(BA) Bachelor of Arts
Journalism (Including Placement Year)
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
Communication, Media, Film and Cultural Studies
BA P503
08/06/2026
Details
Professional accreditation
Accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).
Admission criteria
- 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels.
- IB: 29 points in the IB Diploma or 112 UCAS tariff points to include a minimum of 2 Higher Level subjects.
- We accept A-levels, AAQs, BTECs, Access to HE Diploma, T-levels and most other qualifications that hold UCAS tariff points. Acceptability of some non A-level qualifications (such as BTECs) may depend on the subject studied and units taken.
You can calculate your UCAS tariff points on the UCAS website.
Whilst International A-levels and BTECs aren't on the UCAS tariff calculator, we assign them the same tariff points as their UK counterparts.
More information about our requirements and how to apply is on our undergraduate application information page
Contextual Offers:
We are committed to ensuring that all students with the merit and potential to benefit from an Essex education are supported to do so. We make Contextual Offers, of up to two A-level grades (or equivalent) below our standard conditional offer, to applicants from underrepresented groups residing in the UK. Our Contextual Offers policy outlines the full eligibility criteria.
If you haven't got the grades you hoped for, have a non-traditional academic background, are a mature student, or have any questions about eligibility for your course, more information can be found on our undergraduate application information page.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component, or specified score in an equivalent test that we accept.
Details of English language requirements and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.
Pre-sessional English courses
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
If you’re an international student, but do not meet the academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
Prof Jairo Alfonso Lugo-Ocando
Dean and Professor of Journalism
College of Communication, University of Sharjah, UAE
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
- To create graduates who are thoroughly grounded in the theory and practice of journalism, and who have the range and depth of skills and knowledge necessary to embark on a career in journalism; to give students the legal, moral, ethical and values-based framework that will allow them to make sound editorial judgements and behave in a professional manner;
- To help students develop their writing and broadcasting skills to a high level; to equip students with the technical, editorial and other (eg shorthand) expertise they need to operate effectively as journalists in today’s converged, multimedia, digital environment;
- To encourage students to develop their critical faculties, in particular to adopt an inquiring, sceptical and whole-hearted approach to their work;
- To encourage students to work effectively on their own and in teams to produce the best journalism;
- To enable students to study for and achieve an industry-recognised qualification alongside their degree;
- To develop students’ application of their knowledge and skills in a work-based context;
- To enable students to develop essential work-based skills.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Theoretical and practical approaches to journalism
A2: The UK legal system, court reporting and the law relating to the media
A3: The characteristics and needs of a range of print, broadcast and web-based journalism, how audiences consume them and how best to serve those audiences
A4: Production processes and professional practice in relation to newspapers, magazines, online content and broadcast journalism
A5: Advanced research and data handling techniques, and the ability to assess and report statistics-based stories
A6: A specialist subject area or form of journalism
A7: The influence of theory on practice, operating professionally within a complex and ever changing regulatory framework
A8: The history and evolution of journalism, the current state of the industry and its future prospects
A9: The role of publishing and broadcasting in a modern society
A10: The regulatory framework and codes of practice relating to journalism
A11: Reporting local and national government processes, the nature of devolution and the relationship with the EU
Learning methods
Lectures, workshops, group discussion and reflection, work experience, practical exercises, formative feedback.
Assessment methods
A1-A11 Range of in-class tests, portfolio of work, reflective journals, group work, project work, essays and other coursework
A1, A4-A7 examination
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: Able to absorb and organise large amounts of information in a short time, applying critical techniques to assess evidence on the basis of relevance, reliability and newsworthiness
B2: Theoretical and practical approaches to journalism
B3: Make good decisions and present clear, well-reasoned and coherent arguments, in writing or orally, often against a deadline
B4: Exercise judgement in designing, planning and delivering journalistic output
B5: Demonstrate critical judgement of developments in the news, and of issues and concepts, and dispassionate assessment of own work and the work of others
B6: Produce independent and imaginative treatments conforming to a clear framework of values
B7: Be a self-critical journalist able to apply theoretical knowledge to enable sound decision-making in delivering journalistic output
Learning methods
Lectures, workshops, group discussion and reflection, work experience, practical exercises, formative feedback.
Assessment methods
Assessment is by coursework, practical assignments, portfolios, group projects, peer assessment, critical commentaries, written examinations and, in some cases, oral presentations.
C: Practical skills
C1: An ability to find, research and write news stories and features for various print, online and broadcast media
C2: An ability to conduct interviews, record information accurately and analyse it to a professional standard
C3: An ability to work in production for various media, using industry-standard software and hardware
C4: An ability to work independently, cooperatively and in editorial teams to produce finished work to agreed deadlines for various media
C5: An ability to plan, produce and present projects suitable for publication or broadcast
C6: An ability to operate in professional manner, observing ethical and legal constraints
Learning methods
Lectures, workshops, group discussion and reflection, work experience, practical exercises, formative feedback.
Assessment methods
Assessment is by coursework, practical assignments, portfolios, group projects, peer assessment, critical commentaries, written examinations and, in some cases, oral presentations.
D: Key skills
D1: Ability to express oneself in a clear, focused, relevant and effective way, both orally and in writing
D2: Ability to use appropriate software and hardware to produce and present high quality editorial content
D3: Basic grasp of numeracy, and ability to understand and apply a sceptical approach to statistics
D4: Finding, understanding, organising and processing information. Applying knowledge and understanding to make judgements. Ability to question conventional wisdom and find innovative methods of research. Working to deadlines. Management of projects and timetables.
D5: Ability to plan, manage time, and advance and argue for proposals in editorial meetings, ability to respond constructively to criticism, ability to engage in collaborative writing and programme-making activities; ability to work co-operatively in a variety of group contexts, including practical production, taking on a number of different roles.
D6: Ability to take responsibility for own work and actions in individual and collective contexts, and to reflect on performance and make constructive use of written and oral feedback.
Learning methods
Lectures, workshops, group discussion and reflection, work experience, practical exercises, formative feedback.
Assessment methods
Assessment is by coursework, practical assignments, portfolios, group projects, peer assessment, critical commentaries, written examinations and, in some cases, oral presentations.