Program Overview

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Journalism and Publishing

BA (Hons)

Undergraduate degree - single honours

Overview

Become a journalist for the twenty-first century and tell the stories that matter with our publishing and journalism degree.

• Develop a stunning portfolio of digital journalistic writing from environmental campaigning to lifestyle features.
• Gain high-quality work experience with major media companies and student magazine Milk.
• Build skills for a career in the creative sector, including digital marketing, audience analysis and compelling copywriting.

What you'll learn

This course combines hands-on journalistic and publishing experience with a critical understanding of global media industries and audiences - the context in which you’ll work.

• You’ll learn to use industry-standard software, with opportunities to develop your abilities in image use, video, digital production and collaborative, project-based working.
• The flexibility of the course enables you to tailor it to suit your interests and ambitions - you can choose to spend more of your time on either journalism or publishing elements.
• During the course, there are many opportunities to gain high-quality work experience with leading international media companies such as the BBC, Penguin Random House, individual TEDx events and a wide range of local and regional news, magazine and digital content companies.

Course structure

Year one

• We’ll teach you the core skills of journalism: concise, meaningful and accurate writing and solid desk research skills. Fast-turnaround deadlines will get you used to quickly assessing and distilling information.
• You’ll experiment with different types of content and take creative risks to make exciting, new, innovative publications. You’ll be introduced to the contemporary global media industry, learn how to edit your work, and produce publications using industry-standard software.

Year two

• Alongside enhancing your writing skills and learning how to develop original research material, you’ll explore digital storytelling techniques for multiplatform journalism and social media campaigns. These might include photography, video, podcasting and live creative content-making for major events on Twitter and Instagram.
• Optional modules allow you to focus on specialist areas, both practical and theoretical, such as international journalism, data journalism, science journalism, and publishing skills for social enterprise and charity work.

Year three

• You’ll gain a solid grounding in the latest digital publishing techniques.
• With the expert guidance of tutors, you’ll plan and create your own journalism portfolio and undertake a substantial individual project tailored to your interests and career plans.
• Optional modules offer specialisation in areas such as digital content strategy, magazines, investigative journalism, and lifestyle and entertainment journalism. Specialist careers coaching is provided within the course to help you land a job in your area of choice.

How will I be assessed?

• You’ll be assessed by practical and creative coursework, including portfolios of your writing, multiplatform journalism and publications, essays, reflective commentaries and reports. In some modules you’ll share your work through short, informal presentations.

How will I be taught?

• You’ll be taught through creative workshops, skills labs, seminars, one-day challenges, reporting days, and lectures.
• A wide range of visiting journalists and media publishers will offer insights from the front line of contemporary journalism.
• Ongoing tutor feedback and workshop exercises will help you to develop your work to a high level.
• You'll learn to be adept at project management, whether for a particular story you are working on, or for a larger project.
• Throughout the course, you’ll work to briefs set by your tutors or industry collaborators, or your own negotiated briefs.

Course modules

This course offers or includes the following modules. The modules you take will depend on your pathway or course combination (if applicable) as well as any optional or open modules chosen. Please check the programme document for more information.

Year one (Level 4) modules

• Introduction to Journalism
• Journalistic Research
• Introduction to Editing and Production
• What’s the Story?
• Create Lab
• Introduction to Publishing

Year two (Level 5) modules

• Digital Storytelling
• Research and Reporting
• Marketing and Selling Books
• The Editor
• Publishing Studio team
• International Journalism
• Broadcast Journalism
• Journalism Portfolio
• Science Journalism and Publishing
• Influencers and Contemporary Celebrity
• Professional Placement Year

Year three (Level 6) modules

• Publishing Innovation
• In-depth Investigations
• Publishing Industry Project
• Publishing Studio Lead
• The Story Behind the Stats
• Lifestyle and Entertainment Journalism
• Commissioning books
• Political Journalism
• Content Marketing Strategy

Opportunities

Study abroad

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

Fieldwork

You’ll have the opportunity to participate in fieldwork across Journalism and Publishing modules.

Work placements, industry links and internships

We spend much time creating and negotiating high-quality work experience opportunities on your behalf with leading international media companies such as the BBC, Penguin Random House and individual TEDx and X Media Lab events, alongside a wide range of local and regional news, magazine and digital content companies.

During your course, you’ll have the opportunity to work on live projects and collaborations. You’ll also be able to contribute to multiplatform student magazine, Milk, and be part of the vibrant Publishing and Journalism Society, which holds workshops, talks and social events throughout the year.

Specialist careers coaching is provided within the course to help you land a job in your area of choice. We support applications for a range of paid internships and work with industry contacts to develop internship and work experience opportunities for students.

Careers

We have an excellent track record in helping students gain graduate level jobs.

Journalism and publishing skills are extremely transferable, enabling you to work in a wide range of additional professions including publicity, social media marketing, digital content development, web editing and brand development.

Publishing graduates have been employed in a variety of roles, including Digital Editor, Production Assistant, Publications Officer, Digital Marketing Coordinator, Social Media Executive and Project Manager. Graduates have been employed by major publishing companies including:

• BBC
• Future Publishing
• Taylor & Francis
• Penguin Random House
• Immediate Media.

Facilities and resources

Where the subject is taught

Journalism and Publishing is taught on our Newton Park campus. You'll have access to a wide range of excellent facilities, including:

• Publishing Labs: digital and print making spaces
• Reuters Business Lab: professional news facility
• Newton Park library
• Commons building
• Our Virtual Learning Environment (Ultra).

Resources

As a Journalism and Publishing student, you'll benefit from:

• The latest specialist software, as well as print and publishing equipment including digital cameras, iPads and booklet makers
• Experienced technical demonstrators to support you
• Free online resources to increase your software expertise through LinkedIn Learning
• Free equipment hire with SISO, Bath Spa’s equipment loan system.

Fees

2025 entry

• UK full time: £9,535
• UK part time: £4,768
• International full time: £17,670

Professional Placement Year

During the placement year, the fee is reduced to 20% of the full time fee.

• UK: £1,905
• International: £3,534

Additional course costs

You may need to pay additional course costs over and above your tuition fees, for example, for specialist equipment or trips and visits. Please check the course Programme Document for details of any additional costs. You can also read our Additional Course Costs Policy for further information.

Funding opportunities

Please visit our Funding pages for an overview of the funding options that may be available, including scholarships and bursaries.

Entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed below. Applicants should demonstrate a clear interest in the subject of journalism and publishing in their personal statement.

• A Level – grades BBB-BCC preferred.
• BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) accepted in any subject.
• T Levels – grade Merit preferred.
• International Baccalaureate – a minimum of 32 points are required.
• Access to HE courses – typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher).

If you don’t meet the entry requirements above, we may be able to accept your prior learning or experience from outside of formal education. See our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) page to learn more.

English Language Requirements for International and EU Applicants

IELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.

Contact us

Admissions:

• +44 (0)

Course leader: Jason Bennett
Email:

Related courses

• Creative Writing and Publishing
• English Literature and Publishing
• Creative Writing and Publishing
• Creative Writing

Key facts

• Award: BA (Hons) Journalism and Publishing
• School/s: School of Writing, Publishing and the Humanities
• Campus or location: Newton Park
• Course length: Three years full time, or four years full time with professional placement year. Part time available.
• UCAS codes: Institution Code: B20, Course Code: J120 or S175, Campus Code: A,BSU