Course summary
Overview Are you ambitious to become a reporter who will keep the public informed and hold those in power to account? Our BA (Hons) Journalism degree course – accredited by National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) – will prepare you for a career in journalism. Learn how to uncover and write breaking news stories, work in editorial teams with other colleagues to produce publications across print and digital media, and adapt seamlessly to the fast-paced 24-hour news environment. Earn the industry-recognised NCTJ Diploma in Journalism with help from our teaching team of experienced journalists, learn your craft from professional placements and become the outstanding journalist and publisher that any editor would appoint. Course highlights
- Stand out to future editors and employers by taking exams leading to the gold-standard NCTJ Diploma in Journalism
- Learn from lecturing journalists with experience in international, national, regional and online publications
- Expand your professional network by meeting visiting professionals. Past industry organisations who've visited include Dream Team FC, The Times, Novara Media, Sky News, and the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street
- Gain industry experience with a formal 10-day journalism-based work placement and an optional placement year
- Capture information at a writing speed of up to 100 words per minute by taking shorthand training
- 90% Graduates in work or further study (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey conducted in 2019)
- trainee reporter
- social media editor
- campaign assistant
- public relations account executive
- digital marketing executive
- sports reporter
- national, regional and local newspapers
- magazines
- radio and television stations
- online publications
- public relations
- corporate communications and marketing
- digital marketing and social media
Modules
Year 1 Core modules in this year include:
- Academic Skills and Career Planning
- Digital Skills For Journalists
- Ethical Perspectives on Current Affairs
- Journalism in Context
- Media Law and Regulation
- Reporting
- Advanced News and Investigative Reporting
- Feature Writing and Media Research
- Government in Britain
- Mobile Journalism
- Social Media and Journalism
- Engaged Citizenship Through Interdisciplinary Practice
- Factual Media Production
- Modern Foreign Language (IWLP)
- Press and Public Relations
- Professional Experience
- Specialist Journalism
- Student Enterprise
- Newsroom Production
- Placement
- Digital Media and Democracy
- Dissertation
- Global Journalism and Human Rights
- Journalism Special Investigation
- Magazines: Print Media in a Digital World
- Money, Government and Power
Assessment method
You’ll be assessed through:
- essays and close textual analysis
- in-class tests
- media artefacts
- seminar presentations
- a 10,000-word dissertation or special investigation
- post-placement assessment
- Year 1 students: 22% by written exams and 78% by coursework
- Year 2 students: 15% by written exams, 23% by practical exams and 62% by coursework
Professional bodies
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
- The National Council for the Training of Journalists
How to apply
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3
Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)
We welcome applications for advanced entry. If you’d like to apply for advanced entry, you need to select the required year when you complete your UCAS application.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 112 - 128 points
A level - ABB - BBC
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDM - DMM
Access to HE Diploma
Scottish Higher
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
Scottish Advanced Higher
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 25 - 26 points
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H3, H3, H3, H4 - H2, H2, H3, H3, H3
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
GCSE/National 4/National 5
T Level - M
Additional entry requirements
Portfolio
Applicants will be asked to submit a portfolio of writing in support of their application.
Other
Evidence of interest and engagement with the field of journalism is required.
English language requirements
Test | Grade | Additional details |
---|---|---|
IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0. |
PTE Academic | 61 | An overall score of 61 with a minimum of 54 in each skill. |
TOEFL (iBT) | 91 | 91 with a minimum of 20 in Reading, 19 in Listening, 21 in Speaking and 20 in Writing |
Cambridge English Advanced | Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 176 with no component score less than 169. | |
Cambridge English Proficiency | Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 176 with no component score less than 169. | |
Trinity ISE | Trinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components |
Student Outcomes
There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Additional fee information
Provider information
University of Portsmouth
University House
Winston Churchill Avenue
Portsmouth
PO1 2UP