Course Overview

Our academic year is split into two intensive semesters and The School of Journalism’s practical focus aims to prepare the best graduate journalists for the best jobs in journalism.

Our course is a hands-on, practical approach to learning what being a journalist in today’s world is all about. Each year has been carefully designed to provide you with all the skills and knowledge needed to break into the industry. Here is the course overview broken down by year.

COURSE OVERVIEW: YEAR ONE

We will teach you how to develop your writing skills by writing news across multiple platforms. You will also examine how the modern media in Britain works as you develop research and analytical skills.

You will begin to explore working not just in words but pictures and video, as we introduce you to how to film and edit stories on your mobile phone. We will also cover essential media law, public affairs and journalism ethics, all vital NCTJ examinations.

COURSE OVERVIEW: YEAR TWO

In the second year we will prepare you for further important NCTJ exams, including studying shorthand to 100 words per minute.

You will learn how to create immersive multimedia feature packages for both radio and TV. We’ll also work on your ability to find stories on social media and tell stories using social media and digital platforms.

The preparing for the workplace module will show you how to prepare for an interview and practice your skills with someone form the industry. We will also help you identify where to find jobs, and write the perfect CV, build your journalism portfolio and get journalism work experience

COURSE OVERVIEW: YEAR THREE

The final year will give our graduate students a real taster of what being a journalist is all about. You will produce a magazine from start to finish – we will challenge you to come up with the ideas, source all the copy, produce the images as well as design and sub the pages.

You will also take a deeper dive into broadcast journalism, as well as studying vital media marketing and data journalism tools, providing you with an all-round knowledge of the trade. Finally you will write a dissertation or produce a journalism project to show off everything you have learnt throughout your degree.

All trainees are also offered the chance to study sports journalism if they’d like. See more here.

Click here to find out more about the various modules taught across each year.