Wales’ capital, Cardiff, is home to our Atrium campus as well as a host of top sporting venues – and it could be yours too as you study for a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism in this lively city.
From the Principality Stadium, to the Viola Arena, Sophia Gardens to Cardiff International Sports Stadium, there is something for every sporting preference.
Our vocational sports journalism degree will provide you with plenty of opportunities to develop your journalistic skills as well as gain an understanding of how media communications work in relation to sport. You will be taught by highly experienced practitioners and academics with excellent industry links and who understand the ever-evolving world of sports media.
Across the three years of your sports journalism degree, you will gain live experience via weekly practical sessions at our Sport Park in Treforest, where you will report on British Universities and Colleges Sport. By the time you get to the final year, you will have had the chance to meet and learn from journalists, media professionals and top sportsmen and women.
You will produce content for online, print, social media, television and radio and develop highly transferable media communication skills alongside gaining an understanding of the social, political and economic aspects of the global sports industry. As your skills develop you will build an industry-relevant portfolio to showcase your capabilities to future employers. Your work will be published on Exposport and on your own websites.
| UCAS Code | Study Mode
2020 |
Duration | Start Date | Campus | Campus Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6B27 | Full-time | 3 Years | September | Cardiff (ATRiuM) | B |
| UCAS Code | Study Mode
2021 |
Duration | Start Date | Campus | Campus Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6B27 | Full-time | 3 Years | September | Cardiff (ATRiuM) | B |
Your production skills will be developed through a series of practical modules which underpin your learning and form the foundations of your sports journalism degree.
Based primarily on USW’s newest campus, you will benefit from industry standard studios and equipment which will enable you to practice and reflect on what you are taught. The multimedia nature of the sports journalism degree means you will learn how to work with words, sounds and pictures across all platforms.
To support this, you will explore the importance of media law and ethics, and know how to apply this knowledge and critical thinking to your journalism.
Learning as you do is a key part of your experience and work placement opportunities will further enhance your understanding of the industry and what you need to succeed in it. Our students have undertaken work placements at Wimbledon, BBC Wales, the Football Association of Wales, Swansea City Football Club, Newport Gwent Dragons, Hockey Wales and Cardiff City Football Club, to name a few.
You will be taught via a series of lectures, seminars and workshops as well as individual tutorials. Some will be on campus, some in the field as you learn your craft.
Assessment on the Sports Journalism degree is primarily by coursework, with an occasional test or exam in subjects such as law.
The entry criteria below shows the qualification range within which the University will make offers. Most offers we make are at the top of the range, but we take all aspects of an application into consideration and applicants receive a personalised offer. Combinations of qualifications are acceptable and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable.
Interview
You’ll need to attend an interview and bring with you two examples of what you consider to be 'good sports journalism,' ie two stories you think are well written and/or told well on a broadcast platform. You may wish to be ready to discuss your own interest in sports journalism as well as any blogs, websites, or printed materials that you’ve contributed to.
BCC - CDD (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).
Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade C/D in the Skills Challenge Certificate and BC - CD at A Level (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).
BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit - Merit Merit Pass in a relevant subject (this is equivalent to 112-80 UCAS tariff points).
Pass the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 29 overall including 5 or above in English at standard level
Pass the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points
GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.
In general, international applicants will need to have achieved an IELTS grade of 7.5 or equivalent in all four elements of reading, writing, speaking and listening.
However, if you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, but please visit the country specific page on our international website for exact details. If your country is not featured please contact us.
We also welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications. Please visit the country specific pages on our international website for exact details.
Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course.
Find out how to pay your tuition fees in full or by payment plan.
This course is eligible under the Enhanced Learning Credits scheme for Ex-Armed Forces personnel.
International Scholarships are available for self-funding international students.
Students have access to a wide range of resources including textbooks, publications, and computers in the University’s library and via online resources. In most cases they are more than sufficient to complete a course of study. Where there are additional costs, either obligatory or optional, these are detailed below. Of course students may choose to purchase their own additional personal resources/tools over and above those listed to support their studies at their own expense. All stationery and printing costs are at a student’s own expense.
* Obligatory
| Item | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone capable of shooting stills and video * | £250 | |
| Travel to and from events and/or matches * | £200 | |
| Minimum 64gb Hard Drive * | £50 | |
| Subscription to quality broadsheet newspaper | £50 | |
| Press card * | £30 | |
| Textbooks (all academic years) * | £80 |
Apply via UCAS if you are a UK/EU residing applicant, applying for year one of a full-time undergraduate degree, Foundation Year, Foundation Degree or HND and you have not applied through UCAS before. If you are applying to study part-time, to top up your Foundation Degree or HND, or to transfer to USW from another institution, please apply directly.
Apply directly to the University if you live outside the UK/EU.
As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate.
This includes: one-to-one appointments from faculty based Career Advisers, in person, over the phone or even on Skype and through email via the "Ask a Question" service. We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers. Resources include psychometric tests, career assessments, a CV builder, interview simulator and application help. Our employer database has over 2,000 registered employers targeting USW students, you can receive weekly email alerts for jobs.
Our Careers service has dedicated teams: A central work experience team to help you find relevant placements; an employability development team which includes an employability programme called Grad Edge; and an Enterprise team focused on new business ideas and entrepreneurship.
Our Cardiff Campus is right in the city centre – the perfect home for our creative industries students. We’ve just finished a new phase of campus investment and development, so we can offer even more specialist facilities.
It’s the community and friendships you’ll build that make this place special. Outside your studies you can experience our amazing sport facilities and Students’ Union.
Living in Halls is a great way to meet new people and make friends. We have high quality accommodation in Treforest, Cardiff and Newport.
