Subject overview

Brighton Journalist Works (BJW) and the University of Sussex 

Elements of our degrees are taught by experienced journalists at our partner institution, BJW, whose training rooms are located at Brighton’s daily newspaper, The Argus. This hands-on training is framed within the academic and intellectual agenda delivered at Sussex. Guest masterclasses by industry professionals are a regular feature of our degrees. 

Programme outline

This MA is for you if you wish to combine theory and practice and focus on fast-changing developments in international journalism. This degree provides an academic engagement with journalism on a global scale through close attention to economic and political underpinnings, as well as the culture and sociological aspects of journalism. It also examines key issues in the theory and practice of journalism and helps you develop and refine your journalistic skills. You will learn how to research and write news and features, creating and adapting news stories across platforms. You will follow an intensive training programme with the practical journalism elements taught by experienced industry professionals. 

This degree will enable you to: 

• understand and debate the broader global, economic and technological issues driving news organisations across the world 
• identify and critically engage with journalism’s forms, practices and institutions at national and international levels 
• be knowledgeable about the diverse functions of journalism in a contemporary, multi-skilled environment, and the dynamic role of its practitioners in a changing journalistic context 
• develop skills to produce journalistic copy for a range of platforms that are professionally designed, technically proficient and creatively executed 
• critically evaluate and analyse a wide range of journalistic outputs and their distinguishing characteristics 
• take up a short work placement. 

This course is subject to validation. 

Assessment 

Assessment is diverse to match the aims and objectives of a course providing both professional training and advanced academic study. It includes essays, oral and poster presentations, learning diaries, multimedia submissions, and a portfolio of practical journalism, and culminates in a substantial research-led project or an 18,000-word dissertation. 

Course structure

We continue to develop and update our modules for 2014 entry to ensure you have the best student experience.

Autumn term: Broadcasting News and Features I • International Journalism in Transition • News and Feature Writing. 

Spring term: Advanced Journalism Skills • Broadcasting News and Features II • Global News Industries. 

Summer term: International Journalism dissertation/project. 

Entry requirements

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. We also welcome applicants who do not have this academic qualification who are able to demonstrate in their application that they have relevant professional/creative skills and experience.

Overseas entrance requirements

Overseas qualifications

If your country is not listed below, please contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Country	Overseas qualification
Australia	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
Brazil	Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a final mark of at least 8
Canada	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3/4.0 (grade B+)
China	Bachelor degree from a leading university with overall mark of 75%-85% depending on your university
Cyprus	Bachelor degree or Ptychion with a final mark of at least 7.5
France	Licence with mention bien or Maîtrise with final mark of at least 13
Germany	Bachelor degree or Magister Artium with a final mark of 2.4 or better
Ghana	Bachelor degree from a public university with second-class upper division
Greece	Ptychion from an AEI with a final mark of at least 7.5
Hong Kong	Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division
India	Bachelor degree from a leading institution with overall mark of at least 60% or equivalent
Iran	Bachelor degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a final mark of at least 15
Italy	Diploma di Laurea with an overall mark of at least 105
Japan	Bachelor degree from a leading university with a minumum average of B+ or equivalent
Malaysia	Bachelor degree with class 2 division 1
Mexico	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 8
Nigeria	Bachelor degree with second-class upper division or CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0
Pakistan	Four-year bachelor degree, normally with a GPA of at least 3.3
Russia	Magistr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4
South Africa	Bachelor (Honours) degree or Bachelor degree in Technology with an overall mark of at least 70%
Saudi Arabia	Bachelor degree with an overall mark of at least 70% or CGPA 3.5/5.0 or equivalent
South Korea	Bachelor degree from a leading university with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
Spain	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 2/4
Taiwan	Bachelor degree with overall mark of 70%-85% depending on your university
Thailand	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent
Turkey	Lisans Diplomasi with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 depending on your university
United Arab Emirates	Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent
USA	Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3-3.5/4.0 depending on your university
Vietnam	Masters degree with CGPA 3.5/4.0 or equivalent

If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications, contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Additional admissions information

If you are a non-EU student and your qualifications (including English language) do not yet meet our entry requirements for admission directly to this degree, we offer a Pre-Masters entry route. For more information, refer to Pre-Masters.

Related programmes

• Digital Documentary MA
• Digital Media MA
• Film Studies MA
• Gender and Media MA
• Media and Cultural Studies MA
• Media Practice for Development and Social Change MA

Fees and funding

Fees

Home UK/EU students: £7,300¹
Overseas students: £14,100²

¹ The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
² The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

Funding

The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.

Faculty interests

Journalism is part of the School of Media, Film and Music at Sussex and our faculty is listed below. Also refer to the Media, media practice and cultural studies subject area. Profiles of members of staff at Brighton Journalist Works (BJW) are listed below.

School of Media, Film and Music faculty

Dr Monika Metykova Lecturer in Media Communications/Journalism Studies. Research interests include transnational media; cultural and media policies; citizenship, cosmopolitanism and European public spheres. 

Marcus Ryder Honorary Senior Lecturer in Journalism. Head of Current Affairs at BBC Scotland.  

Brighton Journalist Works staff

Chris Chandler Former Deputy Editor of The Argus, and group editor of the Leader and Life series of newspapers in Sussex and Surrey. 

Louisa Hannah Journalism lecturer. Has experience of launching NCTJ postgraduate fast-track courses at Further Education colleges. 

Richard Lindfield Lecturer, journalist and broadcaster. Weekend News Editor for Heart FM, and former BBC Producer who lectures on fast-track courses in public affairs, and video shooting and editing. 

Mark Longhurst Presenter of Sunrise on Sky News, teaches broadcast journalism on our MA in Multimedia Journalism. 

Paula O’Shea Managing Director. Journalist for ITN News, the BBC and local newspapers before setting up and running NCTJ courses at City College Brighton and Hove and at the University of Brighton. 

Pete Taylor Lecturer. An experienced journalist online and on magazines and newspapers. He is a Media Law and Sub-Editing lecturer.

Careers and profiles

Our graduates will possess knowledge and transferrable skills relevant to employment in a wide range of areas including, among others, the media industries, public relations, journalism, teaching and public services. 

School and contacts