Journalism with Media Studies

Program Overview

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Journalism with Media Studies BA (Hons)

Gain a critical and practical understanding of the media with journalism disciplines and techniques. Learn from experts that have worked on international, national, regional, and online publications.

Key Information

UCAS Code:

P5P3

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

Are you a budding critic, publisher, or journalist?

Our BA (Hons) Journalism with Media Studies degree course gives you a critical understanding of the media field while providing a grounding in journalism disciplines and techniques.

You'll learn from published media researchers and expert journalists, as well as using professional-grade media analysis and production facilities. You’ll also develop transferable skills you'll be able to use in any profession.

With the option of taking industry placements and the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) qualifications, you can tailor your study on this course to fit your ideal journalistic or media career.

Course Highlights

• Get further professional qualifications by taking National Council for Training Journalists (NCTJ) exams
• Refine your practice by learning from published media researchers and journalists with written and broadcast experience in local, regional, national and international journalism
• Learn more about the journalism and media industries by meeting visiting professionals from industry bodies – past guests include Dream Team FC, The Times, Novara Media, Sky News, and other local and national news and media outlets
• Gain valuable industry experience by taking optional placements throughout your degree
• Enhance your teamworking skills by collaborating with other students on other courses within the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries

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.

Your 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.

Careers and Opportunities

Writers, journalists, and media professionals are needed across a wide range of sectors, with communications and marketing being the most popular. Due to the shift to digital and online platforms to adapt to the pandemic, this demand has grown. The non-specialist skills you'll graduate with will also help widen your career options.

The majority of our graduates are in professional roles within two years of graduating, with some progressing to postgraduate study or taking further teacher training to become educators.

Graduate Areas

Our graduates have gone on to work in areas such as:

• online, newspaper, magazine and broadcast journalism
• social media
• public relations
• marketing
• corporate communications
• publishing
• teaching (with further study)

Graduate Roles

Job roles our graduates have taken on include:

• campaign assistant
• editorial assistant
• PR and marketing assistant
• reporter
• journalist

Modules

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

In each year, you need to study modules worth a total of 120 credits. For example, four modules worth 20 credits and one module worth 40 credits.

Year 1

• Academic Skills and Media Research - 20 credits
• Global Screens - 20 credits
• Introduction to Media Studies - 20 credits
• Journalism in Context - 20 credits
• Media Law and Regulation (Level 4) - 20 credits
• Reporting - 20 credits

Year 2

• Feature Writing - 20 credits
• Media Networks: Exploring Digital Culture - 20 credits
• Specialist Journalism - 20 credits

Year 3

• Dissertation - 40 credits
• Journalism Special Investigation - 40 credits
• Digital Media and Democracy - 20 credits
• Global Journalism and Human Rights - 20 credits
• Celebrity and Society - 20 credits
• Media, War and Peace - 20 credits
• Magazines: Print Media in A Digital World - 20 credits
• Money, Government and Power - 20 credits
• Placement - 20 credits
• Media Fan Cultures - 20 credits
• Representing Science in the Media - 20 credits

Teaching

Teaching methods on this course include:

• lectures
• seminars
• practical workshop sessions
• group based activities
• producing magazines or webpages
• placement

Teaching Staff Profiles

• Ian Tapster - Course Leader
• Claire Perry - Senior Lecturer
• Dr Susana Sampaio-Dias - Senior Lecturer
• Dr James Dennis - Senior Lecturer
• Mary Williams - Principal Lecturer
• Paul Foster - Lecturer

How You'll Spend Your Time

We recommend you spend at least 35 hours a week studying for your Journalism with Media Studies 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.

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:

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

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
• Placement module
• Repeated exams
• Placement year and study abroad tuition fees

Apply

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

• the UCAS course code - P5P3
• our institution code - P80

Apply now through UCAS

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.

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.