Journalism BA (Hons)

Study a practical journalism degree, led by professional journalists who have 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, covering everything from news, to sport, fashion, arts and entertainment.

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Overview

On BA (Hons) Journalism, 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 have 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 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.

Why us?

Our Journalism courses are 13th in the UK (Guardian University Guide, 2023)
Learn from inspirational staff who have worked as senior journalists online, in print and on air
This course is accredited by the National Council for Training of Journalists (NCTJ). The NCTJ diploma is an essential qualification for many journalism jobs. Learn more about the benefits of studying an NCTJ-accredited course.

Network with and learn from a range of guest speakers who work in the industry. Recent guest speakers include award-winning journalist and BBC newsreader, Huw Edwards, who visited us in October 2022. Learn more about Huw's visit.
Get published from day one in the mediaHUB, our bustling multimedia newsroom
Our graduates now work at Sky News, The Guardian, the Daily Mirror, the BBC, Closer magazine and regional newspaper groups Reach, JPIMedia and Newsquest

Join our creative community: @SunderlandCreative #WeAreCreative

Get to know Spark, Fashion North and Sportsbyte, our students' award-winning websites for local news, local sport, fashion and arts and entertainment.

Our partners, accreditations and networks

Course structure

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, we will 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, try your hand at video, audio and social media journalism and develop your online skills in Advanced Digital Storytelling. 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 will 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.

Part-time study

If you study this course on a part-time basis, you will typically complete 40-80 credits in a year, rather than the 120 credits of full-time students. All modules are taught during the day time and you will be studying alongside full-time students.

Year 1 (national level 4):

Core modules:

Essential Media Law and Regulation (20 credits)

Learn the laws and ethical codes journalists must consider when preparing and publishing legally-safe and ethically-responsible content for print, online, broadcast and social media platforms. Explore areas including anonymity, libel, privacy, copyright, contempt of court and other statutes which affect journalistic practice and output.

Media Histories (20 credits)

Trace the evolution of the mass media from the advent of print journalism in the 16th century, through the establishment of the press, radio and television industries to the multi-platform digital and online technology of today.

Essential Journalism (20 credits)

Learn role of the journalist and the range of practical skills needed to produce news, magazine and sports content, including research, newsgathering, interviewing, copy presentation and writing style.

Digital Storytelling (20 credits)

Develop digital skills for an online audience such as infomaps, graphics and other non-traditional storytelling techniques.

Feature Writing (20 credits)

Learn to write journalism in a more creative manner, using a sense of voice and some of the techniques of creative writing to produce informative, entertaining, and occasionally provocative articles for print and online. Look at aspects of journalistic style and consider the work of great feature writers and columnists.

Optional modules (choose one) (20 credits):

Choose from a range of modules including: Essential Fashion Journalism; Online Sports Reporting; Introduction to PR Theory and Practice; Making of Popular Culture Style Icons and Subcultures; Club Journalism.

Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

Year 2 (national level 5):

Core modules:

Advanced Feature Writing (20 credits)

Learn how to write in a range of feature styles. Discover how to put together a long-form article that provides background and context for a news story. Build on the review-writing skills you acquired in your first year. Experiment with first-person profiles and discover the world of B2B writing.

Design and Production Journalism (20 credits)

Learn industry-standard production and design skills using professional software, while experimenting with tools for print and digital platforms. Build a critical awareness of the key elements of page design, grid structures, image manipulation and graphics and their relationship with magazine, paper and digital outlets, including editing copy and taking pages from concept to delivery.

Essential Journalism 2 (20 credits)

Build on the principles and practice of journalistic thought and apply them to online reports in a newsroom setting. Learn how to produce stories for online platforms, edit and proof-read them, present them effectively, add interactive elements and publish them.

Social, Audio, Visual (40 credits)

Learn the skills needed to produce, record and edit audio and video content for use across social and web platforms. Explore the various approaches and best practices that continue to evolve in audio and video journalism. Discover how to generate awareness, engagement and conversion on social platforms, and how to build and engage audiences and communities in digital spaces.

Optional modules (choose one) (20 credits):

Choose from a range of modules including: Public Affairs Reporting; Fashion Journalism Newsdays; Fashion Styling; Practical PR Theory and Strategy; Advanced Sports Reporting; Club Journalism.

Shorthand (0 credits)

Learn Teeline, the system of rapid handwriting used by journalists to quickly capture the spoken word. Aim for 100 words per minute, the industry standard.

Final year (national level 6):

Advanced Digital Storytelling (20 credits)

Explore new and emerging digital storytelling techniques that will help your work to thrive in an online space. Build on the traditional newsgathering and newswriting techniques you have covered so far. Learn how to create immersive news journalism using a wide range of interactive techniques. Thrive in newsrooms today, and for the next decade.

Journalism Placement and Employability (40 credits)

Prepare for graduate employment by creating a professional employability pack. Develop advanced understanding of the commercial, organisational, marketing and publishing facets of the journalism industry through workshops and lectures. Carry out a ten-day placement at a pre-approved media organisation with learning outcomes reflected in a logbook.

Journalism Practical Project (40 credits)

Plan and produce a piece of original work, such as writing and designing a magazine, researching and writing a series of in-depth investigative articles, setting up a website with appropriate content, producing a TV or radio documentary or creating a magazine or current affairs programme.

Optional modules (choose one) (20 credits):

Choose from a range of modules including: Online Investigative Journalism; Popular Music Cultures; Broadcast Sports Reporting; Advanced Public Relations; Advanced Fashion Journalism Newsdays; Advanced Fashion Styling; E-Commerce; Sports News Portfolio.

Facilities

The David Puttnam Media Centre is a thriving place to study and experience media. Volunteer with award winning radio station Spark Sunderland, write for one of our suite of websites or edit Spark Magazine in our mediaHUB. Get hands-on in TV and radio studios and digital editing suites. Learn from experts in this centre of excellence for training.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is:

Qualification	Minimum grade
High School Diploma along with one of the following at the required grade: SAT I and SAT II, ACT or Advanced Placement	GPA 3.0 or above and: Sat score of 1100/1600 from SATs AP (Grades 3+ in at least 2 subjects) ACT (score of 26+)

If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.

If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk for further advice.

If English is not your first language, please see our English language requirements.

If you are studying an HND or Foundation Degree you may be able to enter the final year of our degree courses. For more information, please contact studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk.

As part of our NCTJ accreditation, we will also invite you to an informal interview. We’d like to hear about you, why you’re interested in journalism, and tell you a bit more about our course and what makes us special.

Is your qualification not displaying here? For international qualifications, search our full list of international entry requirements for this course.

Fees and finance

The annual, full-time fee for this course is:

£9,250 if you are from the UK/Europe*
£14,000 if you are an international student

Tuition fees for part-time students are £6,935 per 120 credits. Please note that part-time courses are not available to international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK.

*European Union (EU), EEA (European Economic Area), and Swiss nationals who do not qualify for the EU Settlement Scheme are classed as international, however, for 23/24 admission you will receive a European student fee scholarship and will pay the home tuition fee rate for the duration of your studies. The discounted fee will be reflected in your offer letter. Learn more in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the Your Finances section to find out about the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career ready

This degree prepares you for a wide range of careers in newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, public relations and new media industries. It is also highly relevant to many positions in industry, commerce and the Civil Service, as well as to jobs in the arts and voluntary sectors.

Real-world experience – right on campus

You have the opportunity to be actively involved in Spark Sunderland, the 24/7 community radio station. Spark is award-winning and consistently recognised at the Student Radio Awards, Community Radio Awards and the prestigious New York Festival Radio Awards for many years. Students are responsible for all news-gathering, programme production and advertising.

Superb industry links

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, and Alastair Stewart, presenter at GB News and formerly ITV News. Both regularly visit the University, along with a host of experienced journalists to give insight into the industry via masterclasses and lectures. Recently we welcomed award-winning journalist and BBC newsreader, Huw Edwards, who visited us in October 2022.

Broaden your horizons with inspiring trips – recently, students have enjoyed visits to Dusseldorf and to MediaCityUK.

Work placements

You will undertake a work placement module in your final year, though many of our students arrange placements across 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.

Join award winners

Our students and graduates have been making a splash, winning awards and prizes across the board:

BA (Hons) Journalism student Mariam Khattab won the 2020 NCTJ features category for her articles on the human rights of Muslims across the world
Joe Nicholson won the Sports Journalism Award in 2019 for his portfolio of work
Bethany Elsey, pictured, was shortlisted for Royal Television Society North East Student Award for Best Documentary
Alice Winney won the Royal Television Society North East Student Award for News 2017 for her story about flooding in Corbridge
BA (Hons) Journalism student Ryan Lim was shortlisted for Best Photographer in the National Student Publication Association (SPA) Awards 2017

Meet the students

I had an amazing time at university and the course helped me get my dream job as a journalist.

Callum Hodgson
I chose Sunderland because the facilities were superior to other universities I looked at

Ellie Young
I liked the idea of working with lecturers who had real-life knowledge of the industry

Jordan Davidson

Related courses

BA (Hons) Journalism with Integrated Foundation Year

Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries.

Page last updated: 25 November 2022

We aim to provide clear, accurate and timely information to prospective and current students. We continuously review and enhance course content in consultation with our students and the information provided on our website is the latest available. If you have received an offer from us to start a course, we will communicate any important changes to you in writing. We will always seek to ensure that our prospective students are fully aware of the basis on which they are accepting an offer.

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Journalism BA (Hons)

Overview

Why us?

Join our creative community: @SunderlandCreative #WeAreCreative

Our partners, accreditations and networks

Course structure

Year 1 (national level 4):

Core modules:

Optional modules (choose one) (20 credits):

Year 2 (national level 5):

Core modules:

Optional modules (choose one) (20 credits):

Final year (national level 6):

Optional modules (choose one) (20 credits):

Facilities

Entry requirements

Fees and finance

Career ready

Real-world experience – right on campus

Superb industry links

Work placements

Join award winners

Meet the students

Callum Hodgson

Ellie Young

Jordan Davidson

Meet the team — BA (Hons) Journalism

Related courses

Contact

Sign up to receive more information