Journalism courses

From learning about media law and digital techniques to honing your writing skills when covering the biggest fashion, music or sporting events, journalism courses enable you to forge your own path in the UK's media industry

The NCTJ is a self-appointed body that accredits courses for training UK journalists, including newspaper and periodical editors.

While the NCTJ has no statutory powers from the central government, gaining NCTJ accreditation is a widely accepted seal of approval within the industry. Their most recent figures show that four-fifths (81%) of the 110,000 qualified journalists in the UK are NCTJ-trained.

There are a number of ways you can become NCTJ-accredited and get into journalism.

NCTJ qualifications

What NCTJ qualifications are available?

The NCTJ offers the following primary qualifications:

• Level 3 Certificate in Foundation Journalism - an introduction to journalism for those looking to become journalists or who want to develop skills in this area, such as bloggers and community reporters.
• Level 5 Diploma in Journalism - the qualification gives you a good foundation in the profession and some experience to back up your studies. It also prepares you for the demands of working in a newsroom and enables you to apply for entry-level roles as a trainee journalist.
• Level 6 National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ) - a professional senior qualification designed for trainee and apprentice journalists with up to 18 months of experience working in the media. It ensures you're competent in the skills deemed essential to a journalist.

You can also do the following:

• Level 5 Practical International Journalism - provides journalists looking to work overseas with the knowledge and skills required to find and source stories for online, digital, mobile and broadcast platforms.
• Level 7 Leadership and Management for Journalists - created to give editorial managers with two to three years of experience the skills, knowledge and behaviours to succeed as leaders and managers in the media industry. You first need to have achieved the NQJ.

What do NCTJ courses involve?

To achieve the Level 3 Certificate in Foundation Journalism, you'll need to gain 14 credits from the mandatory and optional units available, including:

• community radio newsgathering (optional)
• feature writing
• sports reporting (optional)
• taking images suitable for publication
• using a video to tell a story
• writing for a specific purpose.

On the other hand, 47 credits are required to pass the Level 5 Diploma in Journalism. You'll need to complete these four essential subjects:

• journalism
• journalism e-portfolio
• journalism ethics and regulation
• media law and regulation.

The broadcast regulation module is compulsory for those studying TV, broadcast or radio journalism.

In addition to the four mandatory modules, you'll have to take at least four electives, which are available in areas such as:

• editing skills for journalists
• radio journalism
• TV journalism
• videojournalism for digital platforms.

Where can I study these NCTJ courses?

The NCTJ Level 5 diploma can be completed online through distance learning. The average learner completes the qualification in 820 hours.

Flexible pathways are available for the Level 6 NQJ, with distance learning, apprenticeships and in-house company training schemes all possible.

Journalism degrees

Why study for a journalism degree?

A degree in journalism equips you with essential skills while keeping you up to date with changes in the industry. Many journalism courses allow you to complete work experience or a placement year around your studies.

Explore what you can do with a degree in journalism or media studies. You can also read about becoming a writer.

How long do degrees take?

Full-time undergraduate journalism degrees are typically three years in length. They can take up to six years if studied part time.

You'll study a mix of general journalism modules focusing on report writing and conducting interviews and more specialised modules in areas such as technology and media law.

Can I specialise in a specific area of journalism?

If you know the area of journalism you'd like to pursue, consider enrolling on a specialised course, such as:

• BA Fashion Journalism and Content Creation - University of the Arts London (UAL)
• BA Music Journalism - University of Chester
• BA Sports Journalism - University of South Wales.

How do I find an NCTJ-accredited degree?

You can start your journalism career by searching for an NCTJ-accredited course.

These professionally accredited courses include:

• BA Media, Journalism and Publishing - Oxford Brookes University
• BA Multimedia Journalism - Bournemouth University
• BA Multimedia Journalism - University of Essex
• BA Journalism - University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)
• BA Journalism Studies - University of Sheffield.

What does a journalism degree involve?

Throughout the course, you'll build a portfolio of work by producing reports and articles and will need to provide evidence of using the appropriate technologies and software.

For example, the three-year BA Journalism at UCLan allows you to study for a degree, while obtaining the NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism. On the course, you'll get to experience working in a newsroom and discover how to write and publish stories for all platforms, including podcasting, social media and live blogging. You'll work independently and as part of a team, participating in TV, radio and digital news days.

What are the entry requirements for a journalism degree?

For entry onto these degree courses, you'll typically require a certain number of A-levels or the equivalent in UCAS Tariff points (see how to apply for university), such as a BTEC diploma or Access to Higher Education diploma.

To give you an idea of what you might need, Bournemouth University asks for 104 to 120 Tariff points, including two A-levels or equivalent. If you don't have these qualifications, the additional foundation year (taking the course for four years) will prepare you for degree-level study.

The University of Essex asks for 112 to 120 Tariff points from at least two A-levels, while UCLan expects 96 to 112 points.

Masters in journalism

Do you need a Masters to work in journalism?

You can enter the field without a Masters degree, but there are still some benefits to studying at this higher level.

Due to the competitive nature of the industry, employers may look favourably on candidates with a Masters in journalism, and the qualification can help when looking to take up management roles further in your career.

Search all postgraduate journalism courses.

Do you need to have studied journalism at undergraduate level?

You won't need a specific journalism degree to be accepted onto a journalism Masters course, but you'll still need to demonstrate:

• excellent communication skills
• an awareness of current media technologies
• an approachable nature for interviews
• a high level of timekeeping and commitment to meeting deadlines
• a mature and appropriate written voice
• the ambition to find fresh and interesting takes on events and stories.

How long are journalism Masters courses, and what do they cover?

Courses generally last one year if studied full time and contain modules covering the following broad topics within journalism:

• Media law - including legal issues such as confidentiality, the right to privacy and the ins and outs of intellectual property.
• Digital journalism - in the digital age, writing for search engine optimisation (SEO), the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and adopting the appropriate style for online publications have never been so important.
• Traditional skills - such as shorthand, interviewing techniques and reinterpreting reports for different mediums.

Can you choose to specialise when doing a journalism Masters degree?

Individual institutions offer their own range of more specialised modules:

• Cardiff University's MA News Journalism includes modules on 'News Reporting and Production' and 'Data Journalism'.
• Manchester Metropolitan University's MA Multimedia Journalism offers optional modules on 'Reporting Conflict', 'Magazine and Longform Journalism', 'Broadcast Journalism' and 'Issues In Contemporary Global Politics'.

Because of this, it's important to do your research before applying for a Masters to ensure that your studies and the opportunities for work experience reflect the area of journalism you'd like to work in.

Online journalism courses

The London School of Journalism (LSJ) is a provider of distance-learning journalism courses.

You can study in areas such as:

• Freelance and Feature Writing
• Freelance and Music and the Arts
• Freelance and Sports Writing
• Freelance and Travel Writing
• Internet Journalism
• News Journalism.

These courses can take up to two years to complete.

Its Online Postgraduate Journalism Diploma, achieved within two years of enrolment through online lectures and tutorials, requires you to study four compulsory modules:

• Freelance and Feature Writing
• Freelance and Internet Journalism
• Journalism and Newswriting with Media Law
• Sub-editing.

The course costs £4,000 if paid upfront. You can also pay per module, which is slightly more expensive at £4,300.

Another option is the British College of Journalism's Professional Freelance Journalism Course.

This self-paced qualification can be completed in three to six months, but if you need more time, you can take up to a year. You'll be assigned a personal tutor who is a qualified journalist or editor.

The 12 tutorials include:

• Basics of freelance journalism and working from home
• Understanding grammar and sub-editing
• Knowing your clients and building a CV
• How to sell an article
• Taking a brief and the basic rules of journalism
• Freelance assignments that pay.

The course costs £410.

Other online providers of journalism courses include:

• Coursera - Journalism courses
• Coursesonline.co.uk - Journalism courses
• FutureLearn - Introduction to journalism

Read more about studying online courses and bite-sized microcredentials.

Journalism jobs

What areas of journalism can I work in?

Once you've completed your journalism training, you'll be well-placed to work across various formats. In addition to traditional magazine or newspaper journalism, you can find employment in TV, radio or online journalism.

There are plenty of genres of journalism to choose from. You could work in:

• Fashion - researching trends and designers to create content for TV reports, fashion magazines and blogs. This might involve attending fashion shows to provide coverage of catwalks and events or travelling to interview designers for features. Read about getting into fashion design.
• Investigative - involves using legal documents, databases, government reports and on-the-record interviews to investigate a (usually controversial) topic of interest. Successful investigative journalism requires meticulous attention to detail and a strategic approach to problem-solving.
• Music - bring together your passion for music with a hunger to write and report on the music industry. You could cover music industry news, attend gigs and festivals, and post reviews and opinion pieces on specific music genres. Consider other careers in music.
• Science - sometimes referred to as science writers, it's a science journalist's job to report on scientific developments, discoveries and research in an accessible way to the general public. Science journalists typically have science-based qualifications, as they're required to have an understanding of scientific terminology and practices.
• Sports - you'll write summaries of sports fixtures and competitions, conduct and deliver interviews with sporting professionals and give game commentary in a mixture of print, TV and online formats. You could work for a large organisation such as Sky Sports or BBC Sport or freelance.
• Tabloid - this concerns the current affairs of reality TV, the royal family, famous names, soap opera storylines, and horoscopes. Celebrity journalism is also associated with the tabloid press, which includes women's magazines and newspaper gossip columns.

With publications covering such a range of subject matter, any knowledge you've gained through an unrelated degree or qualification may give you an advantage in getting into journalism. For instance, an agricultural undergraduate degree could be the key to securing a journalism job at a farming magazine or website.

How much can I earn as a journalist?

According to the NCTJ's 2024 Journalists at Work research, the average salary of a journalist is £35,275.

They explained that this can depend on your job role, sector, and location. For instance, journalists in London receive an average wage of £45,547.

Digital literacy also affects pay. Those who use AI earn £38,292 compared to £33,734 for those who don't.

What about working as a freelance journalist?

Almost all journalists will get the option to freelance during their careers. Despite the obvious benefits, such as working from home and writing about topics that interest you, it's important to consider the challenges.

If you do decide to go it alone, consider:

• making use of your industry contacts
• the best way to present your portfolio of work
• areas where you're considered an expert in the field
• preparing for competition for work
• only working part time as a freelancer while establishing yourself
• approaching publications speculatively to find work.

You could even use your journalistic skills as a media or press photographer. Discover how to become a professional photographer.

Are journalism apprenticeships available?

Both higher and degree apprenticeships are available in journalism.

For instance, the Level 5 Journalist Apprenticeship is available through employers such as the BBC and ITV.

The 18-month part-time Level 7 Senior Journalist Apprenticeship, which upskills existing journalists, is delivered through institutions such as the University of Kent and The University of Sunderland.

Read more about media apprenticeships.

Find out more

• Read our five tips for getting media work experience.
• Discover how to get into publishing.
• Get an overview of the UK's media sector.