MA Creative Writing
The MA Creative Writing at Leeds Trinity University is structured to help students deve...
MA Journalism
Horsforth
INTAKE: September
Program Overview
The MA Journalism at Leeds Trinity University is an intensive and highly vocational postgraduate programme meticulously designed to prepare graduates for the dynamic and competitive landscape of contemporary journalism and communications. This one-year full-time Master's degree holds the rare and highly valued dual accreditation from both the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC). This dual accreditation signifies a gold standard in industry training, equipping students with the comprehensive multi-platform skills required by today's newsrooms across online, television, and radio platforms. The program is ideal for graduates from any discipline seeking to convert their existing knowledge into a professional journalism career, providing them with the practical abilities, ethical understanding, and crucial industry insights necessary to succeed.
Curriculum: The curriculum of the MA Journalism program is a rigorous blend of practical skill development and essential theoretical knowledge, structured to ensure graduates are industry-ready. Core modules typically include 'News Skills,' which covers sourcing, verifying, and writing content for digital platforms, incorporating interviewing, video, photography, smartphone journalism, data usage, analytics, and essential shorthand – a highly valued skill by employers. 'Law, Ethics and Regulation' provides critical knowledge for operating as legally safe journalists, addressing areas such as defamation, contempt of court, reporting restrictions, and media ethics. 'Live Production' teaches broadcasting skills across radio, TV, online, and social media, including voice training, filming, editing, audio recording, and presenting live news programmes. 'Public Affairs' develops an understanding of government operations at national and local levels, enabling students to identify news stories and hold public bodies accountable. The program also includes a 'Professional Placement' and culminates in a 'Journalism Project,' where students showcase their developed skills through a multi-media portfolio or documentary.
Research Focus: While highly practical and vocational, the MA Journalism program at Leeds Trinity University also fosters an element of critical reflection and practical enquiry, which underpins its research focus. Students are encouraged to develop skills of critically reflective practice and practical enquiry throughout their modules. The culminating 'Journalism Project' is a cornerstone of this focus, allowing students to engage in more in-depth research on a topic of their choice. This project requires students to demonstrate their ability to research, analyse, and create compelling journalistic content for various platforms, thereby applying theoretical understandings to their practical work. The program aims to equip students not just with reporting skills, but also with a critical understanding of the political and commercial structures within which the media operates, enabling them to approach complex journalistic stories in a systematic and creative manner.
Industry Engagement: Industry engagement is a standout feature and a cornerstone of the MA Journalism program at Leeds Trinity University. The dual NCTJ and BJTC accreditation signifies close ties with the industry, ensuring the curriculum is current and relevant to employer needs. Students benefit from impressive work placement opportunities, with a minimum of three weeks on a journalism-related placement being a core module. These placements provide invaluable real-world experience and networking opportunities with organisations such as the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and various national, regional, and local news outlets. The university also runs an annual Journalism and Media Week, consistently attracting prominent industry speakers, journalists, and alumni, offering students direct networking and learning experiences. Additionally, a mentoring program often pairs individual students with industry practitioners, further enhancing their professional development and connections.
Global Perspective: While rooted in UK journalism practice and law, the MA Journalism program at Leeds Trinity University subtly incorporates a global perspective by preparing graduates for the diverse and interconnected nature of contemporary media. The curriculum equips students with multi-platform news skills applicable in a globalised media landscape. By covering awareness of professional roles, law, public affairs, and regulatory responsibilities, the program provides a foundation for understanding the structures within which journalism operates internationally. Furthermore, the skills developed, such as mobile journalism, verification techniques, and data journalism, are universally valuable in an increasingly digital and international news environment. The strong emphasis on practical training makes graduates adaptable to various media markets worldwide, and the university's diverse student body can often contribute to discussions with varied international perspectives on newsgathering and dissemination.
Location
Horsforth
Score
IELTS 6.5
Tuition Fee
£ 15000
Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Academic Qualifications: Applicants should have successfully completed a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a recognized institution with a minimum overall score of 55% or equivalent.
English language proficiency:
- IELTS: A minimum overall score of 6.5 or 7.0 with no individual component below 6.0.
- TOEFL: A minimum overall score of 79.
- PTE Academic: A minimum overall score of 59.
- Some postgraduate programs may have specific subject prerequisites or additional requirements.
Leeds Trinity University is making higher education accessible and affordable for international students. The university offers a range of scholarships designed to support students financially and recognize their academic achievements. These scholarships aim to ease the financial burden of studying abroad and provide an opportunity for students to focus on their academic and personal growth.
International Scholarships: Leeds Trinity University offers scholarships to both undergraduate and postgraduate international students to help reduce tuition fees. These scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence and aim to assist talented students in pursuing their chosen degree programs. The university provides a significant number of scholarships to international students, helping to make their education in the UK more affordable.
International Merit Scholarships: Leeds Trinity University recognizes students with outstanding academic achievements through the International Merit Scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional academic performance in their previous studies. International students who meet the eligibility criteria are awarded a discount on their tuition fees, making it easier for them to study at Leeds Trinity. These merit-based scholarships are highly competitive and reward students for their hard work and dedication.
Regional Scholarships: Leeds Trinity University offers regional scholarships to students from specific regions and countries. These scholarships aim to increase diversity and attract high-achieving students from underrepresented areas. Regional scholarships provide international students with a discount on their tuition fees and are available to students from selected countries. The scholarships not only help reduce tuition costs but also encourage students from various parts of the world to study at Leeds Trinity.
Alumni Scholarship: Leeds Trinity University offers an Alumni Scholarship for international students who have family members or relatives that previously studied at the university. This scholarship is designed to maintain the strong relationship between the university and its alumni community. Eligible international students can receive a discount on their tuition fees, making it easier for families to continue their educational legacy at Leeds Trinity University.
Sports Scholarships: Leeds Trinity University offers sports scholarships to international students who demonstrate excellence in their chosen sport. These scholarships provide financial support and access to the university's world-class sports facilities, allowing student-athletes to balance their academic studies with their athletic pursuits. Sports scholarships are available for both undergraduate and postgraduate international students and are aimed at fostering athletic talent alongside academic achievement.
The MA Journalism program at Leeds Trinity University is meticulously designed to launch graduates into successful careers across the evolving media landscape. Its dual accreditation from the NCTJ and BJTC signifies a commitment to industry-standard training, ensuring students develop multi-platform skills in writing, reporting, broadcasting, and digital content creation. Graduates are equipped with a strong understanding of media law, ethics, and public affairs, complemented by invaluable professional work placements and networking opportunities with leading media organisations.
Multi-Platform Journalist: Graduates are prepared to work across various media, including online, print, radio, and television. They can report on news, features, and current affairs, utilising skills in writing, interviewing, filming, editing, and presenting, making them highly versatile in modern newsrooms.
Broadcast Journalist (TV/Radio): Specialising in television and radio news, graduates can pursue roles as reporters, presenters, producers, or broadcast assistants. Their training in live production, voice work, and studio techniques makes them ideal for fast-paced broadcast environments.
Digital Journalist/Content Creator: With a strong emphasis on digital skills, graduates can work as online journalists, content producers for websites, social media managers for news organisations, or specialists in mobile journalism (MoJo), catering to digital-first audiences.
News Reporter (Print/Online): Graduates can focus on traditional print journalism (newspapers, magazines) or their digital counterparts, researching stories, conducting interviews, writing compelling articles, and adhering to legal and ethical guidelines.
Sports Journalist: For those with a passion for sports, the program's multi-platform training enables graduates to report on sporting events for dedicated sports news outlets, broadcast channels, or digital platforms, covering everything from match reports to in-depth analysis.
Investigative Journalist: Building on their strong research, law, and ethics training, graduates can pursue roles that involve in-depth investigation into complex issues, uncovering facts, and holding powerful entities accountable through thorough and responsible reporting.
Public Affairs/Political Correspondent: Graduates gain a deep understanding of political systems and public affairs, enabling them to report on governmental decisions, parliamentary proceedings, and policy impacts for news outlets, potentially specialising as political correspondents.
Freelance Journalist/Writer: The program's emphasis on developing a strong portfolio and industry contacts empowers graduates to work independently, pitching stories to various publications, broadcasters, or online platforms, offering flexibility and a diverse range of projects.
Press Officer/Communications Specialist: Leveraging their journalistic understanding of news cycles, media relations, and public affairs, graduates can transition into public relations or communications roles for businesses, charities, or government bodies, managing media inquiries and crafting public messages.
Sub-Editor/Copy Editor: With a meticulous eye for detail and strong writing skills, graduates can work as sub-editors or copy editors, refining journalistic content for accuracy, clarity, legal compliance, and adherence to publication style guides before publication across any platform.
