Study our brand-new curriculum, which has been updated to keep pace with the industry and develop skills which you can utilise in the world of journalism and communications.
Build your experience by working in the sport you’re most passionate about while you’re studying. We’ll use our extensive contacts to help you get your foot in the door at sports clubs and media organisations, and we’ll provide access to international, national and domestic sporting events.
Learn from tutors that are experienced and well connected, having worked for organisations such as the BBC, ITV, the Premier League, The Guardian and The Times.
Top10for student voiceJournalism - National Student Survey 2025
Top10for assessment and feedbackJournalism - National Student Survey 2025
Top15for teachingJournalism - National Student Survey 2025
17thfor Journalism in the UKThe Guardian University Guide 2026
This course let me combine my love of sport and my passion for storytelling. The staff were incredibly supportive and always encouraged me to push beyond what I thought I was capable of. I started the course thinking that I was only a writer, but I’ve discovered so much more. That growth has shaped both my confidence and the start of my career.
Kirsty Lewis
Graduate and Communications Officer at Paddle UK
Students formed part of the media team at the 2023 European Para Table Tennis Championships
Explore Journalism courses at Derby with alumnus Baasit Siddiqui
Join TV personality, Educator and Alumnus Baasit Siddiqui for an in-depth look at the Journalism courses we offer. Baasit is joined by Professor Katharine Cox, Head of School of Humanities and Journalism and Interim Head of School of Arts, to gain an insight into the choice of courses and joint honours options available. Baasit also catches up with Max, BA (Hons) Football Journalism student, to hear about the real-world experience and transferable skills Max has already gained on the course.
Explore a range of videos showcasing our Journalism degrees on this YouTube playlist.
Journalism courses explored with Baasit Siddiqui video transcript
Baasit is filmed in front of a green screen showing facilities at the University of Derby.
Baasit: Hi everyone, it's Baasit Siddiqui here, I'm at the Markeaton Street site of the University of Derby. Markeaton Street is home to Media and Journalism staff and students.
Baasit and Katharine are shown in our TV Studio.
Katharine: So, Media and Communication has really sort of expanded within the university, lots of different opportunities to pursue careers in media, in broadcast journalism for example. We do lots of joint degrees as well so you can kind of combine say Media with a Humanities subject, pick up something sort of beyond the sort of Humanities or more around the kind of the Journalism sort of side.
Baasit: Fantastic, so that's a really good mix there isn't it.
Katharine: It certainly is yeah.
Derby County stadium and facilities are shown.
Baasit is shown sat in some of our Journalism facilities with current student, Max.
Baasit: So why did you choose Football Journalism then?
Max: Well, originally I wanted to be a writer and I didn't really know where to go and I came here and the open day sort of blew me away especially with all the equipment and the opportunities that the course brings so it kind of made my decision for me if I'm honest and football is always what I wanted to go into because it's my favourite sport and although I like other sports all the skills are transferable and I really wanted to focus on football.
Baasit: Do the students get an opportunity to explore and put their skills into practice? What does that look like?
Katharine: Well they certainly do so in particular with our sort of Football Journalism or Specialist Sports Journalism and our Media and Communications, students are embedded in clubs engaging with lots of sort of community activities so if you check us out on LinkedIn you'll see lots of the things that our students are up to.
Max: At the moment I'm on placement at Derby Women and some of the match day roles that I do over there, I'm featured in The Derby Telegraph quite often, in the local paper, on the Derby County website I do the match reports on there sometimes and also I do a lot of video work which goes on Rams TV and interview work also goes on Rams TV and things like that so lots of transferable skills that I use outside of University and I apply to the real world.
Baasit: Fantastic, and you're in your second year as well so it's really hands-on already in your second year isn't it?
Max: Yeah it was really hands-on in my first year as well from the from the very first moment I walked through the door it was very hands-on and that's a really good thing as well when you're looking to go into industry at the end of it is that you want to apply yourself like you would apply yourself in the industry and that's what I did and in the end I started at BUCS (British Universities and Colleges) league and did coverage of sports there and then I was able to go to a few Premier League press boxes and ended up at Wembley at the end of my first year covering Crewe versus Crawley in the league two play-off final all through the help of the University.
Baasit: I think that this world that we're living in, this kind of social media age and kind of this world of fake news and everything it's quite a scary world, where do you see journalism fitting into that and the importance of giving our young people the skills to kind of analyse a situation whether that's text, whether that's media, is that more or less important in the world that we're living in now?
Katharine: I think it's incredibly important, it's a really interesting question, so a lot of our students are engaged in authentic, community, grassroots journalism to be that kind of trusted source. We talk a lot about kind of ethics in journalism and making sure that our students are part of that kind of truth telling and truth telling to power as well and that's not just located in Journalism and Media but also our History students, our English students, Creative Writing, that kind of opportunity to tell the stories of the region for the region, I think is incredibly important.
Shots of the exterior of Chatsworth House and visitors are shown.
Baasit: In terms of the theory side on the work that you do as well, do you go and explore kind of traditional media versus current media or do you learn specific theoretical skills that help you to apply the practical bits a little bit better?
Max: Yeah we do sort of that all the time, I mean, just looking at now in this sort of like technological revolved world that we're living in at the moment is that, social media is such a prevalent part in in society today and that's massive, you think what, a decade, two decades ago, we didn't have, we weren't as advanced as we are now and that's really key is that you continue to look at and as I said you know, I'm in the local paper but I'm also on social media and weighing up those two things and which generation impacts it the most, so, the older generation usually by paper and the younger generation will find a lot of their news on social media nowadays and you want to base that, where you want to go off that sort of line so I think it's really important that you that you juxtapose both.
Baasit: What's stood out for you in terms of working with the students, working with the staff, what are the kind of the key things that stood out for you in this time?
Katharine: Very much the people, Derby is such a warm place, such a warm city, I tell a story actually of when I arrived, the bus driver, I was just looking to get to sort of the train station didn't know where I was going, he went out of his way to actually drop me at the train station, it was an amazing experience. My team, my students, the academics and you know the practitioners who work in industry are really, really passionate about telling Derby's story so I hope that we have an impact in terms of the city, the region and beyond, bringing people to Derby to stay in Derby to build their lives here really.
Baasit: What would you say have been the skills that have really developed during these two years then?
Max: My writing and my speech, when I first came, I was very stuttery and I've been able to speak far more fluently because I've been around cameras and microphones a lot more and my writing which is what I wanted to be originally and actually coming here, I found out there are things I love more than writing but those skills have massively improved and it's sort of moulded me into what I am now and what I hope to be in the future.
Baasit: Touching on that applied side, as well, essentially it sounds like you're building this portfolio that you could take to future employers as well which is really exciting.
Max: Yeah and the university definitely helped get that portfolio together and that's the big thing for me was when I came here I wanted to build a portfolio that employers would be impressed by and it's in my second year and my portfolio is pretty expansive for where I am at the moment which I wasn't overly expecting it to be at the level it is at the moment so that's really positive and yeah as you say it's those sort of skills and those experiences that you have that sort of moulds and builds that portfolio.
Katharine: I think very much for me, you know, following that journey of Humanities it's about belonging, it's about telling stories, I love stories and I love storytelling and I love the way in which you know, sort of Journalism and Media enable us to connect with one another, our students are so professional and so passionate about what they do and I really see that from day one from our prospective students to our graduates as well, so I think it's really about doing a subject that you love, that you're passionate about, that you can do that at an applied university which means that you get to play and experiment and you know maybe kind of fail sometimes as well but we're here to support our students, to nurture them so they can go out into industry and really achieve.
Baasit: Fantastic, you've given some really sage advice there, I think it's applying it, it’s passionate people doing some lovely work and sort of celebrating not just themselves but their community as well so that's lovely.
Max: Be enthusiastic, want to learn, want to do all of the things that you know makes a journalist and take all the opportunities that come at you because they will come at you especially if you come to the university of Derby, they will come at you, the opportunities, it's how you take them and handle them and produce the content at the end of it and the opportunities that you get especially on the Football Journalism course, is immense and that's really good but I'd also say that all the skills as we've mentioned are completely transferable so if students are worrying about whether they want to do Journalism or Sports Journalism or Football Journalism it doesn't matter because all three of them are transferable skills and that's the most important thing so yeah, be enthusiastic and bear in mind that all the skills that you learn are transferable will help you in the industry.
Baasit: Fantastic, some really useful advice there Max, it's been a pleasure talking to you. Good luck with this year and your third year and I see a bright future for you.
Baasit is shown in the atrium at the University of Derby.
So, as you can tell, the University of Derby open day is drawing to a close and it's been a fantastic one. I went over to the Journalism site today and spoke to some of the staff and students, so many lovely takeaways again, passionate staff and what really struck me was how many opportunities to get some real life experience there were offered to the students. We heard from Max who's doing so many different things on the side of football on Football Journalism, Sports Journalism as well and he's embracing it and making the most of every opportunity so hopefully you've enjoyed it as much as I have but thank you very much for joining me.
A future-proofed sports journalism degree
We’ve made changes to our curriculum to ensure that we’re fit for the industry as it is. New modules on e-sports, videography, commentary and punditry, data analysis and visualisation, and the societal impact of journalism complement those delivered with focus on more established aspects of the profession.
This is in response to changes in the industry, such as the proliferation of specialist sport websites and the shift in power away from traditional media. Sports clubs and organisations are now taking control of their own narrative and looking for well-qualified media professionals who can help them build their audiences and communicate directly with fans. Our aim is to help you build those skills alongside the essential aspects of traditional journalism, such as interviewing, newswriting and media law.
Throughout your studies, you will gain significant hands-on experience of news gathering, reporting, and producing content for your chosen sport — including sports reports, social media content, stories and profiles of athletes, podcasts, feature articles, and blogs. You’ll cover all aspects of the news cycle from previewing events to live reporting and post-event analysis. To see what our students get up to and view the content they produce, take a look at our StoryHub website and X feed.
As well as producing content, you’ll also be asked to analyse the work of current journalists to understand what best practice looks like. You will also learn more generally about communication, media, and societal issues in journalism.
StoryHub
The best news, sport and alternative stories told by students of Journalism at the University of Derby.
Our tutors are well-connected in the industry. They will put you in touch with sports and media organisations, so you can start to gain valuable work experience while you are studying.
You will not only have the opportunity to make the most of attending major international, national and domestic events, but also take advantage of our strong links with numerous clubs and organisations across a variety of sports. Our current group of students regularly work in basketball, netball, tennis, cricket, cycling, horse racing and motorsport, turning our contacts into their own, and setting themselves up for a successful future in the industry.
By the end of the course – provided you’ve made the most of these opportunities – you should have an impressive editorial portfolio to show prospective employers.
Follow your passion
Unlike other sports journalism courses, you have the option to specialise in a sport of your choice — from the more obvious ones like cricket, rugby and football, to minority sports. You are expected to gain an in-depth knowledge of your sport, covering every level — from grassroots to the biggest names in international sport. You will learn about the business, finance and use of data in sport, and critically explore other current issues.
This specialist sports journalism degree is also extremely varied, with optional modules in years two and three, so you can tailor your degree to your own talents and interests.
Capturing the spirit of Shrovetide Football
Read how our Journalism students navigated challenging terrain, gained valuable experience and became published journalists while covering one of Derbyshire's proudest traditions.
Fresh from hosting ITV’s coverage of the Rugby World Cup, broadcaster Mark Pougatch visited us to give students the benefits of his advice and experience
Explore our specialist facilities
Gain practical, hands-on experience in our real world learning facilities. You will develop new skills and knowledge in your subject, supported by our expert teaching team.
► Film and TV studios
Our Markeaton Street site has a dedicated film and television studio space for teaching and student projects - supported by experienced technicians.
► Radio studios
Our radio studios have recently been refurbished and fitted with Calrec technology - a leading range of broadcast audio mixing consoles and equipment. All large media companies are now migrating to this technology, so we're ahead of the game.
Boost your employability with a placement year
Take an optional placement year to put your skills into practice in a real-world setting. We’ll support you in finding a placement and throughout your time in industry. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience for your CV, build contacts, and explore career options before you graduate.
What you will study
The key to becoming a journalist is to learn the essential skills so, at the start of your degree, you will learn the basics of finding and telling stories. As you progress you will develop more advanced skills in multimedia content production.
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.
Build, Create, Innovate
Whether it's computing, photography, or engineering, our top-tier facilities — including a new suite of recording studios and a £12 million STEM Centre — provide the perfect setting to excel.
The best way to find out if studying at Derby is right for you is to experience an Open Day. Get a feel for the city and campus, tour our first-class facilities and see where you could be living.
You will learn in a variety of ways – for example through:
Lectures and seminars, including guest lectures from industry experts
Practice-based workshops
Trips to sports events and clubs
News days
Group work
Independent study.
Assessment
Our assessments are focused on teaching you how to be a journalist. There are no exams and you’ll be assessed mainly on the content you produce, which might be blogs, podcasts, videos, features, and news articles. For some modules, you will need to complete more academic assessments, including essays, case study reports and presentations.
Who you'll meet
You will benefit from the experience of all of our staff within the Journalism department, however in the main your course will be delivered by:
Niall Hickman is the Programme Leader for Specialist Sports Journalism. He worked in the industry for three decades, covering a variety of sports including football, cricket, rugby, golf, boxing, athletics and even the World Pooh Stick Championships! He’s worked for media outlets such as the South London Press, ITV, Sky Sports, the Daily Mail and the Daily Express. Niall has also ghost-written two autobiographies for boxing world champions Ricky Hatton and Carl Froch. His career highlights were interviewing the likes of Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Lennox Lewis and German footballing legend Lothar Mattheus.
Carly Baldwin: Lecturer in Sports Journalism
Carly Baldwin is a lecturer and sports journalism graduate herself. Since graduating, she has spent the last 15 years working predominantly in PR and communications roles across the sector, including with football clubs, national governing bodies and at major multi-sport events. Her career highlight was working at the London Olympics 2012.
At the University of Derby, every student is assigned a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) from the very start of their degree journey. This dedicated tutor becomes a key figure in your academic life, offering guidance, support, and insight to help you make the most of your university experience. Whether it's through one-to-one meetings or more informal catch-ups, your PAT will work with you to explore your strengths, address any challenges, and help you achieve your full potential. This relationship is designed to ensure you're not just succeeding academically, but also growing as an individual, developing the skills and confidence you'll need for your future career.
Your PAT will provide tailored advice to support your academic journey, whether that's by discussing your work, helping you set goals, or exploring career options. These regular meetings give you the space to reflect on your progress, understand where improvements can be made, and build on your strengths. At Derby, we want you to feel both challenged and supported. Your PAT will encourage you to push your boundaries, think critically about your work, and develop a proactive approach to your studies.
But it's not just about coursework. Your PAT will also help you identify extra-curricular opportunities, whether that's joining clubs, gaining work experience, or developing new skills outside of your course. These experiences not only enhance your CV but also give you the confidence to tackle future challenges. In short, your Personal Academic Tutor will be there to guide you every step of the way, ensuring you leave university with more than just a degree — but with a wealth of experiences, skills, and the knowledge that you're ready for the next chapter of your life.
Building Strong Industry Connections
We believe that real-world experience is an essential part of academic success. Our partnerships with leading organisations across various sectors ensure our students gain valuable insights, hands-on opportunities, and access to the latest industry innovations.
Through collaboration with our industry partners, we bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice, preparing our graduates to thrive in competitive global markets.
industry partnership video video transcript
Careers
By the end of this specialist sports journalism degree, you should have plenty of professional experience and contacts to get your career off to a flying start.
The course develops the broad range of knowledge and skills you need to become a sports journalist today, but it also prepares you for broader careers in journalism, PR and marketing, advertising, corporate communications, law and public administration or politics.
Our specialist sports journalism graduates are now working for clubs and organisations like Leicester Tigers Rugby Club, Leicester City FC, Channel 5 Boxing, British Swimming, the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association), England Netball, World Snooker, Bet 365, BBC Radio Derby, Derbyshire County Cricket Club and many more.
Getting you career ready
Your degree is only part of your story.
We're here to help prepare you for life after university.
94% of UK graduates are in employment or further study.
2nd for employability. Uni Compare Annual Student Review Rankings 2026.
87% of UK graduates say their current activity is meaningful.
Getting you career ready
Your degree is only part of your story. We're here to help prepare you for life after university. We'll tailor your talents and help you build the tools that will set you apart when you are ready to look for your first graduate role.
Our staff have valuable and varied experiences in the workplace and beyond. And we have great links to industry. This means you'll have opportunities to apply your learning. You'll find work experience that's directly relevant to your studies, including placements and real projects set by businesses.
Our promise
We promise to provide an inclusive approach; supporting, advising and guiding you on your employability journey to success. We will listen to your needs and signpost opportunities for you to engage with up to three years after graduation.
At the University of Derby, we aim to attract the very best students to join us and to support their progression to university to ensure they reach their full potential and achieve their ambitions. We believe the very best students come from all backgrounds and we want to build a community that reflects our society.
What is a contextual offer?
Contextual offers are used by universities and colleges to take account of a student’s individual circumstances. Employing contextual offers at the University Derby will allow our admissions team to identify applicants with the greatest potential to succeed in higher education and be an exceptional Derby student. This makes the application process fairer and builds confidence in students about their ability to be part of our academic community.
We will use the information in an application form and may either reduce grade requirements or give extra consideration when deciding whether to give a contextual offer. We will also support these students through information, advice and guidance, outreach activities and on-campus visits before and during the application process.
What is the criteria?
Typical criteria may include one or more of the following:
Students who are care experienced
Students who are estranged from their families
Students who are refugees or asylum seekers
Students whose parents/carers are in the UK armed forces
*Please note students need to declare they meet one of these criteria on their application.
These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2026 entry.
Requirement
What we're looking for
UCAS points
112
A Level
BBC
T Level
Merit
BTEC
DMM
GCSE
GCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
Access to HE
Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6
English language requirements
IELTS: 7.0 (with at least 6.5 in each skills area)
These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2027 entry.
Requirement
What we're looking for
UCAS points
112
A Level
BBC
T Level
Merit
BTEC
DMM
GCSE
GCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
Access to HE
Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6
English language requirements
IELTS: 7.0 (with at least 6.5 in each skills area)
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.
We're committed to providing you with an outstanding learning experience. Our expert teaching, excellent facilities and great employability prepare you for your future career. As part of our commitment to you we aim to keep any additional study costs to a minimum. However, there are occasions where students may incur some additional costs.
Included in your fees
Access to the Equipment Centre which stocks a huge range of cameras, audio equipment, and accessories which are available for booking by students at no cost
Mandatory trips to media companies or other interesting organisations. Previous trips have included visiting BBC Radio Derby, the Derby Telegraph, the Nottingham Post and BBC News and Sport at Salford
Mandatory costs not included in your fees
Some equipment including storage drives (about £10) and external storage drives (£50 - £100) for use with cameras
Optional costs not included in your fees
It is useful but not essential to have a smartphone (£50 - £750)
Some students choose to buy accessories for the phone such as external microphones (approx. £10 - £15) and tripods (£5 - £25)
Some students also find it useful to purchase their own laptop for use in the field but this is not required (from £150)
It is also possible that you will want to travel to cover particular news stories - as this is not required by the course, the cost is not covered in your fees
How to apply
UK students
If you are in Year 13 and applying for a full-time undergraduate course (including our joint honours courses), we recommend that you apply through UCAS.
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.
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