Program Overview

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Marketing and Sports Communication (with a Foundation Year) BSc (Hons)

About

Develop critical insights, learn cutting-edge digital skills, and understand what it takes to succeed in marketing and digital communication. You'll apply critical, strategic, and creative skills while becoming an ethical and global professional. You'll also impact sports audiences, consumers, and fans across sectors and platforms, and complete exciting practical projects.

Our hands-on sports marketing degree covers:

• managing sporting events
• sports journalism and marketing
• digital content creation and design
• AI, digital marketing, and data analytics
• consumer behaviour and customer insight
• branding and marketing strategy
• digital communications and ethics.

We have worked with industry professionals to design our Marketing and Sports Communication degree. You'll develop analytical, research, communication, personal, and professional skills to help you navigate future challenges and opportunities.

We empower you, ensuring you're work-ready as soon as you graduate. 96% of St Mary's (SMU) students are in employment, vocation, or further study within 15 months of graduation (HESA, 2024).

International reputation

Our international reputation for sport allows you to gain unique insight into the industry. You can also join our excellent sports teams and use our world-class sporting facilities, such as the:

• Fitness and Conditioning Suite
• Sir Mo Farah Athletics Track
• Performance Hall
• Biomechanics Laboratory.

Cutting-edge facilities

With our sports communication and marketing course, you'll access our cutting-edge facilities and equipment, which include:

• Our Media Production Suite: equipped to teach all aspects of content creation, short and long video, TV production, radio, and online broadcasting
• multi-camera HD shoots with a flexible lighting grid, full range of audio inputs, and teleprompter facilities
• a radio and podcasting studio: dedicated vocal booth, 70-inch TV, studio quality sound-system
• a Mac suite equipped with top of the range, 27-inch iMacs with secondary touch screens - available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Study in the capital

Our campus is located in the leafy London borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, with access to the capital as a hub for sports journalism, marketing, and sports business. You’ll also have opportunities to explore the biggest brands in global sport, as well as iconic sports venues, such as:

• Wembley Stadium
• Wimbledon
• Lords Cricket Ground
• Allianz Stadium.

Excellent teaching and support

You will learn from industry professionals here to aid your growth. Our student, Aikaterini, tells us they were “always encouraged and fully supported”.

It's no wonder we're:

• 1st in London for Academic Support (National Student Survey (NSS), 2024)
• in the UK's Top 10 for Teaching Quality (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025).

Find out how our Student Success Team ensures you reach your goals while prioritising your wellbeing.

Work placements: build professional experience

We have strong relationships with leading sports communications and marketing companies in London. You can complete work placements with them to build your skills and network.

About the Foundation Year

Our four-year degree programmes (including a foundation year) provide an alternative route to undergraduate study at university if you do not have the grades to access higher education in the traditional way.

Course content

Modules

These modules are the modules that were available to students in the 2024/25 academic year and are illustrative of what may be offered for 2025/26.

• Personal Learning Competencies
• Thinking Critically, Creatively and Ethically
• Taking a Professional Approach
• Individual Project
• Media and Communications: Past, Present, Future
• Understanding Marketing
• Data Visualisation and Storytelling
• Introduction to the Sports Industry
• Consumer Insight, Behaviour, and Engagement
• Data and Digital Marketing
• Ethics, Communication, and Professionalism
• Sport, Culture, and Society
• Branding and Brand Management
• Digital Content Creation I
• Working in Marketing
• Principles of Entrepreneurship
• Sports Sponsorship and Promotion
• Research Methods
• Marketing Strategy and Implementation
• Digital Content Creation II
• Strategic Communication
• Managing Sports Events
• Independent Study Project
• Marketing Campaign
• Contemporary Issues in Marketing Strategy
• The Enterprising Workplace
• Sports Journalism and Media Relations
• Ethics in Communications and Marketing
• Starting a Business
• Entrepreneurial and Online Journalism
• Consultancy Project

Entry requirements

• 48 UCAS points
• We will make you an offer if you are within the tariff band range of 96-112 UCAS points and you meet subject-specific requirements (where applicable).
• We understand that sometimes barriers you can't control get in the way of academic achievement. You are more than just your grades. We'll consider your application as a whole, taking into account things like:
  • subjects studied at Level 3
  • your GCSEs (or equivalent) profile
  • non-academic achievements you mention in your personal statement
  • your references and motivation.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees

• Home: £9,535
• International: £17,100
• Please note: these fees are annual and may increase as detailed in our tuition fee variation disclaimer.
• For more information on foundation year fees for home students, please check the details on our tuition fee page.
• Information about tuition fees, student loans, and funding your studies can be found within our fees and funding section.

Additional costs

• Your tuition fees will cover the cost of all mandatory elements of your programme.
• Additional costs could be incurred depending on optional modules chosen and other projects undertaken.
• For further information about additional costs please see our additional costs webpage.

Scholarships

• Find out more about our range of scholarships and bursaries available to undergraduate students .

Living costs

• A guide to your living costs has been created by our Student Funding Team.
• Accommodation costs vary depending on whether you opt for an en suite room and on-site catering. Take a look at our accommodation options and the prices you can expect to pay.

How the degree is taught

• Contact time: 67%
• Independent study: 33%
• *Contact time includes 35% of guided learning

Teaching methods

• You'll be taught on our beautiful and historic campus located in Twickenham, London.
• We employ a range of teaching methods across all courses, including lectures, seminars and practical workshops. You will study alongside communications and marketing students specialising in other fields and will benefit from a much richer learning experience as a result.
• You will have regular opportunities to meet and network with professionals, drawn from our extensive industry contacts in sport, communications and marketing. We also organise regular field trips to relevant external organisations such as Sky Sports, Twickenham Stadium, the Olympic Park and Wembley Stadium.
• As a student, you will have access to regular one-on-one tutorials, particularly in the planning stages of essays and for final major projects. Every student is allocated dedicated project supervisors.
• Lecture notes and backup information about all aspects of the degree can be found online for catch-up purposes and members of staff also use social media to share relevant course and industry information.
• Most classes range from around 15 to 40 students. Seminars will have a maximum of around 30 students, but will usually be 20 or fewer. For some modules there will be large lecture cohorts of up to 190 students, with smaller seminar groups.

Assessment methods

• Each module is normally assessed by a combination of one written and one practical assignment.
• You will get the opportunity to undertake your own research, give presentations and design and produce media content and marketing campaigns.
• Your final project can be either a written dissertation or practical-based assignment (often a website, film or marketing campaign).

Feedback

• We adhere to the university’s policy of providing feedback on assessments within 15 working days.

Career opportunities

• Our sports marketing degree will help you develop essential transferable skills, such as communication, creative problem-solving, and teamwork.
• And if you ever need advice, support, or guidance, we offer lifetime careers support. Please contact our Career Services at for more information.
• Some examples of job roles and areas of work for graduates of undefined include:
  • sports journalism and media relations
  • sports marketing and branding
  • sports broadcasting and presenting
  • talent booking
  • sports charities
  • sports and leisure events management