Program Overview

Journalism - BA (Hons)

Overview

Northern Ireland’s only BJTC-accredited Journalism degree – industry-focused, first-class facilities, career-ready graduates.

Summary

Our BA (Hons) Journalism degree at Ulster University, Coleraine, is the first and only BJTC-accredited undergraduate programme in Northern Ireland. The BJTC ensures that graduates are fully equipped for careers in today’s fast-changing media landscape — across broadcast, online, and multimedia platforms. As one of the UK’s largest journalism accreditation bodies, the BJTC works with both employers and educators to uphold the highest standards in journalism training.

Our approach is student-centred, combining hands-on newsroom experience with rigorous academic teaching and pastoral support. We focus on stories told with integrity, truth, and responsibility. This programme develops professional creative skills, a critical and intellectual framework, and an entrepreneurial mindset needed to excel in the industry.

This single-subject degree offers a unique opportunity to study journalism in context, alongside law, politics, economics, and technology, while developing the practical and professional skills needed to succeed in a wide range of media and communication roles. It is a highly practical programme, providing students with real-world experience and ensuring they are prepared for careers in broadcast, digital, and multimedia industries.

About this course

Year One: Building Strong Foundations

In your first year, you will be introduced to the core principles of journalism, including news reporting, broadcast and digital journalism. You will develop your writing, researching, and storytelling skills, while learning how to produce content for TV, radio, and online platforms. You will work on live assignments, learning interview techniques, ethical reporting, and digital media production. Modules such as MED106 Journalism Practice and MED104 Public Affairs Reporting will give you an essential grounding in newsroom operations and political reporting.

Year Two: Specialisation & Industry Practice

Your second year focuses on developing practical and theoretical knowledge as well as application of specialist journalism skills. You will learn investigative techniques, video journalism training, and digital content strategies, ensuring you are ready to produce compelling multimedia stories. This year introduces Newsdays, in line with BJTC accreditation, simulating live journalism content creation. You will also take advanced media law training (MED324 Media Law and Regulation). A key highlight of this year is the industry placement, where you will gain real-world experience with professional media organisations, building your portfolio and industry connections.

Year Three: Professionalism, Innovation & Leadership

In your final year, you will refine your storytelling, production, and editorial leadership skills, preparing you for graduation and industry. You will undertake a major journalism project, focusing on documentary, investigative, or long-form reporting. Modules such as MED528 Programme Production and MED537 Journalism Futures will challenge you to push creative boundaries, using cutting-edge digital techniques to create longer form productions. You will also develop entrepreneurial skills, preparing for freelance journalism, content creation, and innovative media startups. Your final year ensures you graduate with a portfolio of high-quality, industry-standard work, ready to step into the professional world.

Modules

Year one

• Media and Social Change
• Public Affairs Reporting
• Introduction to Journalism Practice
• Platforms and Audiences
• Broadcast Storytelling
• Visual Cultures

Year two

• Journalism Newsdays and Placement
• Media Law and Regulation
• Video Journalism
• Specialist Content Creation
• Innovation Newsroom
• Studio Skills

Year three

• Enterprise Placement (optional)
• Industrial Placement: Media (optional)
• Media: International Academic Studies (DIAS) (optional)

Year four

• Journalism Major Project
• Journalism Dissertation
• Programme Production
• Journalism Futures
• Investigative Journalism
• Journalism in Society

Standard entry conditions

• A level: Grades BCC
• Applied General Qualifications: Award profile of DDM
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 104 UCAS tariff points
• Scottish Highers: Grades BCCCC
• Scottish Advanced Highers: Grades CDD
• International Baccalaureate: Overall International Baccalaureate profile minimum of 24 points
• Access to Higher Education (HE): Overall mark of 60%
• GCSE: Pass at Grade C/4 or above English Language
• English Language Requirements: Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5

Careers & opportunities

• Graduate employers: BBC NI, Bauer Media, Irish News, Mediahuis, UTV
• Job roles: Journalist, Content Assistant, Reporter, Communications, Producer, Press Officer, Content Creator
• Career options: Many graduates will go on to join a local newspaper, magazine or digital news service as trainees. Others will use their skills in information gathering, research, verification, media production software etc to go into related fields like public relations, recruitment, research or marketing communications.

Fees and funding

• 2026/27 Fees: Undergraduate fees are subject to annual review
• Scholarships, awards and prizes: Brum Henderson Award for best journalism project

Additional mandatory costs

• It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.