Journalism BA(Hons)

Course structure

Our journalism courses have three main strands – two shared and one distinctive.

• Core journalism study (newswriting, law, shorthand, public administration, digital journalism, multimedia).
• A work placement, research methods module and dissertation.
• Option modules and applied subject modules, which allow you to specialise in an area of particular interest.

On top of these core elements, you learn skills in digital and multimedia journalism, which are becoming increasingly central to industry practice. You also take a work placement in the final year so you can experience a professional journalistic environment.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, we will inform you of any improvements or innovations to the curriculum through Student View.

Year 1 

You will gain a thorough introduction to journalism, learning to write news and features, make podcasts and videos, and use shorthand. You will also study ethics, government, political theory and critical approaches to journalism.

Modules

• Introduction to Journalism

  In this module you will be supported to produce a self-generated feature article on a subject of your choice. You will reflect on your own work in the perspective of the defining journalism of the past, the audiences, styles and platforms of the present day, and the innovations shaping the journalism of the future.

• News and Ethics

  This module develops fundamental skills for news reporting: newswriting, ethical practice and shorthand. You will learn to recognise, select and present news for specific audiences and platforms, and learn the techniques required to write publication-standard articles and apply them in defined scenarios. You’ll learn the theory of Teeline shorthand, develop speed to 60wpm and use it in the production of a news story. You'll also learn to locate news reporting practices in the context of specific regulatory and ethical codes.

• Public Administration for Journalists

  In this module you will develop a working knowledge and critical understanding of public administration as it affects journalists. This includes central and local government structures. In addition, you will learn the journalistic skills required to make sense of, record and accurately report central and local government activities and issues.

• Podcasting and Video

  This module will introduce you to multimedia journalism. You’ll learn how to produce a stand-alone audio podcast or video package suitable for web. You’ll learn about basic multimedia recording and editing techniques and will develop your audio-visual storytelling abilities on digital platforms.

• Introduction to Journalism Studies

  This module will introduce you to key debates in journalism studies. You will develop and apply your understanding of the central concepts and theories in journalism research, and examine journalism practice from a variety of perspectives. You will also develop graduate skills and a capacity for critical thinking and writing.

• Power and the Public Sphere

  How is public opinion formed? What influence does communication have on the creation and perpetuation of power relations in society? What is the role of journalism in democracy, and is it working?

  This module will enable you to identify and explore key concepts and debates in the critical study of politics and communication.

Year 2 

You will file reports from your own local news patch, design newspaper and magazine pages, edit websites, master social media and develop shorthand to professional speeds. You will also study media law and investigative journalism.

Modules

• Principles of Publication
• Specialist Portfolio
• Advanced News Journalism and Shorthand
• Media Law
• Digital Journalism
• Investigative Journalism and Critical Context

Final year 

The climax of the course is the Critical Investigation: a lengthy piece of investigative journalism, developed in one-on-one tutorials over the whole year, with an accompanying essay. You'll be supported to complete a two-week placement in industry, and pursue your own interests and talents with specialist options including broadcast, magazine and sport journalism.

Modules

• Critical Investigation
• Professional Practice
• Public Service Journalism

Options*

• Advanced Sport Journalism
• Power, Politics and the Sport Media
• Entrepreneurship for Journalists
• Magazine Journalism
• Documentary Practice

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Placements 

In your final year, the Journalism Work Placement module will take you out of the classroom and into a media or related environment. You’ll spend at least two weeks with the organisation.

Our employability hub will work with you to find a placement that meets your career aspirations. And we’ll support you leading up to the placement and keep in touch with you and your host during the placement.

As part of your placement you will keep a critically reflective learning log. Work you complete during your placement such as articles for print or web, videos, podcasts and radio or tv broadcasts will go towards your assessment.

Meet the team

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

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Course fees

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included, whilst studying a course in the School of Art are listed here.

• For most courses you will need to budget for the cost of specialist materials, equipment and printing and are likely to spend between £50–£300 per year.
• Costs in your final year of study are very likely to be higher than in earlier years as you bring together your final body of work and portfolio, and you may need to budget between £200 and £1,000.
• For some courses you may also need to budget up to £100 for specialist personal protective clothing which, with care, will last for the whole of your course and beyond.
• For most courses you will have the opportunity to attend field trips and off-site visits, for example to galleries, exhibitions and studios both in the UK and overseas. These are optional and are not required to pass your course. The amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken, and typically range between £100 and £700 across the duration of your course.
• You will have access to computers and necessary software at City campus and at other locations across the university. However, many students choose to buy their own hardware – usually a laptop, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.
• Course books and a wide range of magazines and journals are available in the university libraries. You do not need to have your own copies, but if you wish to, you should budget up to £200 over your course to buy them.
• For courses in which there is an optional placement year, you will need to budget for living costs (rent, food, travel etc) in that city/country, as if you were on site at the university.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships, as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2021–22.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

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