Skip to content
Undergraduate

Sports Journalism BA (Hons)

University of Gloucestershire

What is Sports Journalism BA (Hons)?

With our graduates working for the likes of The Times, CNN, Sky Sports News, The Athletic, a number of Premier League clubs and European giant Real Madrid – this course has a proven record of providing students with the skills and contacts to thrive in the industry.

Our Sports Journalism BA (Hons) course scored 96% for academic support in the National Student Survey 2023. Our media, journalism and communications courses were also ranked 10th for teaching and 3rd for academic support in the UK.

Taught by award-winning and high-profile Sports Journalists, we have connections to some of the biggest players in the sports media industry – including the BBC, ESPN, The Athletic and BT Sport. Our students have gone on placements to destinations as diverse as Real Madrid TV, Wimbledon and talkSPORT.

Through our superb links with Premier League and Championship clubs – including Aston Villa, Southampton, Fulham, West Bromwich Albion, Wolves and Bristol City – you’ll get the chance to develop your skills on location at some of the best sports grounds in the country.

Our journalism, publishing and public relations courses are ranked in the top 20 in the UK, and 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction by the Guardian University Guide 2023.

Study style

You’ll learn how to be a Multimedia Journalist who gathers and delivers stories for online and print. You’ll also produce radio and television bulletins.

Social media and emerging digital technologies are embedded across all modules – you’ll learn the latest industry-relevant skills such as live text commentary and mobile journalism. In your final year you can choose between an academic dissertation or extended practical project.

Get Sports Journalism BA (Hons) course updates and hear more about studying with us.

Keep me updated

Entry requirements

    • 96 – 120 UCAS tariff points, CCC – BBB at A levels, MMM – DDM at BTEC, or a Merit in your T-Level.

      Entry to this course is by interview. Check out our Interview Guide to learn what to expect and help you prepare.

    • English Language or Literature and Maths Grade 4/C in GCSE (or equivalent) are normally required.

    • We welcome applications from mature students (aged 21 and over) and do not necessarily require the same academic qualifications as school leaving applicants, although some entry requirements may still apply for Professionally Accredited Courses. We accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas and make offers on an individual basis.

Course modules

Loading...

Fees and costs

See the further details of fees and potential extra costs when studying a course at the University of Gloucestershire.
Start date Location UCAS code Fee (UK)
per year
Fee (international)
per year
Sep 2024 Park, Cheltenham CP65 £9,250 £16,600
Sep 2025 Park, Cheltenham CP65 TBC TBC

Ready to apply?

Possible careers

Graduates from this course can go on to work as:

  • Football Reporter
  • Digital Sports Video Producer
  • National Newspaper Sub-editor
  • Communications Officer for Premier League/Championship club
  • TV Sports Presenter
  • Online Sports Reporter
  • Premier League Club Video Producer
  • Football Club Communications Officer.

Industry links

We pride ourselves on the range of industry ties we have – these connections frequently result in students securing placements and jobs with some of the most recognisable sports media brands in the world. Students have gained work experience and paid roles with West Ham United, Leicester City, Sky Sports News, The Times, the BBC, Bath Rugby, The Racing Post and overseas sports clubs.

Industry guest speakers on the course have included broadcasters Kelly Cates and Michelle Owen (both Sky Sports and BBC Radio 5 live) Kelly Somers (BBC Sport and Premier League channel) and Jill Douglas (ITV, BBC and BT Sport). The Times’s Chief Football Writer, Henry Winter, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, Alex Kay-Jelski, editor of The Athletic, and the FA’s Head of Communications, Andy Walker.

Our contacts extend to providing access to high-profile names from the world of sport too, with former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp having paid a visit to our campus in addition to sessions with Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson, ex-England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey and first-team Premier League and FA WSL players.

We also have networking events to enable you to build your own invaluable industry contacts. We have a close relationship with the Football Writers’ Association, with many of the UK’s leading football journalists visiting the campus and mentoring students.

Develop real-world skills

And thanks to our strong relationships with nearby clubs such as Gloucester Rugby, Cheltenham Town, Gloucestershire Cricket, Worcester Warriors and Forest Green Rovers, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to develop your match reporting and interviewing skills.

Learn from expert lecturers

You’ll be taught the full array of skills needed to be a Multimedia Journalist in the digital age, and be nurtured by a lecturing team whose ongoing experience in industry means the content of their teaching is bang up to date.

Use game-changing equipment

Our media centre is equipped with TV and radio studios, multimedia newsrooms and an apple mac suite. Everything is as you will find in the industry – from the Burli newsroom management software we use, through to our BBC-standard JVC cameras. We also have all the latest broadcast technology, such as iPhone mojo kit.

Trophy Icon

Ranked in the top 20 in the UK

Our journalism, publishing & public relations courses are ranked in the top 20 in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2023.

Trophy Icon

Ranked 8th in the UK for teaching satisfaction

Our journalism, publishing & public relations courses are ranked 8th in the UK for teaching satisfaction by the Guardian University Guide 2023.

Trophy Icon

Ranked 4th in the UK for career prospects

Our journalism, publishing & public relations courses are ranked 4th in the UK for career prospects by the Guardian University Guide 2023.

Trophy Icon

Ranked 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction

Our journalism, publishing & public relations courses are ranked 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction by the Guardian University Guide 2023.

Trophy Icon

Ranked 10th for teaching and 3rd for academic support in the UK - NSS, 2023

Our media, journalism and communications courses were ranked 10th for teaching and 3rd for academic support in the UK.

Trips and experiences

You’ll get a global perspective through overseas course trips, which have previously included visits to the studios of Olympic Broadcasting Services, the Bernabeu Stadium and some of the biggest sports publishers in Europe.

Placements

As part of your course you can gain valuable experience on an optional placement year.

  • Duration – 12 months, full-time (minimum 35 hours a week)
  • Location – popular destinations include the UK, USA, China and Europe
  • Visa – you may need a visa if you’re on placement abroad
  • Finance – your tuition fee is reduced for your placement year – and you can still apply for a maintenance loan and get money advice
  • Placement support – we’ll help you find a great placement and get the most out of the experience

"Alongside lecturing, I'm still going out and doing the job I love"

“I pride myself on being current, and I make sure my students benefit from my connections – be that by setting up interviews for them with high profile athletes, or organising work experience placements with major national titles. There’s no better buzz than reporting on live sport. To be there covering events watched by the rest of the world on TV is an unbelievable experience money can’t buy.”

Brendan McLoughlin, Senior Lecturer in Sports Journalism

After graduating Sean became Press Officer for West Bromwich Albion

“What an experience! Wouldn’t be possible without the Sports Journalism course!”

Sean Watts, course graduate and West Bromwich Albion Press Officer

"The third year is where it really ramped up"

See how Adam’s degree in Sports Journalism gave him the skills he needed for his dream job.

Keep Me Updated

Fill in the form below and we'll be in touch with Sports Journalism BA (Hons) updates, upcoming events and everything you need to know about university life.