- Applicants with other qualifications or relevant experience are welcomed and will be considered on an individual basis
- This is a Category 2 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required for specific optional modules/unit(s), where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in optional module/unit(s), but an alternative pathway exists to achieve target qualification. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage
For International students requiring Student Route sponsorship
Please note that international students with a Student Route visa can only take part in sports activities or as part of a work placement, as an amateur and not as a professional or semi-professional. You will not be allowed to become a member of a professional sports association while a student. This is due to ‘professional sportsperson’ restrictions imposed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as outlined in their Student Route Policy Guidance.
Year 1 - CertHE
You will study the following modules:
- Activity performance and skills acquisition
- Introduction to business
- Introduction to enterprise and marketing
- Introduction to golf management
- Introduction to the customer-centred business
- Professional practice and personal development for the golf industry
Year 2 - DipHE
You will study the following modules:
- Event planning and organisation
- Golf club manager - functions and responsibilities
- Golf course maintenance and design
- Management accounting
- Retailing
- The contemporary workplace
Year 3 - BA
Core modules are:
- Developing entrepreneurial effectiveness
- Niche tourism
- Research skills
- Understanding visitor behaviour
You will choose two further option modules which may include:
- Marketing communications
- Project planning and management
- Sports science: a critical analysis
- Strategic human resource management
- Work placement: industry-specific skills
Year 4 - BA (Hons)
Year four can be studied online via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE) with support from your tutors and brings your management and business skills into sharp focus.
Core modules are:
- Niche professional: a business analysis
- Work placement: professional practice
- You will also complete a dissertation, or research and plan a business venture
You will choose two further option modules which may include:
- Business strategy
- Corporate financial decision-making
- Corporate responsibility in the global environment
- E-business
- Employee relations and development
- Global management
- Innovation and enterprise
- Social and environmental accounting
- Strategic marketing
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- Part-time (unstructured)
- You will learn through a combination of face-to-face tutorials and lectures, enhanced by field trips and practical tuition, and online study via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE)
- This is enhanced by field trips, guest lectures from leading industry figures, regular practicals, on-site tuition, and assisting in the running of the students’ own university Golf Club
- Fourth year can be studied remotely and is available as distance learning for international delivery. There is a restricted diet in terms of options available for distance learning students.
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 4 years @ 40 hours per week
- Part-time (unstructured): 8 years @ 10 to 20 hours per week
Number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent in lectures and your own time spent on individual study and research.
Where can I study my course?
- North, West and Hebrides - Dornoch campus
Start date
- September
- January (part-time study only)
Fees
For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes
- EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
- EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
- EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Degrees | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (120 credit modules) per year | £1,820 | £1,820 |
| Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year | £915 | £915 |
| Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module) | £305 | £305 |
Rest of UK students
For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland studying this course full time, the following fees apply:
| Full-time | Level | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | CertHE | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| Year 3 | Degree | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| Year 4 | Honours | free | free |
4th year free only for students studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Part-time (per 20 credit module) - £1,542.
Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.
There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.
EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK
Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. Students will get an automatic scholarship of £3,000 per annum and the 4th year of study will be free for those studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.
This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Year | Level | 2023-24 Full-time | With scholarship | 2024-25 Full-time |
|
|
| Year 1 | CertHE | £13,980 | £10,980 | £14,988 | £11,988 | |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £13,980 | £10,980 | £14,988 | £11,988 | |
| Year 3 | Degree | £13,980 | £10,980 | £14,988 | £11,988 | |
| Year 4 | Honours | £13,980 | Free | £14,988 | Free |
Students will need Student Route visa sponsorship to study on the UK.
International students
For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
| 2023-24 | 2024-25 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (120 credit modules) per year | £13,980 | £14,988 |
| Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year** | £6,990 | £7,494 |
| Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module)** | £2,330 | £2,498 |
Part-time study is not open to international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.
Further information on international course fees.
A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.
Funding
UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.
Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you have successfully completed your golf management degree, you might like to consider the following careers:
- Golf club secretary or manager
- Golf resort director of golf or golf operations manager
- Golf course design and maintenance
- Management of other leisure and sports facilities
- Local authority parks and recreation operative
- Golf tourism or entrepreneurship
Can I progress into further study?
You can progress to the PgCert Management in Golf with an honours classification of 2:2 or above.
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
Studying BA (Hons) Golf Management at UHI has been an outstanding development opportunity for my career. During my studies, I worked my way through different positions in major golf clubs such as Royal Dornoch Golf Club and The Duke’s in Scotland; Royal Sydney in Australia; the Union League of Philadelphia in the United States; and Royal Golf La Bagnaia in Italy.
Shortly after I graduated, I had the opportunity to work for Scotland’s golf governing body, Scottish Golf. During my time at Scottish Golf I was involved in the implementation and organisation of national tournaments.
All these experiences have led me to now being in the privileged position of working for the European Tour Group and contributing towards the organisation and staging of one of the most important sporting events in the world, the Ryder Cup.
I am proud and honoured to be an alumni ambassador. UHI, along with a strong academic foundation, gave me the opportunity to build strong relationships with industry professionals which has been so helpful to achieve my personal career goals.
Giordano Antonucci graduated from the BA (Hons) Golf Management in 2020 and is now one of our alumni ambassadors
Studying at the UHI Centre for Golf has opened the door for me to pursue my chosen career in Golf Club Management. Upon completion of my course, I opted to study for an MSc in Leadership and Management. This allowed me to further develop my knowledge and understanding of Management and Leadership within the Golf Club environment.
Shortly after I completed my MSc, I was given the opportunity to join the Royal and Ancient Golf of St Andrews as part of their Golf Services Team. My role at the R&A allows me to combine my love and interest for the traditional Golf Club environment with developing my managerial skill set and learning from the most distinguished Golf Club in the world. Not only did my time at UHI help lead me to my current role, but it also enabled me to make great improvements to my golf game. I still play competitively today, and I thank my time at UHI for this.
Caitlin Boa is studying the BA (Hons) Golf Management at our UHI North Highland campus close to Royal Dornoch Golf Club.
Apply for Golf Management BA (Hons)
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.