Journalism BA (Hons)

Become the kind of journalist who can turn their hand to anything. Develop skills across the board – you’ll have news and magazine journalism at the core of your studies but you’ll be able to branch out into specialist areas from the whole of the journalism and communications spectrum. Graduate ready to meet the challenges of the industry head-on.

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Overview

On BA (Hons) Journalism you will learn all the essential skills of journalism, producing content for a wide range of print and online platforms. We will teach you how to write and research news stories and feature articles; you will 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 will 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, broadcasting, public relations, podcasting, scriptwriting and investigative journalism.

Graduate with both an honours degree and the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism, the industry-recognised qualification, significantly boosting your employability.

Why us?

Learn from inspirational staff who have worked as senior journalists online, in print and on air
Get published from day one in the mediaHUB, our bustling multimedia newsroom
Accredited by the National Council for Training of Journalists (NCTJ). The NCTJ diploma is an essential qualification for many journalism jobs

Our graduates now work at Sky News, The Guardian, the Daily Mirror, the BBC, Closer magazine and regional newspaper groups Trinity Mirror, JPIMedia and Newsquest
100% of our BA (Hons) Journalism graduates are in employment, further study or training within six months of graduating, according to DLHE 2016/17 (based on full-time, first degree, home leavers)

Join our creative community: @SunderlandCreative #WeAreCreative

Get to know Spark, Fashion North, Northern Lights, SR News, 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, develop your online skills in Multi-Platform News, and consider some of 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 such as Magazine Writing, Sports Writing, Investigative Journalism and Public Relations.

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):

Essential Journalism (20 credits)

Essential journalism toolkit – learn what a journalist does and how you can get started.

Media Histories (20 credits)

Look at how we came to be where we are today. Trace the development of mass communication from the birth of printing to the multi-platform digital media of the 21st century.

Feature Writing (20 credits)

If you love the work of such journalists as Caitlin Moran or Charlie Brooker, this is the module for you. Come here to find your voice as a writer!

Essential Media Law and Regulation (20 credits)

Learn laws such as copyright, privacy and libel along with the ethical regulations which are essential for every professional journalist.

Digital Storytelling (20 credits)

Develop skills in non-traditional storytelling techniques for an online audience.

Optional modules are also available (across all three stages) such as Magazine Writing, Fashion Journalism, Public Relations, Sports Journalism, Podcasting, Scriptwriting, Broadcasting, Media Theory.

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

Year 2 (national level 5):

Journalism and PR Studies (20 credits)

What influences the way journalists work? And how does journalism shape our world? Do some original research on a subject of your choice.

Video Journalism (20 credits)

Develop skills in shooting and editing video to create compelling content for online audiences.

Design and Production Journalism (20 credits)

Learn professional skills, using the latest software, to experiment with design for print and digital platforms. Essential for creating magazines.

Newsroom (20 credits)

Get published and build your portfolio by finding, researching, interviewing and writing news stories in our state-of-the-art mediaHUB.

Public Affairs Reporting (20 credits)

Discover how your public services work, learn the skills needed to uncover great stories and call to account those in power.

Optional module

Shorthand

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):

Multi-Platform News (20 credits)

Work on gathering original work for your portfolio using a range of journalistic styles.

Journalism Placement and Employability (20 credits)

Create an interactive CV, learn how to win jobs through interview techniques, and gain valuable experience during a two-week work placement. Develop your own magazine feature for publication with words, photos and video under real-world pressure.

Media Ethics (20 credits)

Examine the daily dilemmas and global challenges facing journalists.

Journalism Practical Project (40 credits)

Bring all your skills and knowledge together as you plan and produce a major piece of independent work. That could be a magazine, a series of in-depth articles or a website.

More about BA (Hons) Journalism at Sunderland

Discover more articles

The library is your gateway to information resources and services both on and off campus, all through a single search box. We have resources and support tailored for your course including: Newstream online full-text access to UK regionals, national, broadsheet and some international newspapers; Box of Broadcasts (BoB) an on-demand TV and radio streaming service; and The World Global Style Network - ideal for Fashion Journalists. See the journalism key resources for more information.

Access 1400 study places, including quiet and silent zones, 300+ PCs, group work hubs, online module reading lists and study skills support, all in our quality learning environments. You’ll have full use of two libraries, both with extensive opening hours. And ‘Live Chat’ enables you to access library support and help, from anywhere, 24/7.

We’re much more than a library, the University Library and Study Skills team are on hand to guide you throughout your studies on and off campus from embedded skills sessions, digital skills support to one-to-one and drop-in advice on research and academic skills.
Library support for Journalism
The mediaHUB is a bustling multimedia newsroom on the top floor of our David Puttnam Media Centre where you will get a real taste of life as a working journalist or social media manager.

BBC Newcastle have a team of journalists based here, and they are joined by visiting journalists from organisations such as Trinity Mirror (Newcastle Chronicle, Journal) and Johnston Press (Sunderland Echo).

The mediaHUB runs websites and social media channels covering sport, news, entertainments and fashion, provides the content for news bulletins on our award-winning radio station¿Spark, and is responsible for writing and editing Spark magazine.

The ground-breaking workspace is designed to be a professional environment and even has a cloud filled sky line, funky colour scheme and a shed for a meeting room. It includes plenty of workstations each with industry-standard software including NewsCutter, Burli and ENPS, and a Sky feed with two 40” plasma screens. The whole space is managed by an ex-Sky Journalist, who is on hand with her team to point you in the right direction.
mediaHUB
Learn in our 200 seat cinema and 7.1 surround sound facility. Get hands-on in our two broadcast-quality production studios complete with green room and changing facilities. Access four Steadicam rigs plus dolly, track and mini crane. Our field camera systems, comprises Blackmagic Ursa, Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro, Blackmagic 4K Production Camera and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, with associated location kits, lighting, field monitors and audio mixers.

Get experience with Made in Tyne & Wear, based in the Media Centre providing placements to students and jobs to several of our graduates.

Go on-air in one of five radio studios, including a larger radio drama studio and a transmission suite for Spark, our award winning student-run community radio station. Spark has a target audience of 15 to 24 year-olds and broadcasts 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Develop your skills in our digital audio post-production area with voice-over booths and 70 workstations with state-of-the-art HD Edit systems, including Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer and Premier Pro. You'll also use DaVinci Resolve for colour correction.
TV and radio studios
Map and directions

Facilities

The David Puttnam Media Centre is a thriving place to study and experience media. Rub shoulders with BBC Newcastle and Made in Tyne & Wear, which are both based in the building. 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

GPA 3.0 or above from High School Diploma along with one of the following at the required grade - SAT I and SAT II, ACT or Advanced Placement

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

We also require three passes at GCSE grade C or above, which must include Mathematics and English Language, or an equivalent qualification, for example; a minimum of Level 2 Key Skills in Communication and Application of Number. If you have studied for a new GCSE for which you will be awarded a numerical grade then you will need to achieve a grade 4 or above.

If English is not your first language we will require an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with an overall score of 6.0 and at least 5.5 or higher in each component: reading, writing, listening and speaking. An alternative approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) can also be considered if the applicant's element scores are equivalent to those required for IELTS.

If successful you will be required to attend an applicant day where you will have a short informal interview with an academic member of staff.

Fees and finance

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

£9,250 if you are from the UK / EU
£12,000 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 Tier 4 visa to study in the UK.

If you are unsure whether you qualify as a UK, EU or international student, find out 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.

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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

Rub shoulders with BBC Newcastle journalists, get advice from former Sky News journalists and see a newsroom in action at Made in Tyne & Wear, 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.

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 ITV News Correspondent Alastair Stewart. Both regularly visit 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.

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 was set up with the life skills and industry experience that enabled me to land my first job.

Bethany-Jane Elsey
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
The University of Sunderland is a hot bed of enthusiasm, expertise and initiative.

Josh Halliday
Everything I learnt at Sunderland has helped me get to where I am in my career today

Laura Wilson
I was encouraged to go as far as I could when dreaming up seemingly unattainable ideas.

Zoe Beaty

Meet the team

Related courses

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: 19 June 2020

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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):

Year 2 (national level 5):

Final year (national level 6):

More about BA (Hons) Journalism at Sunderland

3 ways Sunderland gives you the experience needed to be a journalist

Alastair Stewart: What it takes to become a journalist

Carole Watson: An insight into Journalism at Sunderland

Facilities

Entry requirements

Fees and finance

Career ready

Meet the students

Bethany-Jane Elsey

Ellie Young

Jordan Davidson

Josh Halliday

Laura Wilson

Zoe Beaty

Meet the team

Related courses

Contact

Sign up to receive more information