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Journalism BA (Hons)

This stimulating degree course will help you become a multi-platform journalist. 

Overview

Senior Lecturer Brian Dodds discusses the real-life skills that Journalism students will learn at DMU.

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

There have been many highlights at DMU. Nothing compares, however, to the tutors' enthusiasm and passion! It is contagious - in the best way possible! They bring the course to life.

Morgana Ribeiro

 

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"I'm not a lifelong Leicester supporter - but now part of me will always be a Fox"

More courses like this

Journalism (Joint Honours) BA (Hons)

Media and Communication BA (Hons)

Media (Joint Honours) BA (Hons)

Media Production BSc (Hons)

Check out our Journalism students' work at  https://leicestershirepress.com/

  

This course is subject to revalidation.

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: P500

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement

Fees and funding: 

2024/25 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Stephen Lawrence Scholarship
A new scholarship programme to encourage students from disadvantaged backgrounds to study at university is being launched by the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust and De Montfort University Leicester (DMU). Find out more.

Find out about additional costs and optional extras.

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Book an Open Day

Submit a study-related enquiry

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: P500

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement

Find out about  additional costs and optional extras.

Fees and funding: 

2023/24 tuition fees for international students: £15,750

Find out more about available funding for international students.

 

How to apply: International students can apply to study at DMU directly using the DMU Online Portal.

 

How to apply

Order a prospectus

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

  • A typical offer is normally 104 UCAS points from at least two A-levels, or
  • BTEC National Diploma/ Extended Diploma at DMM

Plus five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English or equivalent.

Alternative qualifications include:

  • Pass Access in the QAA accredited Access to HE course. English and Maths GCSE required as a separate qualification as equivalency is not accepted within the Access qualification.

We will normally require students to have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course.

  • International Baccalaureate: 24+ points

Portfolio Required : No

Interview Required: No.

We welcome applications from mature students with non-standard qualifications and recognise all other equivalent and international qualifications.

English language

If English is not your first language then an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (or equivalent) is essential.

English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

UCAS tariff information

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

Contextual offer 

To make sure you get fair and equal access to higher education, when looking at your application, we consider more than just your grades. So if you are eligible, you may receive a contextual offer. Find our more about contextual offers.

 

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

Industry links

 

 

Year 1

News Reporting
Introduces key writing and editing skills used by journalists, including publishing online.

Video and Audio Skills
Learn how to record content for audio and video output.

Making a Difference
study how media platforms are structured and operate and the impact upon activists and protesters.

Understanding Journalism
Learn the classic as well as digital information theories and study the role of journalism in the modern world.

Media Law
Understand media regulation and how to work within the law when practising journalism in the UK?

Year 2

Feature Writing

Explore specialist forms of journalism, particularly feature writing.

Video Journalism
Scripting and producing news features for TV and online.

Radio Journalism
Focuses on scripting and presenting news bulletins and features.

Optional modules

News Reporting 2
A specialist, practical module, honing your skills in digital reporting and professional practice.

Court Reporting
Learn how to work as a professional journalist in UK courtrooms.

Lifestyle Journalism
A critical study of this popular field of journalism,  including fashion/beauty, celebrity news, travel, food and music.

Sports Journalism
The art of writing news, match reports, features and opinion columns.

Journalism studies
Review and analyse journalism research and learn about the newest approaches.

Challenging Power
Study how digital media reshape society and how journalists can prevent a partisan and disruptive exploitation of public debates online. 

Year 3

Journalism Dissertation
Become an expert on existing journalism research and conduct original analysis into your topic.

Or

Major Project
Produce a major piece of journalistic work for a platform of your choice.

Optional modules

Sports Journalism
Further develop key sports reporting skills.

Sport and Media

Magazine Journalism
The opportunity to produce a group publication.

Arts and Entertainment Journalism
Learn to review different aspects of arts and entertainment material. 

Music Journalism
Learn to review music for music publications and websites.

Journalism 4 Change
Practice the art of finding constructive media solutions and create opportunities for change through journalism.

Freelance Journalism
Preparation for employment.

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Teaching

Teaching takes place through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, group work and self-directed study. In particular, you will participate in a range of practical workshops which require you to practise key skills, and seminars where you will have opportunities to discuss and reflect. In addition, you can arrange one-to-one meetings with staff which enables you to receive personal or small-group support for assessments, to discuss projects and career paths or ideas. The culmination of the course is the submission of either a dissertation or a journalism project of your choice. Both the dissertation and project are independently produced by students and are supervised by a member of staff.

As a journalism student, you will be expected to prepare for workshops and assessments by researching ideas and contacting people for interviews. Journalism modules are taught by a team of highly skilled academics and journalists. The team includes four vastly experienced, fully qualified journalists, including a former newspaper editor and award-winning feature writers, enabling an informed practical approach to the subject. They work alongside expert academics whose research expertise places them at the forefront of contemporary journalism and media scholarship. Staff are well connected to the creative industries in the UK and Europe.

Speakers from industry are regularly invited to speak to students so that they can understand the current climate. The undergraduate programme has close links with the Investigative Journalism MA, which is offered in partnership with Channel 4.

Assessment

Students will participate in a range of practical workshops which require them to practise key skills, or lectures with seminars where they have opportunities to discuss and reflect.

A wide variety of assessment methods are used: from writing news articles, producing videos, producing radio news features, essays, reports, podcasts, presentations including a video presentation, group work and portfolios of practical journalism work.

Students have opportunities to share their work via our dedicated news website the https://leicestershirepress.com/. Students are encouraged to participate in our award-winning Demon Media and to create websites to showcase their work to employers.

 

Industry links

DMU Journalism staff have close links with all forms of Leicestershire news media. Journalism staff have worked for — and continue to work for — most local newspapers and radio stations. This means our Journalism courses have unrivalled industry links with newspapers and radio stations in Leicestershire and the courses have an excellent reputation both regionally and nationally, allowing our students to win prestigious work experience placements for themselves.

Students also have the chance to contribute to Demon Media’s multimedia platforms, including The Demon Magazine, Demon FM community radio station, Demon TV and the Demon website.

Facilities and features

Placements

Leicester Centre of Journalism

Students have access to facilities such as the dedicated computer suites in the Leicester Centre of Journalism and a newsroom, so that they can enhance their practical and professional skills further.

We also boast multimillion-pound Creative Technology Studios, which include a suite of high-tech radio and TV studios. These facilities will be used for some practical workshops.

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team
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Graduate Careers

Former graduates have gone on to work for some of the UK’s biggest media companies, including major newspaper groups, magazines, PR companies and the wider communications and digital media industries.

Previous students have secured roles such as trainee journalists and news editors for the regional and national press and radio stations, as well as positions on the ITV News graduate scheme.

Students increasingly find employment in the digital sector, where the ability to communicate effectively on a variety of platforms is a significant advantage.

Graduates are also well positioned to continue their academic careers by embarking on postgraduate study, in either research or taught areas, which offers the opportunity for further specialisation, including the Investigative Journalism MA course offered at DMU.

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DMU Global

Our innovative international experience programme DMU Global aims to enrich studies, broaden cultural horizons and develop key skills valued by employers. 

Through DMU Global, we offer an exciting mix of overseas, on-campus and online international experiences, including the opportunity to study or work abroad for up to a year.

Journalism students have been on trips to gain insight into the rapidly changing world of newspapers at the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, as well as completed an internship at the prestigious Charles University in Prague, where they wrote articles for the university’s English-language news website.

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Placements

Work placements are offered as part of this course through DMU Careers Team, and can boost your skills and experience while studying, as well as improving your chances of gaining a graduate level job.

We have links with organisations both in the UK and internationally, and the placements team will help you find a placement to suit your interests and aspirations.

 

Journalism students have undertaken work experience within a variety of media outlets, including NME, the Observer, Sky Sports News and the Leicester Mercury.

Take your next steps

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