BA (Hons) Football Business & Media

UCFB degrees fall under three subject benchmark statements – Business and Management (2015); Events, Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism (2016); and Psychology (2016). Visit the QAA website to access each of these benchmark statements.

Please click here to download the BA (Hons) Football Business & Media programme specification documentation.

This module enables students to begin developing the Bucks Graduate Attributes associated with knowledge and its applications and creativity, which are essential for success in higher education and in the world of work. It encourages students to see the significant overlap between study skills and employability skills and provides the opportunity for students to reflect on and develop their existing abilities in both areas. The module will prepare students for successful progression to Level 4 academic study while allowing them to learn about and prepare themselves for employment in the twenty-first century through inquiry based learning, problem solving and critical and creative thinking.

This module complements Preparing for Success: Self Development and Responsibility which develops the Bucks Graduate Attributes associated with leadership and self-development and social and ethical awareness and responsibility. Both Preparing for Success: Knowledge and Creativity and Preparing for Success: Self Development and Responsibility are designed so that students can take them in any order

This module enables students to begin developing the Bucks Graduate Attributes associated with leadership and self-development and social and ethical awareness and responsibility, which are essential for success in higher education and in the world of work. It encourages students to see the significant overlap between study skills and employability skills and provides the opportunity for students to reflect on and develop their existing abilities in both areas. The module will prepare students for successful progression to Level 4 academic study while allowing them to learn about and prepare themselves for employment in the twenty-first century through inquiry based learning, problem solving and critical and creative thinking.

This module complements Preparing for Success: Knowledge and Creativity, which develops the Bucks Graduate Attributes associated with knowledge and its applications and creativity. Both Preparing for Success: Knowledge and Creativity and Preparing for Success: Self Development and Responsibility are designed so that students can take them in any order.

Delivery of this module is based on ‘confirmation inquiry’ – a foundational level of inquiry geared for developing students’ understanding of key concepts and themes as well as basic methodologies and approaches to academic work, relevant to the discipline of the individual student. Students will then have the opportunity to analyse a problem or question that relates to their subject area, making use of information gathered from various sources using different methods and strategies.

This module is one of the two subject modules studied during the Foundation Year. It can be taken in either semester one or semester two and does not assume or require and prior knowledge of the subject area.

The module provides students with the foundations of a range of concepts, models and practical skills related to the sports media industry. This module will introduce students to the basic skills, roles and responsibilities of the media.

The football business is a constantly growing global industry because of its increased popularity and revenues. The unique role that clubs play in society creates an environment that distinguishes the football business from other industries.

Administrators of the game need to respect and retain both its spirit and the impact of contemporary issues on its global operations. You will learn how different factors have influenced the development of the football business. Applying basic business theories, you will begin to understand the framework within which all football-related institutions coexist and the decision-making process of clubs, players, agents, governing bodies and other stakeholders.

The impact of the external environment, the supporters, ownership models of clubs and social context which has shaped the game will also be considered.

This module provides students with an understanding of the multi-faceted world of sports media and an appreciation of how the modern media relates to sport and the business of sport.

Sport plays a major role across all media platforms, including print, broadcast and online, and operates at multiple levels: as a source of content, as a competitive business tool in the pursuit of audiences, and as a forum and environment for social media discourse. Students will examine these at both practitioner and academic levels, gaining practical and theoretical knowledge of relevant skills and techniques.

This module examines our understanding of the football and sports consumer, their motivations, the difference between a ‘fan’ and a ‘customer’, and their level of involvement in purchasing decisions.

You will examine the unique relationship between the fan and the team and consider the growing number of supporter led organisations and their influence on the national game. In collaboration with other students, you will carry out market research using both primary and secondary research techniques to look at the characteristics of a football fan and their decision-making process, conducting research for the benefit of the sport and its interested parties.

This module considers the evolving digital environment and allows students to develop an understanding of how new technologies are used in, and impact upon, today’s media industry.

Students will be encouraged to explore how social and digital media can be used as news-gathering and information research tools and also as a means of publishing work suited to a range of audiences within an ethical and legal framework.

Students will develop a theoretical understanding of the adaptation of conventional skills to meet the demands of the digital age while expanding practical skills to enable them to work professionally in the digital arena.

This module examines football organisations from a functional perspective, considering the roles, operations and challenges impacting on the international business environment. The purpose of the module is to help you to become more familiar with key business functions and indicators of the different football associations and leagues around the world and their connection with their respective business environments.

This module introduces students to broadcast journalism, television and radio. Storytelling within the broadcast media is powerful and can shape public opinion, but with that comes ethical and intellectual responsibility. The importance of balanced and accurate stories will be explained across the module.

Students will be taught the practical skills of broadcast production, reflecting current advances within the broadcast profession. With the growth of 24-hour sport channels and web streaming, the opportunities in broadcast journalism have expanded and students need to be prepared for the challenges of a fascinating and exciting future.

In order to succeed in this competitive field, it is vital to be multi-skilled as broadcast professionals are often expected to be able to research, write, shoot and edit their own content. This module will teach students how to operate industry-standard television cameras, audio recorders and editing software. Students will learn to structure their work in a logical and coherent manner and produce TV and radio news assignments for clearly defined sport audiences. Assessment is via a portfolio of TV and radio packages. The radio assignment will take the shape of a match report, which will combine the student’s writing skills with the ability to conduct journalistically-strong and relevant post-match interviews.

Students will also be introduced to the growing importance of smartphone journalism, as well as the ethics of broadcast regulation, in particular the impact of the Ofcom Code on the broadcast journalism profession. Their knowledge of broadcast ethics will be assessed in a summative essay. By the end of this module, students will have received a comprehensive introduction to broadcast journalism.

The aim of this module is to provide the student with an understanding of research principles, a range of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and appropriate analysis for these. This will enable the student to develop the research skills and knowledge necessary to undertake an independent research project. Students will be provided with support in developing their writing style to incorporate citations and make use of referencing.

They will be introduced to Academic Journals and will use these to inform their understanding of the research approaches used in the sector. This will also serve to familiarise the learners with the role of Journals in their wider study. The final aspect of this module will introduce hypothesis testing, with learners making use of a computer package to undertake simple statistical tests commonly used within their subject area.

This module builds upon the skills acquired in Broadcast Journalism, and will allow students to create more advanced TV sports news stories. In pairs, students will demonstrate journalistic skill and rigour in gaining access to a sports news story; they will develop, film, write, present, narrate and edit the news story into a TV sports new package (CW1). This practical process will help them understand the importance of multi-skilled broadcast professionals in the industry today.

These stories will then be showcased in a TV studio show at the end of the module to which they will also contribute (CW2). This studio production will be their second assessed piece of practical coursework on this module. In groups, students will originate the look and content of the sports television programme that will contain four pre-recorded sports news stories (from CW1 above). Students will have individual roles within this ‘as live’ studio production including presenter, producer, floor manager, autocue operator and assistant director. The studio production will be assessed as per a carefully constructed marking grid that will reflect the following criteria:

• Choice of sports news content
• Production skills
• Journalistic and ethical rigour during content creation
• Good timekeeping
• Attendance and effective participation within the team
• Attention to deadlines
• Successful completion of role within production to standard required

This studio production process will further emphasise the importance of multi-skilled broadcast professionals within the industry as the digital media landscape changes and more localised, smaller-budget television news channels appear.

To demonstrate a contextualised understanding of this, students will also submit a 1,500 reflective essay referring directly to their roles and experiences within both the production of the news item and the more layered television studio project. They will reveal an understanding of the various production roles in programme-making and a recognition of the importance of being multi-skilled within the modern media environment.

This module is based around a work placement. Under the supervision of a lecturer, you are encouraged to demonstrate initiative by acquiring your own work placement and establishing contacts within the media industry; but the lecturer, who will already have extensive industry experience, will help and guide you through the process. You will also have the opportunity to gain work experience on a sports news website designed specifically for UCFB students where you will have an active role within the editorial team and create original content. You are asked to write a reflective journal that critically relates your work experience to your study on your chosen degree and training.

You will accompany this with the production of a portfolio which will include: a literature review on your chosen field within the media; a consideration of relevant professional and ethical concerns and samples of your work. This will enable you to showcase your skills and knowledge as well as your ability to extract information from a variety of primary and secondary sources. The aim of all this is to help in your search for employment in your chosen profession.

This module concentrates on the complexities of the range of issues, contexts and audiences facing organisations today. It recognises consumers’ and stakeholders’ growing awareness of the social contribution and impact of organisations, whether for profit or not for profit.

Students will build knowledge and skills in how to research the contexts and make recommendations for courses of action. Management will form a key aspect of this module – the management of internal and external relationships, crises, and corporate communications.

This module aims to provide students with the opportunity for independent learning through the completion of an individual, extended research project. The project requires a high level of individual application and commitment to research and enquiry. It provides students with the opportunity to identify, reflect upon and explore a topic that has implications for their own professional development.

This module introduces you to many of the challenging and complex contemporary issues that face journalists working in the rapidly-changing, and demanding, world of sport and the media.

It will allow you to build and consolidate knowledge and understanding of these issues within the broad arena of sport, media and culture in a discursive manner that will underpin your work in sports media. You will be encouraged to research events, themes and issues that have affected the work of the sports media and, in some cases, changed the structure and administration of sport and the behaviour of journalists.

• UCFB Wembley course code : FM1F
• Institution: U10
• Campus: W

• UCFB Etihad Campus course code: FM1F
• Institution: U10
• Campus: E

The minimum academic requirement for the degree course with Integrated Foundation Year is a 64 UCAS point score under the new UCAS tariff system.

Applicants will normally have achieved one of the following:

• A Levels with DDE or higher
• A BTEC Extended diploma grade MPP
• A BTEC Diploma grade MM
• A combination of BTEC and A-Level qualifications

Applicants are also expected to hold a GCSE grade C in Maths or English.

To be considered eligible for the programme, applicants must have completed at least two years of post-secondary education or work experience.

Applicants applying without the minimum required UCAS points can still be considered on a case by case basis and may be requested to attend an interview and assessment prior to receiving an offer.

International applicants will be asked to achieve IELTS for UKVI at grade 6.0 overall or above.

Enquiries are encouraged from anybody who does not meet the above criteria but would like to be considered for the programme. Please email admissions@ucfb.com for further advice.

International students

UCFB cannot currently sponsor non-EU students’ visas.

You will not need a visa to study in the UK if:

• You are a British citizen
• You are a citizen of a European Economic Area (EEA) member state or Switzerland
• You have a visa to stay in the UK for another purpose that allows you to study

If you are still unsure whether you would need a visa to study in the UK, or for more information, please contact admissions@ucfb.com.

• UCFB Wembley course code: FM10
• Institution: U10
• Campus: W

• UCFB Etihad Campus course code: FM10
• Institution: U10
• Campus: E

The minimum academic requirement for this degree course is a 96 UCAS point score under the UCAS tariff system.

Applicants will normally have achieved one of the following:

• A minimum of 2 A Levels including two C grades
• A BTEC Extended diploma grade MMM
• A BTEC Diploma grade DD
• A combination of BTEC and A-Level qualifications with at least two C graded A levels or Merit graded BTEC equivalents.
• International Baccalaureate (minimum of 28 points)
• An Advanced GNVQ in an appropriate subject at Distinction level
• An Access Course: minimum of 60 credits, including at least 45 at Level 3
• An equivalent level 3 qualification

Applicants should have a strong GCSE profile, including English at Grade 4 or Grade C, or equivalent and Maths at Grade 4 or Grade C (specifically for Football Business & Finance, Sports Business & Sports Law and Sport Psychology).

Other equivalent qualifications, including those from your own country, will be considered for entry.

Applicants for whom English is a second language will need a valid Academic IELTS certificate with an overall score of 6.0 with no lower than 5.5 in each component for entry on to a degree programme (Level 4). For applicants who require a TIER 4 Student Visa you will need an ‘IELTS for UKVI’ certificate.

All qualifications are subject to approval by the UCFB Admissions team, based on UKVI requirements.

We also welcome applications from mature students who may not possess the above qualifications but may have relevant experience.

All applicants will be expected to demonstrate a specific interest in their preferred area of study and should have a commitment to engaging with the subject through the academic programme and our complementary curriculum involving high profile guest speakers, master classes and short course opportunities.

International students

UCFB cannot currently sponsor non-EU students’ visas.

You will not need a visa to study in the UK if:

• You are a British citizen
• You are a citizen of a European Economic Area (EEA) member state or Switzerland
• You have a visa to stay in the UK for another purpose that allows you to study

If you are still unsure whether you would need a visa to study in the UK, or for more information, please contact admissions@ucfb.com.

Students are normally expected to start at Level 4, but can be admitted to any level of the course which is considered suitable, after portfolio review and interview, using the Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS). Under this arrangement, a student may apply to have previous academic credits or other learning or experience taken into consideration. Such applications are considered by the Faculty CATS committee and must be supported by the Academic Department.

The provision of a facility or service including accommodation may be subject to an additional charge (i.e. separate from tuition fees). Where this is the case, we will make this clear in advance and payment for such service shall be made in accordance with any additional contract made between you and the University.

In some instances, optional Employability & Enrichment activities provided by UCFB may carry an additional cost for participants (e.g. qualifications with external certification such as FA Coaching Badges). Any additional costs will be provided to students in advance of any such sessions running.

Students may need to buy a storage device, such as an SD card, to host their material in the broadcast modules in year two of the course. Costs for a SD or similar depend on the memory size. A typical 32GB card will cost around £10.

UCFB has a range of scholarship and bursary options to help with the cost of studying and to encourage students to embrace their time at UCFB and graduate with more than just their university degree. Click here to learn more.