Journalism, Media and Culture BA Honours
- UCAS code: P500
- Full time
- 3 years
This Journalism, Media and Culture degree will prepare you for a fast-paced and varied career at the cutting edge of journalism, media and creative industries.
You are currently viewing course information for entry year: 2025
Next start date:
- September 2025
UCAS Institution name and code:
- NEWC / N21
Course overview
Our three-year Journalism, Media and Culture degree focuses on developing your writing, production and communication skills across a range of platforms. You'll be well prepared for a career in a fast-changing media environment as a proactive journalist or media professional.
This hands-on degree programme ensures you develop the practical skills critical in multimedia journalism, as well as an in-depth academic knowledge across all aspects of journalism and media theory.
You'll master the ability to write, produce, and edit both audio and video content for a variety of media.
Your knowledge of the issues and debates in media and cultural studies will be supplemented with a thorough grounding in cultural studies, journalism history, media law and political communications.
You'll become a highly skilled media professional with an in-depth and critical understanding of the roles media and culture play in our society, ready for an exciting career working in journalism and media.
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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Quality and ranking
Professional accreditation and recognition
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.
Modules and learning
Modules
The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Featured module
Multimedia Journalism IThis hands-on module will introduce students to the key skills of newsgathering, interviewing, writing and editing for online news production.
Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions
You will be introduced to the principles and practices of multi-platform journalism, focusing on the skills needed to master multimedia technology. You develop your writing skills and explore the role of media and culture in contemporary society from a historical and theoretical perspective.
Modules
Compulsory Modules | Credits |
---|---|
Media Studies | 20 |
Critical Skills | 20 |
Social and Cultural Studies | 20 |
Introduction to Journalism Practice | 20 |
Journalism: Pasts, present and future | 20 |
Introduction to Multimedia Journalism | 20 |
You will expand your skills across print, magazine, online and broadcast journalism, and learn about regulations, legislation and ethics relevant to the media industries.
You will tailor the degree to your interests by choosing from a wide range of optional modules, such as broadcast journalism, magazine publishing, conflict and crisis reporting, race, culture and identity, media, democracy and the public sphere, feminist approaches to media analysis, documentary film-making, public relations, advertising and marketing.
Modules
Compulsory Modules | Credits |
---|---|
Media Law and Ethics | 20 |
Multimedia Journalism I | 20 |
Journalism Practice for Digital Audiences | 20 |
Research Design and Practice | 20 |
You will expand your skills across print, magazine, online and broadcast journalism, and learn about regulations, legislation and ethics relevant to the media industries.
You will tailor the degree to your interests by choosing from a wide range of optional modules, such as broadcast journalism, magazine publishing, conflict and crisis reporting, race, culture and identity, media, democracy and the public sphere, feminist approaches to media analysis, public relations, advertising and consumption.
Modules
Compulsory modules
You take the following compulsory module:
Journalism and Media Research Dissertation (40 credits)
You also take one of the following modules – but you may take the other as one of your optional modules:
Social Media Data Journalism (20 credits)
JesmondLocal: Advanced Newsroom Practice (20 credits)
Modules
We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2023-24.
Teaching time is made up of:
- scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
- structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
Teaching is through lectures, seminars, practical workshops and regular one-to-one tutorials.
In Stage 3 you undertake a research project that accounts for one-third of your time.
Assessment methods
You'll be assessed through a combination of:
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Assessments
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Assignments – written or fieldwork
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Coursework
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Dissertation or research project
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Essays
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Examinations – practical or online
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Portfolio submission
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Practical sessions
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Presentations
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Projects
Skills and experience
Practical skills
You will have opportunities to develop your practical skills through opportunities to work for The Courier, Newcastle University's award-winning weekly student newspaper, our student radio and television stations or local media projects like Jesmond Local: Advanced Newsroom Practice module, a digital news hub where you can develop and explore new models of journalism.
You'll have the opportunity to take part in international pop-up Newsroom events, where – along with students from across the world – you'll take part in a 24-hour rolling global reporting project, focused on current issues.
Business skills
You will develop a comprehensive portfolio of work, produced to industry standards, including works of written news, features, reviews and a multimedia package that features text, audio and/or video as well as social media.
You'll also have the opportunity to add broadcasting and radio packages to your portfolio.
Research skills
You'll undertake a Journalism and Media dissertation in the final year of your degree. This gives you the chance to demonstrate your learned knowledge and develop your techniques and understanding around independent, in-depth research.
Your dissertation will build on a range of compulsory and optional theoretical modules that you will be able to study throughout your course on pertinent topics such as media and power, gender studies, race, culture and identity, celebrity culture, PR, advertising and consumption, digital discourses or conflict and crisis reporting.
Opportunities
Study abroad
Experience life in another country by choosing to study abroad as part of your degree. You’ll be encouraged to embrace fun and challenging experiences, make connections with new communities and graduate as a globally aware professional, ready for your future.
You can choose the student exchange module in your second year. This will allow you to spend the first semester of second year on a student exchange.
Find out more about study abroad
Work placement
Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.
You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.
If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year. Your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year. Placements are subject to availability.
Facilities and environment
Facilities
As a student of Media, Journalism and Film Practice at Newcastle University, you will join a vibrant community in the School of Arts and Cultures' Media, Culture, Heritage department.
You will be based in the Armstrong Building and Film@CultureLab, right at the heart of our city-centre campus. You'll be close to all of Newcastle University's amenities, as well as being just a five-minute walk to Newcastle's main street, Northumberland Street.
You'll have access to:
- professional-standard video and audio equipment, studio space and AV-editing facilities
- specialist computing facilities, including industry-standard software, such as Adobe Creative Suite
- a mobile studio suite
Support
You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues.
You will also benefit from the expert knowledge and skills of our dedicated team of technicians based in Culture Lab.
Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have when starting university.
Your future
You will develop the skills needed to be a successful multimedia journalist. You will also be exposed to a broad commercial and cultural awareness of the media and creative industries, both from academic staff and media practitioners.
Students from our Journalism, Media and Culture degree have followed a variety of career paths in the industry, such as:
- print, online, broadcast and multimedia journalism
- broadcast production
- social media editing and planning
- script-writing
- public relations, communications and market research
Careers in public relations, journalism, media planning, social media management and content creation, broadcasting and advertising are the most popular choices for graduates. Our courses focus on the communication of information across a broad range of subjects from the highly practical to the theoretical, so you'll be beneficial to any organisation.
You will develop a variety of skills that are extremely useful for employment, such as critical analysis, research, teamwork, flexibility, a creative and independent approach to tasks and the ability to work to a brief and meet deadlines.
Make a difference
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Careers support
A portfolio of work is crucial if you wish to work in the media industry, and we've plenty of opportunities for you to develop this. We have an award-winning student newspaper, university radio and television stations, as well as links with local media outlets.
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Visit our Careers Service website
Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Entry requirements
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements and offers below apply to 2025 entry.
A-Level | |
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International Baccalaureate | |
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Other UK and the Republic of Ireland qualifications
Contextual Offers
Through one of our contextual routes, you could receive an offer of up to three grades lower than the typical requirements.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Entrance courses (INTO)
International Pathway Courses are specialist programmes designed for international students who want to study in the UK. We provide a range of study options for international students in partnership with INTO.
Find out more about International Pathway Courses
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course.
Tuition fees and scholarships
Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)
The 2025 home fees have not yet been confirmed (see ‘Home Fee Students’ information below).
Qualification: BA Honours | |
---|---|
Home students full time 3 years |
Tuition fees (per year)
Not set |
International students full time 3 years |
Tuition fees (per year)
23800 |
Year abroad and additional costs
For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year.
Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.
Scholarships
Find out more about:
Open days and events
You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year at our on-campus and virtual open days.
You'll be able to:
- explore our beautiful campus
- find out about our vibrant city
- discover what students think about studying at Newcastle
You'll also have the opportunity to speak to academic staff and find out more about the subjects you're interested in.
Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually.
We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University. Visit our events calendar to find out when we're visiting your region.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS
To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:
- the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
- the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
- the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college
If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.
Apply through UCASApply through an agent
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