Program Overview

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Journalism (with Foundation Year), BA (Hons)

Attendance

Full-time

Campus

Preston Campus

Start

September 2025

Duration

4 years

UCAS Code

J534

Delivery

In-person

Overview

Our journalism foundation year gives you an insight into the practice of journalism, as well as the skills and knowledge required by journalists.

Why Study with Us

• 1st in the North West for teaching quality (Guardian University Guide, 2024)
• 2nd in the UK for career prospects (Guardian University Guide, 2024)
• Our foundation year is flexible and allows you to focus on journalism or explore other creative subjects.
• You'll have access to industry-standard equipment and facilities like our newsrooms and studios.
• Our Journalism BA (Hons) course is accredited by the NCTJ, the leading body for journalists in the UK.

What You'll Do

• You'll work on various projects where you can develop your journalism skills.
• You will learn to identify and produce stories for print, digital and broadcast.
• You'll be part of a creative community and take inspiration from different approaches.

Modules

Foundation Year

• Introduction to Specialisms
• Specialisms

Year 1

• Newsday Skills
• Storytelling
• News Reporting
• Media Law and Regulation

Year 2

• Newsday 1
• Features Journalism
• Reporting Politics and Society
• Ethics

Year 3

• Newsday 2
• Work Placement
• Optional modules:
  • Podcasting
  • Digital Project
  • Creating a brand
  • Research Project
  • Documentary
  • Reporting Politics and Society
  • Ethics

Accreditations

• National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ)

Entry Requirements

• UCAS: 64 points at A2
• BTEC Extended Diploma: MPP
• BTEC Diploma: MM
• Pass Access Course: 64 UCAS points
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: Pass including 64 points from Higher Level subjects
• T Level: P (D or E)
• IELTS: 7.5 with no component lower than 7.5
• GCSEs: 5 at grade C/4 including Maths and English or equivalent

Fees and Funding

• UK: £9,535 for the first year
• International: £17,250 for the first year

Scholarships and Bursaries

• Care Leaver Bursary
• Estranged student support
• Dependants Bursary
• Foundation Year Bursary

Facilities

• Six fully-equipped newsrooms
• Four radio studios
• TV studio and adjacent gallery
• Two broadcast production areas
• Two video editing suites
• Live news feeds from the Press Association
• Industry-standard workflows

Industry Links

• Regular visits from industry guests
• cJAM, our annual careers and work placement event
• Opportunities for work experience, internships, or shadowing

Further Information

• NCTJ Diploma
• We offer all essential, compulsory NCTJ modules plus the following NCTJ options, many of which are built into your degree-level assessments:
  • Public Affairs
  • Practical Magazine Journalism
  • Broadcast Journalism, as well as Shorthand
  • Court Reporting
  • Video Journalism for Digital Platforms
  • Editing Skills for Journalists