BA (Hons) Sports Journalism
Course overview
Start date
September 2021
Subject area
Media and Journalism
Attendance
Full-time, 3 years
Part-time, 4.5 years
Part-time, 6 years
Learning
On campus, dual delivery
Course summary
Wembley. The Olympic Stadium. Lord’s. Wimbledon. Twickenham. Have you ever dreamed of working as a sports writer there? Well, our Sports Journalism degree students have reported from all of these iconic venues in the past few years.
Our course offers an exciting but practical, hands-on approach to learning how to report on sport. By the time you finish your degree, you’ll be fully trained as a multi-platform journalist, ready to write for newspapers, magazines, radio, television, the internet and mobile apps.
During our course, you could end up interviewing the England cricket captain. Or reporting on a Football League match. Or being taken on a tour of Wembley or Sky Studios. Or, here in London’s Olympic heartland, writing a feature from the University of East London's £21 million SportsDock facility for our website, Rising East.
Guided by expert lecturers and tutors who are all working sports journalists, we aim to develop your passion and knowledge of sport so that you can deliver and share it with others.
If you don’t meet the entry requirements for a BA, you can study this course as an ‘extended’ four-year course. You'll begin by taking a foundation year which will prepare you for a successful transition to the BA degree.
Return to campus: dual delivery
In a Covid-secure environment, enjoy learning on our state-of-the-art campuses and flex between online delivery
Find out moreHands-on approach
You’ll attend and write about at least 15 sports events while also meeting and interviewing top sports figures.
Practical experience
You'll have the opportunity of work placements at leading media organisations such as the BBC, Daily Mail and Guardian.
Unique opportunities
You could follow students who have recently covered sport in Rio, Barcelona and Milan as part of UEL’s Going Global bursary scheme.
Fees and funding
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will be automatically cancelled.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Maintenance Loan
You can apply for a loan to help with living costs such as food, travel and accommodation. How much you can borrow depends on where you live and study, and whether you are currently on welfare benefits. The maximum loan you can apply for is £12,382.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Supplementary Grants
The government also offer the following additional support:
- Parent’s Learning Allowance
- Adult Dependants' Grant
- Childcare Grant
- Disabled Students’ Allowance
For further information visit gov.uk/student-finance
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
Bank Of England Scholarship Programme
European Funding GuideThe Student Disability Association Fund
Some courses offer the option of a placement year, giving you the chance to gain valuable work experience in a relevant industry between your second and third years. If you are an international student on a Tier 4 visa, you are able to undertake a placement if it is an integral and assessed part of your course.
In 2018/19 placement year tuition fees are set at £1,060.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will automatically be cancelled.
For information visit gov.uk/student-finance
Please note EU students can only apply for their funding using a paper application form.
To download a form visit www.gov.uk/student-finance-forms
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
Bank Of England Scholarship Programme
European Funding GuideThe Student Disability Association Fund
Some courses offer the option of a placement year, giving you the chance to gain valuable work experience in a relevant industry between your second and third years. If you are an international student on a Tier 4 visa, you are able to undertake a placement if it is an integral and assessed part of your course.
In 2018/19 placement year tuition fees are set at £1,060.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
At UEL, we understand that studying in another country is a big financial commitment. If you apply early for an undergraduate, you may be entitled to a scholarship of up to £3,000.You can find out more about the international scholarships here.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) also run an Emergency International Fund to assist international students in hardship.
You can contact our SMART team on 02082233333 or study@uel.ac.uk
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA pages (www.uel.ac.uk/isa) for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.
Deposits and paying by instalments
International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
Entry requirements
- September 2021
-
Degree
112
New UCAS Points
Access to HE Diploma (QAA approved) with 60 credits overall and 45 credits at Level 3
We will also consider the UEL New Beginnings pre-entry course
If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course. Find out more.
Level 2 equivalences such as Level 2 Functional Skills in English / Maths, Level 2 Key Skills in Communication / Application of Number and Level 2 Adult Literacy / Adult Numeracy
Please note that some courses require applicants to meet the entry requirements outlined on the course page. Our pre-entry Information Advice and Guidance Team are able to provide further advice on entry requirements and suitability for study.
What you'll learn
You’ll learn about all aspects of sports journalism from the challenge of filing a match report within seconds of the final whistle to producing sport for television.
Think of London as being your classroom. You’ll develop your skills by attending sports events in the capital and tracking down interviewees. Our students have covered the Europa League final in Dublin and interviewed sports stars past and present such as Ray Wilkins, Andre Villas-Boas and Alastair Cook.
You’ll be expected to attend matches and other sports events regularly, as well as going to press conferences. It’s proper journalism, not taking in information second-hand through the internet and TV.
The course also aims to put sport and journalism in a wider context, looking at how they are linked to politics, national identity, commerce, and even film and music.
We’re also the only university to offer you the chance of studying for the Professional Certificate In Journalism. That means you can earn an important professional qualification to go with your degree.
Who teaches this course:
- Dekan Apajee
- Adam Powley
- Renata Brendao
- Mark Beachill
- Simon Miles
What you'll study and when
We consistently review our courses to ensure we are up-to-date with industry changes and requirements from our graduates. As a result, our modules are subject to change.
- Academic Development
- Creative Project
- Journalism Portfolio
- Narrative and Creativity
- Group Film Project
- Professional Development (MW)
- Essential Journalism
- Photo, Audio and Video
- Media Law, Ethics and Regulation
- Production Journalism
- Broadcast Journalism
- Mental Wealth: Rising East 1
- Mental Wealth: Rising East 2
- Employment and Enterprise (work placement)
- Features (1): Interviews
- Brands and the Magazines Business
- Documentary: Publications (1)
- Reporting the Business of Sport
- Mental Wealth: Rising East 3
- Final Project: Development
- Final Project: Completion
- Aesthetics and Technologies: Publications (2)
- Features (2): Data and Visualisation
- Reporting the Politics of Sport
How you'll be assessed
The Sports Journalism course is assessed through coursework. Coursework will include practical outcomes, e.g written
assignments, podcasts or research-based assignments,individual or group-based
films, presentations.
The approximate percentages for this course are: 100%
coursework
You’ll always receive, in-person, written or audio
feedback, outlining your strengths and how you can improve. We aim to provide
feedback on assessments within 15 working days.
How you'll learn
Guided independent study
When not attending timetabled lectures or workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve skills development through online study, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects and preparing coursework assignments and presentations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, specialist facilities, such as edit suites, the library, the full Microsoft Office software, including MS Teams, and Moodle: our Virtual Learning Environment.Academic support
Our academic support team provides help in a range of areas – including learning and disability supportDedicated personal tutor
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of the academic course team who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at UEL and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer.Workload
Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.
The approximate workload hours per year for this course are:
Scheduled teaching – 318 hours;
Guided independent study – 882 hours.
Your timetable
Your individualised timetable is normally available within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9.00am and 6.00pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.Class sizes
To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally attracts 20-30 students a year. Lecture sizes are normally 20 plus students.In the classroom you will be taught in groups of 18–20 students. However, this can vary by academic year.
Your future career
The professional grounding you receive in all areas of sports writing will arm you with the skills needed to help secure many different types of jobs within the sports business.
After earning their degrees, our students have gone on to work not just in sports media but other areas connected to the sports world.
For instance, recent graduates now work for organisations such as media management company Red Bee, public relations firm Weber Shandwick and Coral bookmakers.
Our work placements and the chance to learn from journalists who have made their names at organisations like BBC Sport, talkSPORT radio, Sky and World Soccer magazine open up invaluable pathways for your future.
They’ll offer you the chance to earn valuable contacts, as will your close ties with the athletes you’ll be lucky enough to meet during your course.
For example, in 2012 our students worked with TeamUSA before the Olympics. Since the Games, we’ve maintained close contacts with UEL’s elite sportsmen and women who train at the SportsDock centre, including sprint stars Adam Gemili and Bianca Williams and leading swimmer Aimee Willmott.
One of our recent graduates now works in the marketing and communications department at SportsDock.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal
