The United Kingdom enjoys a solid reputation for high academic excellence and an up-to-date curriculum. With some of the highest-ranked universities and erudite faculty, journalism courses in the UK attract aspiring students from all parts of the world.
Most top-ranked universities for journalism courses in the UK offer good internship and placement opportunities, such as working in a production company, for a newspaper, or for a broadcaster. Journalism courses in the UK are not a singular genre – students are free to explore areas such as fashion, media, political corruption, or serious crime.
The courses are available at different levels of education, including a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate program. The duration for each program varies among universities or the mode of application (full-time or part-time).
With widespread job opportunities in the field of Media and Communications, journalism students rarely run out of work in the UK. Nearly 23 universities in the country offer journalism courses at different study levels. Let’s delve deeper into them.
Top Universities across the UK Offering Journalism Courses
The top journalism courses in UK universities are listed in the table below, along with their location and QS World Ranking 2023.
Name of the University
Name of the Course
Course Duration
Course Fees
QS World Ranking 2023
University of Essex
Bachelor’s of Arts in Multimedia Journalism
Three years full-time
GBP 18,585
(Fees may increase with each academic year)
465
University of Leeds
Journalism BA
International Journalism MA
Three years full-time
12 months full-time
24 months part-time
GBP 24,250 per year
86
University of Sheffield
BA Journalism
Three years full-time
GBP 23,650 per year
96
Cardiff University
Journalism and Communications (BA)
Three years full-time
GBP 9,000 per year
166
University of London
PhD/MPhil Journalism
Two to four years full-time
Three to seven years part-time
GBP 12,730 per year (full-time)
GBP 6,360 per year (part-time)
355
Eligibility Requirements for the Course
To pursue journalism in the UK, an applicant must meet the course level-specific journalism courses in UK eligibility requirements. Students applying for a Bachelor’s or undergraduate program must have completed their Higher Secondary education from a recognized Board of study in Arts, Science, or Commerce.
Students applying for a Master’s or postgraduate program must have completed their Bachelor’s or undergraduate coursework in journalism. And students applying for a Doctoral or Ph.D. program must have a UK-equivalent Master’s degree in journalism.
The journalism courses in the UK requirement may extend to proof of English proficiency. This proof can be given by attending widely recognized English proficiency tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic, and Cambridge English Advanced. Some colleges may also require a certificate that proves the student completed their Higher Secondary education from an institution where English was the medium of instruction.
Students interested in pursuing journalism courses from UK universities can do so at varying levels of education. The journalism courses in UK admission requirements will depend upon the course level applied for. In general, the following levels of education are available –
Bachelor’s or undergraduate program – course duration usually extends from three to four years
Master’s or postgraduate program – course duration usually extends from one to two years
Doctoral or Ph.D. program – course duration may extend between two and four years
The course duration and other requirements will vary among universities.
Scope of Education
Journalism and Mass Media is emerging as one of the most popular courses in the UK, especially among international students. Covering areas such as business and economics, media management, corporate communications, and public PR, journalism is a broad course leading to numerous career opportunities.
Whether you take up a Bachelor’s course, Master’s program, or a PhD research degree, you can work as a broadcast journalist, newspaper journalist, press sub-editor, political risk analyst, or even a writer.
You can even work independently, especially in case of postgraduate research programs. For this however, you need to build a solid portfolio and gain relevant work experience. Start by working for a student magazine or radio station and move on to creating your own blog.
Specializations
Journalism courses in UK subjects are usually divided into core and elective. Students can easily choose the specialization they wish to pursue. Some of the top research fields or specializations available in the field of journalism include –
Radio and TV Journalism
Print Journalism
Online Journalism
Broadcast Journalism
Sports Journalism
Entertainment Journalism
Trade Journalism
Opinion Journalism
Watchdog Journalism
Cost of Attendance at Every Educational Level
The total journalism courses in the UK fees will vary, depending upon the area of residence, lifestyle preferences, university, and their fees, etc. In terms of college tuition fees, studying a Bachelor’s in Journalism may cost roughly GBP 22,250 per year.
The course fee at the postgraduate level could amount to GBP 24,750 per year for international students. As for Doctoral courses, the full-time fees could be around GBP 12,730 per year, whereas the part-time course fee is about GBP 6,360 per year.
Besides the college tuition fees, the cost of attendance would also include books and study materials, accommodation, food, travel costs, and entertainment. Though this will broadly vary depending upon a student’s lifestyle and spending habits, the same can roughly range between GBP 1290 and GBP 1840 per month.
Job Prospects
Since mass communication and journalism are one of the most creative career fields, they are in high demand in the modern job market. Interactive people can make lucrative careers in the USA, which is seeing a rising demand for journalists in every area. Some of the top career prospects that open up for journalism students at every level of education include –
Photojournalist – Bachelor’s, Diploma
Media Researcher – Bachelor’s, Diploma
Content Creation – Bachelor’s, Diploma
Newspaper or Magazine Journalist – Bachelor’s, Master’s
Illustrator – Master’s
Entertainment Journalist – Master’s
Professor – Doctorate
Public Relations Executive – Doctorate
Reporter – Doctorate
Expected Salary Remuneration
Let’s take a look at the average salary packages one can expect when working as a professional in the field of journalism.
Can I start working after a Bachelor’s Diploma in Journalism from the UK?
Yes, numerous career opportunities open up for you after a Bachelor’s or Diploma journalism courses in the UK. These include media researchers, photojournalists, content creators, news anchors, and more.
Who should pursue a course in Journalism from the UK?
Aspirants of journalism courses in the UK generally involve an ambitious and highly interactive crowd on the lookout for solid employment opportunities. Journalism is the ideal course if you want a robust platform for expressing your views and leading a highly illustrious social and professional life.
What is the life of a journalist like?
Depending on the nature of work, a journalist’s schedule can vary. From sitting in front of a computer researching and writing stories to spending entire days on the field, interviewing people, and covering stories, a journalist’s life is fast-paced and progressive, with no room for boredom.
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