Specialist Sports Journalism with Foundation Year BA (Hons)

Program Overview

The Specialist Sports Journalism with Foundation Year BA (Hons) program equips students with multimedia skills to thrive as sports journalists in the digital age. It offers specialization in various sports, work placements, and American exchange opportunities. Graduates are prepared for careers in sports journalism, PR, marketing, and related fields while developing a passion for storytelling and critical thinking.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This program, Specialist Sports Journalism with Foundation Year BA (Hons), is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to become successful sports journalists in the digital age. The program emphasizes the development of multimedia skills, including print, radio, TV, and online content creation, to meet the demands of the evolving media landscape. The program aims to:

• Build high-level skills in researching and producing compelling sports stories across various media platforms.
• Harness the latest digital technologies that are transforming sports coverage.
• Provide students with the opportunity to specialize in a sport of their choice, from mainstream sports like cricket, rugby, and football to minority sports.
• Offer invaluable experience through work placements, employer-led projects, and study abroad opportunities.
• Inspire students through a team of highly experienced tutors with strong media backgrounds and extensive contacts.
• Provide access to exceptional facilities, including TV and radio studios and fully equipped newsrooms.

Outline:

The program is structured over four years, including a foundation year.

Foundation Year:

• The foundation year provides students with a strong grounding in the skills and knowledge required for journalism.
• It introduces students to the subject of journalism and helps them develop their academic and professional skills.
• Students will study a range of subjects, including:
• Literature
• Study Skills
• Creative Project
• Law
• Optional modules: English, Mathematics, Culture and Ideas, Political Studies

Year 1-3:

• Students will develop core journalistic research and writing skills.
• They will study media law and ethics.
• They will gain a multi-platform mindset, producing content for print, radio, TV, and digital platforms.
• Students will have the opportunity to specialize in a sport of their choice.
• The program includes work-based modules to enhance professional know-how.

Teaching:

• The program emphasizes a hands-on approach to learning.
• Students will create content for various media platforms.
• They will have opportunities to work on real-world projects and complete stories on location.
• Students will gather sports news, interview people, and write reports and features.
• They will work with professional publishers and have the opportunity to see their work published.
• The program is taught by a team of experienced journalists.
• Students will benefit from guest lectures by sports journalists, broadcasters, historians, and commentators.
• They will also go on visits to professional media companies.

Careers:

• The program prepares students for careers in sports journalism and broader areas of journalism.
• Graduates are equipped to work in newspapers, magazines, broadcasting, online businesses, and social media agencies.
• The program also prepares students for careers in PR, marketing, advertising, and corporate communications.
• The program emphasizes fostering creative and versatile journalists with experience in a variety of production techniques.
• Students will develop a passion for ideas and creative communication, seeking out people and finding the human stories behind the headlines.
• The program focuses on intellectual and critical development, research techniques, and audience theory.

Full-time fees

• UK students: £9,250 per year (2024/25)
• International students: £14,900 per year (2024/25)