University Of Hertfordshire
This exciting course will develop practical, professional writing skills, shed new light on how the media works and to get students some hands-on experience that employers are really looking for As the course progresses, students will discover how journalism varies across video, radio and the internet, hear from inspiring industry guest speakers and take placements in real newsrooms In the first-year students will study modules from Media, Journalism, and one additional subject from either Creative Writing, Film or English Language
Learn latest skills - podcasting to video from award winning experts
Accredited by PRCA (Public Relations and Communications Association)
Network with media professionals from the UK and internationally
This is a fascinating time to be a media professional, with traditional media like magazines, television and radio, jostling for attention alongside PR, blogs, podcasts and social media. You’ll gain two vital media skills by combining journalism and media. This exciting course will develop your practical, professional writing skills, shed new light on how the media works and get you some hands-on experience that employers are really looking for.
You'll gain real-world skills including how to create and publish content for a broad range of formats including video, podcasts, print and online. In the final year you can take up work experience, work for a client or even start your own media business—all guided by tutors.
The course places a strong emphasis on building confidence in your communication skills and employment prospects. You'll have the opportunity to learn about internships and take part in industry events thanks to our affiliation to the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), one of Britain's top trade organisations for PR professionals. You can attend our Media Matters guest lectures (see below for more detail) given by a range of media speakers from top journalists to our recent graduates.
Our inspiring, industry-experienced academic team will develop your journalistic skills, alongside learning about media theory and skills, including digital, and other roles within the media.
Hatfield, United Kingdom
36 Months
£ 14,000
IELTS: 6.5
Teaching delivery is varied. Workshops are used for modules where the degree of practical skills taught is enhanced by the supervision of experts in their field but there are also seminars and lectures. Attainment of learning outcomes is also assessed in a range of formats from traditional essays to presentations, creating adverts or campaigns or working in a small group to create presentations or other creative project.
In your first year, you’ll explore the basics of journalism, learning about how to tell factual stories in written form, through blogs and podcasting and video. You’ll also reflect on how journalists should and do behave and their relationship with government. You’ll also learn about the media industry and about how media is changing in our globalised world.
In your second year, you’ll start to broadcast, brainstorm ideas for a magazine concept, learn about how journalism changed the world and gain insights into the fast-paced world of news. In media, you’ll explore the world of branding or magazine design, learn about the publishing industry and have the opportunity to create a short video documentary.
Work placement/study abroad option*: Between your second and final year, you’ll have the option to study abroad or complete a work placement for up to a year. Not only will this give you an amazing experience to talk about, but it will also give your CV a boost. If you would rather go straight to your final year, that’s fine too. You can decide in your second year with us, so there is still plenty of time to think about this.
In your final year, you’ll get a wide range of options. In journalism you will report on international stories, create your own website, have work experience, freelance or create your own media business. You will also practice writing for a variety of audiences. In media, choose between practical projects such as creating a media project for a client or designing for the web, or learning more about Public Relations, Advertising or the relationship between media and identity and celebrity and media. This is when you’ll use our membership of the PRCA and BSME to best advantage to gain opportunities to network professionally and build up your professional skills.
'Media Matters' industry speakers and networking.
Each year the School of Humanities hosts the Media Matters Guest Lecture Series featuring a range of industry professionals, giving talks on their experience in the industry. These lectures are recorded by our final year students and available on our Media Hub. Some of our previous speakers have included:
Uche Amako, Sportswriter for The Telegraph who studied Journalism at UH.
Theresa Malone, Visuals and Social Media Editor of The Guardian.
Andrea Thompson, Editor in Chief of Marie Claire.
Charlotte Jones, Global Content Creator, Life Coach who studied Media and Journalism at UH.
Steve Swann, Producer and investigative Journalist, BBC.
Your main campus is de Havilland
You’ll share this campus with students from business, law, sport, education, and humanities subjects. The student housing is close to our Sports Village which includes a gym, swimming pool and climbing wall. You can get breakfast, lunch, or dinner in our on-campus restaurant or bar (in the newly built Enterprise Hub) on days you don’t feel like cooking. You can also use the common room to play pool, video games or just to hang out with friends. Our Learning Resources Centres are open 24/7, which means you can study whenever suits you best. Want to pop over to the other campus? You can take the free shuttle bus or walk there in just 15 minutes.
What will I study?
Degree programmes are structured into levels, 4, 5 and 6. These correspond to your first, second and third/final year of study. Below you can see what modules you’ll be studying in each.
Level 4
Module |
Credits |
Compulsory/optional |
---|---|---|
Introduction to Media Communications |
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
Journalism, Law and Ethics |
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
Global Media and Society |
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
Journalism Skills: Multiplatform |
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
Journalism and Government |
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
Sound and Image Storytelling |
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
Visual Communication |
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
Introduction to Journalism |
15 Credits |
Optional |
Level 5
Module |
Credits |
Compulsory/optional |
---|---|---|
Radio Journalism |
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
Graduate Skills |
0 Credits |
Compulsory |
Research Methods in Media Communications |
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
Journalism Skills: Features |
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
The Publishing Industry |
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
Journalism Skills News |
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
How Journalism Changed the World: from Watergate to Social Media and Fake News |
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
Video Feature |
15 Credits |
Optional |
New Media Branding |
15 Credits |
Optional |
Employability Skills |
15 Credits |
Optional |
Mobile Media Design |
15 Credits |
Optional |
Magazine Design |
15 Credits |
Optional |
Level 6
Module |
Credits |
Compulsory/optional |
---|---|---|
Online Journalism |
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
International Politics and Reporting Global News |
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
Advertising |
15 Credits |
Optional |
Corporate Communications |
15 Credits |
Optional |
Journalism Skills Portfolio |
30 Credits |
Optional |
Representation and Identity in Contemporary Media |
15 Credits |
Optional |
Journalism Matters: Your Independent Project |
30 Credits |
Optional |
Professional Media Practice Project |
30 Credits |
Optional |
Music, Celebrity and Media |
15 Credits |
Optional |
Creating a PR Campaign |
15 Credits |
Optional |
Web Design for Media Professionals |
30 Credits |
Optional |
UCAS points |
A Level |
BTEC |
IB requirement |
---|---|---|---|
112 - 120 |
BBC - BBB |
DMM - DDM |
112 - 120 points |
Additional requirements
GCSE: Grade 4/C in English Language and 4/D Mathematics
Access Course Tariff: An overall merit profile in 45 credits at Level 3.
All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.
UK Students
Full time
£9250 for the 2022/2023 academic year
EU Students
Full time
£14000 for the 2022/2023 academic year
International Students
Full time
£14000 for the 2022/2023 academic year
*Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University’s Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed “When tuition fees change”), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.
Our graduates have an excellent record of gaining employment in media, publishing, teaching and information management where their skills in analysis, communication and evaluation are highly valued. Many of our graduates go on to higher levels of study engaging in research in their chosen fields. Whatever your future career plans, what is important to your potential employers is the range of intellectual, transferable, personal skills and experience you have gained and can demonstrate. We ensure our programmes are relevant to the world of work through active links with regional employers across a range of industries and professions.