Best Universities for Sports Journalism in the UK 2027
York St John University ranks first for sports journalism in 2027 with a score of 91, seven points ahead of the University of Lincoln on 84. Liverpool John Moores University is third with 82, and the University of Gloucestershire completes the top four on 80. The Unifresher ranking compares 22 universities with complete subject-level results across eight measures.
Sports journalism degrees train you to report, interview, write and broadcast about sport, usually alongside the same media law and ethics that every journalist needs. Most courses are heavily practical, with newsroom days, match reporting and work experience built in. That makes the city you live in, what it costs and how much is going on around you part of the course, not an afterthought.
Why this ranking is student-first: sports journalism is a hands-on degree where much of your learning happens in newsrooms, at matches and on placements. Good teaching and support matter, but so does whether the city is affordable, safe and lively enough to report on for three years. Unifresher scores both sides together.
Top universities for sports journalism in 2027
York St John leads by seven points, with the only 100% teaching result in the table and 100% academic support. Lincoln is second with 96% support and one of the cheapest cities in the ranking, while Liverpool John Moores records the strongest social-life score at 83. Gloucestershire takes fourth with 89% teaching quality and 94% support.
York St John University
York
The only 100% teaching result in the table, plus 100% academic support. Its course is accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council.
University of Lincoln
Lincoln
Second overall with 96% support and the fourth-lowest cost index. The course is NCTJ-accredited and includes shorthand in year one.
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool
The highest social-life score in the ranking, with 96% for both teaching quality and academic support. The course is NCTJ-accredited.
University of Gloucestershire
Cheltenham, Gloucester
Fourth, with 89% teaching quality and £25,000 graduate earnings, matching the table median. The degree is BJTC-accredited.
How the sports journalism ranking works
Eight measures make up the final score
Each university is ranked on eight measures, and those ranks are added together to give the overall score. Higher totals rank more strongly. Cost of living is treated as an affordability measure, so a lower cost index earns the stronger position.
Sports Journalism University Rankings 2027
Search or sort all 22 ranked universities. The wider table also shows the safety, cost, social-life and sustainability measures that feed into the score.
| Rank | University | Graduate earnings | Satisfaction | Teaching | Academic support | Safety index | Cost index | Social life | Sustainability | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | York St John University York | £18,000 | 80% | 100% | 100% | 72.87 | 73 | 79 | 60.7 | 91 |
| 2 | University of Lincoln Lincoln | £25,000 | 78% | 69% | 96% | 74.41 | 63 | 76 | 55.0 | 84 |
| 3 | Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool | £20,000 | 72% | 96% | 96% | 51.45 | 68 | 83 | 68.6 | 82 |
| 4 | University of Gloucestershire Cheltenham, Gloucester | £25,000 | 76% | 89% | 94% | 61.91 | 69 | 72 | 56.4 | 80 |
| 5 | University of Sunderland Sunderland | £25,000 | 74% | 81% | 88% | 55.29 | 62 | 75 | 56.3 | 75 |
| 6 | Bournemouth University Bournemouth | £25,500 | 71% | 84% | 86% | 53.92 | 70 | 80 | 75.6 | 74 |
| 6 | University of Winchester Winchester | £27,000 | 82% | 89% | 89% | 77.50 | 78 | 72 | 46.4 | 74 |
| 7 | Birmingham City University Birmingham | £26,000 | 69% | 91% | 95% | 36.06 | 70 | 78 | 71.1 | 72 |
| 8 | Leeds Beckett University Leeds | £25,000 | 70% | 74% | 88% | 54.87 | 68 | 80 | 57.1 | 66 |
| 8 | University of Brighton Brighton | £25,000 | 72% | 81% | 88% | 60.55 | 79 | 82 | 53.3 | 66 |
| 8 | University of Salford Salford | £24,500 | 73% | 85% | 76% | 39.42 | 68 | 78 | 77.0 | 66 |
| 8 | University of South Wales Pontypridd | £19,500 | 72% | 78% | 70% | 58.82 | 60 | 75 | 58.6 | 66 |
| 9 | University of Northampton Northampton | £24,000 | 75% | 96% | 100% | 45.44 | 65 | 71 | 40.7 | 65 |
| 10 | Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield | £20,500 | 73% | 77% | 82% | 57.09 | 68 | 79 | 55.1 | 63 |
| 10 | University of Stirling Stirling | £25,500 | 78% | 81% | 90% | 53.55 | 62 | 72 | 29.2 | 63 |
| 11 | University of Lancashire Preston | £24,000 | 71% | 93% | 95% | 30.72 | 64 | 72 | 54.3 | 62 |
| 12 | Leeds Trinity University Leeds | £25,000 | 78% | 79% | 91% | 54.87 | 68 | 72 | 38.5 | 60 |
| 12 | Solent University Southampton | £28,000 | 71% | 84% | 91% | 46.71 | 69 | 75 | 47.3 | 60 |
| 13 | Teesside University Middlesbrough | £19,500 | 78% | 90% | 96% | 49.78 | 73 | 75 | 33.0 | 57 |
| 14 | University of Chester Chester | £21,000 | 78% | 68% | 77% | 78.44 | 67 | 73 | 24.0 | 55 |
| 14 | University of Derby Derby | £25,000 | 74% | 77% | 64% | 56.57 | 66 | 74 | 52.7 | 55 |
| 15 | University of East London London | £25,000 | 68% | 60% | 75% | 44.41 | 91 | 74 | 53.5 | 32 |
What the sports journalism ranking shows
York St John University ranks first
York St John University leads with a score of 91, 7 points clear of second place.
Solent University
Solent University has the highest graduate-earnings figure at £28,000.
University of Winchester
University of Winchester records the strongest student-satisfaction result at 82%.
York St John University
York St John University is the only ranked university with 100% teaching quality.
York St John University and University of Northampton
York St John University and University of Northampton all reach 100% for academic support.
University of South Wales
University of South Wales has the lowest cost-of-living index in the table at 60.
What this ranking tells you about studying sports journalism
Sports journalism sits where two things students care about meet: sport and storytelling. The best courses treat it as journalism first, with media law, ethics, interviewing and newsroom production, then add sport-specific skills such as match reporting, live coverage and sports features. This ranking shows which universities combine strong course results with a city that works for students, and the sections below explain what to check on the course pages before you apply.
York St John leads on teaching and support
York St John's Sports Journalism BA (Hons) runs for three years full time, or six years part time, and is accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC). First-year students study media law, including court reporting, defamation and privacy, and observe live court cases in York. In the third year, a work-experience module asks you to spend 200 hours in a professional media environment. The university also lists live projects with external clients such as BBC Radio and Aesthetica magazine, and student stories can be published by local outlet York Mix.
Students work with a newsroom, TV and radio studios and editing suites, and can contribute to The Yorkie, the university's news website, and the Students' Union radio station. York St John lists graduate roles such as digital sports copywriter, broadcast journalist and sports web content manager, which shows how broad the course is beyond writing match reports.
In the data, York St John is the only university with 100% teaching quality, and it shares the top academic-support result of 100% with Northampton. Its 80% satisfaction is second only to Winchester. Its graduate earnings figure of £18,000 is the lowest in the table, £7,000 below the £25,000 median. York St John ranks first because it is strong on six of the eight measures, not because its graduates earn the most. More on that trade-off below.
Why Unifresher looks beyond graduate earnings: Solent University has the highest graduate earnings in the table at £28,000 but finishes joint 12th, while York St John has the lowest at £18,000 and ranks first because it leads on teaching, support and satisfaction.
Lincoln: NCTJ training in an affordable city
Lincoln's Sports Journalism BA (Hons) is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), and the university says it pays for students to sit the NCTJ Diploma, although resit fees are yours. Shorthand is a core module in the first year and optional in the second, aiming at the 100 words per minute standard. Media law runs through Essential Law and Crime Reporting in year one and Law, Ethics and Regulation in year two. There is also an optional 39-week paid industry placement between the second and third years.
Students produce work in newsrooms with print production software, and broadcast students use radio and TV studios, including a TV studio with virtual studio technology. A Journalism International Exchange option also lets you spend a term studying abroad.
Lincoln scores 96% for academic support and has the third-highest safety index in the table at 74.41. Its cost index of 63 is the fourth lowest. The weak spot is teaching quality: 69% is the third-lowest result in the ranking, so it is worth asking current students how teaching works in practice.
Liverpool John Moores pairs strong teaching with a big sporting city
LJMU's Sports Journalism BA (Hons) is NCTJ-accredited, and the university pays for the first attempt at NCTJ assessments, subject to attendance. A first-year law and ethics module prepares students for the NCTJ media law and broadcast regulation exams, and shorthand is available as an elective. In the third year, a Journalism Careers module asks for evidence of a placement or similar work-based learning. LJMU says alumni have worked in communications for organisations including FIFA, the EFL, Liverpool and Everton.
LJMU records 96% for both teaching quality and academic support, and its social-life score of 83 is the highest in the table. Liverpool's safety index of 51.45 is lower than the other top-four cities, and its £20,000 earnings figure is below the median, which is why it finishes two points behind Lincoln. Teaching takes place in the Redmonds Building on the Mount Pleasant campus, with newsrooms, edit suites, radio and podcast studios and a TV studio. The NCTJ also notes that students build a portfolio of published work on the Mersey Sport Live website.
Gloucestershire completes the top four
The University of Gloucestershire's BA (Hons) Sports Journalism is a three-year course accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council, according to the official Discover Uni course listing. Check the module list and work-experience arrangements directly with the university, because those details can change between entry years.
Gloucestershire is the most even of the top four. It records 89% teaching quality, 94% academic support and 76% satisfaction, and its £25,000 earnings figure sits exactly on the table median. It does not top any single measure, but it has no very weak result either, which is how it reaches 80 points.
Why the lowest earnings can still top the table
York St John has the lowest graduate earnings in the ranking at £18,000, yet it ranks first. That looks odd, so it is worth being clear about why. Each university is ranked on eight measures and those ranks are added together. York St John comes bottom on earnings and its cost index of 73 is on the expensive side, but it is top for teaching, joint top for support, second for satisfaction and in the top five for safety, social life and sustainability. Two weaker measures cannot outweigh that many strong ones.
The opposite happens at Solent University. Its £28,000 is the highest earnings figure in the table, but it finishes joint 12th with 60 points. Winchester has the highest satisfaction at 82% and earnings of £27,000, yet a cost index of 78 and a sustainability score of 46.4 keep it in joint 6th. At the bottom, the University of East London has the highest cost index at 91 and the lowest teaching result at 60%, which leaves it 15th. If early pay is your priority, sort the table by earnings, but remember those figures only cover the first year or so after graduating.
NCTJ or BJTC accreditation
Two bodies accredit most UK journalism degrees. The NCTJ offers the Diploma in Journalism, a level 5 qualification that many accredited degrees let you take alongside your course. The BJTC accredits courses that focus on broadcast, online and multimedia journalism. Among the top four, Lincoln and LJMU are NCTJ-accredited, while York St John and Gloucestershire are BJTC-accredited.
Neither is a legal requirement to work in sport media. The NCTJ route suits students aiming at print and digital news, while BJTC courses lean towards broadcast and multimedia. Look at job adverts for the roles you want and check which qualifications they mention. If you choose an NCTJ course, also check who pays the exam fees, because Lincoln and LJMU both cover the first attempt but not every university does.
Shorthand and media law
Media law is non-negotiable for a reporter. The NCTJ Diploma has a compulsory module on media law and regulation, including an introduction to court reporting, and York St John's first-year law module also covers the Ofcom broadcasting code. Lincoln, LJMU and York St John all teach media law in the first year.
Shorthand is different. In the NCTJ Diploma it is an elective, and the industry standard is 100 words per minute, which is needed for the NCTJ's gold standard if you take it. Lincoln makes shorthand core in year one, while LJMU offers it as an option. York St John's course page does not mention shorthand, so ask at an open day if it matters to you. Shorthand is most useful for press conferences, court and print reporting, and less central for broadcast or social video roles.
Work experience and your portfolio
Sports editors hire on evidence. You will be asked for published work, clips or audio, not just a degree classification. York St John builds in a 200-hour placement module, LJMU's final-year careers module expects a placement or similar, and Lincoln offers an optional placement year plus work on student outlets such as The Linc and LSJ News.
Check whether the university helps find placements or expects you to arrange them. Lincoln notes that students cover their own travel and living costs during work experience, which can add up if you report on weekend fixtures away from campus.
Student media counts too. Writing for a student paper, presenting on student radio or running a club's social channels all give you material to show an editor, and they are usually easier to fit around lectures than a formal placement.
Entry requirements
Sports journalism is not usually one of the most selective subjects, and no specific A levels are normally required. For 2027 entry, Lincoln asks for 96 to 104 UCAS Tariff points from at least two A levels, York St John asks for 104 points, and LJMU asks for BBC, or 112 points. York St John also asks for GCSE English Language at grade 4 or C.
A strong personal statement matters more than you might expect. Show that you already write, film or podcast about sport, whether for a school paper, a club website or your own channel.
Career routes beyond reporting
Graduates go into far more than match reporting. Lincoln lists roles including broadcast and podcast producer, digital content creator, video journalist and sports PR executive, and LJMU points to communications teams at clubs and governing bodies. Lincoln also lists freelance work as a common path.
The National Careers Service describes newspaper journalism as a job with evening, weekend and bank holiday work, which is especially true in sport. If you want a wider view of the field, compare this table with the journalism ranking and the media and communication ranking.
Graduate earnings in context
The earnings figures range from £18,000 to £28,000, with a median of £25,000. They come from the Graduate Outcomes survey, which asks graduates about their work around 15 months after finishing. At that point many sports journalism graduates are freelancing, working part time or in junior content roles, so the figures are an early snapshot rather than a career forecast.
For comparison, the National Careers Service lists a typical starting salary of £24,000 for a newspaper journalist and £45,000 for an experienced one. Treat the table as a guide to how quickly graduates find paid work, not to how much you will earn later.
Living costs and the city
Lincoln's cost index of 63 and York St John's 73 are both well below London's 91. The cheapest city in the table is Pontypridd, home to the University of South Wales, at 60. A cheaper city leaves more money for travel to fixtures, kit and unpaid work experience, which most sports journalism students do at some point.
Rent is usually the biggest cost, so compare halls and private housing before you choose. Our guide to student accommodation costs explains what to budget for.
How to use the ranking when choosing a sports journalism degree
Choose NCTJ or BJTC
Decide whether you want print and digital training with the NCTJ Diploma or a broadcast-focused BJTC course, then check who pays the exam fees.
Check shorthand and law
Media law should be compulsory. If you want print or court reporting, look for shorthand taught towards 100 words per minute.
Look at placements
Find out how many hours of work experience are built in and whether the university helps arrange them.
Think about the sport around you
A city with clubs, fixtures and events to cover gives you more chances to build a portfolio while you study.
Related Unifresher rankings and student guides
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best university for sports journalism in the UK in 2027?
York St John University ranks first in the 2027 Unifresher sports journalism ranking with an overall score of 91. University of Lincoln is second with 84. Liverpool John Moores University is third with 82.
How many universities are included in the sports journalism ranking?
The published 2027 ranking compares 22 universities with complete subject-level results. Several universities share positions, so the ranking runs from first to 15th while containing 22 institutions.
What graduate earnings are shown for sports journalism?
The graduate-earnings figures range from £18,000 to £28,000, with a median of £25,000 across the 22 ranked universities. Solent University has the highest figure. These are comparative graduate outcomes, not guaranteed starting salaries.
When are graduate outcomes measured?
The Graduate Outcomes survey collects data about 15 months after students finish their course, so the earnings figures describe that point in a career rather than long-term pay.
Do I need a sports journalism degree to become a sports journalist?
No. Many sports journalists study general journalism, English or another subject, then add an NCTJ qualification or a postgraduate course. A sports journalism degree gives you three years of sport-focused practice, contacts and a portfolio, which can make it easier to get started.
What is NCTJ accreditation and does it matter?
The National Council for the Training of Journalists accredits courses that let you take its Diploma in Journalism, a level 5 qualification. Lincoln and Liverpool John Moores are NCTJ-accredited and pay for the first exam attempt, while York St John and Gloucestershire are accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council instead.
Do sports journalists need shorthand?
It depends on the role. Shorthand is valued for press conferences, court reporting and print work, and the industry standard is 100 words per minute. It is an elective in the NCTJ Diploma. Lincoln teaches it as a core first-year module, while other courses offer it as an option or not at all.
What A levels do I need for sports journalism?
No specific subjects are usually required. For 2027 entry, Lincoln asks for 96 to 104 UCAS points, York St John asks for 104 and Liverpool John Moores asks for BBC. Subjects with plenty of writing, such as English or history, help, and evidence that you already create sports content strengthens your application.
What is the difference between sports journalism and journalism degrees?
Both teach core reporting, media law and ethics, and many share modules. A sports journalism degree adds match reporting, sports features and coverage of the sports industry. A general journalism degree gives a wider spread of news and features, which can keep more options open if you are not sure sport is your long-term focus.
Is work experience part of a sports journalism degree?
Usually, but the amount varies. York St John includes a 200-hour placement module, Liverpool John Moores asks for evidence of a placement in the final year, and Lincoln offers an optional 39-week placement year. Check whether the university helps arrange placements and who covers travel costs.
Sports Journalism course and careers information
- Unifresher university rankings methodology for wider ranking context.
- Graduate Outcomes survey (HESA) for the 15-month graduate survey point.
- York St John University: Sports Journalism BA (Hons) for BJTC accreditation, entry requirements, the media law module and the 200-hour placement.
- University of Lincoln: Sports Journalism BA (Hons) for NCTJ accreditation, exam fees, shorthand, law modules and the placement year.
- Liverpool John Moores University: Sports Journalism BA (Hons) for NCTJ accreditation, exam fees, entry requirements, placements and alumni destinations.
- Discover Uni: University of Gloucestershire BA (Hons) Sports Journalism for course length and BJTC accreditation.
- NCTJ: Diploma in Journalism for the diploma's level, compulsory media law module and shorthand standards.
- Broadcast Journalism Training Council for what BJTC accreditation covers.
- National Careers Service: Newspaper journalist for typical salaries, working hours and routes into journalism.
