(BA) Bachelor of Arts
Journalism and Politics
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
Politics and International Relations
BA P580
08/06/2026
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
- 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels.
- IB: 30 - 29 points in the IB Diploma or 120 - 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
JOURNALISM:
- To create graduates who are thoroughly grounded in the theory and practice of 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 as journalists; 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.
POLITICS:
- To develop students' knowledge and understanding of the major theoretical and conceptual foundations of the discipline of political science, offer students, through a wide range of option choices, a varied menu of sub-disciplinary and area-oriented specialisms in order both to provide students with opportunities to develop an empirical base for the study of politics in different contexts and to broaden their theoretical perspectives.
- Provide the opportunity for students to learn about political systems, political behaviour and political ideas.
- Maintain an intellectual environment that is exciting and challenging, fostering students' capacities for creative study and dialogue and maintaining high standards of teaching and learning.
- Develop and promote students' skills and capacities to analyse politics, undertake subsequent academic study and for employment, personal development and social participation.
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 history and evolution of journalism, the current state of the industry and its future prospects
A3: The role of publishing and broadcasting in a modern society, including challenges in reporting on international issues
A4: The UK legal system, and the law, regulatory framework and codes of practice relating to journalism
A5: The characteristics and needs of a range of print, broadcast and web-based journalism, production processes and professional practice in relation to newspapers, magazines, online content and broadcast journalism
A6: Knowledge of different conceptual, theoretical and normative perspectives within political science about eg democracy, justice, liberalism and rights, and of methodological issues.
A7: Knowledge of the main findings of existing political science research about political systems (e.g. Britain, Europe, other areas and the international system), political behaviour (e.g. voting behaviour, public opinion and political parties).
A8: Knowledge of sources of information for studying politics and of developments, issues and debates in specialist subjects.
A9: To develop intercultural skills (Study/Year Abroad variant only)
A10: To provide the opportunity to apply academic learning outcomes in a work-related context (Placement year variant)
A11: To develop essential work-based skills throughout the placement. (Placement variant only)
Learning methods
Lectures, workshops, group discussion and reflection, work experience, practical exercises, formative feedback.
Assessment methods
A1-A8 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 informati
on in a short time, applying critical techniques to assess evidence on the basis of relevance, reliability and newsworthiness
B2: Turn raw data and information into clear, accurate and engaging journalism with impact
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: Evaluate, interpret and demonstrate critical judgement in the understanding of developments in the news, of issues and concepts, and be able dispassionately to assess one's own work and the work of others
B6: Produce independent and imaginative treatments conforming to a clear framework of values
B7: To question received thinking, reason critically, and to develop own thinking.
B8: Advanced knowledge of different modes of explanation and theoretical perspectives in political science and political theory at an appropriate level.
B9: To analyse and evaluate evidence and to argue coherently and persuasively.
B10: To present ideas in a structured form in writing.
Learning methods
Lectures, workshops, group discussion and reflection, work experience, practical exercises, formative feedback, seminars, classes and presentations
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 operate in professional manner, observing ethical and legal constraints
C6: Organise and structure an extended argument, advancing clear critical positions and using theoretical terms correctly
C7: Provide references according to accepted conventions and compile systematic bibliographies.
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: 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.
D4: Ability to 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.
D5: Ability to take responsibility for one's own work in individual and collective contexts, reflect on one's own performance and make constructive use of feedback in class and written comments on coursework and oral communication.
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.