Program Overview

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In this global, digital age, the ability to share information with multiple audiences around the world is extremely powerful. Through language we can transmit knowledge, and share stories with people from all corners of the globe. Our BA Journalism and Modern Languages allow you to expand your multimedia skills whilst developing fluency in new languages. Through the modern languages component of this course, you have the opportunity to choose from French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish as a main language and Mandarin Chinese as optional language. This is intertwined with the practical journalism aspect of this course; where you develop your skills in using multi-media channels such as radio, television and online media and deepen your knowledge of journalism on an international scale You have the flexibility to choose the areas of the subject that most interest you and to explore global cultures alongside the native language. Topics which you will be able to study include:

• World Cinema
• Production Skills
• Translation
• International Journalism
• Up to two languages of your choice from the range we offer

Your third year is spent studying abroad at one of our partner institutions so you can develop your language skills and immerse yourself in another culture. During your final year, you will have the opportunity to bring all aspects of the course together in a final multimedia project on a subject linked to the languages element of your studies. As a student at one of the UK’s leading social science institutions, you are uniquely placed to acquire a deep understanding of the world you report on. You will join our Department of Languages and Linguistics and our Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies where you will be part of our diverse community of students from all corners of the globe. All of our modern languages courses include a compulsory year abroad. If you would like to study this course without a year abroad, our 3 year BA Journalism and Language Studies programme may be for you. Why we're great.

• Our journalism teaching staff have a broad range of up-to-date hands-on industry experience.
• You create and broadcast your own online content, radio and TV programmes.
• You develop your fluency in modern languages, and you spend your third year studying abroad.

Study abroad

Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad. Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised. If you spend a full year abroad you'll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. You won't pay any tuition fees to your host university

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Our expert staff

At Essex you learn from the best. Core journalism staff include:

• Penny Wrout, a former BBC correspondent and producer who is currently a freelance documentary film-maker and multimedia arts producer.
• Paul Anderson , former editor of Tribune and deputy editor of the New Statesman , who now works as a print/online subeditor on the Guardian .
• Dr Fatima el Issawi , an international correspondent with more than 15 years’ experience covering conflict zones for a wide range of broadcast and online outlets including Agence France Press and the BBC.
• Dr Alexandros Antoniou , lecturer in media law and a specialist in communications regulation, intellectual property and cybercrime.

Our modern language teaching staff are native or bilingual speakers of the languages that they teach, some with specialisms in intercultural communication, linguistic mediation and technologies of translation and authors of current text books used in language teaching. Throughout the course you also have the opportunity to meet visiting lecturers and teachers who are leading figures in different branches of journalism, and who provide an important link to an extended network of industry practitioners.

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Specialist facilities

As a journalism student at Essex, your material is published on a dedicated website , and you also spend time gaining on-the-job experience with a range of professional news operations, creating and publishing stories and building up a portfolio of published and broadcast work. You work in a purpose-built newsroom with access to television, radio studios, and computer software that allows journalists to create and edit content across all media and platforms quickly and professionally. The University’s Media Centre is equipped with state-of-the-art studios, cameras, audio and lighting equipment, and an industry-standard editing suite. You can also gain experience with our Students’ Union media platform Rebel , and benefit from access to our modern languages facilities:

• A specialist 20-position Interpreting Lab, with equipment also found in the European Commission, the United Nations and the Houses of Parliament
• Access to specialist software used for translation and subtitling and dedicated facilities including interpreting booths
• Our Languages for All programme offers you the opportunity to study an additional language alongside your course at no extra cost
• An exciting programme of research seminars and other events

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Your future

Studying languages allows you to grow your ability of additional languages to near fluency so that you can communicate with people from all around the world. This combined with the practical journalism elements of the course, mean that our graduates are equipped to embark on any one of a number of career paths. You compile an impressive portfolio of published work and complete a detailed multimedia project linked to modern languages in your final year, allowing you to offer real evidence of your range and capabilities to future employers. You also develop knowledge of a specialist subject – such as business, culture, politics, international affairs or sport – giving you a head start if you want to pursue a career in one of those areas. You become a multi-skilled and multilingual story-teller both in English and the MFL that you take to Proficiency level, familiar with production techniques in television, radio, online and newspaper journalism, and with the option to gain advanced skills in specific areas in your final year.