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Sports Journalism with Placement

Course details
  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 21 September 2027
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site
Awarded by:
Solent University

Course summary

The sports journalism course gets you into the thick of the action straight away, reporting on local and national sports for both online and traditional media platforms. You will be a practicing journalist from day one – benefiting from outstanding teaching, facilities and contacts, along with plenty of opportunities to put your learning into practice.

The course has been developed to meet the needs of the modern sports journalism industry and is accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC), which ensures you are ready to work for their industry partners (BBC, Sky News, ITN, Channel 4 News, Global Radio, Associated Press, Reuters and National Union of Journalists). The degree boasts a broad spectrum of transferable skills - from print or broadcast to online and social media reporting – training you to produce a comprehensive news package that will engage and excite your audience.

The proof is in our graduates. Solent sports journalists operate at some of the top broadcast companies, including Sky Sports, BBC Sport, ESPN and talkSPORT, as well as national newspapers such as The Daily Mail and The Times. Other graduates work in the media offices of football, cricket and rugby clubs, as well as creative agencies and organisations.

At Solent, you'll have access to industry-standard software and work with real news agency material and interviews with the biggest names, via our partnership with Press Association (PA) and Independent Radio News (IRN). In a dedicated newsroom, you will engage in news productions for Solent Sports News using high-end media equipment, where you'll be encouraged to report on a variety of sporting events and stories. You'll also use our other industry-standard broadcast facilities including television and radio studios, editing and production facilities, and professional grade camera, audio and lighting equipment.

The course also hosts guest speakers and masterclasses from high‑profile figures in sports journalism and broadcasting, including leading writers, commentators, and editors from national newspapers, Sky Sports, ITV and the BBC.

And the south is a fantastic location to engage with sporting activity. Solent University is the official education partner of Championship side Southampton Football Club, while the nearby Utilita Bowl is home to Hampshire Cricket and hosts regular national and international matches. The Solent is a popular race sailing location, hosting major events such as the America’s Cup. Plus, the University has many successful sporting teams and athletes for you to create content from.

If you’re looking to study our sports journalism degree but don’t have the relevant qualifications or experience, the foundation year in media will help you develop the core skills and knowledge to progress. Find out more about the foundation year in media.

This course also offers the option of a placement year. A placement year allows you to put what you've learned in your first and second years into practice in the workplace, gaining valuable real-world work experience before you graduate. Our course and placements teams will help you find the perfect industry placement in your chosen field.

What does this course lead to?
Graduating with hands-on experience as a practising journalist, you will find many doors open to you when looking for work in sports media. From reporting live matches as sports journalists and broadcasters, to shaping narratives as feature writers, digital content creators, and social media managers, graduates have gone on to hugely diverse careers. We have former students working in the media teams of football clubs, presenting TV and radio bulletins on Sky Sports and talkSPORT, creating videos for social media giants, writing for broadsheet newspapers, digital media, and magazines, and much more.

Modules

Course Modules

YEAR ONE
CORE MODULES

Ready for Broadcast
Making Your Debut
Sport Journalist Toolkit
In the Frame

YEAR TWO
CORE MODULES

Sports Report
Data Journalism and Visualisation
Sports Social Storytelling
The Press Pass

PLACEMENT YEAR

FINAL YEAR
CORE MODULES

Future of Sports Journalism
The Professional Launchpad
On Air
Final Whistle

Assessment method

You may be assessed at the end of each block by:
Portfolios
Individual presentations
Written exams
Practical exams
Essays
Video submissions
Blogs
As part of this course, you will study one module at a time, giving you the chance to build a deeper understanding and see the results of your hard work more quickly. With regular assessments and feedback, rather than exams all at once, you’ll also benefit from improved focus, and a more manageable workload.

How to apply

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
SJ02
Institution code:
S30
Campus name:
Main Site

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level

104-120 from a minimum of 2 A Levels

T Level
M

Merit (120 UCAS Tariff Points)

HNC (BTEC)
P-D

HND (BTEC)
P-M

UCAS Tariff
104-120

Scottish Higher

104-120 UCAS Tariff Points from a minimum of 4 Scottish Highers

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)
D*D

AS

Accepted when studied alongside other Level 3 qualifications

Access to HE Diploma

Pass in Access course with 60 credits overall including 45 Level 3 credits passed with a minimum of Merit, or 102-118 UCAS Tariff points with any combination of Distinction, Merit or Pass Grades

Pearson BTEC Certificate (QCF)

This qualification is accepted when taken alongside other qualifications.

Scottish Advanced Higher

104-120 UCAS Tariff Points from a minimum of 2 Scottish Advanced Highers

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)
DMM

Pearson BTEC 90-Credit Diploma (QCF)

This qualification is accepted when taken alongside other qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
D*D

D*D (104 UCAS Tariff Points)

Extended Project

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma
D*D

D*D (104 UCAS Tariff Points)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
28-31

OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate

This qualification is accepted when taken alongside other qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DMM

DMM (112 UCAS Tariff Points)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma
DMM

DMM (112 UCAS Tariff Points)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

OCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma

This qualification is accepted when taken alongside other qualifications.

OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate

This qualification is accepted when taken alongside other qualifications.

OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)

This qualification is considered as part of the overall tariff (104-120 UCAS Tariff Points)

• Direct entry to years 2 (Level 5) or 3 (Level 6)

We welcome applications from students currently studying a Foundation Degree, DipHE, HNC, HND or modules of an undergraduate degree course at another university, who wish to enter directly into Years 2 or 3 of one of our undergraduate degree courses.

• Level 5 (year 2) entry

To directly enter the second year of this course you will need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 120 undergraduate credits at Level 4 or a CertHE in a related subject area.

• Level 6 (year 3) entry

To directly enter the third year of this course you need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 240 undergraduate credits (at Levels 4 and 5), a DipHE, Foundation Degree or HND in a related subject area.

Additional entry requirements

Interview
All applicants will be required to attend an interview.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6with a minimum of 5.5 in each component

TOEFL IBT tests taken from 21 January 2026 Minimum overall score of 4.5 with a minimum of 4 in each individual component. TOEFL IBT tests taken prior to 21 January 2026 Minimum overall score of 80 with a minimum of 20 in each individual component. Duolingo English Language Test - 115 overall with minimum of 95 in each component or equivalent.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We understand that each student is unique. At Solent we encourage individuality and have adopted a balanced approach to Admissions, by considering exam results alongside portfolios / interviews or auditions.

Our contextual offer scheme allows offers below our standard academic entry criteria to those who have faced challenges which has impacted their performance and predicted higher grades, by taking into account additional selection criteria such as a strong portfolio, interview or audition.

Learn more on the Southampton, Solent University website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland & Channel Islands£10050*
EU£10500
International£18508

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

Sponsorship information

Scholarships and bursaries 1

Solent University offers a number of bursaries, grants and scholarships. For more information, please visit https://www.solent.ac.uk/finance/grants-bursaries-scholarships/bursaries

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