PILLAI/FIFA/CIES International Programme in Sports Management
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Your application will be judged on your passion and enthusiasm for sport which will be visible through your career profile and your participation in sport-related activities. A basic graduation degree, however, is compulsory. Preference will be given to working participants.
The Pillai/FIFA/CIES International Programme in Sports Management is a part-time executive diploma programme best suited to mid-level and senior professionals in the field of sports who are seeking to enhance and enrich their professional skill set. It is also meant for young graduates who can demonstrate a passion for sports and would like to pursue a career in the field of sports management. Professionals from other backgrounds (e.g. legal practitioners, techies, economists, journalists,etc.) who wish to start working in sport and become familiar with the specialist aspects of the sports industry are also welcome to apply for the programme.
In the first edition, the average age of students was 27 years. 21 – 48 years was the age range of the entire batch. You can visit Class Profile 1st Edition, to see the entire class profile.
In the second edition, the average age of students was 29 years and the participants were from 16 different cities and 4 different countries. You can visit Class Profile 2nd Edition, to see the entire class profile.
For each program, we carefully select a range of sports professionals and enthusiasts from around India and abroad who have different backgrounds and experiences. This diversity enables participants to make the most of the programme by leveraging the experience of their peers and acquiring a new level of cultural sensitivity.
While the programme is most beneficial to working participants, exceptions can be made in case the participant exhibits a strong connection to sport throughout his or her academic career.
You need not have any professional experience in sports to be eligible for admission to the Programme. However, a professional experience in sports will be a big advantage.
Candidates must hold at least a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized Indian University or a degree from a foreign university as recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), demonstrate a strong interest in sports and possess a good command of the English language. Please visit Eligibility for detailed eligibility requirements.
The only way to apply is through our Online Application Form. The form is available on www.fifacies.pimsr.ac.in/apply. We recommend that you apply well in advance of the deadline rather than at the last minute to make sure that your application is well prepared and that you have all your supporting documents. Based on the quality of application, candidates will be shortlisted to undergo a compulsory admission interview.
The application has two steps. The first step is to fill in the basic information details on the application form and pay the admission form fee of Rs. 750. As a second step after successful payment, you will receive a link that will enable you to upload your Statement of Purpose. The deadline to submit an application form for the 2023-24 academic year (5th Edition) along with a Statement of Purpose is 25th August, 2023. You can apply by visiting www.fifacies.pimsr.ac.in/apply.
There is no entrance exam to be eligible for the course.
Shortlisted candidates are required to undergo a compulsory admission interview with an academic representative of Pillai and a representative of the FIFA/CIES University Network.
INR 1,80,000 is the sanctioned course fee for Indian National Students for the academic year 2023-24.
USD 3,500 is the sanctioned course fee for International Students for the academic year 2023-24.
Once accepted, and to secure your place, an initial non-refundable payment of INR 75,000 (USD $ 1,500 for international students) is to be paid one week after your admission offer letter has been sent. The remaining fees must be paid by the payment schedule mentioned in your offer letter.
The course fee is inclusive of comprehensive CIES manuals for each module, class hand-outs, international, national and local guest speaker sessions, official excursions, convocation and refreshments during each block week.
A few part-scholarships are available every year and will be awarded based solely on financial need and if the participant has to travel from long distances to attend the programme every block.
Yes, the fees can be paid in 2 instalments. The dates of the instalments are mentioned here.
Please refer to Course Format for complete details.
A typical batch can accommodate between 30 and 50 students.
On successful completion of the programme you will receive the PILLAI/FIFA/CIES INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMA IN SPORTS MANAGEMENT awarded jointly by FIFA, CIES and PILLAI.
The FIFA/CIES Executive Programme in India is meant to be an in-classroom course and is usually not conducted online. Participants are required to attend classes at Pillai Institute of Management Studies in Navi Mumbai, India. However, the 2020-21 academic session had to be conducted completely online due to the coronavirus pandemic. We will be going back to the physical mode of classes moving forward so that students can get the most out of the course.
Participants are admitted on the understanding with their work management that they will be free from company duties during the full period of the course blocks so that they can get the most out of the course. The faculty considers attendance by every participant at every class essential if the program is to make its maximum contribution to the individual and to the group. Accordingly, attendance at all classes, discussion groups and program events is required whether it is conducted online or in physical mode.
The programme is conducted by Pillai Institute of Management Studies & Research located at Dr K. M. Vasudevan Pillai Campus, New Panvel, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra: 410206.
Even though this course is certified by the World’s Governing Football body (FIFA), this course is not just for people interested in football. This is a general sports management programme where examples from various sports are taken into consideration during the classroom sessions.
On average, you will spend about eight hours each day in the classroom covering two modules, project work and guest lectures. Participants are expected to read the course material before class and also work on any assignment that will be given to them after class.
The evaluation of the programme is on a weightage system. 75% weightage is given to Continuous Assessment based on your performance in each module and 25% weightage is given to the module examination conducted at the end of every block. The Group Project is also a vital component of your overall score.
The FIFA/CIES International University Network organizes three conferences during each academic year at the PILLAI/FIFA/CIES International Programme in Sports Management on essential themes in the world of sport. World-renowned experts are brought in to conduct these conferences and share their knowledge of the global sports industry. You can visit CIES Conference, to see the speakers who have come for past conferences.
Participants are required to present a Final Group Project in groups of 3 to 5 students each at the end of the programme. The project work must have original content and be relevant to the Sports Industry. Summaries of Group Projects of previous years can be found here.
Since 2010, with a view to encouraging original high-quality research and to lending new dynamics to the FIFA/CIES International University Network, CIES has awarded an annual Prize for the best group project presented in the framework of the FIFA/CIES Executive Programme in Sports Management (Best project out of all 17 Universities in the Network). The Prize, which may be modified by CIES each year, consists of a visit to CIES headquarters (Neuchâtel) and to FIFA headquarters (Home of FIFA, Zurich) for all the members of the winning group. In the framework of these visits, the prize winners will be invited to present their work in English to the FIFA Master students.
The modules of the programme are conducted by seasoned academicians, industry professionals and speakers from the CIES University Network. You will have the opportunity to interact with some well-known professionals from the sporting world. Please visit Faculty for faculty profiles.
We try and plan 1 or 2 field visits during each academic year. Our students have had the privilege of visiting the Star Sports Studios the iconic Wankhede Stadium and also attended a Mumbai City FC Football Match at Andheri Sports Complex in the past.
The prospect after completing this course is enormous. Since this is a course known worldwide, completing it would certainly give you an edge over others in the competitive sports industry. There will also be a lot of networking opportunities with expert faculty from India and abroad and also with working professionals who will be studying alongside you during the course. This will help you identify areas and source opportunities for your future career prospects. The fact that your Group Project could potentially be presented to FIFA Master Students in Switzerland and be showcased at FIFA headquarters is another major highlight of the course. Also to be noted is the fact that students who complete Pillai Executive Programme in India are eligible for scholarships if they wish to apply for the FIFA Masters Programme in the future.
Even though Internships/jobs are not guaranteed, we provide every possible assistance to help you secure one with sporting organisations in case you are interested, keeping your work commitments in mind. We have partnered with Sporjo, a company that focuses on jobs in the sports domain to help students of our course in securing internships/jobs if they are looking out for one. Once an internship is secured it will be purely based on your performance if you can convert the internship into a placement or not.
The course is partly designed as a stepping stone for someone to do the FIFA Masters Programme. It is not mandatory to do this course to apply to the FIFA Masters Programme but CIES has stated that they will direct most applicants of the Masters to do the Pillai India executive course first before applying for the full-time programme. This is because of the large number of applications that they receive from India. That being said, doing the India course does not guarantee admission to the FIFA Masters since it’s a highly coveted course and accepts only 1 or 2 Indians per year. Also to be noted is the fact that students who complete Pillai Executive Programme in India are eligible for scholarships when they apply for the FIFA Masters Programme. We are proud to announce that Mr. Khushal Palicha from the 2019-20 batch has been selected to be part of the FIFA Masters 2021-22 cohort.
Globally, sports as a sector encompasses a very broad spectrum – ranging from sporting goods, apparels, product design, infrastructure (training; playing), player management, broadcasting rights, sports media, advertising, merchandising, venue sponsorships, team sponsorships, gate collections, analytics services, sports medicine and nutrition, sports psychology, physiotherapy, event marketing, public relations, photojournalism, etc. The Indian scenario is no different. In fact, it has shown the fastest pace of growth in almost all the segments mentioned above. This fact, in itself, makes the sector one of the most exciting in terms of employment. What makes it even more attractive is the sheer range of competencies and skillsets that are covered in this industry. As can be seen from the preceding paragraph, there’s scope for a diverse set of people either from the sporting background or with no playing experience at all!
Apart from providing opportunities to more players and coaches, the burgeoning Indian sporting industry will also need match officials, event management executives, analysts, agents, media and communications professionals, sales and marketing professionals, to name a few. Sporting facilities management too would need personnel at various levels.
Recent government encouragements also bode well for the industry. ‘Khelo India’ opens up avenues right to the country’s hinterland; ‘Make in India’ sees scope in sport goods manufacture; ‘Skill India’ gives impetus to academies and coaches / trainers to contribute to ‘vocational’ skill training in this arena.
Participants are not required to live in on-campus accommodations. However, participants are encouraged to live as near to the campus as possible due to the rigorous nature and long daily hours of the programme. Living with fellow participants is also encouraged to foster out-of-class discussions and shared learning.
Yes, there are many accommodation options inclusive of all meals run by Pillai (apartment style/ hostels) for the participants of the programme. You can contact nehagairola@mes.ac.in / +918450960483 for complete details.
A few part-scholarships are available every year and will be awarded based solely on financial need and if the participant has to travel long distances to attend the programme every block.
We are also proud to announce that Soroptimist Welfare Association (an NGO that works for the welfare of girls and women) has partnered with Pillai Institute of Management Studies and Research to offer financial assistance through THREE scholarships to needy and meritorious female candidates to pursue the PILLAI/FIFA/CIES International Programme in Sports Management for the academic year 2023-24.
Yes, the fees can be paid in 2 instalments. The dates of the instalments will be mentioned on your offer letter once selected.
Participants are required to present a Final Group Project in groups of 3 to 5 students each at the end of the programme. The project work must have original content and be relevant to the Sports Industry. Summaries of Group Projects of previous years can be found here.
