Journalism with Creative Writing

Program Overview

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Journalism with Creative Writing BA (Hons)

Overview

Take your writing and researching to a professional level with this combined honours course. Improve your prose and learn how to succeed in your writing career.

Key Information

UCAS Code

P5W8

Typical Offer

112-120 UCAS points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent

Study Mode and Duration

• 3 years full-time
• 4 years sandwich with work placement

Start Date

• September 2025

Course Information

Overview

If you love writing and reporting, our Journalism with Creative Writing degree course can help you turn your abilities with the written word into a fulfilling career.

You'll study, experience, and combine the complementary disciplines of factual journalism and creative writing. One day you might write a news report about a local charity or review a concert, and the next author a short story, a poem, or a play script.

You'll also develop research skills and learn about the structure and mechanisms of the industries you could end up working in – from getting a script approved to legal issues surrounding publishing news stories.

You’ll graduate ready to dive into a career in professional writing, with the skills and knowledge you need to get started in whichever writing field you choose.

Course Highlights

• Get further professional journalistic qualifications by taking National Council for Training Journalists (NCTJ) exams
• Refine your practice by learning from published authors of novels, poetry and screenplays, and journalists with written and broadcast experience in local, regional, national and international journalism
• Grasp of the role of journalists in democratic society by learning about media law and industry code
• Enhance your discipline and teamworking skills by collaborating with other students on other courses within the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
• Gain valuable industry knowledge and experience by taking an optional placement

Work Towards Your NCTJ Diploma

On this course, you can choose to take the examinations that lead to the industry-recognised NCTJ Diploma in Journalism.

If you want to do the full NCTJ diploma alongside your degree, apply for our BA (Hons) Journalism course instead.

Skills and Qualities You Need for This Journalism with Creative Writing Degree Course

As well as meeting the entry requirements, you'll need:

• Excellent writing skills and a passion for writing
• A sense of curiosity and creativity
• A willingness to learn and develop yourself
• Good communication skills

Starting a blog can demonstrate and enhance your writing skills before you apply. Experience in journalism is also a plus, such as working on a school or college paper.

Entry Requirements

Typical Offer (September 2025 Start)

• A levels - BBB-BBC
• UCAS points - 112-120 points to include a minimum of 2 A levels, or equivalent
• T-levels - Merit
• BTECs (Extended Diplomas) - DDM-DMM
• International Baccalaureate - 25

You may need to have studied specific subjects or GCSEs - see full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.

English Language Requirements

• English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5

See alternative English language qualifications

We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.

If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Facilities

Newsroom

Engage in hands-on learning and practical workshops in our newsroom, using the same hardware and software as news professionals. It features 25 Apple iMac computers with suites of image-editing, design and audiovisual tools as well as large monitors and TVs with Google Chromecast and 4K Apple TV capability.

More about the newsroom

Careers and Opportunities

As traditional communication and literature move towards web and digital, the demand for journalists and writers is growing. Print newspapers and magazines may be declining, but digital versions are replacing them. In addition, social media, blogging, TV and film production, and other platforms contribute to the demand for journalists and writers. Graduates with strong transferable skills are also sought in related industries such as public relations or communications.

As a graduate, you'll have diverse writing skills that will help you in most sectors.

You can also freelance or pursue postgraduate studies.

Graduate Areas

Areas our graduates have gone onto include:

• Broadcast, print and online journalism
• Creative writing
• Marketing
• Public relations
• Communications
• Teaching
• Advertising
• Arts management

Graduate Roles

Our graduates have worked in a variety of roles, including:

• Trainee reporter
• Social media editor
• Digital marketing executive
• Copywriter
• Theatre manager
• Editorial assistant

Modules

Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits.

In each year (apart from your optional placement year), you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, 4 modules worth 20 credits and 1 module worth 40 credits.

Year 1

• Academic Skills and Media Research - 20 credits
• Journalism in Context - 20 credits
• Media Law and Regulation (Level 4) - 20 credits
• Reporting - 20 credits
• Telling Tales - 20 credits
• True Stories - 20 credits

Year 2

• Feature Writing - 20 credits
• Specialist Journalism - 20 credits
• Advanced News - 20 credits
• Mobile Journalism - 20 credits
• Study Exchange - 60 credits
• Creative Writing and Critical Thinking - 20 credits
• Engaged Citizenship Through Interdisciplinary Practice - 20 credits
• Finding Form - Speculative Fiction - 20 credits
• Professional Experience - 20 credits
• Student Enterprise - 20 credits
• Government in Britain - 20 credits
• Social Media and Journalism - 20 credits

Year 3

• Writing Project (With Publishing) - 20 credits
• Dissertation - 40 credits
• Journalism Special Investigation - 40 credits
• Finding Form - Fact and Fiction - 20 credits
• Researching Animation - 20 credits
• Digital Media and Democracy - 20 credits
• Global Journalism and Human Rights - 20 credits
• Magazines: Print Media in A Digital World - 20 credits
• Money, Government and Power - 20 credits
• Placement - 20 credits

How You'll Spend Your Time

One of the key differences between school or college and university is how much control you have over your learning.

We're planning for most of your learning to be supported by timetabled face-to-face teaching with some elements of online provision.

A Typical Week

We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for your Journalism with Creative Writing degree.

In your first year, you’ll be in timetabled teaching activities such as lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical classes, workshops for about 12 hours a week. The rest of the time you’ll do independent study such as research, reading, coursework, and project work, alone or in a group with others from your course.

You'll probably do more independent study and have less scheduled teaching in years 2 and 3, but this depends on which modules you choose.

Most timetabled teaching takes place during the day, Monday to Friday. You may occasionally need to go to University and course events in the evenings and at weekends. There’s usually no teaching on Wednesday afternoons.

Supporting You

The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:

Types of Support

• Personal tutor
• Student support advisor
• Creative skills tutors
• IT and computing support
• Disability advice and additional support
• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Library support
• Support with English

Course Costs and Funding

Tuition Fees

• UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students - £9,535 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
• EU students - £9,535 a year (including Transition Scholarship - may be subject to annual increase)
• International students - £17,200 per year (subject to annual increase)

Additional Course Costs

• Accommodation and living costs
• Recommended reading
• General costs
• Final year project
• Repeated NCTJ exams
• Placement year and study abroad tuition fees

Apply

Ready to Apply?

To start this course in 2025, apply through UCAS. You'll need:

• the UCAS course code - P5W8
• our institution code - P80

Apply now through UCAS

If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form.

You can also sign up to an Open Day to:

• Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
• Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
• Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join

If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.

Applying from Outside the UK

As an international student you'll apply using the same process as UK students, but you’ll need to consider a few extra things.

You can get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region.

Find out what additional information you need in our international students section.

If you don't meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Admissions Terms and Conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.