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Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
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Course Overview
-
L27 -
City Campus -
Full-Time -
1 Year -
16 Sep 2024
You don’t need a journalism or media-related degree to join this course, only a commitment and passion to work in the world of sport. You’ll be welcomed for your desire to gain a professional qualification to help you work as a sports journalist.
As part of this course, you’ll:
- Research, write, edit, and produce multimedia content
- Work with athletes, teams, and sports organisations to gain practical insights that go beyond the classroom
- Report across a variety of platforms on sports events, gain real-world newsroom experience, and prepare for the demands of working in industry
- Develop data and analysis journalism skills to enhance your sports reporting and storytelling
- Engage with audiences on social media and digital platforms as you build your personal brand as a sports journalist
- Explore ethics and legal considerations, and learn to navigate them in practice
- Evaluate sports journalism's role in society and its impact on culture, politics and the economy
- Prepare for a career in sports journalism with networking, mentorship, and industry exposure
Live your passion
At Leeds Beckett you won't just learn about sports journalism; you'll live it. So come and be part of this journey and turn your passion into your profession.
Practice and data-driven study
In the contemporary landscape of sports journalism, data reigns supreme. Your studies will have a strong emphasis on developing skills in data-driven reporting and gaining real-life experience. This means you’ll be ready to meet the demands of working in sports journalism when you graduate.
Gain a business perspective
Alongside our undergraduate degree, this is the only sports journalism course in the UK to be taught in a business school, which means you’ll gain a valuable business acumen from expert tutors to enhance your journalism skills. You’ll work with industry experts who have years of experience at titles such as The Guardian, Cosmopolitan, Elle and The Yorkshire Post.
We have links to a wealth of sports organisations and teams, including the England and Wales Cricket Board, The Rugby Football League, Leeds United and Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
Global perspective
Our links to universities in India, The USA, Italy and Estonia, as well as a wider journalism cohort drawn from across the globe, will provide an international perspective to your learning and enable you to start building your international networks as you study.
Hands-on experience
You’ll be supported to source and undertake a three-week placement in a media organisation. This could be with a newspaper, news website, magazine or in a press office. You’ll be able to choose whether you want to work full weeks from Monday to Friday, one day a week for 15 weeks, or combine the two to create a bespoke mixed placement.
You’ll develop a personal experience plan with your tutor and a series of industry masterclasses will help you to find development opportunities. Additionally, your Professional Journalism Development module will help you to gain a foothold in the media industry.
Why study Sports Journalism at Leeds Beckett University?
- Unique study – gain valuable insight from expert tutors on the only sports journalism course in the UK to be taught in a business school
- Study and work in a city with an ever-growing reputation as a media hub
- Specialist onsite facilities to create multimedia content - including a TV studio, radio studio and two newsrooms
- Work-based learning – you’ll have placement opportunities to work in a media organisation
- Professional links – which enable us to teach cutting-edge industry practices and embed contemporary practice in the delivery of your course
Everything you need to know
Discover all there is to know about the course, from entry requirements and fees to exploring the school you’ll be joining - we’ve got it covered.
Entry requirements
Applicants should either have at least a second class honours degree or have equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment. Applicants who do not have English as their first language are required to have IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.5 or an equivalent award. All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional; you can download our reference template for completion. All applicants should satisfy our University English language requirements.
Entry requirements
Applicants should either have at least a second class honours degree or have equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment. Applicants who do not have English as their first language are required to have IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.5 or an equivalent award. All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional; you can download our reference template for completion. All applicants should satisfy our University English language requirements.
IELTS
IELTS 6.5 with no skills below 6.5, or an equivalent qualification. The University provides excellent support for any applicant who may be required to undertake additional English language courses.
Independent study is a crucial part of learning at university and you will be required to undertake many hours of self-directed research and reading, and preparation and writing of assessments. Your course is delivered through a number of modules, which will help you to plan your time and establish a study routine. Outside of your lectures, workshops and tutorials, a range of support is available to assist with your independent study. Our subject-specific librarians will be on hand to direct you to the specialist learning and study-skill resources. You’ll also be assigned an academic advisor to give you tailored feedback and support.
Teaching & Learning
What you'll learn
What you'll learn
Fees & Funding hellooo
£9,900
UK
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2024/25 is £9900. The amount you will pay may increase each year to take into account the effects of inflation.
£17,500
International 2024
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2024/25 is £17500. The amount you will pay is fixed at this level for each year of your course.
Fees & Funding
£9,900
For students entering in 2024
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2024/25 is £9900. The amount you will pay may increase each year to take into account the effects of inflation.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
£17,500
For students entering in 2024
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2024/25 is £17500. The amount you will pay is fixed at this level for each year of your course.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
Sports journalism is for everyone with a love of a game. We have the expertise, drive, contacts and facilities to help you prosper in the competitive world of sports journalism. If you’ve got the talent, we will find it, nurture it and give you the confidence to develop the career of your dreams.
Sean Dodson
Course Director
Top 30
in the UK for Journalism
Moving on up
Leeds Beckett climbs 40 places in the Complete University Guide 2024
Your future in our hands
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a course. Take a look at the team you’ll be working with, employability statistics and career prospects to help make up your mind.
Career Prospects
Report from pitch or courtside, hit the airwaves with the latest sports news, or work behind the scenes in this thrilling industry. Sports journalists can work anywhere the game is happening, from local news websites, newspapers and TV stations to major sports networks and magazines. You’ll cover all the action, from grassroots sports to the biggest games of the year.
Whether you're driven to write, edit, produce, or report, there's a place for you in sports journalism. Beyond traditional, there are also many newer roles in digital sports journalism, such as:
- Content creator
- SEO specialist
- Social media manager
- Video producer
- Data analyst
Guest lecture events
Gain insight and network at our guest lecture events
Leeds Business School hosts guest lectures open to students, businesses, professionals, alumni and staff. Gain insight from industry experts, leading business figures and entrepreneurs who are invited to speak across a range of subjects including business and management, leadership, marketing, PR, economics, finance, accounting, and HR.
Find out about any future events by visiting our events pages.
Beckett Careers Team
Our careers service is not just there for undergraduates, we support our postgraduate taught and research students too.
Your postgraduate degree will boost your CV and help you stand out from the crowd. Whether you're just starting out on your chosen career path, changing careers or moving to the next level, we can provide you with expert advice and resources to help you take the next steps to achieving your goals.
Your Beckett experience
At Leeds Beckett your experience is important to us, find out more about what to expect from your time on this course and life at uni.
Experience Leeds Beckett
Our state-of-the-art facilities and learning environments give you everything you need to succeed – whether that’s completing your current studies or joining our cutting-edge research teams.
