Cardiff University

Journalism (PgDip)

9 months (Full-time) / n/a (Part-time) / n/a (Distance / E-Learning)

Cardiff University's PgDip/MA in Newspaper Journalism was named 2011/12 best performing postgraduate course by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).

Course Aims

To offer knowledge and expertise for a career in the British media as a professional journalist.

Special Features

Teaches the craft of journalism against the background of professional studies.
Teachers with a breadth of professional experience at every level are able to give the kind of intensive guidance that is often lacking in a busy workplace.
The course is accredited by the appropriate professional body: BJTC (broadcast), PTC (magazine), and NCTJ (newspaper).

Course Description

A nine-month practical course intended to prepare the graduate for a career in journalism. Students choose to specialise in broadcast, magazine or newspaper and spend an increasing part of the course producing real journalism to real deadlines in their chosen option, and learn how to create online journalism to go with the broadcast, magazine and newspaper output.

The first part of the course also covers core compulsory subjects such as ethics, law, shorthand and public administration, together with lectures from guest speakers from the industry – in recent years they have included the Editor of The Guardian and the Head of Sky News – and from our honorary professors, who include the Deputy Chief Executive of BBC magazines and the Head of Corporate Affairs of Vodafone.

As well as the three newsrooms for the three options, Cardiff has a well-equipped television studio, radio studios, digital edit and production suites and a new media lab.

All students are given the opportunity to undertake video filming and editing in order to meet the demands of the convergent newsroom.

Areas of Study

All students on the diploma courses must attend lectures, submit coursework and pass exams in the following areas of core learning:

Law for Journalists
Public Administration, including Local, National and European Politics
Reporters and Reported – this has two elements: lectures and practical exercises in media ethics and in the commercial structure and history of the news media. Guest speakers from the profession also visit.
On-line journalism: this has both practical and lecture-based elements. Students will gain hands-on experience of online, mobile and multimedia journalism and an understanding of the major changes taking place in the industry.

For more course information, please see the Postgraduate Journalism Training page on the School website.

Entry Requirements

Candidates should normally hold a degree (minimum 2.2) awarded by a recognised university or equivalent. Suitable for graduates in all disciplines. This requirement may be waived for candidates with relevant professional experience and good general education.

Students whose first language is not English must normally have an IELTS score of 7.0

All students should be computer literate and be able to type fluently before they start the course. Newspaper students must have mastered the theory of Teeline shorthand.

How to Apply

An additional set of application questions to the standard university form is required for PG Diploma - these are available on the How to Apply page; alternatively please contact the School for more information.

Tuition Fees:

UK & EU Full Time for 2013/14
£7,647.00
International Full Time for 2013/14
£13,236.00
A non-refundable deposit of £500 is required on acceptance of your offer.