Program Overview

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Sports Journalism BA (Hons)

Overview

Launch your career as a sports journalist for top-end multimedia sports platforms such as Sky Sports News, BBC Sport or national newspapers, or join the media teams of Premier League clubs, Formula One teams or golf's DP World Tour. Gain the skills to work with, and for, the best in the business on this NCTJ-accredited course.

Why us?

• Our Journalism courses are 6th in the UK and 1st in the north-east (Guardian University Guide, 2025).
• Benefit from our exclusive link-ups with Sunderland AFC, Newcastle United FC and Durham County Cricket Club to gain invaluable matchday reporting or broadcast production experience of big sporting stages.
• Sky Sports News, BBC Sport, Manchester United FC, Liverpool FC, Newcastle United FC, Everton FC, West Ham United, Glasgow Rangers FC, Derby County FC, Durham CCC, Formula 1, DP World Tour, The Racing Post, The Daily Express, The Daily Mirror and – of course – Sunderland AFC have all been destinations of our graduates.
• This course is accredited by the National Council for Training of Journalists (NCTJ). The NCTJ diploma is required by key journalism employers, such as Sky Sports News. Learn more about the benefits of studying an NCTJ-accredited course.

Course structure

Year 1 (national level 4):

• Introduction to Journalism (30 credits)
  • Ever wondered what it takes to work in news, fashion, or sports? Master the key skills for finding and researching stories, tracking down sources, conducting interviews, and writing compelling headlines and story introductions. Plus, you'll learn how to structure a story that keeps your audience hooked.
  • You’ll also get hands-on experience creating podcasts to share stories across news, fashion, and sports journalism. How about using social media and analytics to promote your work and reach a wider audience? You’ll explore all of that too.
• Digital Publishing (30 credits)
  • Want to capture the attention of online audiences with compelling stories? This module will teach you how to present news in fresh, digital-friendly ways, from video journalism to data-driven storytelling.
  • You'll also develop key journalism skills, like finding stories, interviewing sources, crafting content that grabs attention and producing impactful, multimedia news for today’s online audience.
• Media Law and Ethics (30 credits)
  • Navigate key issues like libel, privacy, copyright, and court reporting across print, online, broadcast, and social media.
  • You'll also get hands-on experience checking copy for legal risks, writing court reports, and applying industry standards like the Editors’ Code and the Ofcom Code.
  • At the end of this module you’ll have the confidence to report with accuracy, integrity, and legal know-how – ready to tell important stories responsibly.
• Club Journalism and Communications (30 credits)
  • Ready to create and share exciting sports content for a professional organisation? In this module, you’ll learn how to produce, edit, and share exciting multimedia content across digital platforms. From delivering live matchday updates to crafting compelling stories that connect with fans, you’ll gain real-world experience in sports communication.
  • You’ll build valuable relationships with athletes, coaches, and the media while learning how to create credible, engaging content that goes beyond the usual promotional material.

Year 2 (national level 5):

• Social, Digital, Video (30 credits)
  • Ready to create standout videos for social media and the web? In this module, you’ll learn everything from filming and editing to crafting compelling scripts and mastering camera techniques.
  • You’ll practice interviewing people and honing your storytelling skills to produce professional-quality videos that grab attention. Alongside this, discover how to grow your audience by tracking views, boosting engagement, and building a loyal online community.
• Features: Pitching and Writing (30 credits)
  • Ready to turn your storytelling skills into a career? This module teaches you how to craft long-form journalism for trade magazines, online publications, and beyond.
  • You’ll learn how to pitch original ideas to editors, understand your audience, and use SEO and analytics to make sure your work gets seen. Whilst also creating social media content to promote your features and boost engagement.
• Live Reporting (30 credits)
  • Experience the fast-paced world of journalism working on live news websites, writing, editing, and publishing stories for print and digital platforms.
  • Throughout this module you'll cover breaking news, community reporting, and in-depth stories while learning how to use multimedia, social media, and analytics to engage audiences.
  • With guidance from experienced journalists, you'll gain the skills and confidence to thrive in a modern newsroom.
• Covering Live Sport (30 credits)
  • Experience the thrill of live sports broadcasting. In this hands-on module, you’ll step into the world of live sports coverage, working as part of a team to produce a dynamic, real-time blog and a professional outside broadcast.
  • You’ll develop essential skills that are in demand in the sports industry, gaining the confidence to deliver compelling sports content.

Final year (national level 6):

• Employability and Entrepreneurship (30 credits)
  • Ready to stand out in the world of journalism? In this module, you'll create a strong CV and cover letter, build a professional online presence, and connect with industry experts. Gain hands-on experience with a media work placement and discover how journalism businesses really work through interactive workshops and expert talks.
  • By the end, you'll have the skills and confidence to take your first steps in the industry.
• Sports News and Broadcasting (30 credits)
  • Bring sport to life on screen with hands-on experience in sports broadcasting. From filming and editing to presenting and producing, you’ll create dynamic content for TV and digital platforms. Learn how to run a studio show, capture live events, and deliver compelling sports coverage.
  • Work as part of a production team to produce a football-based TV episode, seamlessly blending studio discussions with on-the-ground footage. Build your journalism skills by sourcing and reporting sports news, creating a strong portfolio of published work.
• Major Journalism Project (60 credits)
  • Learn to create compelling stories and bring your ideas to life by creating engaging articles, a magazine, a website, or a podcast on a topic you're passionate about. Develop essential journalism skills and learn how to pitch a professional project with strong market research, ensuring it reaches the right audience.
  • Along the way, you'll explore the strengths and challenges of modern journalism while applying key concepts of media law and ethics.

Facilities

Our David Puttnam Media Centre is a buzzing place to study sports journalism. As well as working in our mediaHUB on sports content, you can volunteer with our award-winning radio station, Spark Sunderland, write for one of our suite of websites or edit Spark Magazine in our mediaHUB. Get hands-on in Journalism and Digital editing suites. Learn from experts in this centre of excellence for training.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is:

• Qualification | Minimum grade
  • Irish Leaving Certificate | 120 UCAS points – Students must have H1-H7 or O1-O4 in Maths & English.
  • QQI/FETAC 5| Pass profile overall. For entry we also require H1-H7 or O1-O4 in Maths and English from Irish Leaving Certificate

If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at for further advice.

Fees and finance

The annual, full-time fee for this course is:

• £9,535 if you are from the UK/Europe
• £16,500 if you are an international student

Career ready

This degree prepares you for writing and talking about sports in newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and online media, as well as for clubs or brands.

Recent journalism graduates from Sunderland have gained experiences with employers such as Sky, Sky Sports, NFL, 4ThePlayer, The Racing Post, MTV, The Guardian, ITV, regional newspapers and PR companies.

Real-world experience – right on campus

Rub shoulders with BBC Newcastle Journalists, get advice from former Sky News Journalists and see a Newsroom in action in our innovative mediaHUB.

You’ll be actively involved in the Sportsbyte website and have the opportunity to get involved in Spark Sunderland, the 24/7 community radio station based in the Media Centre. Spark has won many awards and holds the Nations and Regions Award for Best Radio Station in the North East. Students are responsible for all news-gathering, programme production and advertising.

You’ll be taught in some of your classes by visiting lecturers who are current sports writers, editors and football club media managers. Other opportunities for real-world experience include Spark online magazine and Fashion North, which are linked to our Journalism and Media courses.

Superb industry links

Our academics are industry experts and have excellent relationships across sports including PFA (Professional Footballers Association) magazine, 4ThePlayer, Sky Sports, ITV and BBC.

Broaden your horizons with inspiring trips – recently students have enjoyed trips to Barcelona, press access to Wembley finals and Europa league games at FC Schalke 04 in Germany.

Our students have attended Premier League matches in the press box to see sportswriters at work and have interviewed sports celebrities themselves. Two of our students even had a FIFA tournament on the pitch at SAFC with Jordan Pickford and Duncan Watmore.

In addition, our students have also covered tennis, golf, boxing, American Football, F1, hockey, gymnastics and many other sports.

Work placements

You'll undertake a work placement module in your final year, though many of our students arrange placements across three years. The placement can be at a sports newsdesk, sports magazine or sports club of your choice.

All students studying this course can take up a CV-enhancing work placement, a University-led industry initiative, or a professional and business development boot camp. A placement offers you a taste of the industry and can last anything from two days to four weeks, on a part-time basis.