Journalism

UCAS code: P500

Here's what University of Portsmouth says about its Journalism course.

This is a Connected Degree Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

Overview 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)

Accredited by: This course is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), 1 of 3 professional bodies that accredit journalism training in the UK. You'll automatically be entered into the examinations that lead to the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism.

The NCTJ accreditation also lets potential employers know that this course gives you the relevant skills and abilities you need to work as a journalist when you graduate. This gives you an edge over students who didn't do an accredited course when you’re applying for jobs.

Careers and opportunities The world always needs journalists to tell us what’s going on. Print media such as newspapers and magazines may be on the decline, but digital versions are replacing them. Meanwhile, social media and other opportunities for online reporting also help keep demand high for journalists.

Related industries such as PR or communications also attract journalism graduates with strong transferable skills.

With a Journalism degree and NCTJ Diploma in Journalism, you'll have the multimedia skills to take advantage of the changing nature of journalism.

You can also continue your studies to postgraduate level.

Graduate roles

Our graduates have gone on to roles such as:

• trainee reporter

• social media editor

• campaign assistant

• public relations account executive

• digital marketing executive

• sports reporter

Graduate areas

Our graduates have worked in areas such as:

• national, regional and local newspapers

• magazines

• radio and television stations

• online publications

• public relations

• corporate communications and marketing

• digital marketing and social media

Ongoing careers support

Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience. You can also venture into freelancing, or set up and run your own business with help from the University Startup Team.

Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.

Year 1 Core modules in this year include:

• Academic Skills and Career Planning (20 credits)
• Digital Skills for Journalists (20 credits)
• Ethical Perspectives On Current Affairs (20 credits)
• Journalism in Context (20 credits)
• Media Law and Regulation (L4) (20 credits)
• Reporting (20 credits)

There are no optional modules in this year, although you can take NCTJ examinations in a variety of subject areas.

Year 2 Core modules in this year include:

• Advanced News and Investigative Reporting (20 credits)
• Feature Writing and Media Research (20 credits)
• Government in Britain (20 credits)
• Mobile Journalism (20 credits)
• Social Media and Journalism (20 credits)

Optional modules in this year include:

• Engaged Citizenship Through Interdisciplinary Practice (20 credits)
• Press and Public Relations (20 credits)
• Professional Experience (20 credits)
• Specialist Journalism (20 credits)
• Student Enterprise (20 credits)

Year 3 Core modules in this year include:

• Newsroom Production (20 credits)
• Placement (20 credits)

Optional modules in this year currently include:

• Digital Media and Democracy (20 credits)
• Dissertation (40 credits)
• Global Journalism and Human Rights (20 credits)
• Journalism Special Investigation (40 credits)
• Magazines: Print Media in a Digital World (20 credits)
• Money, Government and Power (20 credits)

You can also take NCTJ examinations in a variety of subject areas.

Placement year (optional)

On this course, you can do an optional work placement year after your 2nd or 3rd year to get valuable experience working in industry. We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year.

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

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

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

The way you’re assessed may depend on the units you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows:

• 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
• Year 3 students: 7% by practical exams and 93% by coursework