Birmingham City University
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Course contact details
Course Enquiries Team
Email:courseenquiries@bcu.ac.uk
Phone:0121 331 6295
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Sports Journalism with a Foundation Year
- BA (Hons)
- 4 Years
- Full-time including foundation year
- 09/2026
- Undergraduate
- Parkside Building
Course summary
This course will prepare you for a career in sports journalism by providing the knowledge, values and cutting-edge skills required to be a professional sports journalist. You will become an agile, independent sports reporter working across multiple platforms with the ability to understand the critical role that sports journalism plays in society by telling stories both on- and off-the pitch. You will be able to work across multiple formats with the ability to understand the democratic role of journalism in ensuring a diversity of stories are told. This will enable you to become an adaptable sports journalist capable of working in innovative, engaging and entrepreneurial ways.
This course has been designed in close collaboration with leading industry experts and researchers in journalism. Through a range of complementary modules, you will learn a wide range of journalistic skills for all news platforms and understand the wider issues that face the journalism industry. You will learn the skills to report on a broad range of sports in a variety of different ways, whether it be for audio, visual, written or social media platforms. The course will prepare you for everything from live reporting and asking the difficult post-match questions to interviewing key figures and going deep into the issues that make up an ever-changing and increasingly diverse sports industry. You will learn through research- and practice-informed teaching and also have the chance to undertake placement opportunities.
About foundation courses
This four year programme has been specifically designed to allow students who do not initially meet the entry requirements for a three year degree, to undertake additional level 3 study designed to ensure they are successful on their chosen degree programme.
After successful completion of your foundation year, you will have the flexibility to switch (should you wish to change direction) onto a number of related undergraduate Media degree programmes.
Ways to study this course
Campuses
- Parkside Building
Study options
- BA (Hons) • Full-time including foundation year • 4 Years
Start dates
- 09/2026
Apply by
14 January
This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.
Application codes
- Course code:
- P50H
- Institution code:
- B25
- Campus name:
- Parkside Building
- Campus Code:
- C
- Points of Entry:
- Foundation, 1
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Birmingham City University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?
How to apply
Apply by
14 January
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:
- P50H
- Institution code:
- B25
- Campus name:
- Parkside Building
- Campus Code:
- C
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Foundation
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 80 points
A level - CDD
80 UCAS tariff points from three A Levels.
Grades CDD (or equivalent). AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels.
A maximum of four subjects will be considered
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
80 UCAS tariff points. Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.
Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits, 45 credits at level 3. Accepted subjects: Arts, Media and Publishing subjects preferred but other subjects also considered.
Scottish Higher
80 UCAS tariff points from three Advanced Highers (DDD) or two Advanced Highers (DD) plus two Highers (DD)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
80 UCAS tariff points. Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
80 UCAS tariff points. Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.
Scottish Advanced Higher
80 UCAS tariff points from three Advanced Highers (DDD) or two Advanced Highers (DD) plus two Highers (DD)
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points
Obtain a minimum of 24 points overall
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
Minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects
GCSE/National 4/National 5
This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications. Please see A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements below.
T Level - Pass (C and above)
Pass overall (C or above on the core). All subjects accepted but Digital Production, Design and Development; Media, Broadcast and Production preferred.
Welsh Baccalaureate: 80 UCAS tariff points. Considered with three A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications
OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications: 80 UCAS tariff points.
NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications: 80 UCAS tariff points.
WJEC Level 3 qualifications: 80 UCAS tariff points. Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s).
UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma: Pass overall.
Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design and Media): Pass overall.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | overall with no less than 5.5 in any level |
Historical entry grades data BETA
This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted 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
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
| EU | £18570 | Year 1 |
| International | £18570 | Year 1 |
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
*The Government is proposing to apply an inflationary increase to regulated tuition fees for 2026/27 and the University is planning on increasing fees to that maximum level once confirmed.
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