Program Overview

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BA (Hons) Journalism Studies

Overview

The digital age has transformed the way news is reported and consumed, with more media platforms available than ever before. A degree in Journalism Studies from the University of Stirling equips you with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge you’ll need to make a mark in this rapidly-evolving industry.

With over 30 years of experience in researching and teaching journalism, the University of Stirling has established a reputation as one of the UK’s top institutions in the field. This course covers theoretical and practical aspects of journalism, and offers an in-depth, critical understanding of journalism practice. You’ll work individually and in groups to write articles and prepare portfolios; create pages for print and online news platforms; produce and edit visuals; and contribute to class blogs. Everything you do will deepen your understanding of how professional journalists operate across broadcast, online and print media – and by the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to take your place among them.

Guest lecturers from the media regularly visit the University to share their knowledge with you directly. The respected broadcaster Jon Snow described our media department as “a breed apart”. Join us to fulfil your ambitions in journalism, and you’ll soon find out why.

Top Reasons to Study with Us

• Ranked 2nd in Scotland for Journalism (Guardian University Guide 2025) and top 3 in Scotland (National Student Survey 2023*)
• A degree that combines practice and theory – giving you the hands-on skills you need, but also the analytical skills prized by employers
• First-hand experience on print, broadcast and digital platforms from industry professionals

Entry Requirements

Year 1 Entry – Four-Year Honours

• SQA Highers: AABB
• GCE A-levels: BBB
• IB Diploma: 28
• BTEC (Level 3): DDM
• Widening Access Students: Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.
• Care-Experienced Applicants: Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.

Other Scottish Qualifications

• Scottish HNC/HND: Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.
• Access Courses: University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.
• SWAP Access Course: For mature students only.
• Foundation Apprenticeships: Considered to be equivalent to 1 Higher at Grade B

Other Qualifications

• English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND: Merits and Distinctions
• English, Welsh and Northern Irish Access Courses: Access to Higher Education - 60 credits, minimum 45 at QCF Level 3, pass at 60% or above.

International Entry Requirements

View the entry requirements for your country.

Advanced Entry

• Year 2 Entry: Entry into Year 2 may be possible depending on your HNC/HND course. To find out more go to our articulation pages.
• Other Qualifications: Advanced entry may be possible depending on your qualifications. For more information, contact our Admissions Team.

Other Routes of Entry

If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore University of Stirling International Study Centre to see the routes available.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

• IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
• IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.

Course Details

Take a detailed look at what you'll study on this course.

Modules

The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the academic year that starts in September 2025. Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.

Teaching

Lectures, seminars, workshops and presentations are the main teaching methods on the course, and you’ll take part in live reporting assignments whenever possible. Journalists and editors from a range of newspapers and broadcasting organisations also contribute guest lectures and seminars.

The Hetherington Memorial Lectures have featured distinguished journalists such as James Naughtie, John Lloyd, Jon Snow, Roy Greenslade, Jonathan Freedland, Sheena MacDonald, Elinor Goodman, Allan Little, Lindsay Hilsum, and former editors of The Guardian, Peter Preston and Alan Rusbridger.

Fieldwork

Students on the Work Experience module get the opportunity to visit political and media organisations. We encourage students to secure work placements, and many of the practical assignments involve engagement with people in public life and ordinary women and men with stories to tell.

Assessment

The degree is assessed by means of essays, examinations, individual and group practical assignments and an academic dissertation on a topic related to journalism or a 10,000 word journalistic investigation.

Classroom Hours

Each year you are expected to devote in the region of 1,200 hours to your course, if you are studying full time. About a quarter of this time is spent in lectures and workshops, the rest of the time is for self-directed learning, reading, researching and writing assignments.

Work Placement Opportunities

Your Journalism Studies degree includes opportunities to build a portfolio and to gain relevant work experience. You’ll get practical experience in workshops throughout your studies, and you can add to your portfolio by working on a student newspaper, magazine, TV or radio station.

There’s a work placement module on the course that allows you to gain valuable experience and make contacts within the industry. Students have undertaken placements with:

• The Daily Record
• The Sunday Mail
• The Times
• The Herald
• The Scotsman
• Edinburgh Evening News
• The Press and Journal
• Central FM radio
• The Oban Times
• The Alloa Advertiser
• BBC
• Channel Four
• Sky

Study Abroad

As a University of Stirling student, you’ll have the opportunity to broaden your horizons and study abroad through our well-established connections with several international universities.

Fees and Funding

Fees and Costs

• Scottish Students: This fee is set by the Scottish Government and is subject to change.
• Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland: This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.
• International Students (including EU): Eligible students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course.

Funding

See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.

• Students from Scotland: Find funding opportunities for Scottish students.
• Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland: Eligible students will automatically receive our Undergraduate Welcome Scholarship, Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, and our Honours Year Scholarship, which are worth between £1,000 and £9,250.
• International Students: Eligible international students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course.

Cost of Living

If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.

International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

After You Graduate

We have extensive links with the media industry, and our course is strengthened by regular input from our industry advisory board of professionals, who offer a diverse range of experience and expertise. You’ll leave with extensive practical skills and a portfolio to enhance your employability.

Hone in on your career ambitions by combining Journalism with a range of other course options.

Preparing You for the World of Work

Your employability is one of our highest priorities, and we want to make sure you have every possible advantage when you enter the job market.

Our alumni go into a range of careers, but among those who have been most prominent in shaping the world of journalism include John McLellan, former editor-in-chief of the Scotsman, a former member of the Press Complaints Commission, and currently Director of the Scottish Newspaper Society; and BAFTA-award winning investigative BBC journalist Mark Daly.

We offer a comprehensive employability and skills programme to help you maximise your time at Stirling and develop the attributes required by employers. We also have a dedicated Faculty Employability and Skills Officer and a Careers Service that work in partnership with academic staff to ensure you get the best out of your University experience and are given the right opportunities to make you ready for the world of work.

Companies We Work With

Teaching staff write for publications including The Scotsman, the Evening News, The Irish News, New York Review of Books, Newlines Magazine. One of the team also works on the newsdesk at the BBC in Scotland. We are connected with 160 newspaper titles in Scotland through the Scottish Newspaper Society, and our students have had workshops from journalists from Channel Four News, Bauer Media, the BBC, The Scottish Sun, The Sunday Mail, and DC Thomson, among others.

Discover Uni

Discover Uni provides official data on each university's undergraduate courses, including satisfaction scores from the National Student Survey, details of graduate jobs and salaries, and other key information for prospective students.

• 55% of students were satisfied overall with their course.
• 91% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.
• 90% in work or doing further study 15 months after the course.

What Our Students Said

View more student stories.

• Asya Filipova, Bulgaria, BA (Hons) Journalism and Politics: "When I looked up all the journalism-related courses across Scotland, I found Stirling’s one to be the most diverse one. It offered all sorts of modules, from writing to multimedia reporting, from advertising to sports journalism."
• Shumela Ahmed, United Kingdom, BA (Hons) Journalism and Politics: "I have done so much during my time at Stirling. I’m very proud of the work we have done on widening access."
• Tamara Olori, Scotland, BA (Hons) Film & Media and Journalism Studies: "After visiting the city for the first time on the open day and falling in love with the beautiful campus and facilities, I knew it was the place for me."

Flexible Study

Are you interested in more than one of our courses? You might not have to choose between them. Here at Stirling, we believe in choice and offer more than 170 course combinations.

Journalism Studies can be combined with any of the following courses:

• English Studies (UCAS code: QP35)
• Film and Media (UCAS code: PP35)
• French (UCAS code: RP15)
• History (UCAS code: VP15)
• Politics (UCAS code: PL52)
• Spanish and Latin American Studies (UCAS code: PR54)
• Sport (UCAS code: PC56)

For a combined honours degree where the two subjects have different entry requirements, you will usually be asked to meet the higher entry requirement.