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This is a four-year version of our popular BA (Hons) Journalism course, with an integrated foundation year. Study a practical journalism degree, led by professional journalists who've worked for some of the UK’s biggest titles. Work closely with industry to learn the cutting-edge skills required to make your mark in the media. Become a journalist from the day you arrive and work for our award-winning radio station and websites.
On the BA (Hons) Journalism course, you'll learn all the essential skills of journalism, producing content for a wide range of print and online platforms while working in our own newsroom under the guidance of staff who've worked for the likes of the Mirror, Grazia, Private Eye, and many more. We'll teach you how to write and research news stories and feature articles; create video and interactive content; design newspaper, web, and magazine pages; and become adept in using all the latest digital storytelling tools for websites and social media. You'll also study the development of journalism and its principles and ethics.
A key element of this course is the range of optional subjects you can take. Among them are modules in sports writing, fashion journalism, public relations, and investigative journalism. You’ll significantly boost your employability by graduating with both an honours degree and the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism, which is the foremost industry qualification required by most employers in the media.
Teaching methods include lectures, news days, seminars, workshops, and group projects. All our teaching staff have worked as journalists and have strong links with regional employers and industry organisations. We also invite experienced industry professionals to carry out regular guest lectures and classes.
Assessment is split between portfolios of practical work, essays, examinations, reports, and presentations.
In the first year – the foundation year – you'll study five modules. After completion of this foundation year, you'll then move onto the Journalism honours degree course.
In the first year, we'll introduce you to different types of journalism and give you an understanding of media law and the latest digital storytelling techniques – it’s a great chance to see what kind of journalism suits you best.
During the second and third years, you’ll study topics in more depth. You’ll experience our newsroom in action, learn how to do newspaper, web, and magazine design, develop your online skills in multi-platform news, and consider some of the biggest global challenges facing journalism in media ethics. You’ll also undertake a shorthand course free of charge. Throughout your study, you can add to your skillset with optional modules.
In your final year, you'll go on a placement at any kind of journalism or communications organisation and you’ll undertake a project – a large-scale piece of journalism which will add significantly to the portfolio of work you can present to prospective employers.
The Integrated Foundation Year is specially designed to support you where you've just missed the grades required for direct entry onto a three-year degree, or if you have relevant work experience and are now looking to broaden your subject knowledge but want more time to develop study skills before starting your degree.
Entry requirements are provided for guidance only and we may offer you an entrance interview which will help us determine your eligibility for your chosen degree. This enables us to consider making you an offer if you're perhaps a mature student who has been out of education for a period of time, or you've gained significant knowledge and skills through employment rather than traditional education.
1. Normally a minimum of three Level 2 qualifications (NVQ, GCSE, or equivalent), including maths and English language at grade C or above** and a minimum of 40 UCAS Tariff points from Level 3 qualifications (e.g. A or AS Levels, T Levels, BTEC certificates/diplomas, access courses, or equivalent) OR
2. Demonstrable evidence of appropriate knowledge and skills acquired from at least three years of post-school work experience.
Find out how many points your qualifications are worth using the UCAS Tariff calculator.
If you're unsure of whether you think you might be suitable for the course, please contact us.
**If you've studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade, you'll need to achieve a grade 4 or above. Equivalent alternative qualifications are also accepted, such as Level 2 Key Skills in Communication and Application of Number.
If English isn't your first language, please see our English language requirements.
For more information about our Integrated Foundation Year courses please see our Help and Advice articles.
The annual fee for this course is £9,250 if you're from the UK/Ireland/EU settled/pre-settled.
If you're a full-time UK/Irish/EU settled/EU pre-settled student, you may be eligible to receive financial support to cover your fees for the full four years. UK and EU settled students may also be eligible to receive a maintenance loan.
Please note, this course isn't available to international students.
Learn more about settled status, pre-settled status, special discounts, visa requirements, and Common Travel Area (CTA) agreements for the Republic of Ireland applicants in our Help and Advice article.
Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.
This information was correct at the time of publication.
This journalism degree prepares you for a wide range of careers in newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, public relations, and new media industries. It's also highly relevant to many positions in industry, commerce, and the Civil Service, as well as to jobs in the arts and voluntary sectors.
Rub shoulders with BBC Newcastle journalists, get advice from former Sky News journalists, and see a newsroom in action at Tyne & Wear TV, a professional TV station run from our Media Centre.
You have the opportunity to be actively involved in Spark Sunderland, the 24/7 community radio station. Spark has won many awards including four golds at the Student Radio Awards 2012, and holds the Nations and Regions Award for Best Radio Station in the North East. Students are responsible for all news-gathering, programme production and advertising.
Be inspired by our academics and their strong industry contacts. Our experienced academics have years of industry expertise at high levels in print, online, and broadcasting, including the BBC, Daily Mirror, Grazia, Private Eye, and Sky.
Meet regional and national high-profile journalists such as Kevin Maguire, Associate Editor at the Daily Mirror and Visiting Professor in Journalism at the University. He regularly visits the University along with a host of experienced journalists to give insight into the industry via masterclasses and lectures.
Broaden your horizons with inspiring trips – recently, students have enjoyed visits to Dusseldorf and to MediaCityUK.
You'll undertake a work placement module in your final year, though many of our students arrange placements across all three years.
Recent BA (Hons) Journalism student placements include The Guardian, the Daily Mirror, and the Daily Mail. These placements are often the first step to a dream job in journalism.
Our students and graduates have been making a splash, winning awards and prizes across the board.
