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A one-year practical sports journalism course that is professionally accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

NEWS: Discover the achievements of our Sports Journalism students...

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Why study Sports Journalism?

If you have a passion for sport and want to become a journalist, you need to acquire the skills and knowledge employers are looking for today. Our comprehensive training programme is taught in partnership with award winning journalists who can give you the head start you need.

Why St Mary's?

Each year we select 20 students who will embark on a demanding training course taught by professional journalists, broadcasters and academics. 

Our course offers one of the best routes into the industry. We will train you to become a journalist for the digital age covering everything from the traditional match report to the latest skills in multimedia journalism. Our graduates work in every sector of the industry.

You will find them at the BBC, Sky Sports News, BT Sport, CNN, Perform, IMG and most national newspapers in the UK. Recent graduates have secured sports reporting jobs with Metro, the Manchester Evening News, Scottish Rugby, the Daily Mirror, BBC News, Mail Online, Fulham FC, Squawka, and Sky Sports.

We were the first Sports Journalism MA degree course to be professionally accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).

Editors and sports journalists recommend our course because we train our students to industry standards. They visit the campus regularly to offer career advice, talk about work placements and to keep you up to speed with the latest developments in sport and the media. We guarantee every student a work placement and there are often opportunities to earn while you learn.

We are also committed to diversity in journalism. We have trained more women sports journalists that any other course in the UK.

Key facts

  • Acquire the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism in addition to a master's degree
  • Excellent employability record for graduates finding work within the industry
  • Taught by award winning journalists, broadcasters and academics
  • Write for the course magazine: sportsgazette.co.uk
  • Outstanding work experience, networking and career opportunities
  • Develop your digital media skills, writing and commercial awareness

NEWS: Discover the achievements of our Sports Journalism students...

Entry requirements

2:1 Previous degree

We normally require a good degree in any discipline.

Additional requirements

In exceptional circumstances, we may accept a student without such a qualification if they demonstrate an aptitude and commitment to sport and/or journalism.

All candidates selected for interview will be asked to submitted samples of their journalism and sit a short one-hour entrance test. You can do this online or in person. The entrance test assesses your media skills, creativity, sporting knowledge, sub-editing and writing.

International requirements

International students should check our country-specific pages for equivalents. If English is not your first language you will need to achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 overall with no less than 7.5 in writing (or equivalent).

Further information

For more information about entry requirements please email apply@stmarys.ac.uk.

Course content

Modules

  • Core Skills in Journalism 
  • Critical Issues in Sports Journalism 
  • Digital Sports Journalism 
  • Media Law 
  • Public Affairs 
  • Reporting and News Writing 
  • Sports Journalism 
  • Sports Journalism Project 

Please note: it is possible that a module listed on the website will not be able to run due to reasons beyond our control. For more information please refer to our course information disclaimer.

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Career opportunities

Sport has never been more popular. It is a global industry driven by high levels of consumer demand and the revolution in digital communications. These developments are creating new career opportunities for sports journalists, particularly digitally literate journalists who can create engaging multimedia content.

Our graduates are working at the BBC, Sky Sports News, ESPN, BT Sport, Perform, IMG, the Premier League, Metro, Hayters and across the national, regional and digital press. Our graduates also work for sporting clubs and associations or go into sports public relations, sports advertising, corporate sponsorship, events management, sports charities and the betting industry.

The Careers Service has more information on graduate careers and part-time work available during your course.

How the degree is taught

Teaching methods

Our course is very practical and interactive reflecting the realities of a typical newsroom rather than a traditional classroom.

We teach four days a week (Tuesdays to Fridays) between September and April. The contact hours are approximately six hours per day. After April you will have an industry placement or internship and will be working on your final project.

Our teaching will include regular guest speakers from the sports media and study trips to Sky Sports News, Premier League Productions and sporting venues in London. Some of your classes will take place at News Associates and Sportsbeat, who have recently relocated to Twickenham.

In the summer term, you will work with a supervisor on a project of your choice. This could be a documentary, a website, a multimedia sports story or a professional placement.

Assessment methods

Our approach to assessment reflects industry practice. There is plenty of scope to be creative. Tasks include writing regular stories for immediate publication, sub-editing, participating in editorial meetings and working in teams on live news days. We work to strict deadlines and you will get the opportunity to present your work to editors at Sky Sports News.

You will also sit the NCTJ Diploma Exams in Sports Journalism, Reporting, Media Law, Public Affairs, Shorthand, and Court Reporting.

Fees and funding

2020/21 fees

  • Home/EU: £8,660
  • International: £13,650

The UK Government has confirmed that EU applicants starting in 2019 or 2020 remain eligible for 'home fee status' and can access financial support.

Part-time fees

Part-time students will be charged for the modules undertaken per academic year. Module prices are calculated as a percentage of credits against the total credits and cost of the degree.

Tuition fees are subject to an inflationary increase each year, meaning if your course runs over more than one academic year you may pay an increased fee per module for each subsequent year of study. Tuition fee increases for returning students will be capped at the higher of 5% per annum or the rate of Consumer Price Index inflation in the United Kingdom.

Funding

A non-refundable deposit of £500 is required for Home/EU students to confirm their place.

The Journalism Diversity Fund is available to applicants without the financial means to attend an NCTJ training course.

For guidance about financing your studies, including information about government-funded loans, please check out Fees & Funding section.

International Students should check their eligibility for our International Scholarship.

Alumni discount

A 10% tuition fee discount is available for our alumni (undergraduate and PGCE) planning to study this Master's degree. Those studying for a PGDip of PGCert are not eligible for the discount.

Additional costs

Your tuition fees cover the cost of all core elements of your degree course including all your NCTJ exam fees (approximately £350). We don't pay for resits. You can also incur travel costs as part of the course.

For further information about additional costs please contact daragh.minogue@stmarys.ac.uk

Facilities

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Further information

Sports Gazette

As part of the Sports Journalism programme you will write content for Sports Gazette. Examples of previous student writing includes: