ObjectivesThe MA/PGDip Online Journalism (International) equips students for entry-level journalism in a radio editorial team. Specially designed for overseas students, this is a vocational media-training course offers the opportunity to develop the English language skills appropriate for a working international journalist. This postgraduate/post-experience course enables people from overseas to gain a vocational qualification through practical training and theoretical study. The course is purposely structured to allow contact with English speaking UK and international students, both in the lecture room and the general learning environment as well as the social situation. The course includes a professional media work placement.
Entry requirementsEntry requirements Applicants should have a good undergraduate degree (equivalent to a UK Bachelor of Arts degree 2:1 classification minimum) and enthusiasm for or experience of journalism. For applicants whose first language is not English, an IELTS profile of 6.5 or TOEFL 560 (220 computer-based test) is required.
Course descriptionCourse content
The course starts in August with a brief induction programme followed by a full-time module in Academic English For Journalism. This five-week module lasts until mid-September and is presented in collaboration with the Nottingham Language Centre, The University's dedicated centre for language studies.
* Media Law
* Online Journalism Production
* Journalism At Work In The World
* Placement: Theory and practice
* Public Administration
* Journalistic Research Methods, Ethics And Regulation.
These modules complete the Postgraduate Diploma course. For the masters award you will also complete two further modules:
* Dissertation
* Journalism Project.
Resources and facilities
Students work in the newsroom and studios of NTU's Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism, formerly the regional BBC headquarters.
Study routes
The Masters Degree (MA) takes 15 months full-time, including a professional work placement. The Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) takes 12 months full-time, including a professional work placement.
The English language module involves attendance each weekday morning, with afternoons reserved for independent work on student projects.
The full-time Masters degree and Diploma courses are likely to involve daily attendance at the Centre from September (Monday to Friday) during term. Applicants should be aware that each module involves a considerable amount of additional independent learning.
Special benefits
Students will have the opportunity to hear visiting speakers from key media organisations as part of their course of study.
Accreditation
This course was developed in consultation with a consortium of major industry employers which currently includes broadcasting representatives from the BBC, Carlton Television, 96 Trent FM, SAGA 106.6fm, Heart 106fm and Sky News as well as the regional newspaper, The Lincolnshire Echo.
In addition, the Centre has long-standing relationships with the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC), the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and the Association for Journalism Education (AJE).
Professional development
The course includes a professional work placement which can be arranged with the support of tutors. Students will be encouraged to enter for national and international student journalism awards and to contribute journalism to media organisations such as the BBC, the Nottingham Evening Post and the university's Union of Students' newspaper, Platform. They may also be involved with the Centre's dedicated news website which broadcasts and publishes student journalism online.