Gain experience, build up a valuable network of contacts, and graduate ready to work in the industry. Choose your specialism, with the option to graduate with MA Journalism (Sports). Kick-start your career with a postgraduate degree accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).
Overview
Learn to be a journalist in our real-world newsroom – the mediaHUB – where you will work alongside journalists from the BBC and national and regional media. Publish your work on our websites and develop a portfolio of content that will launch your career; graduates have gone on to work at BBC News and Sport, Sky Sports News, national newspapers and magazines, football clubs and PR Firms.
Whatever your previous study or experience, this MA will give you all the skills you need to become a journalist. Cover core reporting skills, media ethics and law, video and digital content, and investigative journalism techniques. Stay mainstream, or choose the sports pathway and learn a range of specialist sports journalism skills. In the final stage of the course you will produce your own series of in-depth articles on a subject of your choice. Those who specialise in Sports can graduate with MA Journalism (Sports).
Alongside the MA, you’ll have the opportunity to do the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) Diploma in Journalism or Sports Journalism. NCTJ accreditation is widely recognised as a gold standard for courses that turn out highly-skilled, highly-motivated and highly-employable trainee journalists. Previous study of journalism is not a requirement.
Why us?
- This course is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) for over a decade, ensuring industry-standard skills and knowledge are at the centre of teaching. Learn more about the benefits of studying an NCTJ-accredited course.
- Excellent career prospects – our graduates now work for organisations including the BBC, Sky Sports News, JPI Media, Reach, European Golf Tour, national newspapers and magazines, football clubs and PR firms
- As a student on this course, you can apply for the Journalism Diversity Fund. The fund awards bursaries to aspiring journalists from diverse backgrounds who need help funding their NCTJ-accredited course
- Network with and learn from a range of guest speakers who work in the industry
- Learn in a real-world newsroom environment – working alongside professional journalists in our mediaHUB
- Go on inspirational trips. Students have visited the Camp Nou in Barcelona, attended Europa League matches in Germany and covered Wembley cup finals in the press box
Course structure
From day one you will experience life as a journalist, working in a real-world newsroom in our mediaHUB. You will publish on our range of websites working alongside, and with help from, experienced journalists from national and regional newspapers and broadcasters, such as the BBC.
The course is taught by respected academics and journalism professionals through a combination of newsroom workshops, seminars and tutorials. You will work on projects both on your own and with others, developing skills in communication and teamwork.
Assessment methods include essays, projects, presentations, and a major project.
Part-time students can expect around eight hours per week of contact time in the first year and around 14 hours per week in the second year.
Facilities
Our David Puttnam Media Centre is a buzzing place to study journalism. As well as working in our MediaHUB on content, you can volunteer with our award-winning radio station, Spark Sunderland, or produce content for one of our suite of websites in our mediaHUB. Get hands-on in TV and Radio Studios, and Journalism and Digital editing suites. Learn from experts in this centre of excellence for training.
Career ready
Postgraduates are highly employable and, on average, earn more than individuals whose highest qualification is an undergraduate degree. On completing this course you will be equipped for a variety of roles throughout the journalism industry. This degree prepares you for writing in newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and online media, and if you choose to specialise in sport you’ll also have the opportunity to write for sports clubs or brands.
You will also have developed and demonstrated transferable skills that are highly relevant to many positions in industry, commerce and the Civil Service, as well as to jobs in the arts and voluntary sectors.
Career opportunities
Recent Sunderland graduates have gone on to work for the BBC, Sky, The Essex Chronicle, The Huddersfield Gazette, Spark Magazine, See Tickets, The Socialist Worker, The Prague Post, What Culture, and BBC Relish Magazine. Sports specialists have been employed by Sky Sports News, JPI Media, Reach, a range of football clubs, the PGA Golf Tour and a variety of PR companies.
During the course we encourage you to gain industry experience which will enhance your skills, build up a valuable network of contacts and boost your employability. A Masters degree will also enhance career opportunities within Higher Education and prepare you for further postgraduate studies.
As a professionally accredited centre for journalism education, we provide you with an opportunity to influence the future teaching of journalism. You can become an NCTJ student representative and attend a national council meeting once a year.
Superb industry links
Be inspired by our academics and their strong industry contacts. Our experienced academics have years of industry expertise at high levels in print, online and broadcasting, including the BBC, Daily Mirror, Grazia, Private Eye and Sky.
Meet regional and national high-profile journalists such as Kevin Maguire, Associate Editor at the Daily Mirror and Visiting Professor in Journalism at the University, and Alastair Stewart, presenter at GB News and formerly ITV News. Both regularly visit the University, along with a host of experienced journalists to give insight into the industry via masterclasses and lectures.
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