Journalism  BA (Hons)

Overview

City's BA Journalism course is aimed at the many students who have decided to make a career in journalism. It provides practical education and proficiency in print, broadcast and web journalism.

You will also study all the other subjects which are essential to a successful career, including shorthand, media law and government, and be able to choose between other courses including international news and web creation and design.

What is it like at City?

"I'm having the time of my life."

New BA Journalism student Caroline Are writes about her experiences so far in HerUni.com.

BA Journalism student video diary

Chart the progress of Callum Winterford, a first year student on the Journalism BA, during his studies by following his video diary. You can watch Callum's first diary entry below, and subscribe to the City Journalism YouTube channel for updates.

 


Entry Requirements:

Minimum 360 UCAS tariff points, typically AAA from three A-levels or equivalent (or AAB at A-level plus extra AS-level at C or above).
More...

Course Fees:

  • Full-time EU: £9,000
  • Full-time Non EU: £11,000

Start Date:

24 September 2012

UCAS code:

P500

How to Apply

Entry Requirements

Tariff Points

Minimum 360 UCAS tariff points, typically AAA from three A-levels or equivalent (or AAB at A-level plus extra AS-level at C or above)

Pre-requisites

You must also have GCSE grade C or equivalent in English language and maths or statistics.

Other Suitable Qualifications

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications, particularly those with relevant work experience and/or an access or foundation qualification.

INTO foundation programmes

If you do not qualify for direct entry, INTO City University London offers academic preparation programmes which focus on the skills you need.

Successful completion to the required standard  of the International Foundation in Business, Humanities and Social Science at INTO City University London means guaranteed progression to this degree.

English Requirements

  • IELTS 7.0

INTO English language programmes

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, INTO City University London offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.

Please click the links below for more information:

Visa Requirements

The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course at City, there are different rules for:

  • Students on courses of more than 6 months
  • Students on courses of less than 6 months
  • Students on a pre-sessional English Language course

For more information see our main Visa page.

When and Where

Start Date:
24 September 2012
Duration:
Full-time – three years or four years (including an optional year abroad or professional placement)

Course Content

This course is aimed at the many students who have decided to make a career in journalism. It provides practical education and proficiency in print, broadcast and online journalism as well as relevant studies in humanities such as politics and the history of journalism.

As well as practical journalism, you will also study all the other subjects which are essential to a successful career,including media law and government. You will be able to choose between other courses including Teeline shorthand, international news and visual journalism.

Course Structure

Year 1

Core modules:

Year 2

Core modules:

Three elective modules from:
  • History of journalism 2
  • Shorthand
  • A foreign language
  • Photography and visual journalism

Year 3

Core modules:
Two elective modules:

Teaching and Assessment

Teaching

Journalism teaching has a practical emphasis. You will spend much of your time in small workshops learning skills such as reporting a speech, presenting a radio news broadcast, interviewing and preparing page layouts on screen. You will produce news and feature stories regularly. As professional work experience is the key to getting a job in journalism, you are expected to arrange a variety of placements during your degree and we advise on setting this up.

Modules are taught through a combination of:
  • lectures and seminars
  • project work
  • reporting assignments at outside bodies (such as courts, council meetings, press conferences, public meetings)
  • timed assignments
  • lectures by visiting speakers from various journalistic, political and campaigning backgrounds
  • production of magazines/broadcast bulletins/websites
  • independent study/research/library work
  • work attachments (recorded and evaluated)
  • freelance work
  • production of portfolios of work
  • presentations to seminars
  • examinations and assignments under controlled conditions

How will I be assessed?

Assessment is weighted towards coursework, and coursework assignments are submitted weekly. Coursework is usually worth between 60 and 75 per cent of the overall module, and the examination worth 25 per cent, although this varies across modules. For the humanities courses such as politics and history, the assessment is split 50-50 between coursework and examination.

Study Abroad

You can take the second term of the second year out on one of the many exchange programmes arranged by City to journalism schools abroad. There are exchange programmes in Canada, Australia, the US, Hong Kong, France, Denmark, the Netherlands and Spain. It is also possible to spend a third year on a work placement or paid work in the industry. Students who undertake the year out, thus completing a four year degree, find this beneficial.

Fees

  • Full-time EU: £9,000
  • Full-time Non EU: £11,000

Please note:

UK/EU students - The fees for UK/EU students rise each year by the rate of the cost of living in the UK and are set by the UK Government.

Non-EU international students - There is a small percentage increase, usually between 3% and 5%, each year on these fees.

Funding

For up-to-date information about tuition fees, living costs and financial support, visit Undergraduate Fees and Finance or Postgraduate Fees and Finance.

Fees listed here are indicative only (they are the fees for 2011/2012). Confirmed fees will be published here in due course.

Scholarships

New for 2012 entrants: Up to £2,000 cash each year for at least three years for students on this course. Read more here to see if you might qualify.

Career Prospects

Over 90 per cent of our 2009 Journalism graduates were in employment or further study six months after graduation.

Read more about graduate prospects and our notable alumni.

Alumni profile on i-D

Read a profile of 2011 BA Journalism graduate Georgia Lewis Anderson, "the face of online music platform SB.TV", in i-D magazine.

Interview with BA graduate Iona Craig

Iona Craig graduated from City's BA Journalism course in 2010. Here she talks about her career as a journalist in Yemen.


Find out more about City University London

Journalism

UCAS code: P500

Applications for degree courses must be made through UCAS. You can apply
through your school or college using the Apply system, which enables you to submit your application directly to the UCAS website.

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
Rosehill, New Barn Lane,
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 3LZ
www.ucas.com

UCAS Customer Service Unit telephone numbers:

  • For callers in the UK: 0871 468 0 468
  • For callers outside the UK: +44 (0)871 468 0 468
  • For callers with hearing difficulties:
From the UK use the Text Relay service on 18001 0871 468 0 468
From outside the UK dial +44 151 494 1260 (text phone) and then ask the operator to dial 0871 468 0 468.
You can apply for up to five universities on the form. Please take care to
enter the correct course code, particularly for subjects with a foundation year or with BSc and BEng options. UCAS has implemented an 'invisibility of choices' policy so that, on the initial application and while you are receiving
decisions, each university can only see their entry and not those of other
universities you have chosen. This ensures that your application for a course at City University London is considered solely on your academic and personal qualities. You should submit your completed application form to UCAS with a £21 application fee. If you want to apply to City only, you can make a single choice application at a reduced rate of £11. The UCAS code for City University London is C60.

When to apply

Your application for entry in September 2012 should arrive at UCAS between 1 September 2011 and 15 January 2012. Applications that arrive after 15 January 2012 will be considered only at the University's discretion. When your application is acknowledged by UCAS, you will be sent a personal identification number so that you can access your records via Track on the UCAS website.

Enquiries

For general enquiries about the admissions process, please contact the
Admissions Office.
T: +44 (0)20 7040 8716/0223
E: ugadmissions@city.ac.uk

If your enquiry is about admission to a particular course, you should contact the admissions tutor for that course (please see the course description for contact details).