Journalism at De Montfort University - UCAS

Course summary

Journalists play a vital role in a democracy, and this course offers the opportunity to pursue a career that is not only exciting, but also crucial for informing debate and discussion on a wide range of questions affecting our lives. The course is designed to enable flexibility to allow you to focus on specialist areas of your choice, which include music journalism, lifestyle and sports while also preparing you to challenge the status quo. Throughout the degree, you will be encouraged to focus on core issues of social equality, social justice, protest and marginalised communities in the UK. You will learn the traditional core skills of researching, interviewing, writing and web-publishing, and gain multimedia skills within video and audio production. The journalism sector requires graduates who possess a broad digital multi-platform skillset, knowledge of media law and political structures, and have the ability to question structures in society. Key features

  • Develop your practical skills in the Leicester Centre for Journalism and our multi-million-pound Creative Technology Studios, which feature broadcast-standard radio production studios, and film studios equipped with multi-cameras and green screen facilities.
  • You will learn to write from respected and award-winning former journalists and academic experts who are active in newspaper, radio, magazine and digital journalism. Our students were recently inspired by a guest lecture from successful freelance writer and former DMU Journalism alumna, Rachel Toal.
  • Select a route through this degree in Creative Writing, Drama, English Language, English Literature, Film Studies, History or Media. These carefully chosen routes will complement and enrich your understanding of your main subject, alongside broadening your skillset to give you a wider range of career paths upon graduation.
  • Gain valuable hands-on experience by joining a range of student societies such as the award-winning Demon Media group, and put what you’ve learned into practice by contributing to its magazine, radio, Youtube channel and website.
  • You will have opportunities to strengthen your career prospects with placements in industry. Places students have previously worked at include The Times, Sky Sports, the NME, Leicester City Football Club, ITN, the BBC, CNN, Leicestershire Live and the Observer.
  • Graduates have progressed to careers and internships with some of the UK’s biggest media companies, including Sky News, The Sun, the BBC, CNN, ITV, plus Mixmag and Clash magazines as well as PR companies and the wider communications and digital media industries.
  • Benefit from Education 2030, where a simplified ‘block learning’ timetable means you will study one subject at a time and have more time to engage with your learning, receive faster feedback and enjoy a better study-life balance.

Modules

Year 1 Block 1: News Reporting and Media Block 2: Video and Audio Block 3: Understanding Journalism OR you can select to study one route from the list below: Film Studies: Disney, Warner Bros and the Film Studio Media and Communication: Media, Culture and Society English Language: Evolving Language Creative Writing: Writers Salon English Literature: Introduction to Drama: Shakespeare History: Global Cities Drama: Shifting Stages Block 4: Digital News Production Year 2 Block 1: Feature Writing and Lifestyle Journalism Block 2: Video and Radio Journalism Block 3: Beyond News OR continue with the route selected in the first year: Film Studies: Screen Archives Media and Communication: Public Relations English Language: Sociolinguistics Creative Writing: Story Craft English Literature: Digital Humanities History: Humans and the Natural World Drama: Theatre Revolutions Block 4: Professional Practice Year 3 Block 1: Journalism Projects Block 2: Students choose two of the following modules: Freelance Journalism Enhanced Digital Reporting Podcasting Photo Journalism Block 3: Sports Journalism OR Music, Film and Entertainment Journalism OR continue with the study route selected in the first and second year: Film Studies: British Cinema Media and Communication: Gender & TV Fictions English Language: Language, Gender and Sexuality Creative Writing: Creative Misbehaviour English Literature: World Englishes History: The World on Display Drama: Performance, Identity and Society Block 4: Journalism Dissertation Routes: You can select to study a route in Block 3 during your first year. When selecting a module for Block 3 in your second year you can opt to remain on your chosen route or return to Journalism. If you choose to remain with the route, it must be continued in your third year.

Assessment method

Teaching This is a full-time course. Each module is worth 30 credits. Outside of your normal timetabled hours you will be expected to conduct independent study each week to complete preparation tasks, assessments and research. Course delivery is in block mode, which means each 30 credit module consists of a seven week teaching block. Learning takes place in a variety of formats including workshops, lectures, seminars, tutorials, and independent study. Assessment The assessment strategies are designed to measure the extent students are able to demonstrate their ability to achieve the learning outcomes for each module and ultimately to ensure academic and professional journalism skills have been met by the end of the three years. The type of assessment varies according to the module. They range from traditional essays, presentations, reflective essays to portfolios of practical journalism work. Summative assessments are designed to provide evidence students have gained knowledge and understanding of supporting theory and research; and that they have developed professional competencies in the work produced. Anonymous Marking: Portfolios and long form projects are undertaken under the guidance of tutors are therefore not appropriate for anonymous marking. However, essays within most of the modules are marked anonymously.


How to apply

Application codes

Course code:
P500
Institution code:
D26
Campus name:
Leicester Campus
Campus code:
Y

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Additional entry requirements

Interview

Admission tests

Institutions Own Test (IOT)

Journalism exam. NCTJ entrance examination required


Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
70%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
90%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Channel Islands £9250* Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9250* Year 1
England £9250* Year 1
Scotland £9250* Year 1
Wales £9250* Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250* Year 1
EU £15750* Year 1
International £15750* Year 1

*This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Additional fee information

Please note that fees for subsequent years of study for continuing students are subject to an annual review. Any increase in fee will be in line with RPI-X (linked to the retail price index) and the fee cap set by the Government.
Journalism at De Montfort University - UCAS