Journalism (NCTJ-accredited) MA/PG Dip/PG Cert

Duration:  PG Dip nine months full-time, MA one year full-time

Location: Clephan Building

Start date: September 2012

Typically, you will be a graduate who has, during your time at university, demonstrated a commitment to a career in publications, perhaps through involvement with a student magazine or work experience in the media. You should have:

• A good (2:2 or above) Honours degree, or equivalent
• Evidence of commitment to a career in journalism
• Knowledge and awareness of current affairs
• A minimum of one week’s work experience in a professional newsroom

Exceptionally, and where you meet the minimum entry standards of the NCTJ, applications will be accepted from non-graduates. It is anticipated this would apply to mature entrants with acceptable and relevant work experience. Those who do not meet the criteria in other ways should contact the course leader for advice. All candidates must complete a written application which will form the basis for selection for interview. At the interview stage you will be asked to take NCTJ tests in the use of language and current affairs. Those who complete the tests successfully will progress to panel interviews.

For progression to the MA, you must complete a satisfactory research proposal.

The course runs on a full-time basis from the end of September to the end of June for the PG Dip, with MA candidates fully supported during their dissertation period over the summer.

As well as an intensive taught course, you are expected to undertake a substantial amount of journalistic work on your own initiative – especially in the second semester. You should view this as a full-time course and exercises can take place between 9am–9pm Monday to Friday although occasionally weekend or later working may be required.

The course is committed to small student cohorts and individual attention for each student as well as good quality facilities. That means our students do well in tough external exams and gain skills which help them get that all important step on the first rung of the journalistic ladder.

There are two key strands of assessment. One is the NCTJ exams, for which there is substantial preparation. The other is assessment for the PG Dip, which includes a large element of continuous assessment as well as traditional essays, seminar presentations and projects. In the second semester you will produce multi-platform publications and cover your own patch of the city producing an extensive body of ‘real world’ work.

Those who choose the MA option undertake additional work in research methods and submit a final dissertation in September.

Staff have substantial experience both in the industry and in passing that expertise on to aspiring journalists. Most staff also still practise in the areas they teach; they include:

• Ali Haynes LLB MBA DipM is principal lecturer in Journalism and the course leader. Ali is an NCTJ-qualified journalist and has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry. She has won many reporting, design and editing awards, and also has extensive experience of PR, specialising in campaigning organisations
• John Dilley has wide-ranging experience in the media industry, with expertise in consumer magazines, radio and the b2b sector. He has worked predominantly in the regional press where he was a weekly editor for Emap. He also helped establish the group’s award-winning journalism training centre. He is now director of the newly-established Leicester Centre for Journalism.

A large proportion of our lecturers are active practitioners and specialists in their field, including for example, working as architects, choreographers, composers, interior designers, journalists, new product developers, public relations consultants.

This ensures that you will learn real world skills that are in touch with the commercial sector, the latest technologies and current thinking.

Our creative staff also work as authors, composers, performers, freelance designers, practising fine artists and photographers who exhibit or perform internationally.

Other lecturers are involved in world class research and consultancy which enhances the quality of our teaching. Current projects range from digital media and holography to textile materials, fine art sculpture and the built environment, film and Hollywood to Women's TV History.

Our expertise in innovation has led us to advise regional businesses on developing new products. We are currently leading an initiative in resource efficient design for the retail supply chain. We also conduct consultancy and training for a number of clients including George at Asda, Oxford Instruments and Halfords and our major expertise in knowledge transfer and exchange offers benefits to a range of industrial partners.

Other members of our staff have connections with media organisations such as Amanda Blue independent award winning television producer 'Prescott the Class System and Me', 'World's Oldest Mother', Supernanny, 'Big School lottery' 'Young Black Farmers'

We also have partnerships and collaborations with the city's creative and cultural centres. These include Phoenix Square, The Curve Theatre and Leicester Comedy Festival    

De Montfort University is highly rated by employers and offers excellent links with industry, the creative and cultural world, and the professions.

“I have always wanted to be a journalist and from doing work placements I knew I had to gain my NCTJ certificate before I could get a job. This one year course was perfect. It covers all the aspects of the NCTJ including law, public affairs, shorthand and news writing practice. We were given weekly tasks to complete to deadline to get us used to working life.”

Jemma Crowston, graduate 2008, Harborough Mail Reporter

Our cohorts have almost a 100 per cent success rate (Source: DLHE 2008/09) in obtaining journalism jobs very quickly after graduation.

Most have gone on to become reporters for local newspapers. Others have gone into national newspapers and news agencies, magazine journalism, television and radio journalism (including Channel 4 and BBC) and public relations – including working with the Labour Party, DMU and several police and council press offices. There are a number of editors, deputy editors and news editors among our alumni, and former students have scooped an array of prestigious awards, especially in sports reporting.

Home (UK) and EU students  for 2012/13 entry*
Full-time: £4600 (PGDip)
Full-time: £5480 (MA)

Overseas students  for 2012/13 entry
Full-time: £11,200  (PGDip)

*Please note that if you have already completed a Masters level degree or higher, you will be required to pay Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) fees as follows: Full-time £5000 and Part-time £2500 per year for two years.

Continuation Fee

This fee is charged on a monthly basis to any student who exceeds their registration period. To give an example, if you enrol on a one year full-time programme starting in September, your registration period will end on 30th September the following year. If by that date you still have outstanding work to be completed, you will be charged a continuation fee of £150*** per month for the duration of the time that the work is still outstanding.

(***subject to change)

 Learn more about postgraduate funding and finance|

The Clephan Building, home to humanities courses, houses generous teaching accommodation equipped with the latest audio-visual equipment, the Student Advice Centre, Academic Guidance Centre and resources rooms with specialist facilities needed to excel. Our dedicated computer centre includes a state-of-the-art media lab with Apple Intel Mac Pro computers, cinema screens and all the latest creative software applications with full technical support. There are computing classrooms and an additional suite of computer workstations which can be pre-booked. Our computer centre reflects both our commitment to providing access to information technology and our determination to develop innovative teaching methods and web-based learning resources.

 

UKPASS is the postgraduate equivalent of UCAS and gives you a simple and efficient way to apply online. It allows you to search for a course and guides you through the application process. Using UKPASS you can apply for up to ten courses for free.

You can create your application in your own time, so you can consider, research and complete each section at your own speed. You can track your applications as they progress, and can also receive and reply to offers online. Apply online with UKPASS|

You will need to attach qualification transcripts, references and evidence of English language (if you are an overseas student) with your UKPass application. If these documents are not attached to your original application, this will delay the process of your application.