12 months
Full-time: £10,610
Full-time: £21,230
Full-time: £21,230
There is no fixed application deadline. However, applications will close when the course is full, so you are encouraged to apply early.
Northampton Square
The course is suitable for students with a good first degree, and a strong interest in international news and the way it is reported. The course combines a strong emphasis on practice with rigorous academic discussion of current trends in global journalism.
Students who successfully complete this MA in International Journalism are very employable in the media.
The MA in International Journalism is a keystone course at City and has built up a worldwide reputation. This course has been running since 1982 and has more than 1,000 alumni working in journalism around the world.
During the course, you will become adept at print, broadcast and online journalism in a global context by:
You will learn how to gather and report in various styles and modes for a range of media (print, broadcast, online). You will also explore the contemporary global domain of journalism.
The course attracts students from all over the world, who will become your future professional network. You will benefit from being in one of the world’s most significant media cities with access to thousands of international journalists and sources.
On this course you will gain from using both traditional and contemporary journalism tools, and acquire comprehensive skills,which you can take back to your own country or move on with to anywhere in the world.
Don’t meet the entry requirements? INTO City, University of London offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare you for study at City, University of London. You’ll learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre.
These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry. To prepare for this degree course, learn more about the Graduate Diploma in Journalism.
International students not meeting the requirements for direct entry may wish to consider taking the Pre-Master’s for Business, Law and Social Sciences at Kaplan International College London. Students who successfully complete this course at the required level have a guaranteed progression route to MA International Journalism.
As well as new graduates, we also welcome mature applicants with substantial work experience in the industry.
Don't meet the English language requirements? INTO City, University of London offers English language programmes to help prepare you for study at university. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to degree courses.
International Students (EEA and Non EEA) coming to study in the UK, may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study. The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:
For more information see our main Visa page.
MA International Journalism (full time)2021/2
Please follow the instructions below carefully:
To apply for the course, please submit the following:
1. One application form
2. A copy of your degree transcript - We can accept either a good quality scanned copy of your degree transcript or an original. If you are an overseas student and will be applying for a student visa, please retain your original degree transcript and email City a good quality scan instead. This is because you will need to supply the original to the UK Border Agency as part of your student visa application at a later stage.
If you have not completed your degree please indicate your expected date of graduation in the 'Higher Education' section of the application form. You can submit an application without your degree transcript.
3. Details of your work experience in journalism - It is highly desirable that you have some relevant work experience. Please include details of any completed or planned work experience in your personal statement. Please also provide a copy of your CV and/or application form
Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis throughout the year.
If you have any enquiries please contact the Programmes Office:
Postgraduate and Research Enquiries,
School of Arts and Social Sciences,
City, University of London,
Northampton Square,
London,
EC1V 0HB.
Tel.: +44 (0)20 7040 0249 or +44 (0)20 7040 3721
Email: SASS-enquiries@city.ac.uk
Please return your supporting documents, marked "MA International Journalism" to: Department of Journalism, City, University of London, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK.
You should expect to receive a written response to your application within six weeks of your application being assessed. Your application will only be assessed by the course director when it is complete with all the requested application materials listed above.
Fees in each subsequent year of study (where applicable) will be subject to an annual increase limited by the All Items Retail Prices Index. We will confirm any change to the annual tuition fee to you in writing prior to you commencing each subsequent year of study (where applicable).
The following organisations have supported students in the Department of Journalism in the past. This is not a guarantee of future sponsorship, and you are advised to check the websites of these organisations for details of future bursary and scholarship schemes:
NUJ (George Viner Memorial Fund)
Future Finance offers students loans of between £2,500 and £40,000 to help cover tuition fees and living expenses. All students and courses are considered. All loans are subject to credit checks and approval for further details please visit the City Finance website.
The following organisations have supported students in the Department of Journalism in the past. This is not a guarantee of future sponsorship, and you are advised to check the websites of these organisations for details of future bursary and scholarship schemes.
Chevening Award, a scholarship of Foreign Office, is a great opportunity for foreign students, young leaders of their countries. Without it I would be able to study at City. My scholarship covers my tuition fee, accommodation, flight and visa. The application process was not very difficult, but demanding. Thousands of people all over Ukraine applied for it and I am happy to be among the 14 lucky Ukrainians!
Kateryna –International Journalism
MA International Journalism –Haley’s story
We actively encourage all our journalism student to undertake work experience during their studies with us. Many of our students are very pro-active and opt to undertake work experience which is an essential step in developing their career in journalism as they help students put their learning into practice and make contacts in the industry.
Work experience is not formally assessed or arranged as part of the MA Programme but your personal tutor can advise you in suitable organisations to approach that may suit your chosen specialisms.
In 2019/20 students attended work experience at many organisations including:
You will gain practical skills in our state-of-the-art digital television studio, digital editing suites, radio studios and broadcast newsrooms.
In 2014 we completed a £12m development projects for our Journalism facilities. These facilities were developed in consultation with experts from the BBC and ITN, and were praised by the BJTC. Our facilities include:
We offer a variety of accommodation options and support services for postgraduate students.
Read more about our postgraduate halls.
Our Accommodation Service can also help you find private accommodation.
We offer a free language course for City, University of London students.
Course timetables are normally available from July and can be accessed from our timetabling pages. These pages also provide timetables for the current academic year, though this information should be viewed as indicative and details may vary from year to year.
Please note that all academic timetables are subject to change.
We offer an extensive support network during your time here at City, University of London – from Learning Support (including disability support) and counselling to financial and career advice – leaving you free to enjoy every opportunity campus life has to offer.
Find out more about the different types of student support available.
Chat to our current students and read their blogs to gain an insight into studying at City and learn more about our undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
To make sure that you can begin or continue your studies with us during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have reviewed and adapted our courses to ensure a safe learning environment for our students and staff. We have modified the way some of our courses are delivered, with many programmes being made available online.
Contact us to find out more about how our programmes will be delivered.
The International Journalism MA is a professional/practice course with an emphasis on developing practical and intellectual skills in journalism. The teaching staff are all professional journalists in print, broadcast or online. We focus on "learning by doing" - you cover real stories and produce magazines or run a radio station, or broadcast on the internet, or produce television news programmes and multimedia websites.
During the course, you have opportunities to meet, listen to and question journalists and other people from the media. You are encouraged to intellectually reflect on your own experiences as journalists and the ways in which practicing journalists do their jobs by developing an understanding of ethical issues and principals in journalism, the media and international reporting.
You will be treated as journalists in training throughout the practice-based elements of the course. Learning is intensive and at times teaching hours will resemble those of a full-time job.
Some modules are taught in lecture theatres, such as Global Journalism, International News and Ethics, Rules and Standards, but journalism practice are taught in small-group workshops that allow you to develop your journalistic skills and knowledge with the support of our expert academics and visiting lecturers.
For details of the expert academics who teach on this course see the Academic Profiles below. In addition you will also be taught by a team of visiting lecturers.
In 2019/20 the experts listed below taught on this course, but may be subject to change in future years.
Ray Alexander was a reporter on UK newspapers and at the BBC and ITV. Before joining City he was Lead Trainer in broadcasting at the BBC in the UK and also went to 16 countries training journalists as well as sport professionals moving into broadcasting as reporters/commentators.
Julie Hadwin began her career with the BBC as a broadcast journalist - working in news and current affairs as a TV producer/director and programme editor. She also helped to establish and run an independent production company making series and documentaries for Channel 4 and the BBC, before returning to the BBC as Head of Journalism Training. She now combines media skills consultancy with her work at City.
Alex Wood is Europe Editor at Forbes. Previously he founded The Memo, which was acquired by Forbes Media in February 2018. Alex is a leading voice on technology and regular contributor to BBC News, Sky, CNN and CNBC.
The MA International Journalism course prides itself on its close connections with journalism practitioners. Here are some of the high-level industry figures who have contributed to the course in recent years:
Assessment is part of learning, and course assessments vary to reflect the learning being achieved. They include workshop exercises, studio work, oral presentations, essays, reflections and production (making journalism products), and different forms (written, oral, visual, aural), as well as being individual and team-based.
You will take modules in storytelling and online journalism before specialising in either print, broadcast or online journalism. This choice informs your studies for the rest of the course through to the completion of a final project.
There is a dissertation option if you prefer a more academic route through the course.
You are encouraged to complete an internship, either in the UK or overseas. This must be arranged by you.
Core electives:
Electives:
In 2019-20 there were 11 specialisms on offer to MA students from the International, Magazine, and Newspaper pathways. They consist of eight, three-hour sessions.
To ensure they are taught in small groups there is cap on the maximum number in each specialism. Students are asked to list three choices. The vast bulk of students get their first choice, and everyone gets one of their three choices.
These specialisms all ran in 2020, but this does not guarantee they will all be available in 2021. The tutors may also vary.
This course will deal with intelligent arts journalism in a serious but non-stuffy way. We’ll be tackling pitching, reviewing, interviewing, profiling and commentary in the fields of cinema, theatre, music (pop and classical), books and contemporary cultural issues.
Tutor: Mia Aimaro Ogden works on the arts and leisure desk of The Sunday Times.
Learn how to turn complicated financial concepts into clear, informative news stories that people want to read. Confidence in knowing how to cover business/financial/economic news gives you a useful skill to offer and can be an advantage in getting a job in journalism.
Tutor: Camila Reed is a highly experienced multi-media journalist and editor specialising in financial markets, commodities and energy.
Thanks to rapid technological advances and the challenges presented by climate change, artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, there has arguably never been a better time for stories about health, science and the environment.
This module will teach you how to conduct interviews, pitch stories and freelance for newspapers and magazines.
Tutor: Mark Hongisbaum. A writer and journalist specialising in the history and science of infectious disease, Mark is the former Chief Reporter of The Observer.
Topics examined include disaster relief, climate change, the safeguarding of human rights, asylum/immigration issues and tax justice. Recent speakers have included one of the UKs foremost experts on the tax dodging of multinational organisations.
We will consider how to use the overload of information available on the internet alongside more traditional techniques of developing and maintaining contacts, interviewing sources and analysing documents to develop original, ground breaking stories. Previous trips have included visits to Buzzfeed and The Guardian
Tutor: Jason Lewis is an awarding winning investigative reporter with over 20 years experience working on leading UK publications.
This specialism helps students to develop the specific skill sets and mindset necessary to shine in this broad, fun and exciting form of journalism. It highlights the influence of the creative and design industries and explores a wide range of subject matter, including food, travel, fashion, well-being and technology.
Tutor: Ben Falk has written thousands of lifestyle and consumer articles for outlets, including Press Association, Yahoo, Grazia, Reveal and various daily newspapers.
The course is intended to be a highly practical examination of the way political reporters cover the UK political scene, with an emphasis on Westminster but also with reference to the European parliament and Commission, and local government.
Tutor: Barney Jones started a new award winning political programme in the 1990's, Breakfast with Frost, then launched another Sunday political programme The Andrew Marr Show which still sets the political agenda each week.
Style and writing are at the heart of the course. The first half of the course focuses on how to interview subjects. In the second part, the emphasis shifts to feature writing, reviewing, imaginative approaches for bringing ideas to the page and investigative reporting.
Tutor: David Roper, writer, broadcaster and Managing Director of Heavy Entertainment, an independent production company.
This module aims to introduce and explore issues in and around the Middle East. It will focus on the contemporary Middle East and on the various ways of thinking about, analysing and reporting on that region.
Tutor: Dr Zahera Harb is a senior lecturer on the MA International Journalism programme.
This course covers how to report on UK based terrorism and crime. This is an extremely practical specialism. It includes how to make contacts; responding to a breaking story; and getting exclusives. Previous visits include trips to the National Crime Agency headquarters (Britain’s “FBI”), and the Old Bailey court.
Tutor: Jason Bennetto was the crime correspondent with special responsibility for security reporting at The Independent for 13 years.
The specialism will cover the key elements of sports journalism: live events, interviews, press conferences, features and news reporting. You will learn about how to work with the pack, how to work with the desk, how to draw information from an athlete.
Tutor: Glenn Moore is a freelance journalist whose current roles include covering the Premier League for the Sunday Times and presenting a podcast for Sport England.
The aim of Journalism Innovation is to develop creative, flexible and innovative journalists who can bring fresh thinking to a media organisation; create dynamic content for a start-up media enterprise; or launch their own journalistic website or other product.
The programme specification contains more information on how the course is organised, the requirements for progression for each part and credits required for awards.
Graduates work in both global and national media and in allied occupations around the world.
Most recently, these have included roles from researchers to editors in broadcasting such as:
and major newspapers and magazines including:
In the heart of London’s huge and diverse media district, students have unrivalled access to industry internships and contacts.
Our graduates include:
MA International Journalism (full time)2021/2
Please follow the instructions below carefully:
To apply for the course, please submit the following:
1. One application form
2. A copy of your degree transcript - We can accept either a good quality scanned copy of your degree transcript or an original. If you are an overseas student and will be applying for a student visa, please retain your original degree transcript and email City a good quality scan instead. This is because you will need to supply the original to the UK Border Agency as part of your student visa application at a later stage.
If you have not completed your degree please indicate your expected date of graduation in the 'Higher Education' section of the application form. You can submit an application without your degree transcript.
3. Details of your work experience in journalism - It is highly desirable that you have some relevant work experience. Please include details of any completed or planned work experience in your personal statement. Please also provide a copy of your CV and/or application form
Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis throughout the year.
If you have any enquiries please contact the Programmes Office:
Postgraduate and Research Enquiries,
School of Arts and Social Sciences,
City, University of London,
Northampton Square,
London,
EC1V 0HB.
Tel.: +44 (0)20 7040 0249 or +44 (0)20 7040 3721
Email: SASS-enquiries@city.ac.uk
Please return your supporting documents, marked "MA International Journalism" to: Department of Journalism, City, University of London, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK.
You should expect to receive a written response to your application within six weeks of your application being assessed. Your application will only be assessed by the course director when it is complete with all the requested application materials listed above.
Find out more about City and all our postgraduate degree programmes.
