Discover our
Preston Campus
Level
Post- graduate
Mode
Taught
Campus
Preston
Contact UCLan
Course Enquiries
University of Central Lancashire
Preston, PR1 2HE, UK.
Tel: +44 (0)1772 892400
Email: cenquiries@uclan.ac.uk
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Duration:
Full-time: One year, Part-time: Two years
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Level:
Postgraduate
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Mode:
Taught
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Delivery:
Campus, Full-time and Part-time
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Campus:
Preston
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Start Date:
September
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Award Type:
MA
Why study this programme?
Are you a journalism graduate or industry professional who wants to move your career in a new direction?
If so, this flexible programme will enable you to master the key skills and knowledge required for career development in the contemporary media.
The programme also aims to develop your intellectual skills and creative insights to enable you to become a reflective practitioner with sustainable and flexible career options.
You will learn to analyse critically and challenge theories of contemporary journalism and business practice and to exploit that understanding in the development of new practice and innovation.
You will be able to tailor this course to suit your needs. The programme begins with an introductory module called Journalism Today. You will explore the contemporary media industries and reflect on your own experience and learning. From there, you will go on to plan your MA journey and decide which pathway you wish to take through this postgraduate programme.
Entry Requirements
- Either an undergraduate degree in journalism or a related media subject, typically at 2:1 or above.
- Or evidence of professional journalism/media industry experience with an undergraduate degree typically at 2:1 and above in any subject.
- Appropriate computer literacy and internet access.
- International applicants are required to have an IELTS score of 7 or equivalent.
- Applicants will also be interviewed either in person or via electronic means.
Programme at a Glance
Semester 1
- Journalism Today (20 credits)
Either
- Multimedia Content (40 credits)
OR
- Journalism Innovation (40 credits)
Semester 2
- Theory Today (20 credits)
Semester 2 and 3
Plus Either
- Placement (40 credits)
OR
- Dissertation (40 credits)
OR
- Project (40 credits)
Plus 60 credits made up from:
- Data Journalism (20 credits)
- Drone Journalism (20 credits)
- Photo Journalism (20 credits)
- Cross Industry Perspectives (20 credits)
- Media Law and Regulation (20 credits)
- Reporting Politics (20 credits)
- Journalism Leadership (40 credits)
- Broadcast Newsroom (40 credits)
Further Information
Are you keen to futureproof your career and experiment with doing what’s next for journalism, today? Join our world-leading research and innovation studio, and the UK’s oldest journalism school.
We aim to bring people together to rethink how journalism can enrich lives. This flexible programme will enable you to master the key skills and knowledge required to harness the exciting opportunities in the contemporary media. The course is underpinned by a passionate belief that through innovative thinking we can achieve excellence that delivers real-world industry impact. You will develop intellectual skills and creative insights to enable you to become a reflective practitioner with sustainable and flexible career options. We want you to see the big picture. You will learn to analyse critically and challenge the theory of contemporary journalism and to exploit that understanding in the development of new skills, technologies and innovative practice.
The programme culminates in a placement, project or dissertation which can be tailored to develop a major project of your choosing. This programme has been re-launched for 2018 with the aim of appealing to non-journalism graduates, journalism undergraduates and industry professionals who are looking to extend their skills and knowledge base for sustainable career development. The course benefits from staff who are internationally renowned practitioners including:
Google Digital News Initiative Innovation Fund external examiner and project Principal Investigator, co-author Social Media for Journalists Principles and Practice (Sage) www.submojour.net and Nesta’s hyperlocal revenues in Europe. See www.clarecookonline.com
Reader in Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship, editor of both the annual World Press Trends, and World News Publishers Outlook reports for the World Association of Newspaper and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), National Teaching Fellow 2013, Fellow of the European Entrepreneurship Educators (3EP) Programme, former Research Fellow at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford, and founding convenor of the Digital Editors Network, UK.
Researcher spanning journalism, the Internet of Things (IoT), augmented paper, mobile journalism, wearables, HCI, drone journalism and innovation theory. Founding member of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers’ Global Alliance for Media Innovation.
Our community is interdisciplinary and includes researchers, policy makers, students, business people, entrepreneurs, technologists, and designers. The Media Innovation Studio has also built up a discussion community who are internationally renowned practitioners.
Our lecturers who teach on journalism practice modules worked as professional journalists before they moved into teaching. Some still combine working in industry with their university role.
The media industry has gone through dramatic change over the last decade. It is likely to change even more over the coming years. This course aims to ensure students have sustainable and viable career options.
UCLan has become only the third UK partner in the Google News Labs University Network.
Google News Lab University Network provides in-person training, when possible, and online training materials to professors and students on topics ranging from immersive storytelling, data journalism, trends, trust/verification and more. The benefits of this newly formed connection with Google News Lab for UCLan students are huge. It not only provides them with networking opportunities but also the chance to learn from current experts and professionals in the field.
How to Apply
Our Postgraduate section has more information around applying including visiting UCLan and the support available.
If you want to continue and apply now, you can apply for many of the postgraduate UCLan courses using our Online Application System.
For other postgraduate courses you can apply directly to UCLan by downloading a Postgraduate Application Form (.pdf 190KB) please also see our Postgraduate Application Guidance Notes (.pdf 158KB).
Handbook
For detailed information about studying this course at UCLan, please see the course handbook for your year of entry:
For information on possible changes to course information, see our Important Information.
Applications
Apply now or see further information about postgraduate study and research. International students should visit our international pages.
Fees 2019/20
Full-time: £6,700 per year (UK/EU)
Part-time: £3,345 per year for first 2 years (UK/EU)
Tuition Fees are per year unless otherwise stated.
Further information:
- Tuition Fees | International Fees
- Student Finance: Overview | Contact
- Information for international students
For 2018/19 fees please refer to our fees page.
UK Government Postgraduate Loans Scheme
If you're thinking of studying a master's or doctoral degree you could be eligible for a loan from the Government to help you study.
For additional help with financing your studies, UCLan offers a range of Postgraduate scholarships, studentships, bursaries and the Alumni loyalty discount.
Related Programmes
Industry Links
Journalism at UCLan has an excellent record for journalism training and employability. We have been teaching journalism in Preston for more than 55 years and we have a worldwide network of top industry professionals who began their careers here.
Our lecturers who teach on journalism practice modules worked as professional journalists before they moved into teaching. Some still combine working in industry with their university role.
The media industry has gone through dramatic change over the last decade. It is likely to change even more over the coming years. This course aims to ensure students have sustainable and viable career options.
Professional Accreditation
This course does not have specific course accreditation because it is likely that students on this programme will have already completed NCTJ exams. Our undergraduate programme BA Journalism is NCTJ-accredited and we are an accredited NCTJ exam centre. We may be able to arrange for students on this programme to complete the NCTJ diploma exams if they wish, subject to timetabling considerations.
Learning Environment and Assessment
Journalism is based in Greenbank Building where we have five newsrooms, a TV studio and four radio studios. The university has invested more than £250,000 on improving these facilities over the last couple of years.
You may also have sessions in our Media Innovation Studio on the top floor of the Media Factory.
Virtual Tour
Opportunities
Students carry out placements with employers such as the BBC, ITV, Sky, national and regional titles and magazines and in the new creative media industries.
Our students have gone on to work for organisations such as the BBC, ITV, Sky, national and regional news titles, magazines, new digital media industries, corporate communication and many more.
Case Study: MA students put their journalistic skills to the test with Norwegian photojournalist
cJAM
Final year undergraduate and postgraduate journalism students have the opportunity to get involved in our annual cJAM employability event. cJAM shakes-up the traditional career fair format and gives UCLan students face-to-face time with up to 30 successful industry professionals all of whom have come to the event with the offer of valuable work placement opportunities. The cJAM event format consists of four main components:
- Students hear from keynote industry speakers who share their personal career journey and how they got to where they are now.
- The industry Q&A session allows students to ask questions to gain further advice and insight.
- Informal networking opportunities during the breaks and lunch.
- The key element of cJAM is the giant speed pitching session. The students have eight minutes one-to-one time to pitch to selected industry guests to try and win a placement. Students can choose to pitch an idea, their reasons for wanting a placement with that particular company or to showcase their enthusiasm, skills and talent. Immediately following the pitching session, placements are decided on and the event closes with all the winning students being presented with their placement awards.
In 2018, there were four cJAM events and a total of 320 placements were awarded. All of which enabled our students to establish credible links in line with their career aspirations. To find out more about cJAM: Journalism, see the video and read the press release.
