Program Overview

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BA (Honours) Sports Journalism with Foundation Year

Course Summary

Prepare to join the fast-moving and dynamic world of Sports Journalism, hone your skills with industry experts and real-world experience.

Teaching Quality

Sheffield Hallam University is ranked 8th amongst UK providers for journalism in the Guardian University Guide 2023 league table.

Course Details

• Duration: 4/5 Years
• Location: City Campus
• UCAS Code: A043
• Entry Requirements: 80 UCAS Points
• Fees:
  • Home: £9,535 per year
  • International/EU: £17,155 per year

Modules

Year 1

• Creative Synergies In Media Production
  • Credits: 40
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
  • Indicative Content:
    • Storyboarding
    • Sketching
    • Scripting
    • Mark-making
    • Life drawing
    • Researching locations
    • Use of still and video cameras
    • Use of microphones
    • Storytelling and narrative techniques
    • Colour theory
    • Understanding visual language
    • Writing for different media contexts
    • Layout and design
    • Basic editing techniques in sound, video, images and digital design
    • Working collaboratively
    • Ethics, health and safety, risk assessments and release forms
• Media In Context
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
  • Indicative Content:
    • How to identify relevant literature (e.g., books and articles) to use in assignments
    • How to read and understand academic literature
    • Essay writing and structuring techniques
    • How to use quotes and examples to illustrate a point
    • Correct referencing, quoting and use of sources
    • Use of libraries, databases, media archives, galleries and other resources
    • Introduction to media regulation, codes and laws
    • Histories of different media
    • How to situate your own practice in relation to others’ work
    • Identifying an audience for your work
    • Analysing and critiquing arguments/messages in both academic and media texts
• Media Project
  • Credits: 40
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
  • Indicative Content:
    • Building on the skills you acquired in semester one to create a portfolio of media production in your chosen specialism
    • The nature of the work in this portfolio will be devised by you, in dialogue with your lecturers
    • You will be responsible for all stages of the project from idea generation and pre-production through to post-production editing and a final evaluation of your work
• Preparing For Independent Practice And Study
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
  • Indicative Content:
    • The skills and techniques needed for university study
    • Essential skills in writing, drawing, IT and information gathering
    • Techniques for project planning, time management and personal development planning
    • Using the Library, your SHU email account and the virtual learning environment (Blackboard)
    • How to access the range of student support services offered by the university
    • Appropriate software and associated academic procedures
    • Techniques for effective communication including the written word
    • How to research effectively
    • How to appropriately reference your research and acknowledge sources
    • Planning and managing your time effectively
    • Using the university careers and employability centre
    • Getting the most from tutorials, and understanding the value of constructive criticism
    • Working in teams and groups
    • Evaluating your own and other people’s work
    • Understanding assessment criteria
    • Preparing for a presentation
    • Speaking to a group
    • Generating and selecting ideas
    • Record-keeping

Year 2

• Broadcast Journalism
  • Credits: 40
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
  • Indicative Content:
    • Story gathering and writing for broadcast
    • Digital fluency
    • Use of video and audio equipment
    • Video and sound editing using relevant software
    • Working with an organisation to create journalistic content
    • Applied project will allow students to present as a professional – understanding how to liaise and co-operate with individuals outside their cohort
• Live Event Reporting
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
  • Indicative Content:
    • Live reporting for radio and television platforms
    • Live commentary for radio and television platforms
    • Researching and planning sports coverage for radio and television broadcasts
    • Making TV and radio highlights packages
    • Visiting sports events
    • Attending press conferences
    • Live Interviewing skills
    • Reflection on professional practice and ethics
• Sport And Popular Culture
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
  • Indicative Content:
    • The development of sport from the 18th century and its representation in journalism
    • The development of television and radio sports coverage
    • Women, race and minority sport
    • Sport, semiotics and cultural studies
    • Branding and broadcasting rights
    • Globalisation
    • Nostalgia and commercialisation
    • Sports investigations journalism
    • Changes in reading, listening and viewing habits
    • The relationship between sports journalists and reader/listener/viewer
• Sports Writing
  • Credits: 40
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
  • Indicative Content:
    • Sources and resources for sports news
    • Ethics and processes for interviews
    • Understanding audiences
    • Ablism, gender, and race in sports reporting
    • Understanding language and reference
    • Critical self-reflection

Year 3

• Content Creation
  • Credits: 40
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
  • Indicative Content:
    • Gathering audio, video and photographic material
    • Project planning
    • Applied research
    • Audiences and online behaviour
    • Digital storytelling
• Media Law, Regulation And Government
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
  • Indicative Content:
    • The essential structures and processes of local and central government in England and Wales
    • Knowledge of the ECHR (Human Rights Act 1998) legislation in the context of journalistic practice
    • Essential media law for journalists: defamation, contempt of court, reporting restrictions, copyright and sources of UK law
    • The regulatory system and ethical codes of conduct within which UK journalists operate
• Research And Investigation Skills
  • Credits: 40
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
  • Indicative Content:
    • Quantitative research and analysis methods
    • Qualitative research and analysis methods
    • PR specific research and analysis methods
    • Ethics
    • Journalistic investigative skills
    • Time management
    • Working independently
    • Action planning
    • Evaluating critical sources
• Sports Newsday
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
  • Indicative Content:
    • Developing, preparing, and presenting news stories
    • Multiple and multi-platform broadcasting
    • Digital fluency and technology skills
    • Professional contexts, expectations, and collaborations
    • Project management and team building
    • Responding to feedback
    • Audience and presentation

Year 4

• Long Form Journalism
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
  • Indicative Content:
    • Advanced feature writing styles
    • Advanced interviewing skills
    • Understanding long form platforms
    • Establishing a multi-platform brand
    • Writing a business plan
• Sports Journalism Research Project
  • Credits: 40
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
  • Indicative Content:
    • Advanced research skills
    • Industry expectations
    • Ethics processes for research and writing
    • Understanding audiences
    • Project management
    • Planning, revising, and editing work
    • Providing and actioning feedback
    • Self-evaluation and reflection
    • Choosing appropriate formats
• Sports News Live
  • Credits: 40
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
  • Indicative Content:
    • Professional behaviours, expectations, and processes
    • Advanced digital and technological skills for broadcasting
    • Use of video and audio equipment
    • Video and sound editing using relevant software
    • Collaboration and team working
    • Project and team management
• Working In Sports Media
  • Credits: 20
  • Assessment: Coursework 100%
  • Indicative Content:
    • Sport in the modern world and its relationship with the media
    • How sport manages its publicity, the tools of sports publicity and Public Relations in Sport
    • The skills of good communication in sport through online and conventional PR
    • Crisis management, the public face of sport, how sports organisations deal with their 'publics'
    • The staging of a big event, the structure and business of sport
    • The importance of media management in merchandising, transfer, fees global commercial investment and PR

Future Careers

This course prepares you for a career in:

• Newspaper sports journalism
• Broadcast sports journalism
• Sports public relations
• Online sports journalism
• Magazine sports journalism

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:

• Talk Sport
• Liverpool FC TV
• Charlton Athletic FC
• Everton Football Club
• Leeds Rhinos
• Perform
• National Golf Magazine
• Sheffield Star
• William Hill TV
• Chesterfield Football Club
• Wolverhampton Wanderers FC

Equipment and Facilities

On this course, you work with:

• Industry standard, state of the art broadcast studios and exclusive access to three news rooms.

Where Will I Study?

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

Entry Requirements

• UCAS Points: 80 points
• GCSE:
  • English Language at grade C or 4
  • Maths at grade C or 4
• Access: an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
• International/EU Students: If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

Fees and Funding

• Home Students: Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate degree courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year).
• International Students: Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year).