Journalism, Undergraduate - BA (Hons) - 2022/23 entry

Based in Birmingham City University's £62 million Parkside Building - you can take the first steps to a career in journalism.

Our BA (Hons) Journalism course is delivered by industry experts from broadcast, print and digital, providing a strong foundation for a professional career.

The Live Newsroom modules offer an opportunity to apply practical mobile reporting skills in a real-world environment for platforms including TV, radio, print and digital platforms. Our strong links with key journalism organisations means youll also get the chance to work on live briefs as well as producing content for our award-winning Birmingham Eastside website.

Teaching is delivered in our industry-standard facilities, as well as on location thanks to our focus on mobile reporting. Our newsroom media hub also allows for collaborative work as part of the wider Birmingham City University journalism community.

By tackling real stories, you will quickly develop a sense of the impact reporting can have. Through our Global and Community Impact modules there will be a chance to undertake placements as well as embed yourself within communities to tackle key issues in real depth.

The focus on innovation and entrepreneurship will also encourage students to think critically about the journalism landscape, creating products and real brands to identify new opportunities.

Certificate of General Secondary Education 60% PLUS Community College Diploma/Associate Degree with minimum grade 60% / 2.5 / C+

Note: Engineering courses require minimum C+ score in Mathematics.

Even though you may have met the stated requirements, if your first language is not English, we may ask you to take an additional English Language Test when you arrive.

Based on the results of the test, you may be required to attend regular English classes to improve your level of competence. English classes are provided free of charge and are available to all non-UK students who wish to attain greater fluency in English.

Enhancing employability skills

The course will equip you with first-hand practical expertise and provide you with the rigorous academic knowledge you’ll need to fulfil a career in your chosen communications and journalism field.

Our track record for graduate employment is excellent, with the majority of graduates going into a media-related role. The course opens up specific employability avenues related to the production route chosen. A number of journalism graduates from Birmingham City University have gone into roles such as social media editor, reporter, and trending video editor. 

Links to industry

Regular guest speakers and visiting lecturers from newspapers, broadcast, magazines and online publications will provide you with an insight into the modern journalism industry. By working with specialists in their field you will be able to learn how to bring stories to life.

You’ll also get the chance to engage directly with industry through activities such as hack days and projects with the likes of the BBC, The Times and Trinity Mirror. We have excellent links with a number of national, regional and local outlets, with students regularly taking up placements with the likes of Sky and the BBC.

Graduate job successes

Students from the School of Media have been making headlines after landing journalism jobs before they’ve even graduated.

Thomas Lynch (pictured in his new workplace) and Lillian Keen have become trending video reporters with Trinity Mirror, while Elis Sandford is now a news reporter with the company. They join 2016 graduate Charlotte Smith who began working with the national newspaper group earlier this year.

Thomas said: “I handed in my production project on the first Friday of May and the following Monday, I was a trending video producer. If you work hard enough and take advantage of what your university offers you, there is success to be found. Who said it was difficult to find a graduate job?"

There has also been success for another soon-to-be graduate after Thomas Chapman began working as a news reporter with the Eastern Daily Press.