Integrated Foundation - Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Football Journalism

The BA (Hons) Football Journalism with Foundation Year features a brand-new, industry-aligned curriculum designed to keep pace with developments in modern sports media. The programme includes newly introduced modules covering areas such as e-sports, commentary and punditry, data analysis, and other emerging fields within football journalism. From the second year onwards, students are able to select from a broad range of optional modules, allowing specialisation in areas such as writing, podcasting, radio, television, social media, or communications.

Teaching is delivered by highly experienced and well-connected tutors who have worked with leading organisations including the Premier League, West Bromwich Albion, Wembley Stadium, the BBC, and The Guardian. Students have opportunities to gain professional experience by working with football clubs and other organisations within the sport while studying, supported by the university’s established industry networks. As a result, a high proportion of graduates secure employment in the football media industry soon after completing the course.

This future-focused degree responds to the growing demand for football content driven by multi-billion-pound television contracts, widespread smartphone use, and the rapid expansion of social media platforms. The programme equips students with the skills required to meet this demand through a continually evolving curriculum. Recent updates reflect current professional practice, with enhanced modules in e-sports, video journalism, social media, feature writing, commentary and punditry, data analysis and visualisation, and the societal impact of journalism.

These developments mirror changes within the industry, where football clubs increasingly manage their own communications and seek skilled media professionals to help build audiences and engage directly with fans. Journalists are also creating independent brands and producing their own content across multiple platforms. While traditional media remains highly relevant, delivery methods have adapted to suit modern audiences, and the programme reflects these shifts in its teaching approach.

The course aims to develop the professional skills employers seek while also preparing students to manage personal content creation and brand development. This approach ensures access to the widest possible range of career opportunities within football journalism and related media sectors.

As the scope of journalism continues to broaden, the degree offers significant flexibility, with numerous optional modules available in the second and third years to allow students to tailor studies to individual interests and strengths. Core learning includes traditional journalistic skills such as interviewing, news writing, and media law, alongside modern industry-focused competencies including video production, social media management, podcasting, and data analysis. In addition to producing content, students critically analyse the work of contemporary journalists to identify professional best practice and gain a wider understanding of communication, media, and the societal issues that influence journalism today.