BA (Hons) Sports Journalism
Journalism at USW is rated top in Wales for learning opportunities and academic support. National Student Survey 2022
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
2023 |
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.
Year one - Sports Journalism degree
- Sports Journalism in Practice
- Essential Sports Reporting
- Fundamentals of Photographic Practice for Sports Journalism
- Sport, Leisure & Social Cultures
- Promotion and Marketing in Sport
- Law and Ethics for Journalists
Year two - Sports Journalism degree
- Advanced Sports Reporting
- Photography / video for Sport
- Digital Marketing & PR in Sport
- Mobile Sports Journalism
- Behind the Sports Headlines
- Sports Career Portfolio (1)
Year three - Sports Journalism degree
- Media Ethics
- Major Sports Project
- Advanced News Production for Sport
- Dissertation
- Sports Career Portfolio (2)
Teaching
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.
Lecturers
We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
The entry criteria below shows the qualification range within which the University will make offers. The University has a Contextual Admissions Policy, therefore, whilst most offers we make are at the top of the range, under the Policy we take certain aspects of an application into consideration and eligible UCAS applicants can receive a personalised offer or have results considered individually when you receive them. Here is a link to our Contextual Admissions Policy Statement.
Combinations of qualifications are acceptable and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable.
Applicants in the UK
Selection for this course is based on a suitable application. If you do not meet the entry criteria you may also be required to attend an interview to help us assess your suitability for the course.
Applicants outside the UK
Selection for this course is based on a suitable application and submission of a portfolio of your work which the Course Leader confirms is suitable for an offer to be made.
Typical A-Level Offer
BCC - CDD (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).
Typical Welsh BACC Offer
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).
Typical BTEC Offer
BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit - Merit Merit Pass (this is equivalent to 112-80 UCAS tariff points).
Typical IB Offer
Pass the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 29 overall
Typical Access to HE Offer
Pass the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points
Additional Requirements
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.
International Entry Requirements
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.
English Requirements
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
August 2022 - July 2023 Fees
Full-time UK: £9000
Full-time International: £13700
August 2023 - July 2024 Fees
Full-time UK: TBC
Full-time International: TBC
Student Perks
At the University of South Wales, you’re investing in so much more than a degree. We strive to provide our students with the best possible experience, no matter what you chose to study. Whether it’s access to top of the range mac books and PCs, state-of-the-art facilities packed with industry-leading equipment and software, masterclasses and events led by industry experts, or a wide range of clubs and societies to meet likeminded people, better tomorrows start with extra perks.
Each course also has their own unique student benefits to prepare you for the real word, and details of these can be found on our course pages. From global field trips, integrated work experience and free course-related resources, to funded initiatives, projects working with real employers, and opportunities for extra qualifications and accreditations - at USW your future, is future-proofed.
Click here to learn more about student perks at USW.
Additional Costs
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
* 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 |
Funding
Funding to help pay for (or cover) course tuition fees and living costs
Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
To learn about course fees, funding options, and to see if you are eligible for financial support, visit our Fees and Funding pages.
UK students
Apply via UCAS if you are a UK 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.
International and EU students
Apply directly to the University if you live outside the UK.
Our Careers and Employability Service
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.