MA Journalism

Entry year:
2025/26
Start date:
September
Study mode:
Full-time
Course duration:
1 year
Campus:
Mount Pleasant

About this course

A vocational programme taught using industry-standard facilities so you gain the hands-on experience you will need in your day-to-day work as a journalist.

  • Accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ)
  • Practical training in research and writing as well as multi-media production
  • Teaching from journalists with many years' experience and links to local newspapers, TV companies and radio stations
  • Opportunities for industrial placements with media organisations
  • Taught in the £38 million Redmonds Building with industry-standard facilities including newsrooms, studios, editing booths
  • Opportunity to sit professional National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) exams and acquire their full diploma
  • Publish work on LJMU Journalism's Mersey Live website

This highly vocational Master's programme provides practical training in multi-media journalism and will further your understanding of the law and how public bodies work. You will also develop skills in analysis and interpretation, initiative and research, which are useful in any career.

Course modules

Discover the building blocks of your programme

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Core modules

Optional modules

Professional accreditation

Students will have an opportunity to sit professional National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) exams and acquire their full diploma during their studies.

Students studying on NCTJ accredited courses are more appealing to employers looking for multi-skilled recruits who know the fundamentals of journalism and can operate to professional standards.

Find out more about the NCTJ Journalism Diversity Fund to help cover some costs of training.

Your Learning Experience

An insight into teaching on your course

Study hours

Full-time students can expect 16-18 contact hours per week, usually over three full days (subject to timetabling). The remainder of the week will be spent with a combination of self-directed study and practical work.

Teaching methods

You will receive taught elements through a mixture of seminars, workshops and tutorials. One to one tutorials will be combined with group seminars/workshops, with some bespoke workshops for smaller groups.

You will have access to the Liverpool Screen School's industry-standard facilities in Redmonds Building, helping you secure the hands-on experience you will need in your day-to-day work as a journalist. These facilities include edit suites, newsrooms, radio sound studios and a TV studio.

Applied learning

Our strong links with local newspapers, television companies and radio stations mean that there will be opportunities for invaluable work experience during the course, and you will be encouraged to get involved with various student media outlets in Liverpool, including our own website.

The modules and assessments for the programme will reflect the NCTJ syllabus and will include essential journalism, news writing, multi-platform journalism, media law, public affairs and shorthand.

Students will hear from a range of guest speakers, such as:

  • Liam Thorp Politics Editor, Liverpool Echo (Reach Plc)
  • Vidar Hardeng Law and Ethics diversity consultant ITV News
  • Jenny Kirkham News reporter, Liverpool Echo
  • Graham Beecroft Talksport, BBC Merseyside, football correspondent
  • Connor Dunn Sports reporter, Liverpool Echo
  • John Pickford Editor-in-Chief, Bauer Radio News
  • Michael McCann Freelance sports broadcaster (Cricket World Cup)
  • Mark Nicholls War/conflict reporter freelance regional and national journalist
  • Anna Kessel Womens Sports Editor, Telegraph Media
  • Steve Sutcliffe Online reporter, BBC Sport
  • Emma Jones BBC 5 Live sports journalist + LUTV presenter
  • Alice McKeegan Head of Football, Manchester Evening News
  • Abigail Edge - Google News Lab - teaching fellow

How learning is monitored on your programme

To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.

Assessment will be mostly portfolio-based, with some exams in law, shorthand, media regulation and court reporting. Your Major Project/Dissertation will be 15,000 words or equivalent.

Where you will study

What you can expect from your School

The School is based in the Redmonds Building, in the heart of the bustling Mount Pleasant Campus and Liverpool's growing Knowledge Quarter. Redmonds is shared by the Faculty of Arts, Professional and Social Studies and Liverpool Business School, making for a rich blend of student learning experiences. The building is home to high quality lecture theatres and seminar rooms, social spaces, and a café. It is only a short walk from LJMU's Aldham Robarts Library, which contains all the resources you will require for your studies and is open seven days a week.

 

Course tutors

Career paths

Further your career prospects

LJMU has an excellent employability record with 96% (HESA 2018) of our postgraduates in work or further study six months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.

You will be given an in-depth understanding of journalism as a profession and, throughout the course, we strive to highlight to you the full range of career options available to you when you leave.

Your career and academic development are at the heart of our course design. In particular, you can expect to enjoy career opportunities in areas such as: journalism, public relations, information management, press offices in local and central government and international organisations.

In addition, you may wish to continue to PhD study, for a career in academia. As well as gaining these highly valuable research skills, you will be equipped with a number of transferable skills that will be highly valued in related industries such as marketing, PR, new media, broadcasting and writing.

Tuition fees and funding

Home fee:
£9,520

Fees

The fees quoted at the top of this page cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:

  • library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
  • access to programme-appropriate software
  • library and student IT support
  • free on-campus wifi via eduroam

Additional costs

Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:

  • accommodation and living expenditure
  • books (should you wish to have your own copies)
  • printing, photocopying and stationery
  • PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
  • mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
  • field trips (travel and activity costs)
  • placements (travel expenses and living costs)
  • student visas (international students only)
  • study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
  • academic conferences (travel costs)
  • professional-body membership
  • graduation (gown hire etc)

Funding

There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages.

Please be aware that the UK’s departure from the EU may affect your tuition fees. Learn more about your fee status and which tuition fees are relevant to you.

Entry requirements

You will need:

Qualification requirements

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.

All applicants undergo an informal interview (Skype or telephone if living abroad or cannot attend in person), a few basic writing activities, general knowledge and use of English to ensure the degree is right for you as well as your ability to cope with the rigours of an accredited programme.

Your university life

From accommodation and academic support to clubs and societies. Find out what LJMU has to offer.

Talk to our students

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See what our students are saying

At LJMU we want you to know you’re making the right choice by studying with us. You can see what our students are saying about their experience with us through their reviews on the following websites:

The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.

Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.