Does the MA Sports Journalism cover sports investigations?

Yes — at depth. The MA Sports Journalism sports-investigations module covers corruption, doping, athlete welfare, financial irregularity and governance failure. Several recent MA Sports Journalism graduates have published investigations on these topics in national titles and specialist outlets.

Can I take the MA Sports Journalism part-time?

Yes. The MA Sports Journalism can be taken over two years part-time, with online and distance modes designed for working sports journalists and freelancers. Most working students complete the longform capstone in the second year.

Will MA Sports Journalism students get press accreditation?

Press accreditation is granted by governing bodies and clubs to working journalists. MA Sports Journalism students working for established outlets through tutor-supported placements and freelance arrangements typically gain accreditation through those routes during the course.

How much football vs other sports does the MA Sports Journalism cover?

The MA Sports Journalism is broad — football, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, women's sport, e-sports — with personal specialism through the longform capstone. Football is dominant in UK sports journalism so it gets significant attention, but the MA assumes students will work across sports.

What fees, scholarships and instalments are available?

Fees for the MA Sports Journalism vary by mode, intake and student status. LSJHML offers automatic scholarship review for every applicant, instalment plans and a small sports-journalism scholarship pool. Contact admissions for the current schedule.

MA Sports Journalism in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA Sports Journalism at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for working sports journalists, sports-press freelancers and Bachelor's graduates aiming directly at senior-track sports reporting roles. The course is built in dialogue with the Sports Journalists' Association of Great Britain and the National Union of Journalists.

You will work through advanced sports reporting across print, digital and broadcast, build a substantial published portfolio, learn sports-investigations craft and the contemporary sports-business landscape, and produce a 12,000–15,000-word longform piece or dissertation on a sports-journalism subject.

Key Features

UK Master's degree — one year full-time or two years part-time, with online and distance routes available.
Advanced sports reporting across print, digital and broadcast, with industry-experienced tutors.
Sports-investigations module covering corruption, doping, athlete welfare, financial irregularity at Master's depth.
Longform sports features module — research-driven athlete profiles, immersive features, sports culture pieces.
Sports-business module — broadcast rights, governance, the contemporary economics of professional sport.
12,000–15,000-word capstone — a longform piece or research dissertation, supervised by a working senior sports journalist.

What You Will Learn

The MA Sports Journalism is structured around the working life of a senior sports journalist — match, feature, investigation, broadcast, defend. You finish able to file a sports investigation that stands up in court, write a 5,000-word profile that holds a national audience, and produce a Master's dissertation on a question facing sports journalism.

Advanced match reporting — running copy, deadline filing, the wash-up at Master's standard.
Longform sports features — athlete profile, immersive feature, sports-culture piece.
Sports investigations — corruption, doping, athlete welfare, financial irregularity, governance failure.
Broadcast sports at advanced level — TV package, radio package, podcast at Master's standard.
Sports business — broadcast rights, governance, contemporary economics of professional sport.
Sports law — defamation, contempt during proceedings, betting integrity, athlete-image rights.
Sports media ethics — gambling proximity, athlete mental health, contributor care.
Dissertation research methods — design, mixed methods, industry-engaged research.

Who This MA Is For

Working sports journalists with two-plus years' experience moving into senior-track roles.
Bachelor's graduates in sports journalism, journalism or media aiming directly at national or specialist sports desks.
Career-changers from coaching, athlete management or sports-business backgrounds moving into accredited sports journalism.
Fan-media writers and podcasters with strong portfolios ready for a Master's credential.

Career Pathways

The MA Sports Journalism supports progression into senior sports-press, broadcast and editorial-leadership roles across UK and international sports media. Typical post-MA destinations include:

Sports Reporter (national title, senior agency desk, specialist publisher)
Match Correspondent (national title, agency, broadcaster)
Sports Features Writer (national title, longform digital publisher, weekend supplement)
Broadcast Sports Journalist (BBC, national commercial broadcaster, podcast network)
Sports Editor (regional title, specialist publisher, broadcaster sports desk)
Sports Investigations Specialist (national title, specialist NGO, podcast network)

The MA also supports launching an independent sports-media venture or progression into editorial leadership at established sports publishers.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in journalism or a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant sports-writing experience.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, sports-writing background and intended specialism.
Two academic or professional references.
Strong sports-writing sample required at application.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.