MA Journalism
- Entry year
- 2025/26
- Course code
- P50012
- Application
- University
- Level
- Postgraduate
- School
- School of Arts
- Campus
- City Campus
- Duration
- One year
- Delivery
- Full-time; starts September
- Programme leader
- Christopher Brown
This course is open for applications
Please note that this programme is currently being redesigned with additional module choices. A new structure will be confirmed by January 2025.
Page last updated 15 November 2024
UWE Bristol’s accredited MA Journalism course empowers students to master the latest multimedia storytelling techniques. Benefit from the unique BBC Mentor Scheme to gain invaluable industry insights and hands-on guidance to build your journalism career of the future.
Accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC), our industry-led course provides you with the comprehensive education and training you need for modern digital and broadcast media jobs. Gain hands-on experience in our industry-standard radio, podcast and television studios, develop professional editorial, newsgathering and technical skills and judgment and build strong industry contacts and experience. You’ll also be supported to advance your skills in your chosen long-form storytelling format – whether that’s radio, podcasting, television or feature writing for digital or print platforms.
As a creative student, you’ll be perfectly placed studying in Bristol. A socially and politically dynamic city, Bristol is recognised as one of the UK’s most vibrant media centres, with the highest concentration of creative industries outside London. We work with a wide range of broadcasters, publishers, and creative and cultural partners, including a strong partnership with the BBC. This has led to the development of a unique mentor scheme, pairing you with a BBC journalist who'll give you invaluable insights and support throughout your course.
You’ll graduate with a globally recognised, accredited qualification and have a broad range of career options available to you regionally, nationally and internationally. Equipped with essential skills and specialist knowledge, our graduates are well-prepared for entry-level roles in the journalism industry. Most have secured positions with the BBC, ITV, The Independent, and various local and national media outlets. Additionally, our students have been nominated for, and have won, local and national awards for multimedia journalism and audio documentaries.
Follow UWE Journalism on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn for news.
Depending on your pathway choices, you'll graduate with one of the following awards:
Please note: on application you'll need to indicate which pathway you're interested in taking.
You'll study:
You'll study:
You'll study:
The subject matter of the modules is as follows:
Advanced Media Law (15 credits) - you'll examine some of the current debates about accountability, transparency and regulation, and some of the practical challenges which journalists face in their everyday work. There may be an opportunity to visit the Houses of Parliament and take part in a Question Time event with local MPs.
Introduction to Media Law (15 credits) - provides an introduction to the concepts of ethics, law, broadcast regulation and press freedom, where you'll explore the impact of the reporting of crime and the justice system. Where possible, during the first semester students will attend and report on court hearings and visit Bristol Law Society.
Investigative Journalism (15 credits) - will enable you to assess, construct, pitch and refine an investigative research proposal in relation to audience and platform. You'll carry out focused research using a wide range of methods, databases and sources within accepted legal and ethical constraints.
Journalism Collaborative Project (15 credits) - an opportunity for students to plan and undertake work that's related to their artistic and/or professional endeavours and career goals. The aim is to enable students to view themselves as professional practitioners and understand what is necessary to work as professionals in their chosen field.
Journalism MA Portfolio (60 credits) - this bespoke and largely self-directed module is an extended production module where you'll undertake your own final project. This will reflect your skills and understanding of journalism content and production, supported by tutorials and sessions with your mentor to shape and layer your final narrative.
Journalism Writing (15 credits) - a practice-based module designed to introduce you to, or develop, your journalistic skills, and to encourage reflection about how journalists operate. You'll discuss the purpose of journalism and conventions of the news media, develop a critical awareness of target audiences, and increase your competence of editorial software applications.
Multimedia Journalism 1 (30 credits) - you'll operate as a multimedia journalist - focusing on radio and digital skills - in the field, studio and newsroom. You'll put into practice, and reflect on, your own journalistic judgement, news sense, skills and knowledge. News days allow you to practice news reporting in a fully equipped multimedia newsroom producing news for radio and digital platforms..
Multimedia Journalism 2 (30 credits) - you'll take your training on to focus on television and advanced digital and social media content. News days will develop your skills even further, as you produce TV programmes and bespoke digital content for social media platforms.
Podcasting and Programming (30 credits) - building on the audio production carried out in other modules, students will engage in more advanced production and presentation techniques and professional practices. The emphasis will be on podcast and magazine programme production.
Professional Practice in Journalism (60 credits) - a bespoke and largely self-directed, extended production module, where students will undertake their own final project reflecting the skills and understanding of audio content and production. Students are supported by tutorials and sessions with an industry mentor to shape and layer their final narrative.
Radio Pre-Production (15 credits) - an introduction to the specialist field of Audio and Factual programming, which will provide an overview of production processes and develop key skills for employment. Students will undertake craft skills training across specialist roles, to prepare for production and further their professional development. Students will be encouraged to work up and pitch ideas for factual programming.
Specialist Features (30 credits) - an introduction to the specialist field of feature writing across a range of media platforms. This module will enable students to develop the skills needed to produce a variety of longform features as well as build up expertise in a specialist area, such as sport, music, fashion, travel or the environment, or business-to-business work.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved we'll inform you.
Taught by a team with years of industry expertise across digital and broadcast platforms, you’ll learn the future-facing multimedia journalism skills industry needs. Develop your passion for audio, video, or written storytelling through a combination of practice-oriented workshops and tutorials. Immerse yourself in the world of a real-life newsroom during our ‘news days’, and gain invaluable insight from events with industry experts from the BBC and beyond.
All School of Arts MA courses actively encourage cross-disciplinary discussion and multi-disciplinary interaction across our diverse community of postgraduate artists, filmmakers, designers, and journalists. This ensures you’ll bring different perspectives to your creative practice.
See our glossary of teaching and learning terms.
This is a full-time course, which starts in September and runs for three terms over 12 months. Learning and teaching sessions typically take place over three days per week, variable across the academic year.
Outside of your contact hours, you’ll be expected to get out into the city to find interesting and important stories, putting your new knowledge into practice. You’ll also have access to our wide range of academic resources to help put that learning into a wider industry context.
You’ll be assessed through a range of methods designed to mirror professional practices in the journalism industry. These methods include presentations, portfolios, practical work and written reflection with ongoing feedback from tutors.
During your final term, you’ll have the chance to specialise in your preferred storytelling format - audio, video, or written – to produce a long-form piece of journalism. This project is designed to showcase your skills and introduce you to the range of editorial, technical, and ethical considerations professional journalists navigate during their career.
Learn more about assessments.
MA Journalism is accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC), which is supported by the UK’s biggest broadcast news providers, including the BBC, ITV and Sky.
BJTC accreditation ensures you’re receiving the highest standards of journalism training, boosting your employability and preparing you for work in an industry newsroom.
As part of your accredited degree, you're required to gain industry experience at professional journalism outlets. Past students have gained placements at the likes of BBC Bristol, South West News Service, Bristol Post, Bristol24-7, Ujima Radio and Bauer Media.
There are also opportunities to gain further work experience in local, national or international media outlets and explore real stories on the streets of Bristol and beyond.
We have a wide range of study visits but you're also expected to be out in the field producing journalistic material throughout the course.
Studying at Bower Ashton offers a base for our City Campus students, connecting teaching and learning with a range of renowned creative and cultural organisations in Bristol. Bower Ashton houses the main library supporting the creative and cultural industries and student support services.
Develop your skills in our industry-standard radio and TV studios, with the latest recording, editing, and production equipment to support studies in broadcast journalism, filmmaking, and creative media.
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Journalism and Media facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
The Master's in Journalism at UWE Bristol has been developed in partnership with the BBC which also provides work placements, internships, guest speakers and mentors.
Bristol is a vibrant media city with many opportunities for work experience with the local digital and print publishers, like Bristol Post, Bristol24-7, and the Bristol Cable, alongside local television and radio stations including, ITV West Country, Bauer Media, BCfm and Ujima Radio
UWE Bristol is a partner in the Pervasive Media Studio which is at the forefront of research and development of the creative technologies. We have strong links with a range of broadcasting organisations including Bristol Media, the Royal Television Society and Bristol NUJ.
Our support includes access to fantastic facilities, study tools and career consultants, plus practical help to access everything from funding to childcare.
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
We provide support in the way you need it.
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
MA Journalism gives you the skillset to enter digital and broadcast local and national newsrooms, plus a range of audio and video production companies and post-production facilities.
Our recent graduates now work at the likes of the BBC, South West News Service, The Independent and Bauer Media. Others have found successful careers in a range of industries, including publishing, media production, public relations and marketing, and among non-governmental organisations.
Our award-winning careers service helps you develop your employment potential through career coaching, a vacancy service for internships, placements, jobs, global opportunities, volunteering and community activity plus support for entrepreneurial activity, and access to employer events.
Learn more about our graduate destinations.
For information about fees and funding for courses please see our fees and funding pages.
For funding options, please see our funding and scholarships information.
Find out about the MyWorld scholarships, which are available for home postgraduate students studying a creative technology-related course (full-time or part-time).
We're seeking highly motivated students from any background, committed to creative growth in our supportive School of Arts community. Most applicants would have an honours degree in the arts or media related subject, but those with qualifications in other disciplines or prior professional experience are also encouraged to apply.
While some students enter the course after years of independent work, we also welcome entries from ambitious applicants directly from undergraduate courses.
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on our country information pages.
Applicants will be asked to provide a personal statement for review.
Your personal statement should communicate confidently and coherently your rationale for application: what you hope Master’s study will help you achieve in your future. You may want to include detail of the influences that have led you to application, and the attributes you think will be important for success as a postgraduate. We would like to know more about you, and your understanding of what we do.
Most personal statements we receive are around 500 words in length.
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum IELTS (Academic) score of 7.0 overall including at least 7.0 in the writing component and no lower than 6.5 in any other component (or approved equivalent*).
*The University accepts a large number of UK and international qualifications in place of IELTS. To find details of acceptable tests and the required grades, please visit English Language requirements.
If you meet the academic requirements but require additional support to take your language skills to the required level, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Students who successfully complete the pre-sessional course can progress onto their chosen degree course without retaking an IELTS or equivalent.
Read more about our pre-sessional English programme.
Read more about postgraduate applications.
We accept applications throughout the year but if you are working to a funding deadline, you should build this into your application process..
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.