Sports Journalism with Integrated Foundation Year BA (Hons)

This is a four-year version of our popular BA (Hons) Sports Journalism course, with an integrated foundation year. Launch your career as a sports journalist for top-end multimedia sports platforms such as Sky Sports News, BBC Sport or national newspapers, or join the media teams of Premier League clubs, Formula One teams or golf's DP World Tour. Gain the skills to work with, and for, the best in the business on this NCTJ-accredited course.

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Overview

Sky Sports News, BBC Sport, Manchester United FC, Liverpool FC, Everton FC, Newcastle United FC, golf’s Ryder Cup and DP World Tour, the Williams F1 team, national newspapers – just a few examples of careers that all started with BA (Hons) Sports Journalism.

Report from the press box at Wembley Stadium, interview club executives, visit some of Europe’s finest football stadia, report on professional county cricket, produce your own website, sports TV episode or series of investigative sports articles – all while learning the latest techniques in digital, video and broadcast production sports journalism and studying for UK journalism’s gold standard qualification, the NCTJ Diploma.

You'll gain thorough training for life at sports media’s cutting edge while studying Sports Journalism at Sunderland. Working in the mediaHUB, you'll build your practical experience and portfolio of published work on SportsByte, our student-run website covering sport across the North East. Develop cutting-edge sports production techniques using our state-of-the-art TV studios and outside broadcast equipment. Learn about the day-to-day media operations of major sporting organisations in the Club Journalism module.

Why us?

Our Journalism courses are 4th in the UK and 1st in the north-east (Guardian University Guide, 2024)
Benefit from our exclusive link-ups with Sunderland AFC, Newcastle United FC and Durham County Cricket Club to gain invaluable matchday reporting or broadcast production experience of big sporting stages.
Sky Sports News, BBC Sport, Manchester United FC, Liverpool FC, Newcastle United FC, Everton FC, West Ham United, Glasgow Rangers FC, Derby County FC, Durham CCC, Formula 1, DP World Tour, The Racing Post, The Daily Express, The Daily Mirror and – of course – Sunderland AFC have all been destinations of our graduates.

This course is accredited by the National Council for Training of Journalists (NCTJ). The NCTJ diploma is required by key journalism employers, such as Sky Sports News. Learn more about the benefits of studying an NCTJ-accredited course.
Network with and learn from a range of guest speakers who work in the industry.
Guaranteed placements. Students have previously gained experience at FourFourTwo, national newspapers (e.g., The Sun, The Telegraph), the BBC, Sky Sports News and many more big names in sport.
Go on inspirational sports trips. Student have visited the Camp Nou in Barcelona, attended Europa League matches in Germany and covered Wembley cup finals in the press box.

Course structure

In the foundation year you will study five modules: a module about the foundations of humanities, journalism and media theory, an essential study skills module, a foundation project module, practical numeracy skills, and a multimedia communications module or a new century module depending on your degree choice. After completion of this foundation year, you will then move onto the Sports Journalism honours degree course.

During the first year, we’ll set you up with the core skills of sports journalism, including training in writing styles, research and Media Law. You’ll look at both traditional sports reporting techniques and the contemporary skills of digital sports journalism. In the second and third years, you’ll study topics in more depth, sampling our state-of-the-art facilities and tackling Multimedia Sports Journalism, Advanced Sports Reporting, and Media Ethics, while training in shorthand – a skill hugely valued by employers such as Sky Sports News - free of charge.

Throughout your course, you can build both your practical experience and portfolio of published work by taking on reporting and/or editing roles on SportsByte, our student-run website covering sport across the North East, in our innovative mediaHUB - BBC Newcastle’s home in Sunderland and host to visiting journalists from organisations such as Reach PLC and JPI Media. You can also benefit from our exclusive link-ups with Durham County Cricket Club, Newcastle Falcons rugby club and Sunderland AFC – where a part-time internship is available each year to one third-year student - to gain invaluable match day and behind-the-scenes reporting experience of big sporting stages.

In your final year, you can have your sports content published by JPI Media each week for an entire semester, and go on work placement – putting what you’ve learnt into practice and also building crucial workplace relationships. You’ll undertake a practical project, which will add significantly to the portfolio of work you can present to prospective employers.

Teaching methods include lectures, demonstrations, seminars, workshops, group projects and practical skills work. All our teaching staff have worked as journalists and have strong links with regional employers and industry organisations. We also invite experienced industry professionals to carry out regular guest lectures and classes.

Assessment is split between portfolios of practical work, essays, examinations, reports and presentations.

Foundation Year:

The English, Journalism and Media Integrated Foundation Year includes five modules:

Foundations of English, Journalism and Media Theory (40 credits)

Get an introduction to a variety of skills that are intended to ease the transition into Higher Education. Learn what is expected of you as an undergraduate student and how to adjust to degree level study.

Essential Study Skills (20 credits)

Bridge the gap between Further Education and Higher Education. Understand the level of work you will be expected to do at University, how to become an independent learner and how to find answers yourself.

Foundation Project (20 credits)

Investigate a topic area related to your degree programme. Projects will vary according to the degree programme of study but typically the formats would include: a review paper, a practical project or analysis of data for a report. Utilise the lectures and surgeries and gain specialist input into your proposed project. While the module is based around independent learning, tutors are on hand to guide the process through the use of weekly surgeries.

Multimedia Communications (20 credits)

Explore a range of storytelling styles employed across the media and the different strategies used to appeal to different audiences. Look at the structure, style and purpose of feature writing, reviews, interviews and news reporting. Build your own portfolio of work, featuring a range of written stories created in the various styles and develop your writing skills, with particular focus on spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Practical Numeracy Skills (20 credits)

Consolidating your numerical skills, see how these can be used in real-life applications, and consider how statistical results are presented, calculated and statistics misrepresented. See how to apply this knowledge in everyday life settings, both at work and at a personal level. Take responsibility for your own learning and ensuring you are able to manage your time and work independently.

Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

Year 1 (national level 4):

Core modules:

Essential Sports Reporting (20 credits)

Gain an introduction to the roles of sports journalists. Learn the history and traditions of sports journalism, recent developments in the profession and current sports news issues. Develop an understanding of key sports, and how these sports are structured and run. Build your sports journalism skills writing content for the SportsByte website and learn techniques for analysing a variety of sports reporting.

Online Sports Journalism (20 credits)

Discover a range of tools and techniques for publishing sports content online. Learn how to use a basic content management system to create a website and populate the site with a range of written, audio and visual content. Explore techniques for curating content, gathering user-generated content and interacting with audiences.

Essential Media Law and Regulation (20 credits)

Learn the laws and ethical codes journalists must consider when preparing and publishing legally safe and ethically responsible content for print, online, broadcast and social media platforms. Explore areas including anonymity, libel, privacy, copyright, contempt of court and other statutes which affect journalistic practice and output.

Media Histories (20 credits)

Trace the evolution of the mass media from the advent of print journalism in the 16th century, through the establishment of the press, radio and television industries to the multi-platform digital and online technology of today.

Essential Journalism (20 credits)

Learn role of the journalist and the range of practical skills needed to produce news, magazine and sports content, including research, newsgathering, interviewing, copy presentation and writing style.

Digital Storytelling (20 credits)

Develop digital skills for an online audience such as infomaps, graphics and other non-traditional storytelling techniques.

Year 2 (national level 5):

Core modules:

Advanced Sports Reporting (20 credits)

Develop the skills needed to prepare and write a variety of sports copy, and to film, record and edit broadcast sports journalism content. Learn how to gather relevant information from interviews and press conferences, and how to write for/broadcast the various stages of the sports news cycle, contributing regular content for the SportsByte website.

Social, Audio, Visual (40 credits)

Learn the skills needed to produce, record and edit audio and video content for use across social and web platforms. Explore the various approaches and best practices that continue to evolve in audio and video journalism. Discover how to generate awareness, engagement and conversion on social platforms, and how to build and engage audiences and communities in digital spaces.

Newsroom Live (20 credits)

Build on the principles and practice of journalistic thought and apply them to online reports in a newsroom setting. Learn how to produce stories for online platforms, edit and proof-read, present effectively, add interactive elements, and publish them.

Club Journalism (20 credits)

Get prepared for life working in the media department of a professional sporting organisation. Discover the employment opportunities for sports journalism graduates in this field. Learn about the differing priorities of “club” journalism versus traditional sports journalism, the dynamics of daily interaction with high-profile players, coaches and club executives, and how to promote a club “brand” across a range of multimedia platforms while maintaining editorial standards.

Optional module (choose one) (20 credits):

Choose from a range of modules including: Reporting Public Affairs; Design and Editing Skills; Broadcast Sports Reporting.

Optional module:

Shorthand (0 credits)

Learn Teeline, the system of rapid handwriting, used by journalists to quickly write down the spoken word. Aim for 100 words per minute, the industry standard.

Final year (national level 6):

Core modules:

Journalism Placement and Employability (40 credits)

Prepare for graduate employment by creating a professional employability pack. Develop advanced understanding of the commercial, organisational, marketing and publishing facets of the journalism industry through workshops and lectures. Carry out a ten-day placement at a pre-approved media organisation with learning outcomes reflected in a logbook.

Sports News Portfolio (20 credits)

Builds on skills developed in earlier modules to gain a systematic and critical understanding of the skills required to be a sports news journalist. Develop your sports news writing skills, while learning how to source and investigate your own, original sports stories, greatly expanding your portfolio of published work.

Journalism Practical Project (40 credits)

Plan and produce a piece of original work, such as writing and designing a magazine, researching and writing a series of in-depth investigative articles, setting up a website with appropriate content, producing a TV or radio documentary or creating a magazine or current affairs programme.

Optional modules (choose one):

Reporting Public Affairs (20 credits)
Design and Editing Skills (20 credits)
Broadcast Sports Reporting (20 credits)
Digital Investigative Journalism (20 credits)
Advanced Digital Storytelling (20 credits)
Ecommerce: Making Your Content Pay (20 credits)

More about BA (Hons) Sports Journalism with Integrated Foundation Year at Sunderland

Discover more articles

The library is your gateway to information resources and services both on and off campus, all through a single search box. We have resources and support tailored for your course including: Newstream online full-text access to UK regionals, national, broadsheet and some international newspapers; Box of Broadcasts (BoB) an on-demand TV and radio streaming service; and The World Global Style Network - ideal for Fashion Journalists. See the journalism key resources for more information.

Access 1400 study places, including quiet and silent zones, 300+ PCs, group work hubs, online module reading lists and study skills support, all in our quality learning environments. You’ll have full use of two libraries, both with extensive opening hours. And ‘Live Chat’ enables you to access library support and help, from anywhere, 24/7.

We’re much more than a library, the University Library and Study Skills team are on hand to guide you throughout your studies on and off campus from embedded skills sessions, digital skills support to one-to-one and drop-in advice on research and academic skills.
Library support for Journalism
mediaHUB 360
Learn in our 200 seat cinema and 7.1 surround sound facility. Get hands-on in our two broadcast-quality production studios complete with green room and changing facilities. Access four Steadicam rigs plus dolly, track and mini crane. Our field camera systems, comprises Blackmagic Ursa, Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro, Blackmagic 4K Production Camera and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, with associated location kits, lighting, field monitors and audio mixers.

Go on-air in one of five radio studios, including a larger radio drama studio and a transmission suite for Spark, our award winning student-run community radio station. Spark has a target audience of 15 to 24 year-olds and broadcasts 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Develop your skills in our digital audio post-production area with voice-over booths and 70 workstations with state-of-the-art HD Edit systems, including Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer and Premier Pro. You'll also use DaVinci Resolve for colour correction.

View our AccessAble accessibility guide for the David Puttnam Media Centre.
TV and radio studios
Map and directions

Facilities

Our David Puttnam Media Centre is a buzzing place to study sports journalism. As well as working in our mediaHUB on sports content, you can volunteer with our award-winning radio station, Spark Sunderland, write for one of our suite of websites or edit Spark Magazine in our mediaHUB. Get hands-on in Journalism and Digital editing suites. Learn from experts in this centre of excellence for training.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.

Entry requirements are provided for guidance only and we may offer you an entrance interview which will help us determine your eligibility for your chosen degree. This enables us to consider making you an offer if you are perhaps a mature student who has been out of education for a period of time, or you have gained significant knowledge and skills through employment rather than traditional education.

Eligible entry qualifications:

1. Normally a minimum of three Level 2 qualifications (NVQ, GCSE or equivalent), including Maths and English at grade C or above** and a minimum of 40 UCAS tariff points from Level 3 qualifications (e.g. A or AS Levels, T Levels, BTEC certificates/diplomas, access courses or equivalent)
OR
2. Demonstrable evidence of appropriate knowledge and skills acquired from at least three years of post-school work experience.

If you are unsure of whether you think you might be suitable for the course, please contact us!

** If you have studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade then you will need to achieve a grade 4 or above. Equivalent alternative qualifications are also accepted, such as Level 2 Key Skills in Communication and Application of Number. If you have not achieved a grade C in Maths and English we may be able to work with you to ensure that you are able to gain these in the first year of the course, depending on your experience.

If English is not your first language, please see our English language requirements.

Is your qualification not displaying here? For international qualifications, search our full list of international entry requirements for this course.

Fees and finance

The annual fee for this course is £9,250 if you are from the UK/Ireland/EU settled/pre-settled.

If you are a full-time UK/Irish/EU settled/EU pre-settled student you may be eligible to receive financial support to cover your fees for the full four years. UK and EU settled students may also be eligible to receive a maintenance loan.

Please note, this course is not available to international students.

Learn more about settled status, pre-settled status, special discounts, visa requirements and Common Travel Area (CTA) agreements for the Republic of Ireland applicants in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the Your Finances section to find out about the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

A group of Sports Journalism students posing together for a photo outside of Wembley Stadium

Career ready

This degree prepares you for writing and talking about sports in newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and online media, as well as for clubs or brands.

Recent journalism graduates from Sunderland have gained experiences with employers such as Sky, Sky Sports, NFL, 4ThePlayer, The Racing Post, MTV, The Guardian, ITV, regional newspapers and PR companies.

Real-world experience – right on campus

Rub shoulders with BBC Newcastle Journalists, get advice from former Sky News Journalists and see a Newsroom in action in our innovative mediaHUB.

You’ll be actively involved in the Sportsbyte website and have the opportunity to get involved in Spark Sunderland, the 24/7 community radio station based in the Media Centre. Spark has won many awards and holds the Nations and Regions Award for Best Radio Station in the North East. Students are responsible for all news-gathering, programme production and advertising.

You’ll be taught in some of your classes by visiting lecturers who are current sports writers, editors and football club media managers.

Other opportunities for real-world experience include Spark online magazine and Fashion North, which are linked to our Journalism and Media courses.

Superb industry links

Our academics are industry experts and have excellent relationships across sports including PFA (Professional Footballers Association) magazine, 4ThePlayer, Sky Sports, ITV and BBC.

Broaden your horizons with inspiring trips; recently students have enjoyed trips to Barcelona, press access to Wembley finals and Europa league games at FC Schalke 04 in Germany.

Our students have attended Premier League matches in the press box to see sportswriters at work and have interviewed sports celebrities themselves. Two of our students even had a FIFA tournament on the pitch at SAFC with Jordan Pickford and Duncan Watmore.

In addition, our students have also covered tennis, golf, boxing, American Football, F1, hockey, gymnastics and many other sports.

Work placements

You will undertake a work placement module in your final year, though many of our students arrange placements across three years. The placement can be at a sports newsdesk, sports magazine or sports club of your choice.

All students studying this course can take up a CV-enhancing work placement, a University-led industry initiative, or a professional and business development boot camp. A placement offers you a taste of the industry and can last anything from two days to four weeks, on a part-time basis.

Join award winners

Our students and graduates have been making a splash, winning awards and prizes across the board.

Jason Button, shortlisted for the NCTJ Sports Journalism Student of the Year 2019
Joe Nicholson, won the NCTJ Trainee Sports Journalist of the Year Award 2018
Alice Winney, won the Royal Television Society North East Student Award for News 2017 for her story about flooding in Corbridge
Sophie Dishman, highly commended for Best Reporter in the National Student Publication Association (SPA) Awards 2017

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Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries.

Page last updated: 16 November 2023

We aim to provide clear, accurate and timely information to prospective and current students. We continuously review and enhance course content in consultation with our students and the information provided on our website is the latest available. If you have received an offer from us to start a course, we will communicate any important changes to you in writing. We will always seek to ensure that our prospective students are fully aware of the basis on which they are accepting an offer.

Sports Journalism with Integrated Foundation Year BA (Hons)

Overview

Why us?

Course structure

Foundation Year:

Year 1 (national level 4):

Core modules:

Year 2 (national level 5):

Core modules:

Optional module (choose one) (20 credits):

Optional module:

Final year (national level 6):

Core modules:

Optional modules (choose one):

More about BA (Hons) Sports Journalism with Integrated Foundation Year at Sunderland

Alastair Stewart: What it takes to become a journalist

How to get the most out of your Journalism degree

Kevin Maguire: How to succeed in the journalism industry

Facilities

Entry requirements

Fees and finance

Career ready

Meet the team — BA (Hons) Sports Journalism with Integrated Foundation Year

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