Undergraduate BA (Hons)
Our ground-breaking degree combines advanced vocational training and rigorous academic study to prepare you for a career in journalism.
Starting
2024
Typical offer
BBBView all entry requirements
Course overview
In a world hungry for news, the ultra-competitive media market needs versatile, multimedia journalists with cutting-edge skills and a highly developed awareness of ethics.
Our Journalism degree is based in state-of-the-art newsrooms complete with dedicated radio and television studios, and editing and production facilities. You learn to write and report in text, on air and for the internet. You also have regular access to work placements and internships at KMTV, our award-winning Ofcom-licensed professional TV channel that broadcasts from the campus.
The Centre for Journalism at Kent is leading the development of journalism as an academic discipline rooted in professional newsroom practice. On our professionally accredited programme, you study for an honours degree that includes history, politics and law while completing the National Council for the Training of Journalists’ (NCTJ) Diploma in Journalism. (*See fees and fundingfor additional costs.)
Accreditation
Why study Journalism at Kent?
Sky's the limit.
Emma's passion took her from the student newsrooms and KMTV to a job as an output producer at Sky News.
Top 10
Communications and Media Studies at Kent was ranked 6th for graduate prospects in The Complete University Guide 2023.
Gain hands-on experience.
Our students can learn from mentors in the industry thanks to our partnership with the John Schofield Trust.
Professional recognition
Our Journalism BA is fully accredited by theNational Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).
Newsroom culture and KMTV
Everything you need to know about our Journalism course
Entry requirements
Typical A level offer
BBB
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Click below to find out more.
Course structure
You can study a range of topics including documentary making; television presenting and reporting; radio presenting and reporting; producing live radio and television programmes; producing quality newspapers and magazines; feature writing; news websites and citizen reporters; spin, propaganda and investigative reporting.
How you'll study
Teaching is by a variety of methods including masterclasses, lectures, seminars, films and small group discussions. Professional skills are taught in a live newsroom environment, which replicates the atmosphere of a working multimedia newsroom.
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Entry requirements
Your application journey
Our typical offer levels are listed below and include indicative contextual offers. If you hold alternative qualifications just get in touch and we'll be glad to discuss these with you.
- UK
- International
Typical A level offer
BBB
Typical BTEC offer
DDM
Typical IB offer
120 Tariff points from your IB Diploma, Typically H5, H6, H6 or equivalent.
Additional requirements
BBB
DDM
120 Tariff points from your IB Diploma, Typically H5, H6, H6 or equivalent.
English Language at grade C/4
Other qualifications
Pass the University of Kent International Foundation Programme.
The University will consider applicants holding T level qualifications in subjects closely aligned to the course.
Pass the Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 should be passed at Distinction, 12 at Merit, and 3 at Pass; or 33 at Distinction, 6 at Merit, and 6 at Pass.
International students
If you are an international student, visit our International Studentwebsite for further information about entry requirements for your country. For details about the International Foundation Year and International Year Zero, please visit our International Collegewebsite.Please note that international fee-paying students who require a Student visa cannot undertake a part-timeprogramme due to visa restrictions.
Please note thatmeeting thetypical offer/minimum requirement does not guarantee that you will receive an offer.
English Language Requirements
This course requires a Good level of English language, equivalent to B2 on CEFR.
Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on our English language entry requirementsweb page.
Examples:
IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component
GCSE Grade 4/C or above in English Language
IB Standard Level Grade 5 or above in English A: Language and Literature
A Level Grade C or above in English Language or English Literature
Applicants must be able to demonstrate a serious interest in and commitment to journalism.
We welcome applications from international students with internationally recognised qualifications. A high level of English (equivalent to a native speaker) is essential.
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What you'll study
This module listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. You study a combination of compulsory and optional modules and may also be able to take ‘elective’ modules from other degrees, tailoring your studies to your ambitions.
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How you'll study
Lectures
Seminars
Tutorials
Independent Study
Group Work
Workshops
Teaching and assessment
Each day in the Centre for Journalism begins with an editorial conference. Students and staff gather in the newsrooms to discuss the top stories on the local, national and international news agendas and to consider how they have been reported in newspapers, by broadcasters and online.
Teaching is by a variety of methods including masterclasses, lectures, seminars, films and small group discussions. Professional skills are taught in a live newsroom environment, which replicates the atmosphere of a working multimedia newsroom. You participate in regular Live News Days, during which you work to deadline to produce live radio and television bulletins and newspaper pages, and to update websites. There are frequent guest lectures and masterclasses by working journalists and editors, including network broadcasters and editors of national and regional newspapers and magazines.
Assessment includes coursework (such as academic essays, television, radio and online news reports and newspaper articles) and examinations. Students compile portfolios of reports. In your final year, you complete an extended project in journalism, which may take the form of a television or radio documentary, an extended newspaper or magazine article, or a web report. You may also choose to write an academic dissertation.
There is a minimum of 21 hours contact time per week in your first and second year, in addition to which all students receive guaranteed one-to-one feedback on their assignments and have regular meetings with their personal academic adviser. You should expect to do a minimum of 15 additional hours personal study per week.
Students undergo assessment for the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism via examinations set by the NCTJ.There is a fee for each of these examinations, which students must pay in addition to their tuition fees. See the NCTJ website for current NCTJ exam fees.
Contact hours
For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours. The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.
Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.
Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
Programme aims
Forprogramme aims and learning outcomesplease see theprogrammespecification.
A degree with real-world experience.
My course has geared me up perfectly for life as a journalist.
Your future
This degree prepares you to work across the broadcast, print and online media. You learn to communicate with non-specialist audiences and to present your opinion coherently and with passion.
Organisations employing our graduates include:
- BBC,BBC Newsround, BBC World Service, BBC Radio 2
- Sky, Channel 5, ITV Meridian, Peston on Sunday, Bloomberg TV, Euronews
- ENVY Post Productions,ITV Productions
- Reuters,Associated Press TV News
- The Sun,the Daily Mail,The Financial Times, Express Newspapers, Guardian Labs
- Buzzfeed,AOL,The Huffington Post
- Vogue
- South China Morning Post
- The Kent Messenger Group
Other graduates have secured positions in communications roles for charities, NGOs and campaign groups or political parties.
Find out where a degree in journalism can take you
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2024 entry
The 2024/25 annual tuition fees for this course are:
Full-time
Part-time
UK
TBC
International
TBC
UK
TBC
International
TBC
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
Your fee status
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process.If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice fromUKCISAbefore applying.
Students undergo assessment for the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism via examinations set by the NCTJ.There is a fee for each of these examinations, which students must pay in addition to their tuition fees. See the NCTJwebsite for current NCTJ exam fees.
Find out more aboutaccommodation and living costs, plusgeneral additional coststhat you may pay whenstudying at Kent.
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding pagefor more details.
Scholarships
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
arrow right Search scholarshipsAlumni spotlight
'The lecturers are always so willing to help, and that's true even beyond graduation.'
The lecturers were fantastic. They always had the patience to make the time to help me develop as a journalist – no matter how stupid the question was! The course definitely gave me the grounding to be in the position I am today, leading a news team at 23 – crazy!
'The CfJ really is like a little family and, therefore, it becomes just as much about developing yourself as a person as it does a journalist during your time there.'
'We are so lucky to be able to talk to any lecturer, or use any equipment, at virtually any time.'
Next steps
Ready to apply?
We are no longer accepting applications for this course for entry in 2024.
Please see our alternative course - Media.
Need help deciding?
Our friendly team is on hand to help you with any queries you have.
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Download our prospectus and guides.
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International applications
We welcome applicationsfrom students all around the world with a wide range of international qualifications.
Journalism insights
AWARDS
KMTV reporter Bartholomew Hall wins prestigious NCTJ award
The former Year in Journalism student was presented with the prestigious NCTJ award by Head of Sky News John Ryley.
STUDENT LIFE
New mentoring scheme for Journalism students
Journalism students are to be given mentors in the industry to help them get started in their careers, thanks to a new partnership with the John Schofield Trust (JST).
NEWS
Chevening Scholar shares his story of journey out of Afghanistan
International Multimedia Journalism student Akhtar Mohammad Makoii shared his journey out of Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021.
Kent focus
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Key information about this course
Full-time
Part-time
