BA (Hons) Sports Journalism with Media and Communications Foundation Year Bachelor's degree at the University of Lincoln
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism with Media and Communications Foundation Year at University of Lincoln is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and leads to a nationally recognised degree.
About this course
The course is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), and teaching is delivered by experienced industry professionals and academics. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism with Media and Communications Foundation Year is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Lincoln, based in Lincoln Campus. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Sport & Exercise Science, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
First Year 7 modules
- Essential Journalism 1Core
Module details
Introduces students to journalism's most fundamental vocational skills and techniques, covering identification of news values, story finding, interviewing, research, and journalistic writing for different media platforms. Includes ethical dilemmas navigation and industry codes of practice.
Assessment: Two portfolios
- Essential Law & Crime ReportingCore
Module details
Introduces students to the legal system, court operation, and examines legislation and codes of practice impact on journalists covering crime stories and courts.
- Journalism Production OneCore
Module details
Provides strong foundation for practical multiplatform skills needed in journalism and communications industry, based on current industry practices and production methods.
- Politics for JournalistsCore
Module details
Covers legislation drafting and enactment in the UK, and journalism's role as Fourth Estate. Includes study of political, democratic and administrative structure of Monarch, Parliament, Prime Minister, Central Government, local government, judiciary and EU institutions. Topics include constitutional government, ministerial roles, cabinet government, political parties, civil service, local government structures and ethics.
- ShorthandCore
Module details
Teaches the theory of the Teeline system with emphasis on building speed to achieve the NCTJ 'gold standard' 100 words per minute qualification.
- Sport and the MediaCore
Module details
Takes students through development of organised sport in Victorian Britain, sport media history including work of Hazlitt and Egan, through to Sky Sport revolution in football broadcasting. Covers relationship between sport and media, how watching sport has developed and sport's impact on everyday life.
- Sport Writing and ReportingCore
Module details
Introduces essential skills of writing and reporting for sports journalism, covering news writing, interviewing, live reporting and feature writing for sports journalists.
Second Year 8 modules
- Essential Journalism 2Core
Module details
Progresses fundamental journalism skills while introducing advanced techniques vital for modern media careers, including data journalism, live reporting and active press conferences. Advances skills in finding original news stories, interviewing, research and producing journalistic writing for different platforms.
Assessment: Portfolio
- Journalism Production TwoCore
Module details
Delivers practical multiplatform skills for graduating students to deliver stories across different digital and media platforms. Based on current industry practices and production methods, adapting to AI developments and new software/hardware.
- Law, Ethics and RegulationCore
Module details
Builds on legal and administrative knowledge from Level One. Examines criminal and civil legislation affecting print, online and broadcast journalists, identifies conflict and uncertainty areas, and requires applying legislation and case law knowledge to scenarios including civil court actions.
- Specialist Reporting and ProductionCore
Module details
Allows students to discover journalistic voice by specialising in chosen pathway including TV/radio bulletins, broadcast storytelling, magazine design, digital photography, podcasts or long-form features. Guided by industry-experienced staff with hands-on workshops to develop professional-level skills and specialist portfolio work.
- Sport and SocietyCore
Module details
Examines sport's impact on British society from medieval folk sport tradition through Victorian health revolution to Olympic Games, including how sport has been shaped by social attitudes including racism, sexism and gender equality.
- The Business of SportCore
Module details
Explores relationships between sport, media, finance, public relations, marketing and business. Covers role of marketing and PR in sports organisations and international sports events, and examines connections between sport, finance and business in multi-million pound transfers, foreign ownership and media franchising.
- Industry PlacementOptional
Module details
Provides continuous full-time work experience within journalism, media or communications organisation. Constitutes work placement during academic year funded by full-time paid employment taking place between Level 5 and Level 6, with minimum duration of 39 weeks.
- Journalism International ExchangeOptional
Module details
Opportunity to study for a term at one (text cut off)
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course combines sports journalism training with grounding in media and communications through a foundation year. You'll begin with the fundamentals of journalism and sports reporting, then progress through core studies in journalism practice, media ethics and communications theory. Alongside these, you'll develop practical reporting skills, interviewing, video and multimedia production, often led by experienced industry professionals. As you advance, you'll typically take specialist options such as broadcast journalism, digital storytelling or sports commentary, depending on your interests. Throughout, you'll build a portfolio of published or broadcast work, culminating in a substantial project that demonstrates your ability to research, interview and report on sports stories under professional conditions.
Who it's for
This course suits those seeking professional qualification in sports journalism and media communications. The foundation year provides essential grounding before progressing to honours-level study. Part-time study allows you to balance learning with other commitments. You'll develop practical journalism skills alongside theoretical understanding of media and communications, preparing you for roles in sports broadcasting, print journalism, digital media, and related fields.
University & format
This BA (Hons) course is studied part-time at the University of Lincoln, a public university based on Lincoln Campus. The course is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and taught by experienced industry professionals and academics. The University of Lincoln holds a Gold rating for teaching quality from the Office for Students' TEF 2023, and its degrees are nationally recognised as those of a UK degree-awarding body. Instruction is in English.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code P503). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at University of Lincoln →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Sport & Exercise Science graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in sport & exercise science · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Sport & Exercise Science nationally
National figures for Sport & Exercise Science graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
Job market & outlook
How Sport & Exercise Science graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Sport & Exercise Science graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Sports clubs & NGBs
- Leisure providers
- Schools
- The NHS
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Sport & Exercise Science graduates.
Sport CoachAspire PeopleSport Science LeadBiolyz FlexCoBTEC Tech Awards Sept 22 - Sport - ExaminerPearsonEquine Vet: Independent Clinic for Leisure & Sport HorsesBritish Veterinary LGBT+Learning Mentor (PE/Sport)Prospero TeachingCasual Youth Worker: Sport, Community Growth & BelongingActive Herefordshire & WorcestershireWho studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Lincoln
Biological and sport sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Lincoln Campus
1,962 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Sport & Exercise Science right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Lincoln from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Lincoln; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Lincoln’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Lincoln and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Lincoln
BA (Hons) Sports JournalismBA (Hons) · University of LincolnBA (Hons) Sports Journalism with Media and Communications Foundation YearBA (Hons) · University of LincolnBA (Hons) Sports JournalismBA (Hons) · University of LincolnBSc (Hons) Psychology (Sport and Exercise Psychology)BSc (Hons) · University of Lincoln
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
Request information about BA (Hons) Sports Journalism with Media and Communications Foundation Year
Prospectus, key dates, entry and funding, free to your inbox.