Specialist Sports Journalism with Foundation Year

From the Olympics to Premier League football, our nation’s passion for sports coverage has never been stronger.  

• Choose our foundation year route if you want to strengthen your knowledge and skills before you progress to stage one of the BA (Hons) Specialist Sport Journalism degree
• Journalism at Derby has been ranked Top 30 in the Guardian University Guide 2023
• Build high-level skills in researching and producing compelling print, radio, TV and online sports stories
• Harness the latest digital technologies which are transforming the way we receive and engage with sports coverage
• Take a unique opportunity to focus on the sport of your choice – from cricket, rugby or football to minority sports
• Gain invaluable experience through work placements, employer-led projects and opportunities to study abroad
• Be inspired by our team of highly experienced tutors with strong media backgrounds and extensive contacts
• Learn in our exceptional facilities which include TV and radio studios plus  fully equipped newsrooms

We've developed this course with your future in mind. New technologies are revolutionising media and the ways in which people receive their sports news. Today’s digital technologies allow people to follow their chosen sports much more closely – and they expect a high level of expertise from those reporting on sport. We will equip you with the professional knowledge and multimedia skills to rise to this challenge.

Studying Specialist Sports Journalism with a Foundation Year provides you with a firm grounding in the skills and knowledge you need and introduces you to the subject of journalism, enabling you to achieve your full honours degree in four years.

New skills for a new era

In an age of digital news, there has never been a more exciting or challenging time to study sports journalism. This dynamic course enables you to produce compelling content for both traditional and emerging media platforms.  And, unlike with other courses, you’ll have the opportunity to specialise in a sport of your choice – from minority sports through to cricket, rugby and football.

You'll gain the core journalistic research and writing skills as well as studying media law and ethics. At the same time, you’ll develop a multi-platform mindset, producing print, radio and TV reports as well as creating blogs and podcasts, digital photos, audio/video stories and content for websites and mobile devices.

Meeting industry demand

We are collaborating closely with leading names in sport and media to ensure this degree delivers the right level of skills and knowledge. You’ll be equipped not only to cover sport as a journalist but also for the growing number of media relations roles in the sports industry.

The course has been developed following discussions with major media companies like the BBC, national and local newspapers, sports industry bodies and sports clubs themselves. Drawing on these strong partnerships, you’ll be able to extend your professional networks, gain practical work experience and hear guest lectures from experienced sports journalists.

Hone your expertise in sports news

Throughout your studies, you’ll gain significant hands-on experience of gathering and reporting news and information on your chosen sport.  You’ll also analyse traditional media coverage and the way in which social media and individual blogs are transforming sports journalism.

You are expected to gain an in-depth knowledge of your sport, covering every level from local grassroots players to the biggest names in international sport. We focus on the governance and business aspects of sport too, reflecting how these are never far from the headlines.

Exciting work experience opportunities

As part of your course, you’ll boost your CV by gaining practical work experience with a media or sports organisation in the UK or overseas. All our students are expected to have completed at least 15 days of work placement by the time they graduate.

The course features work-based modules where you can expand your professional know-how. We also encourage you to work with charities and other not-for-profit organisations to gain an insight into why media matters so much. In addition, you can contribute to the various print, radio and online news outlets at the University, which is itself a rich source of news and debate around sport.

Outstanding facilities

You'll be based at our main campus at Kedleston Road and at our Markeaton Street site where you'll discover our excellent facilities including three radio studios, a fully equipped television studio, video editing suites, Mac suites and a newsroom featuring the latest software.

You’ll work with industry-standard recording and editing software that is used worldwide. It means you’ll be both confident and competent with up-to-the-minute technology – giving you a real advantage when you're looking for a job.

Variety and versatility

Our emphasis is on fostering creative, versatile journalists with experience in a variety of production techniques. On top of this, you will gain journalistic expertise in your chosen sport, helping you to pursue a career in your specialist area of interest.

Alongside your traditional reporting skills, we want you to develop a passion for ideas and creative communication, to seek people out and find the human stories behind the headlines. You'll also focus on your intellectual and critical development, study research techniques and gain an understanding of audience theory.

Broaden your perspectives

We offer the opportunity for internation study through our American exchange programme, in which you will spend a full semester studying at one of our partner universities in the USA:

• Eastern Michigan University
• Keene State College in New Hampshire
• Longwood University in Virginia
• Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis.

Foundation Year - helping you to achieve more

Including a foundation year as part of your four-year study programme will give you a head start in your academic and professional life. The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.

Our degrees with a foundation year are continuous, meaning that you won’t need to apply again once you have successfully completed the first year.

The key to becoming a great sports journalist is to learn the essential skills required by all journalists.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

We believe that you learn by doing.  In most of your degree, you will learn by doing Journalism.  Your foundation year is more theory based and you will study a wide range of subjects.

In the rest of your degree, as often as possible, you’ll be creating content for print, online, audio and video platforms. You’ll have opportunities to work on real-world projects and complete stories on location as a matter of course. You’ll gather sports news, interview people and write reports and features with accuracy.

Wherever possible, you’ll work with professional publishers and, if your work is good enough, you will see your articles published.

You’ll be taught by a team which has vast experience in journalism and you’ll gain fascinating insights into the profession thanks to our programme of guest lectures by sports journalists, broadcasters, historians and commentators. You’ll also go on visits to professional media companies.

Practical experience

Our great contacts with local and national radio and TV, newspapers and online outlets open the doors to a variety of work experience opportunities for you. We work closely with media organisations to enable you to have your work published.

In addition, you can hone your skills by contributing to our student-run media, helping with the radio or TV stations or writing for the Phantom newspaper. We’ll also encourage you to produce content for the online news and sports websites run by the Students’ Union.

This course develops the broad range of knowledge and skills you need to become a multimedia professional, adept in the production of journalistic content for print, online and broadcast outlets. While it equips you to work in sports journalism specifically, it also prepares you for careers in broader areas of journalism.

The research and communication skills of a journalist are highly transferable to a huge variety of graduate level careers. Our graduates secure jobs not only in newspapers, magazines and broadcasting but also with online businesses and social media agencies. While many go on to work in traditional journalist roles, others find careers in PR, marketing, advertising and corporate communications.

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

Offers will be made initially based on your application, including predicted grades and/or grades you have already achieved. You may be given the opportunity, within your offer letter, to submit a portfolio. If you submit a strong portfolio we will make you an unconditional offer, to reflect the quality of your work and your potential.

Additional entry requirements

• Portfolio: Recommended - view portfolio details

2025/26

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

Other courses you might like

• Football Journalism BA (Hons)
• Journalism BA (Hons)
• Specialist Sports Journalism BA (Hons)

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.