Media & Performance

BA(Hons) Journalism

Why you should apply for this course.

Here is the news, and it’s good. We offer small, specialist classes with all the right equipment and training. Add our strong links with local newspapers, radio and television, and the result is a thriving course with successful students. Last year the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) named us as one of the top performing higher education journalism courses in Britain. The professionals respect what we do and we pride ourselves on producing skilled, thoughtful and critical journalists who can hold their own in a demanding industry. The figures show that not only do most of our graduates move into degree-level employment, most of those students are now successfully working in the fields of journalism, media and communication.

What is this course about?

From the start you learn the fundamentals of good journalism — finding stories, interviewing people and writing. You also study basic photography, the mysteries of shorthand, and because modern journalists need to be able to work with sound, pictures and video as well as words, we’ll teach you (in a very patient and friendly way!) to use a range of software and audio-visual equipment,. All students study theory modules, which puts their practical work into context. You find out about the owners and controllers of the media, discuss gender and representation, learn how the country is run and how the law works. All through your course you contribute to our  student newspaper, The Informer, in its print and online versions. Broadcast students study radio and television news – we have plenty of excellent facilities and equipment. You gain a solid grounding in all aspects of journalism, specialising in either print or broadcast journalism from the start of year two. As well as working towards your degree you can take professional exams set by the NCTJ—we even pay the fees for you. These qualifications are highly valued by editors and can give you an edge when applying for jobs. But a degree is more than training. You are expected to read widely to develop your own thinking and critical awareness. The course provides a balance between practical and theory. To succeed you’ll need energy, enthusiasm and commitment, and in return we’ll help you on your way to a promising career.

What do our students say?

“My degree set me up perfectly for a career in journalism and gave me all the skills needed to succeed.”

“The thing I most value about the course was the professional way in which it was delivered.”

“I really enjoyed the course—it was practical, challenging and extremely interesting.”

What can the course lead to?

This degree can lead straight to a job in newspapers, online journalism. radio, television or magazines. Graduating with a full set of NCTJ preliminary exams gives you a significant advantage in the jobs market. But the broad range of skills you gain here will give you a solid grounding for any job involving communication and writing. It could also be your key to further study at masters level.