Program Overview

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Overview

This course will prepare you for a career in sports journalism by providing the knowledge, values, and cutting-edge skills required to be a professional sports journalist. You will become an agile, independent sports reporter working across multiple platforms with the ability to understand the critical role that sports journalism plays in society by telling stories both on- and off-the pitch.

About Foundation Courses

This four-year programme has been specifically designed to allow students who do not initially meet the entry requirements for a three-year degree to undertake additional level 3 study designed to ensure they are successful on their chosen degree programme.

Course Details

• Level: Foundation
• Study mode: Full Time
• Award: BA (Hons)
• Start date: September 2025
• Fees: £9,535 in 2025/26 (UK students)
• Subject: Media and Journalism
• Location: City Centre

Entry Requirements

Essential Requirements

• 80 UCAS Tariff points
• GCSE and other level 2 requirements: This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications.
• A Level, BTEC, and other level 3 requirements:
  • A Level: 80 UCAS Tariff points / CDD (or equivalent)
  • AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels
  • A maximum of four subjects will be considered
  • Pearson BTEC (Diploma / Extended Diploma/ Extended Certificate): 80 UCAS Tariff points
  • Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications
  • Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications

International Students

• International Baccalaureate Diploma: Obtain a minimum of 24 points overall
• EU / International students: Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept.

Fees & How to Apply

UK Students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study.
• The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• Award: BA (Hons)
• Starting: Sep 2025
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 4 years
• Fees: £9,535 in 2025/26

International Students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study.
• The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• Award: BA (Hons)
• Starting: Sep 2025
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 4 years
• Fees: £17,690 in 2025/26

Course in Depth

Foundation Year

• Media Audiences (20 credits)
• Professional and Academic Skills (20 credits)
• Media Production Practice (20 credits)
• Collaborative Media Production (20 credits)
• Media Concepts and Investigation (20 credits)
• Media Project (20 credits)

First Year

• Understanding Media Texts, Industries and Audiences (20 credits)
• Sports Journalism Landscapes (20 credits)
• Introduction to Sports Journalism Techniques (20 credits)
• Investigating Media Texts, Industries and Audiences (20 credits)
• Digital Reporting (20 credits)
• Community and Industry Collaboration (20 credits)

Second Year

• Media Law in Practice (20 credits)
• Journalism in Context (20 credits)
• Sports PR and Communication (20 credits)
• Work Placement (20 credits) or Live Project (20 credits) or Collaborative Practice (20 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • Bi-Media Drama (20 credits)
  • Comedy in the Media and Popular Culture (20 credits)
  • Fandoms and Subcultures (20 credits)
  • Photojournalism (20 credits)
  • Television Studio (20 credits)
  • Creating Compelling Content (20 credits)
  • Digital Storytelling (20 credits)
  • Radio Documentary and Podcast Production (20 credits)
  • Commercial Photography (20 credits)
  • Emotion, Media and Culture (20 credits)
  • Media and Environment (20 credits)
  • Television From Small Screens to Smart Screens (20 credits)
  • Graphic Design (20 credits)
  • PR Campaign Planning (20 credits)
  • Disruptive Publishing (20 credits)
  • Exploring PR, social media and influencers (20 credits)
  • Live Music and Media (20 credits)
  • Live Radio Production (20 credits)

Final Year

• The Sports Industry (20 credits)
• Major Project Preparation (20 credits)
• Major Project - Dissertation (40 credits) or Major Project - Hybrid (40 credits) or Major Project - Production (40 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • Media Activism (20 credits)
  • Understanding Social Media: Practices, Cultures and Debates (20 credits)
  • Digital Futures (20 credits)
  • Creative Camera (20 credits)
  • Radio Station (20 credits)
  • Audio Drama and Podcast Writing (20 credits)
  • Audience and User Experience (20 credits)
  • Gender, Sexuality and the Body (20 credits)
  • Race, Media and Culture (20 credits)
  • Popular Music Narratives (20 credits)
  • Media Production Company (20 credits)
  • Communication in Action (20 credits)
  • Feature Writing for News Media (20 credits)

Employability

The course will equip you with first-hand practical expertise and provide you with the rigorous academic knowledge you’ll need to fulfill a career in your chosen communications and journalism field.

Facilities & Staff

The course is based in the £62m fully-digital Media Centre, which features state-of-the-art facilities, including four TV studios, six radio studios, and broadcast-standard edit suites.

The teaching team includes experienced professionals in the field of journalism and media, with a strong research profile and industry connections.

Contact Us

For more information about the course, please contact the University's admissions team or visit the University's website.