Journalism BA (Hons)

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Get a solid grounding in journalism practices before specialising if you wish to. Get published from day one in the mediaHUB, our bustling multimedia newsroom, home to BBC Newcastle in Sunderland. Graduate with an NCTJ Diploma and a portfolio of published work to impress prospective employers.

Overview

This course gives you an understanding of the different types of Journalism, allowing you to explore and uncover your area of interest. You’ll have access to industry experts, placements, field trips and publishing opportunities that build your skills as a Journalist. Graduate with both an honours degree and the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism, the nationally recognised industry entry qualification, significantly boosting your employability as a journalist.

Increase your practical experience by taking on reporting, editing and/or managerial roles on one our websites covering sport, news, entertainment and fashion. Get involved in award winning Spark Sunderland or Spark magazine, all based in our innovative mediaHUB, BBC Newcastle’s home in Sunderland and host to visiting Journalists from organisations such as Trinity Mirror (Newcastle Chronicle, Journal) and Johnston Press (Sunderland Echo).

NCTJ Accredited Course Logo

Why us?

Accredited by the National Council for Training of Journalists (NCTJ)
Take advantage of facilities such as 360 degree cameras, the bustling mediaHUB, TV studios, radio studios and our 203-seater cinema
Rub shoulders with BBC Newcastle Journalists, based in our innovative mediaHUB
Broadcast weekly TV shows, present and produce on Spark Sunderland, our 24/7 FM radio station
All our teaching staff have worked as senior journalists

Our Journalism courses are in the top 25% in the UK for Student voice, according to the National Student Survey 2018
Superb industry contacts with regular masterclasses and news-days run by Sky News, Sky Sports News, BBC, ITV and Guardian journalists
Guaranteed placements, including opportunities at the biggest broadcasters in the world
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)

Course structure

Teaching methods include lectures, demonstrations, seminars, workshops, group projects and practical skills work. 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.

During the first year, we will introduce you to different types of journalism, give you an understanding of Media Law and online skills – it’s a great chance to see what kind of journalism suits you best. During the second and third years, you will study topics in more depth, you’ll experience our Newsroom in action and consider Multi-Platform News, and Media Ethics, and undertake a shorthand course free of charge. You'll also have optional modules in specific genres such as Magazine Writing, Sports Writing, Investigative Journalism, or Entertainments and Games Journalism.

In your final year, you will go on a placement to a newspaper or online news organisation and you’ll also 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)

Understand the development of the mass media from inception to present day.

Feature Writing (20 credits)

Develop your writing style and learn how to communicate clearly and effectively.

Essential Media Law and Regulation (20 credits)

What you can say and when can you say it. Essential for media professionals.

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 Media Photography, Magazine Writing, Fashion Journalism, Public Relations, Sports Journalism, Social Media Practice, Broadcast Journalism, TV/Radio Production, Foreign Languages, 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)

Examine various approaches to studying journalism and PR. Shorthand Learn the system of rapid handwriting, a skill used by journalists to quickly transcribe the spoken word.

Video Journalism (20 credits)

Find interesting stories, and shoot and edit them into compelling video content.

Design and Production Journalism (20 credits)

Use professional tools and software, experiment with design for print and digital platforms.

Newsroom (20 credits)

Experience the thrill of working in a live newsroom in our state-of-the-art Media Hub.

Public Affairs (20 credits)

Learn how to report power, how key organisations work and where to go to find the important stories.

Optional module

Shorthand

Learn the system of rapid handwriting, a skill used by journalists to quickly transcribe the spoken word.

Final year (national level 6):

Multi-Platform News (20 credits)

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

Journalism Practice, including placement (20 credits)

Gain valuable experience during a two-week work placement and learn how news organisations work.

Media Ethics (20 credits)

Explore the concepts of freedom of expression, looking at the conflicts between public interest and personal privacy.

Journalism Practical Project (40 credits)

Plan and produce a piece of independent work such as a magazine, a series of in-depth articles or a website. Shorthand Learn the system of rapid handwriting, a skill used by journalists to quickly transcribe the spoken word.

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, who are both based in the building. Volunteer with award winning 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, Journalism 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

Full-time fees

The annual fee for this course is:

£9,250 if you are from the UK / EU
£10,750 if you are an International student

Part-time fees

Tuition fees for part-time home and EU students are £5,000 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 not sure whether you qualify as a UK, EU or International student, find out more here.

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.

Employment

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.

Recent journalism graduates from Sunderland have gained jobs with employers such as Sky, MTV, The Guardian, Racing Post, ITV, Elle, regional newspapers and PR companies.

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 in our innovative mediaHUB.

You have the opportunity to be actively involved in Spark Sunderland, the 24/7 Community Radio station based in the Media Centre. 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.

Sunderland’s daily newspaper, The Sunderland Echo, has a weekly page called 'On Campus' that is written entirely by students at the University. It’s an opportunity to find and research your own stories, take photographs, meet deadlines and see your name in print

Other opportunities for real-world experience available on campus include Spark online magazine, the Fashion North website, the SR-News website, the Northern Lights website and SportsByte, which are all linked to our Journalism and Media courses.

Superb industry links

Be inspired by our academics and their strong industry contacts. Our experienced academics who have years of industry expertise at high levels in print, online and broadcasting including the BBC, Daily Mirror, Grazia, Private Eye and Sky.

Rub shoulders with 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 London fashion master classes, press access to Wembley finals and Europa league games at FC Schalke 04 in Germany.

Work placements

You can undertake a work placement module during your course. Placements can be with newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV and PR companies.

All students studying on-campus undergraduate Journalism courses can take up a CV-enhancing work placement, a University-led industry initiative, or a professional and business development boot camp. By the term placement, we mean we are offering you a taste of the industry which might last anything from two days to four weeks on a part-time basis.

Join award winners

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

Ben Holden won the NCTJ Sports Journalism award 2016, winning a space in the NFL press box at Wembley match to see the Washington Redskins and Cincinnati Bengals
Eve Conlon, took Bronze at The Charles Parker Prize 2016 for her piece Student Gamblers. and featured in a special programme on BBC Radio 4 Extra
Alice Winney, won the Royal Television Society North East Student Award for News 2017 for her story about flooding in Corbridge
Bethany Elsey, shortlisted for Royal Television Society North East Student Award for Best Documentary
Amy Stark, won NCTJ Best Student Project 2016 for her project Weird and Wonderful Subcultures
Luke Bidwell, highly commended NCTJ Student Sports Journalism Award 2016
Sophie Dishman, highly commended for Best Reporter in the National Student Publication Association (SPA) Awards 2017
Ryan Lim, shortlisted for Best Photographer in the National Student Publication Association (SPA) Awards 2017

The University of Sunderland was an amazing stepping stone to help me kick-start my career.

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

Josh Halliday
I was encouraged to go as far as I could when dreaming up seemingly unattainable ideas.

Zoe Beaty

Meet our academics

Alex Lockwood

Senior Lecturer

Alistair Robinson

Programme Leader for Journalism

Andrew Glover

Programme Leader for Broadcast Journalism

Carole Watson

Programme Leader for Fashion Journalism

India Adams-Norton

Academic Tutor in Journalism

Jenny Wotherspoon

Programme Leader Social Media Management

John Price

Senior Lecturer in Journalism

Kevin Maguire

Visiting Professor of Journalism

Lee Hall

Head of School of Media and Communications

Liz Lamb

Programme Leader in Magazine Journalism

Neil Macfarlane

Senior Lecturer in Online Journalism

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

BA (Hons) Journalism - programme specification (.pdf)

Page last updated: 14 August 2018

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