Sports Journalism Courses in UK

Sports journalism is a branch of journalism that covers news and views related to amateur and professional sporting events at regional, national and international levels. It was first started in the early 1800s to capture the sporting passion events of the social elite. At present time sports journalism has become the essential element of both print and electronic media. The present innovation in technology and craze for sports events has stretched the limits of the sports journalism field. Apart from covering sports news, it also includes capturing the interviews of individual personalities from different sports as well as teams. In this blog, we will cover every aspect of Sports Journalism Courses in UK, the cost, eligibility and more.

Must Read: Study in UK

Top Reasons to Pursue Sports Journalism

If you enjoy sports, you may have considered a career as a sports journalist. It’s not as simple as simply showing up to the game, though—you must understand what it takes to break into this field. However, if you enjoy both writing and sports, sports journalism is the career for you.

• Make a living – Many people enter this field hoping to escape the 9-5 grind and turn their passion into a career. They begin working on making their dream a reality by becoming certified. Working in an area you enjoy increases your motivation, productivity, and motivation. Doing something you enjoy gives you meaning and purpose, which improves your overall health and well-being
• Travel Opportunities – As a sports journalist, you travel for work, which allows you to see the world while earning a living. You may be required to travel from one town to another or across your country to cover sporting events or interview athletes. Some weeks may include more days spent travelling than at home in front of your computer writing; however, most weeks will most likely include regular hours in front of a computer writing about whatever topic interests you the most at the time
• Work Flexibility – One of the most significant advantages is that you have work flexibility. You have complete or partial control over what you do, when and where you do it. You could even work from home if you are willing to meet deadlines and adhere to strict reporting standards. If you don’t want to work as a full-time sports journalist for a publishing or newspaper company, you could try freelance sports journalism
• Meet the players and coaches – You will have the opportunity to meet and speak with players, coaches, and other members of the sports industry. This will not only allow you to ask questions and learn from these experts, but it will also allow you to discover what makes them tick. Meeting players and coaches allows you to learn more about the team.
• Meet other sports fans – You will make friends from all over the world. You will have the opportunity to meet many other sports fans whether you attend a game or simply follow a team on TV and online. If you get to know some of these other fans, they might be able to help you in the future with your career. In addition to watching professional athletes compete in person, most sporting events provide opportunities for networking with fellow sports fans.

Program Types

There are numerous courses/programs from short-term to full-length courses available to pursue a career in sports journalism both in India and abroad. 

• Short-Term Certification Program
• Diploma Program
• Bachelor’s Degree
• PG Diploma Program
• Master’s Degree Programs
• PG Certificate Programs
• M.Phil. and PhD. Programs

Must Read: Career in Sports Journalism

Colleges offering Sports Journalism Courses in UK

In the United Kingdom, Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses are available in Sports Journalism. The following universities offer courses in sports journalism in the UK

University of Gloucestershire

Programs	Mode & Duration	Fee
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism with placement	Full Time- 4 Years	GBP 15000 (INR 14.50 lacs) annually
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism	Full Time- 3 years	GBP 15000 (INR 14.50 lacs) annually

Birmingham City University

Programs	Mode & Duration	Fee
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism	Full Time- 3 years	GBP 14000 (INR 13.50 lacs) annually
BA Sports Journalism with Foundation	Full Time- 4 years	GBP 14000 (INR 13.50 lacs) annually
BA Sports Journalism with Professional Placement	Full Time- 4 years	GBP 13200 (INR 12.64 lacs) annually

Staffordshire University

Programs	Mode & Duration	Fee
BA Sports Journalism with foundation year	Full Time- 4 years	GBP 14000 (INR 13.50 lacs) annually
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism	Full Time- 3 years	GBP 16,500 (INR 16.10 lacs) annually
MA Sports Journalism	Full Time- 1 year	GBP 16000 (INR 15.30 lacs) annually

University of Chester

Programs	Mode & Duration	Fee
BA Sports Journalism including the foundation course	Full Time- 4 years	GBP 14000 (INR 13.50 lacs) annually
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism	Full Time- 3 years	GBP 14000 (INR 13.50 lacs) annually

Leeds Beckett University

Programs	Mode & Duration	Fee
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism	Full Time- 3 years	GBP 14000 (INR 13.50 lacs) annually

University of Lincoln

Programs	Mode & Duration	Fee
MA Sports Journalism	Full Time- 1 year	GBP 16000 (INR 15.30 lacs) annually
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism	Full Time- 3 years	GBP 16200 (INR 15.50 lacs) annually

University of Derby

Programs	Mode & Duration	Fee
BA (Hons) Football Journalism	Full Time- 3 years	GBP 14000 (INR 13.50 lacs) annually
BA Football Journalism with foundation year	Full Time -4 years	GBP 14000 (INR 13.50 lacs) annually
BA (Hons) Specialist Sports Journalism	Full Time- 3 years	GBP 14000 (INR 13.50 lacs) annually
BA Specialist in Sports Journalism with a foundation year	Full Time – 4 years	GBP 14000 (INR 13.50 lacs) annually

Liverpool John Moores University

Programs	Mode & Duration	Fee
MA Sports Journalism	Full Time- 1 year	GBP 16000 (INR 15.50 lacs) annually
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism	Full Time- 3 years	GBP 16000 (INR 15.50 lacs) annually

University of Huddersfield

Programs	Mode & Duration	Fee
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism	Full Time- 3 year	GBP 15000 (INR 14.50 lacs) annually

University of Brighton

Programs	Mode & Duration	Fee
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism	Full Time- 3 years	GBP 14000 (INR 13.50 lacs) annually
MA Sports Journalism (PGCert PG Dip)	Full Time- 1 year	GBP 14000 (INR 13.50 lacs) annually

Teesside University

Programs	Mode & Duration	Fee
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism	Full Time- 3 years	GBP 14000 (INR 13.50 lacs) annually
BA Sports Journalism with foundation year	Full Time- 4 years	GBP 14000 (INR 13.50) annually

Eligibility Criteria

The following are the eligibility criteria to pursue sports journalism:

Eligibility	Academic	Non-Academic
Bachelor Degree	Applicant must pass class 12th or higher secondary examination with 60% from a recognised education board or college.	Applicants need to have an IELTS 6.0 overall score with no less than 5.5 in each band.
Master Degree	Applicant must pass a bachelor’s degree with 60% from a recognised state or central university.	Applicants need to have an IELTS 6.5 overall score with no less than 5.5 in each band. In some cases, a personal interview with the program director may be required.

Admission Process

• Visit the official website of the institution. 
• Click on ‘Apply Now or ‘Register Here’
• Complete filling your education history with all the qualifications.
• Fill in the details of your employment history.
• Fill in your statement.
• Submit the application form by paying the mentioned fees.

Documents Required

• All official academic transcripts and grade cards
• Passport size photographs 
• Passport photocopy
• Visa
• Updated CV/Resume
• English Language Proficiency Test Scores
• Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose

Role of a Sports Journalist

The following are the roles and responsibilities of a sports journalist:

• The role of the Sports Journalist is not only to cover sports events but also to write a detailed analysis of the event/ game
• A sports journalist got the opportunity to cover regional, national and international sports-related events
• Sports journalists were also asked to conduct interviews with sports personalities
• A sports journalism professional got the opportunity to wear different hats like sports reporter, sports writer, sports anchor, and sports editor with different media platforms like print, electronic and digital media spaces. With the help of modern tools and technology, the job of sports journalists has become more vibrant and interesting

Skill Set required 

The following skillsets are expected from sports journalism professionals to excel in this industry.

• Sports Enthusiast
• Calculation and Analysis
• Excellent Communication Skills
• Excellent Writing Skills
• Good Listener
• Patience and Humorous
• Work Ethics
• Flexible for Work

Other Career Prospects

At present, there are numerous opportunities available for sports journalism professionals to start their careers with any sports news platform like sports channels, tabloids, web portals, magazines, and sports-related firms. Some of the career options to start with are mentioned below.

• Sports Reporter

Sports news reporters have to travel a lot from one location to another to capture sports news and interview. It is a field job. It is the starting job in the field of sports journalism. After gaining ample experience or expertise sports reporter can start working as an editor.  

• Sports Writer

The job of a sports writer is much demanded in the field of sports journalism. As a writer, one needs to be updated on the ongoing and upcoming sports activities. The sports writer job requires excellent creative writing skills with good command of the language. It can be done in both ways full-time and part-time.

• Sports Anchor

Sports Anchor’s role is equally demanding as others. One needs to have a stronghold on communicating language with excellent research ability. Sports anchors need to be very careful related with their look, content delivery and energy during the telecast. Sports anchors also interview sports personalities 

• Sports Photographer

Sports photography is the coolest task among others done by sports journalism professionals. Sports photographers have to capture the live action in a very professional manner. It helps them further use these pictures in promotion and branding.

• Sports Editor

The task of sports editors is to check the relevance of the content and take the final call on whether to publish or not. The job of sports editors includes proofreading and fact-checking the received information. The sports editor acts as a gatekeeper taking well analysed final calls related to the news and opinions before publishing it. One required as good experience before taking the job of sports editor.

Must Read: MSc in Journalism

Job Profile and Salary

The following are the popular job profile and salary after pursuing sports journalism:

Job Profile Avg. Salary in GBP In INR
Sports Reporter 26,437 GBP 26.40 Lakh
Sports Writer 31,726 GBP 31.68 Lakh
Sports Anchor 26,437 GBP 26.40 Lakh
Sports Photographer 18,248 GBP 18.22 Lakh
Sports Editor 31,989 GBP 31.94 Lakh

FAQs

Thus, a career in sports journalism is highly prosperous and rewarding. If you want to pursue a career in this field but are not sure about how to get started with it then the expert counsellors at Leverage Edu can lend you a helping hand. The mentors will help you find a course which aligns with your professional goals using our AI-enabled platform.