BA (Hons) Sports Journalism
Course overview
Start date
September 2020
Subject area
Media and Journalism
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
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 £12,729.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Supplementary Grants
The government also offer the following additional support:
- Parents' Learning Allowance
- Adult Dependants' Grant
- Childcare Grant
- Disabled Students’ Allowance
- All nursing and many allied health students on courses from September 2020 will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year from the government.
For further information visit gov.uk/student-finance or contact Student Finance England.
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 list 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.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you are 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 list 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.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you are 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 make sure you also factor in the fees for the visa application and immigration health surcharge when budgeting.
* 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 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 2020
-
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.
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. This includes producing portfolios of your own journalism (such as match reports), radio and television packages, essays and presentations.
You will have access to our media production centre, which is an Apple-accredited training centre.
How you'll learn
You’ll get the chance to learn while completing work placements at top sports and media organisations. Some of our students have worked at the BBC World Service, Guardian, Daily Mail and Sky Sports during the course; others in the press offices of Leyton Orient and Charlton Athletic football clubs.
You can even think further afield. The UEL’s Going Global scheme enables you to apply for a bursary to travel to anywhere in the world to write about or study sport. In recent years, our students have visited Rio, Barcelona, Berlin and Milan as part of the scheme.
Our academic team, all working sports journalists themselves, will show you how to file reports from our brand new newsroom and media production centre with its TV and radio studios, editing suites and Mac labs.
Our students recently interviewed England’s World Cup-winning rugby captain, Catherine Spencer, and England football international Ellen White. We take women’s sport seriously. According to a recent survey, we have the highest proportion of female students on any sports journalism course in the country.
"The sports journalism degree course is one that really excites me," says Lecturer Dr Carrie Dunn. "It combines practical skills with sports knowledge as well as understanding the business context in which sports operate - all vital for a good journalist.
"Being based here in London, with terrific facilities and opportunities right on our doorstep as well as fantastic travel links, means this is a very special place to study."
Who will teach on this course
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
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
