Journalism: News / Broadcast / Sport

University of Salford

United Kingdom, Salford

University RankQS Ranking

945

Apply Now!

Go to Official Website

Home/United Kingdom/Salford /University of Salford/Journalism: News / Broadcast / Sport

University of Salford

United Kingdom , Salford

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Main Site

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 1 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 17,520 / years

Next Intake September-2026

Journalism: News / Broadcast / Sport

About

Introduction

In a nutshell

Do you want to become an incisive and ethical journalist? Are you interested in understanding how to tell great news or sports stories online, in print, on radio or on television? Whatever your professional goals, this NCTJ accredited MA in Journalism will give you the practical skills you need to achieve them.

Designed to provide you with a thorough grounding in professional journalism in the UK, you’ll gain the skills you need and learn how to work within the industry codes of conduct. These skills will enable you to become a well-respected and forward-thinking media professional. What’s more, you’ll be able to align your interests with your programme by choosing the pathway that interests you most – whether that focus is online or in the broadcast media; news or sport.

Based at our state-of-the-art MediaCity campus, you’ll be immersed in a world of media greats, including national broadcasters such as the BBC and ITV. What better way to sharpen your journalism credentials and set yourself up for success?

When you graduate, you’ll be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism, or an MA degree if you choose to complete a personal project. The course aligns with and builds on the NCTJ Diploma (separate exam fees apply) – a qualification highly sought after by UK editors.

This course combines the high standards for which Salford has become known in the industry with the rigour of the full NCTJ programme. This includes the necessary aspects of British law and the Teeline shorthand desired by editors in UK newsrooms. Students who intend to work outside the UK, or for organisations not based here, might be better suited to our MA in International Journalism for Digital Media, which explores how foreign correspondence professionals are taking advantage of digital technology to reach diverse audiences.

International applicants: Please check the international intakes page for the latest information and application dates.

You will:

Learn from leading academic staff with a wealth of real-world journalism experience
Study at our state-of-the-art MediaCity campus, adjacent to reputable media organisations such as the BBC and ITV
Undertake practical placements, giving you the tools and training you need to establish yourself as a media professional
Study for the Diploma qualification from the National Council for Training of Journalists – for more than 70 years the benchmark of UK journalism
Graduate with a portfolio of work for employment or further study

Placement

options available

International

students accepted

Course accreditations

Many of our graduates have working relationships with the industry and create fact-based news with large brands

This is for you if...

You want to have a career as a professional journalist and study in MediaCity

You want to gain the NCTJ Diploma to boost your employment opportunities

You want to learn from experienced media professionals

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Requirements

What you need to know

APPLICANT PROFILE

To gain a place on this MA Journalism: News, Broadcast and Sport course, youâll have to submit a personal statement and meet our entry requirements when you apply.

Within your personal statement (up to 500 words), weâll want to understand:

What motivates you and what current experiences do you have with journalism; whether itâs writing for a local publication or as part of your undergraduate studies, for example?
How have you been involved and what did you do?
Do you have any knowledge of the Journalism sector; are there any projects that inspire you?
What are your future goals?
Why is the University of Salford and this course the right choice for your future goals?

If you are an international applicant we will want to see a short statement on why you want to study an NCTJ accredited course, and demonstrating an understanding of the requirements and why NCTJ is important.

You should also provide a CV and references (at least one should be an academic reference) provided on letterhead and signed. Suitably qualified applicants will be invited for interview.

Once youâve made your application to study with us, weâll contact you and let you know the next steps.

If you intend to work outside of the UK, or for organisations not based here, our MA International Journalism for Digital Media might be a better suited programme.

Standard entry requirements

A good honours degree (2.1 or above) with a personal statement and evidence of engagement with journalism (i.e. work experience).

International Students

If you are an international student and not from a majority English speaking country, you will need IELTS 7.0, with a written element of 8.0 and no element below 6.0 We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.

We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take our Pre-Sessional English course.

Alternative entry requirements

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)

We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.

The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.

Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).

English Program Requirements

Equivalent qualifications

English language requirements are shown on individual course pages. Generally, this is shown as an IELTS grade, however we accept a range of equivalent qualifications.

As a general guide:

For undergraduate courses we require IELTS 6.0 (with a minimum 5.5 in each component) or equivalent

For postgraduate courses, we require IELTS 6.0 (with a minimum 5.5 in each component) or equivalent

For the International Foundation Year, we require IELTS 4.5 (with a minimum 4.0 in each component) in UKVI IELTS for UKVI (Academic)

The approved equivalent qualifications list includes the following:

Secure English Language Tests (SELTs)

University of Salford English language courses

Regional-based qualifications

Majority English Speaking Countries as deemed by UKVI

Medium of English Institutions

Applicants who require a Student Route visa to study in the UK may require evidence of a Secure English Language test rather than an examination or qualification due to visa requirements, as deemed by the UK Government Home Office, Visa and Immigration (UKVI).

Career

Employment and stats

What about after uni?

EMPLOYMENT

With our location in one of the UK’s most established media hubs, combined with our close links to a variety of media organisations across Salford and Greater Manchester, our news, sport and broadcasting journalism graduates have a strong record of successfully gaining employment within the industry.

Many of our students have gone on to secure professional roles with national broadcasters, such as the BBC, Sky and ITV, as well as leading UK print and online media publications for companies including Bloomberg, the Manchester Evening News and the Cavendish Press national news agency. Read Freya Chappell’s story about how she went from education to an Output Producer at Sky News.

With media becoming increasingly important in today’s digital age, there’s never been a more exciting time to pursue a career in professional journalism. And with the skills and practical experience you’ll gain throughout your time with us, you’ll be well positioned for a longstanding career in whichever specialism you choose.

FURTHER STUDY

Graduates showing strong academic and research skills can pursue a further academic research path through our doctoral (PhD) programmes on a full-time or part-time basis subject to a satisfactory proposal.

Career Links

During the course, you will get the opportunity to undertake industry placements in your chosen specialism area. This gives you valuable experience of working in newsrooms, having content published or broadcast, and the chance to establish useful links with professionals. Our placement partners include the BBC, ITV (Granada Reports), the Manchester Evening News and Bolton News, and locally-based news agencies.