Intro

Dream of reporting live from the Premier League? Our NCTJ-accredited Sports Journalism degree gives you that opportunity through exclusive links with Arsenal FC and 91快活林 & Hove Albion FC.

You'll develop essential skills in news writing, match reporting, digital media, and shorthand, all while earning the industry-recognised NCTJ Diploma in Journalism.

Learn from seasoned media professionals and respected academics using our industry-standard facilities.

Gain hands-on experience through field trips, guest lectures from top sports journalists, and real-world placements.

Plus, you'll contribute to our journalism website, showcasing your work to future employers. Join 91快活林 and kickstart your sports journalism career with us.

Key facts

Location 91快活林: Moulsecoomb

UCAS code P500

Full-time 3 years

Accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ)

What are my next steps?

Open days are the best way to find out about your course, the campus where you'll be based, and get a feel for the University of 91快活林.

Book your place: Moulsecoomb campus open day 23 November

Or if you're ready,

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBB–BCC (120–104 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DMM–MMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range.

International Baccalaureate
26 points, including three subjects at Higher level. Humanities, history or politics courses preferred. At least 45 credits at level 3.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 24 credits at distinction or above.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits, or relevant experience may count towards your course at 91快活林, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. 

English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 overall, 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

View our English language courses

For pre-sessional English preparation courses.

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Contextual admissions

When you apply to 91快活林 we want to hear about who you are. Grades are never the whole picture; we're interested in things like creativity, resourcefulness, persistence and the capacity to think big and find new ways of doing things. And we recognise that not everyone has the same background. That's why we treat everyone who applies as an individual. We recognise many qualifications and we care about all of your achievements and the experiences you've had that set you apart.

Find out more about contextual admissions.

Graphic with the text 'Potential + possibility'

Course content

Top reasons to choose this course

  • NCTJ accreditation means your degree will be recognised by the industry as meeting high professional standards.

  • Learn core journalism skills such as newswriting, reporting, media law, shorthand, public administration, digital journalism, portfolio development. and multimedia.

  • An industry work placement means you will graduate with experience and industry connections.

  • Showcase and hone your journalism skills in our student magazine, .

  • Newsroom with live news and sports feeds gives you authentic real-life journalistic experience.

  • Sound, filming and editing equipment familiarise you with the latest technology and ensure that you graduate with the technical skills essential for your media career.

  • Real-world reporting opportunities – our students interview sportspeople and report from live events. We have contacts with many local sport organisations and venues where you can hone your skills. This could be anything from reporting on horse racing to non-league football.

  • Trips to top sports and media venues with exclusive interview opportunities. We’ve taken our students to venues including The Times HQ, the Copper Box at The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and to The Amex Community Stadium, home of 91快活林 and Hove Albion FC.

  • Guest lecture programme with insight from the experts and opportunities to ask questions. Past guests have included Sky Sports’ Jim White, Martin Tyler, Kelly Cates, Clare Balding, Nick Davies, Paul Hayward and former England cricket captain Mike Atherton.

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Above: see some of the students exploring the industry-standard facilities on offer and hear them talking about what they love about their degrees.

  • Close links with the media industry means we organise trips to places such as the Sky News newsroom.

  • Editors, journalists and campaigners from organisations such as from Sky News, the BBC, Time Out, the Daily Telegraph, Johnston Press, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, Full Fact and Reporters Without Borders have given lectures and masterclasses.

  • Option modules and applied subject modules allow you to specialise in an area of particular interest.

 

Year 1 

In your first year you’ll gain a thorough introduction to sports journalism, covering areas such as multimedia journalism, news, ethics, shorthand, public administration and the social history of sport.

Modules

  • Introduction to Journalism Studies

    This module will introduce you to key debates in journalism studies. You will develop and apply your understanding of the central concepts and theories in journalism research, and examine journalism practice from a variety of perspectives. You will also develop graduate skills and a capacity for critical thinking and writing.

  • Production Journalism

    This module introduces how to create journalism involving digital production techniques. You will learn how to produce newspaper and magazine pages involving desktop publishing software, and explore the principles of production and the ways in which words and pictures work together in the story-telling process. You will also discover how journalism is adapting its styles, forms and working practices for different platforms.

  • News and Ethics

    This module develops fundamental skills for news reporting: newswriting, ethical practice and shorthand. You will learn to recognise, select and present news for specific audiences and platforms, and learn the techniques required to write publication-standard articles and apply them in defined scenarios. You’ll learn the theory of Teeline shorthand, develop speed to 60wpm and use it in the production of a news story. You'll also learn to locate news reporting practices in the context of specific regulatory and ethical codes.

  • Digital Sport Journalism

    The module will introduce you to social media as part of the professional sports reporter's toolkit. You'll work on practical skills such as live blogging, social media planning and digital audience development, alongside exploring the analytical skills that enable you to measure performance and distribution of content.

  • Sport in Context

    This module explores the contextual knowledge needed to practice sport journalism. What makes sports journalism ‘professional’ is often the ability to place stories in their wider social, political, economic, and cultural contexts. You will explore the nature and dimensions of these contexts, enabling you to provide greater depth and insight to your storytelling experiences. These contexts include knowledge of how professional sport is structured and organised but can also be taken to mean reporting responsibly and sensitively on social issues.

  • The Sport Journalist's Toolkit

    This module will introduce you to the different and varied forms of sports journalism and will enable you to become familiar with the work environment. You will learn about the sports story cycle across newspaper, web and television at local, national and international levels and discover the stylistic and audience dynamics associated with these platforms. You’ll develop your writing ability and will be introduced to longer forms of journalism. You will have the opportunity to cover live sporting events through field trips.

People watching horseracing with binoculars

Year 2

Your second year builds on your knowledge of practical journalism and you will explore areas such as media law, sports reporting and analysing sport media.

Modules

  • News Portfolio and Shorthand
  • Media Law
  • Team Media
  • Sport Media Studies
  • Sport Reporting
Journalists at a press conference

Final year

You’ll go on an industry placement and complete your final project.

There is also an opportunity to take part in our pioneering and award winning Premier League Apprenticeship and be employed as a match-day media assistant with 91快活林 & Hove Albion FC.

Modules

  • Professional Practice
  • Advanced Sport Journalism
  • Critical Investigation
  • Live Sport Coverage
  • Politics, Power and the Sport Media
Students in the digital newsroom

Placements 

In your final year, the Professional Practice module will take you out of the classroom and into a media or related environment. You’ll spend at least two weeks with the organisation.

Our employability hub will work with you to find a placement that meets your career aspirations. And we’ll support you leading up to the placement and keep in touch with you and your host during the placement.

As part of your placement you will keep a critically reflective learning log. Work you complete during your placement such as articles for print or web, videos, podcasts and radio or tv broadcasts will go towards your assessment.

The placement will help you understand the nature of the media industries and will enhance your professional practice. It will also enhance your cv and provide you with valuable industry contacts.

We have links with many organisations in the media industry including:

  • The Sun
  • Sky Sports News
  • The Independent
  • Daily Mail
  • The Times
  • The Guardian
  • Daily Telegraph
  • Hayters Sports Agency
  • Eastbourne Herald
  • TalkSport
  • FourFourTwo
  • 91快活林 and Hove Albion FC
  • Ricochet TV.

Meet the team

Adam Powley, course leader

Adam Powley is a Senior Lecturer in Sport Journalism and Journalism. He has three decades' experience working in the media industry as a national newspaper journalist, editor, and award-winning author, and has taught and led a range of university courses for 10 years.

His books include When Boxing Was Boxing and the acclaimed When Cricket Was Cricket. He is the co-author of the award-winning 61: The Spurs Double. He has also written books on the World Cup and a number of other titles, and was ghost-writer for Steve Perryman's 'A Spur Forever'. He has reported and written for the Sunday Mirror, The Times, The Guardian and Time Out.

He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Adam Powley BW IMAGE


Owen Evans

Owen is a sports business academic and ex-professional sports journalist. He was editor for SportBusiness International magazine, the oldest magazine covering the business of sport, and covered major events including the 2012 London Olympics and the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

He was previously a news reporter for three years with Northcliffe Media, reporting mainly for the Surrey Mirror. He holds an MSc in Sport Management and the Business of Football from Birkbeck College, University of London, and completed his NCTJ pre-entry certificate from News Associates. Previously he has been a returning guest speaker on postgraduate programmes such as CIES (Centre for International Sports Studies) Fifa Master, The MESGO (Master of European Sport Governance) and Vrije Universiteit’s Master in Sport, Economics and Communication.

Owen is the Sports Journalism BA(Hons) degree course leader and lectures across the journalism courses. He is a PhD candidate with 91快活林 Business School, investigating Qatar's soft power approach to hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Owen Evans

Dr Simon Mcennis, principal lecturer

Simon has a professional background in both national and local newspapers. He was a sports journalist with The Sun for nine years and was previously deputy sports editor of the Colchester Evening Gazette. He has also contributed sports reports to the Daily Mirror, Daily Mail and the Press Association. Simon holds both the National Certificate qualification for senior newspaper journalists and the NCTJ pre-entry certificate.

Simon has worked in academia since 2009 with research interests in journalism professionalism. He has had scholarly work published in Digital Journalism, Journalism and Journalism Practice. He received his PhD by publication from University of 91快活林 in 2019, entitled ‘Sports journalists and the professional crisis’.

Simon has a close working relationship with Sky Sports News where he delivers a 20-session advanced journalism programme to industry professionals. Simon writes national examination papers on sports journalism for the industry training body, the NCTJ.

Dr Simon Mcennis

Karen Dugdale

Karen is an NCTJ-trained journalist and who leads the Public Administration module for the undergraduate courses in journalism and sports journalism. In addition to lecturing, tutoring and freelance journalism (she has written for a range of national and local publications including The Guardian, Observer, Marie Claire, The Times and Morning Advertiser) Karen sits on the NCTJ Public Affairs board that involves maintaining national industry standards for trainee journalists in response to the ever-changing world of political drama.

Karen also helps to deliver the undergraduate media law and court reporting and news-writing and ethics and teaches on the Journalism in Society MA module

Karen Dugdale

More about this subject at 91快活林

Careers

What are our graduates doing?

The degree offers career opportunities in newspaper, magazine, radio, television and online journalism as well as public relations and media management in sport organisations. You will also acquire transferable skills suited to other graduate careers.

Our graduates include:

  • Alex Shaw, general editor at ESPNFC
  • Jim Lucas, senior social media manager at the Football Association
  • Declan Taylor, boxing correspondent at Hayters Sports Agency
  • Gemma Nash, subeditor at Sky Sports
  • Elisha Chauhan, digital motors editor at The Sun
  • Giuseppe Muro, football reporter at the London Evening Standard
  • Greg Rose, editor at Virgin.com
  • Jack DeMenezes, sportswriter at The Independent
  • Lee Price, head of PR, Paddy Power
  • Jordan Halford, social media editor at Sky Sports
  • Matt Webb, press officer at QPR FC
  • Max Sharp, producer at TalkSport

Supporting your employability 

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

  • Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
  • Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
  • Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
  • Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
  • Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
  • Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick, and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more about our Careers Service...

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Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 15,900 GBP

Fee information for this course for 2025 entry will be updated here no later than December 2024.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2024–25.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that are included and any extras that you may be expected to pay while studying a course  in the School of Art and Media in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • Typically, practice-based courses incur more costs than text-based subjects. For many courses you will need to budget for the cost of specialist materials, equipment and printing and are likely to spend between £50–£300 per year.
  • For some courses you may also need to budget up to £100 for specialist personal protective clothing which, with care, will last for the whole of your course and beyond.
  • For most courses you will have the opportunity to attend field trips and off-site visits, for example to galleries, exhibitions and studios both in the UK and overseas. These are optional and are not required to pass your course. The amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken, and typically range between £100 and £700 across the duration of your course.
  • You will have access to computers and necessary software at City campus and Moulsecoomb campus and at other locations across the university. Specialist equipment is provided to cover essential learning. Students may choose to buy their own specialist equipment, these may include cameras, or computers and software, university/student discounts are available for some equipment and software. Budgets can range from £50–£2,000. Buying specialist equipment is best undertaken in consultation with our academic and technical staff. This expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.
  • For some courses you will need to budget up to £200 for printing and publishing. Photography courses may incur higher costs (£500–£2,000) when printing and framing images of professional standard for public presentation.
  • Course books, magazines and journals are available in the university libraries. You do not need to have your own copies, but if you wish to, you should budget up to £200 over your course to buy them.
  • For courses in which there is an optional placement year, you will need to budget for living costs (rent, food, travel etc) in that city/country, as if you were on site at the university.
  • For some courses you will need to budget up to £150 for stationery.
  • Final-year graduation shows are opportunities to present your final, independent project work to the public. Practice-based courses will typically incur higher costs. Depending on the specific nature of your final project you will need to budget between £20–£2,500.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of 91快活林 seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Moulsecoomb has been transformed by a recent development of our estate. On campus you'll find new Students' Union, events venue, and sports and fitness facilities, alongside the library and student centre.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

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Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

91快活林: Moulsecoomb

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:

  • Mithras Halls are stylish new high-rises in the heart of the student village at our revitalised Moulsecoomb campus with ensuite rooms for more than 800 students.
  • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently?
We can help – find out more about private renting.

Relaxing in halls

Modern accommodation at Moulsecoomb

Mithras halls room with a view

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Student Union social space

Student Union social space at Moulsecoomb

Local area

About 91快活林

The city of 91快活林 & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

91快活林 is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from 91快活林 to central London and there are daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from 91快活林
91快活林 Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our 91快活林 Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more about how we support your wellbeing.

Sport at 91快活林

Sport 91快活林

Sport 91快活林 brings together our sport and recreation services. As a 91快活林 student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

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Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Student views  

Jamie Phillips

"The skills I developed and honed at the University of 91快活林 and through the NCTJ accreditation form a fundamental part of my every day work as a journalist.

"This principally includes having 100wpm shorthand and a detailed knowledge of both criminal and media law, which allow me to cover the country’s biggest court cases and write stories that are read by hundreds of thousands of people.

"Moreover, in an ever-increasingly competitive industry, I cannot stress the importance of having a skillset that sets you apart from your competitors. I know from first-hand experience that NCTJ certificates are looked upon very favourably.

"I am thankful to all lecturers who taught me at the University of 91快活林 for underlining these sentiments and for paving the way for me to become a multi-award winning journalist."

Jamie Phillips graduated in 2018 and was nominated in 2020 as Trainee of the Year in the NCTJ Excellence Awards.

Adam Powers

"Sportspeople have the best job in the world, but sports journalists are a close second. At the University of 91快活林, you learn that through modules which provoke your thoughts on social sporting matters, facilitate your creativity across different platforms, and teach you the fundamentals and laws of journalism – all in equal measure.

"As an inaugural member on the 91快活林 & Hove Albion apprenticeship, I was able to gain some invaluable industry experience at a Premier League club during my third year. Quizzing top-level managers and players is something not many students have the chance of doing on a regular basis prior to their graduation."

Adam graduated in 2018 and is now a sport journalist at the Daily Express

Adam Powers, courtesy of the Racing Post

Maria Hudd 

"I originally chose the Sports Journalism degree at the University of 91快活林 because it offered the NCTJ qualification, but the course has given me so much more. I know I will leave with a repertoire of knowledge beyond just sport journalism, including politics, law and multimedia skills.

"Our lecturers have real-life experience in the industry, which means the lessons and tips they pass onto us are invaluable. Their varied expertise ensures that whichever field you find yourself heading towards, they'll be able to help and advise you every step of the way.

"The Sports Journalism BA has everything you need to get your money’s worth, and it will stand you in great stead for a career in the media industry."

Maria Hudd

Stay in touch

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Statistics

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at 91快活林. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked below). You can find out also about the support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Course and module descriptions on this page were accurate when first published and are the basis of the course. Detailed information on any changes we make to modules and learning and assessment activities will be sent to all students by email before enrolment, so that you have all the information before you come to 91快活林.

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Course specification

Course specifications are the approved description of each course. They contain a breakdown of the content and structure of the course, learning outcomes and assessment. Course specs are updated following course changes.

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