Professional standards

You study for an honours degree including elements of history, politics and law while simultaneously studying for the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) preliminary Certificates in Journalism. These include news writing, media law, public affairs and shorthand.

The NCTJ is the nationally recognised training body for professional journalists. Its qualifications are respected by employers throughout the UK.

The degree also has accreditation pending status with the Broadcast Journalism Training Council.

Journalistic expertise

Studying in a state-of-the-art modern newsroom, your tutors include working reporters and columnists including former editors of national newspapers, radio and television stations and magazines.

You learn from the experience of network broadcasters, foreign correspondents and web publishers. Their professional expertise is complemented throughout by excellent academic teaching and debate led by leading historians, political scientists and lawyers.

Versatile training

The course embraces convergent, multi media skills from the beginning. Teaching is through lectures, seminars and newsroom tutorials.

You learn about the history of journalism, its love-hate relationship with political power and its ability to influence and reflect popular culture.

You also study the ethics of journalism and specialist techniques including investigative reporting, feature writing, live broadcasting and writing for the web.

At every stage of the course you have opportunities to put your vocational and academic learning to use in regular newsroom exercises and work placements in the news industry. There are also frequent opportunities to question visiting professional journalists and to hear their views on editorial, ethical and vocational controversies.

Diverse assessment

Journalism is demanding as well as fun and your progress is assessed throughout the degree programme by methods including newsroom exercises and tests and observation of your technical and team-working skills.

Theoretical and academic analysis is taught through traditional lectures and seminars. Practical teaching takes place in the newsroom.

You sit a combination of academic and vocational exams, submit essays and portfolios of journalism and make seminar presentations.