100% of our first ever undergraduate class achieved a gold-standard NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism – a record-breaking achievement.
This is the first time since the NCTJ started publishing results that an entire cohort has achieved the industry-standard qualification.
In the years on record 2013-2019 the gold-standard NCTJ pass rate for the number one-ranked accredited undergraduate courses were 50%, 48.78%, 55.56%, 59.46%, 38.46%, 50% and 38.46%
On top of that, an incredible 71% also achieved a first in their journalism degree, with 29% achieving a 2.1.
To make the feat even more impressive, the group finished their course on Zoom amidst a global pandemic.
To achieve gold-standard trainees must achieve A-C in all of their modules and 100wpm shorthand. This was also the first time an entire class passed 100wpm shorthand.
Our class of 2020 have also travelled the world using our summer bursary scheme – in the last three years they have worked for the Olive Press in Spain and Time Out magazine in Dubai, covered the Copa America in Brazil, filmed a boxing documentary in Bermuda – and much, much more!
Beat Media Group managing editor James Toney said: “This is a remarkable achievement, the first undergraduate course to see 100% of those enrolled achieve their gold-standard diploma since the NCTJ started publishing results across all accredited courses.
“This group were remarkable from the moment they walked through our door to start their degree studies and they’ve consistently produced top-quality journalism to go with their amazing results.
“And while exam grades tell you something, they do not tell you everything and I have no doubt their excellence in the classroom will translate to the newsroom.
“A big thanks should also go to Andrew Greaves, their programme leader, for his relentless enthusiasm to make our first undergraduate cohort as successful as our industry-leading postgraduate courses.”
News Associates head of journalism Graham Moody (middle left) and editorial development manager Lucy Dyer (middle right) collecting the award for number one overall NCTJ journalism course in 2019 from Sky News presenter Dharmesh Sheth (left) and NCTJ chairman Kim Fletcher (right)
Head of journalism Andrew Greaves said: “I’m so incredibly proud that our first ever School of Journalism group have all completed their NCTJ diploma to the industry-required gold standard.
“They have all worked really hard to juggle the demands of the NCTJ qualification and the degree programme and that work will stand them in really good stead when taking their first steps in the industry.
“When we started the degree course three years ago we set out with the goal to be the best NCTJ undergraduate programme in the country, so to return a 100% gold standard course – as well as outstanding degree results – is a real testament to the group and also the News Associates team.”
Graduate Hannah Molnar said: “A massive thank you to Andrew Greaves, Tom Pilcher, Ed Roberts and the rest of the team for their tutoring. Especially to Andrew who guided us through the last stages via Zoom!
“So chuffed that the whole team achieved gold standard.”
Jacob Bentley York successfully finished his School of Journalism degree and achieved his gold-standard diploma this year. He said: “I can’t thank the whole News Associates team enough for all their hard work over the past three years in helping me to reach the position I find myself in today.
“A particular thanks goes to our course leader Andrew who has, on more than one occasion, gone beyond the call of duty to support all of us.
“Thanks to the course, I’ve already been able to achieve so much, including covering stories and events (both in the UK and abroad) that I could only have dreamed of before I started.
“I know News Associates have put me in a great position moving forward into the next step of my career.”
News Associates editorial development manager Lucy Dyer said: “I didn’t think I could be more excited than when we launched our undergraduate course in 2017 but hearing that the whole cohort achieved the gold-standard qualification trumped that.
“We have proved it is possible to run a hugely successful journalism degree that’s NCTJ accredited.”
To apply for our NCTJ-accredited BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism degree in London or Manchester, here are the UCAS codes you need:
Course code: MUJO
Institution code: P63
Campus: Manchester (M) or London (L)
Come along to a free journalism workshop and virtual open day! Learn more here.
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