International Journalism MA : University of Sussex

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Key information

Duration:: 1 year full time, 2 years part time
Start date:: September 2020
Apply by:: 1 August 2020 (international), 1 September 2020 (UK/EU)

100% of Communication, Cultural and Media Studies research impact was rated outstanding or very considerable in terms of reach and significance in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014)

Journalism remains a crucial part of democratic public life. This innovative, intensive MA’s global focus guides you as you learn to research and write news and features, creating and adapting news stories across platforms.

This course focuses on developing the practical skills and the critical knowledge to help you to reflect on your professional practice in an international context. You’ll learn to:

understand and debate the broader issues driving news organisations across the world
be knowledgeable about the functions of journalism in a contemporary environment
produce copy for a range of platforms including print, online, radio, tv and social media
critically evaluate and analyse a range of journalistic outputs and their characteristics.

Being taught by professional journalists – Rebekah Chilvers, Journalism MA

Masters and PhD events

Meet us on campus or online

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Degree requirements	You should normally have an upper second-class (2.1) undergraduate honours degree or above.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.

Please select your country from the list.

Argentina

Degree requirements	Licenciado/Titulo with a final mark of at least 7.5-8.5 depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Australia

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with second-class upper division.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Azerbaijan

Degree requirements	Magistr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4 or 81%
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Bahrain

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with CGPA 3.0/4.0 (Grade B).
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Bangladesh

Degree requirements	Masters degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Brazil

Degree requirements	Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a final mark of at least 7.5 or 8 depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Brunei

Degree requirements	Bachelors (Honours) degree with second class upper division or GPA 3.1/4.0.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Canada

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with CGPA 3.3/4.0 (grade B+).
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Chile

Degree requirements	Licenciado with a final mark of 5-5.5/7 depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

China

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with an overall mark of at least 72%-85% depending on your university. As evidence of completing your degree you must provide both a Degree Certificate and Graduation Certificate.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Degree requirements

Bachelors degree with an overall mark of at least 72%-85% depending on your university.

As evidence of completing your degree you must provide both a Degree Certificate and Graduation Certificate.

Subject-specific requirements

Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.

Please note

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Colombia

Degree requirements	Licenciado with ‘Acreditacion de alta calidad' and a GPA of 3.5.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Cyprus

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree or Ptychion with a final mark of at least 7.5.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Ecuador

Degree requirements	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 17/20.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Egypt

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree from a university with an overall grade of at least 70%-75% depending on your university
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

France

Degree requirements	Licence with mention bien or Maîtrise with final mark of at least 13.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Germany

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree or Magister Artium with a final mark of 2.4 or better.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Ghana

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree from a public university with second-class upper division.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Greece

Degree requirements	Ptychion from an AEI with a final mark of at least 7.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Hong Kong

Degree requirements	Bachelors (Honours) degree with second-class upper division.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

India

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with an overall mark of at least 55-70% depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Indonesia

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree from an 'A' accredited university with GPA 3.0/4.0. Bachelors degree from a 'B' accredited university with GPA 3.2/4.0.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Degree requirements

Bachelors degree from an 'A' accredited university with GPA 3.0/4.0.

Bachelors degree from a 'B' accredited university with GPA 3.2/4.0.

Subject-specific requirements

Please note

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Iran

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a final mark of at least 15.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Italy

Degree requirements	Diploma di Laurea with an overall mark of at least 105.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Japan

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with a minimum C/GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Jordan

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 80%.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Kazakhstan

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with an overall mark of 4 or better (on a scale of 1-5)/GPA 3,33.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Kenya

Degree requirements	Bachelors (Honours) degree with second-class upper division.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Kuwait

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or B+
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Lebanon

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with CGPA 3.5/4.0 or 14/20.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Malawi

Degree requirements	Masters degree, depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Malaysia

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Mexico

Degree requirements	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 8/10.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Nepal

Degree requirements	Masters degree with overall mark of 80%
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Nigeria

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with second-class upper division or CGPA of at least 3.0-3.5/5.0 depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Norway

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with an overall grade of B.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Oman

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with CGPA of at least 3.3/4.0.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Pakistan

Degree requirements	Four-year bachelors degree with overall grade of 65% or Masters with 60%
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Palestine

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with at least 80% or GPA of at least 3.0/4.0
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Paraguay

Degree requirements	Bachelors with a final mark of at least 7.5/10.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Peru

Degree requirements	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 13/20 from a public university or 15/20 from a private university.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Philippines

Degree requirements	Masters degree with 1.5/5.0 (where 1 is the highest) or 3.7/4.0
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Qatar

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with an overall CPGA of at least 3 (on a scale of 4).
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Russia

Degree requirements	Bakalavr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Saudi Arabia

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with a CGPA 3.5/5.0 or 3/4.0.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Singapore

Degree requirements	Bachelors (Honours) degree with second-class upper division or CAP 4.0.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

South Africa

Degree requirements	Bachelors (honours) degree with second-class division 1.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

South Korea

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with a CGPA of at least 3.3/4.5 or 3.1/4.3 or B+
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Spain

Degree requirements	Licenciado with a final mark of at least 2/4 or 7/10.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Sri Lanka

Degree requirements	Bachelors Special degree with upper second honours.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Switzerland

Degree requirements	Licence or Diplôme with 5/6 or 8/10.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Taiwan

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with overall mark of at least 67%-80% depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Thailand

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with CGPA of at least 2.8 - 3.0/4.0 or equivalent depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Turkey

Degree requirements	Lisans Diplomasi with CGPA of at least 2.8 - 3.0/4.0 or equivalent depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

United Arab Emirates

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

USA

Degree requirements	Bachelors degree with CGPA of at least 3.3-3.5/4.0 depending on your university.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Vietnam

Degree requirements

Bachelors degree (with a Graduate Thesis/research component) with CGPA of at least 3.3/4.0 or 7.5/10.

As evidence of completing your degree you must provide both proof of graduation in addition to your transcript.

Subject-specific requirements

Please note

Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Zambia

Degree requirements	Masters degree with GPA of 2.0/2.5 or equivalent.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Zimbabwe

Degree requirements	Bachelors (Honours) degree with second-class upper division.
Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.
Please note	Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

My country is not listed

If your country is not listed, you need to contact us and find out the qualification level you should have for this course. Contact us

Subject-specific requirements	Your qualification should be in a relevant social sciences or humanities subject. You can also apply for the course if you don’t have the academic qualifications required, but can show relevant professional/creative skills and experience.

English language requirements

IELTS (Academic)

Standard level (6.5 overall, including at least 6.0 in each component).

Check your IELTS qualification meets all of our entry requirements and find out more about IELTS

Alternative English language qualifications

Proficiency tests

Cambridge Advanced Certificate in English (CAE)

176 overall, including at least 169 in each skill.

We would normally expect the CAE test to have been taken within two years before the start of your course.

You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Find out more about Cambridge English: Advanced

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

176 overall, including at least 169 in each skill.

We would normally expect the CPE test to have been taken within two years before the start of your course.

You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Find out more about Cambridge English: Proficiency

Pearson (PTE Academic)

62 overall, including at least 56 in all four skills.

PTE (Academic) scores are valid for two years from the test date. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Find out more about Pearson (PTE Academic)

TOEFL (iBT)

88 overall, including at least 20 in Listening, 19 in Reading, 21 in Speaking, 23 in Writing.

TOEFL (iBT) scores are valid for two years from the test date. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Find out more about TOEFL (iBT)

The TOEFL Institution Code for the University of Sussex is 9166.

English language qualifications

AS/A-level (GCE)

Grade C or above in English Language.

Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE)/ AS or A Level: grade C or above in Use of English.

GCE O-level

Grade C or above in English.

Brunei/Cambridge GCE O-level in English: grades 1-6.

Singapore/Cambridge GCE O-level in English: grades 1-6.

GCSE or IGCSE

Grade C or above in English as a First Language (Grade 4 or above in GCSE from 2017).

Grade B or above in English as a Second Language.

German Abitur

A score of 12 or above in English.

Ghana Senior Secondary School Certificate

If awarded before 1993: grades 1-6 in English language.

If awarded between 1993 and 2005: grades A-D in English language.

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)

Level 4, including at least 3 in each component in English Language.

Indian School Certificate (Standard XII)

The Indian School Certificate is accepted at the grades below when awarded by the following examination boards:

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) – English Core only: 70%

Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) - English: 70%

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)

English A or English B at grade 5 or above.

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

Grades A - C in English language

Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) 1119/GCE O-level

If taken before the end of 2008: grades 1-6 in English Language.

If taken from 2009 onwards: grade C or above in English Language.

The qualification must be jointly awarded by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).

West African Senior School Certificate

Grades A1-C6 (1-6) in English language when awarded by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO).

Country exceptions

If you are a national of one of the countries below, or if you have recently completed a qualification equivalent to a UK Bachelors degree or higher in one of these countries, you will normally meet our English requirement. Note that qualifications obtained by distance learning or awarded by studying outside these countries cannot be accepted for English language purposes.

You will normally be expected to have completed the qualification within two years before starting your course at Sussex. If the qualification was obtained earlier than this, we would expect you to be able to demonstrate that you have maintained a good level of English, for example by living in an English-speaking country or working in an occupation that required you to use English regularly and to a high level.

Please note that this list is determined by the UK’s Home Office, not by the University of Sussex.

List of exempt countries:

Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Canada**
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Ireland
Jamaica
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
United Kingdom
USA

** Canada: you must be a national of Canada; other nationals not on this list who have a degree from a Canadian institution will not normally be exempt from needing to provide evidence of English.

English language support

If you don’t meet the English language requirements for your degree, you may be able to take a pre-sessional course

Visas and immigration

Find out how to apply for a student visa

Admissions information for applicants

How to apply	You apply to Sussex using our postgraduate application system
Personal statement	Yes. You must submit a personal statement as part of your application. Find out how to write a personal statement

If your qualifications aren’t listed or you have a question about entry requirements, contact us

Pre-Masters

Need to boost your academic skills for your taught course? Find out about Pre-Masters routes

Application deadlines

1 August 2020 (international), 1 September 2020 (UK/EU)

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Course details

Full-time and part-time study

Choose to study this course full time or part time, to fit around your work and personal life. Modules for the full-time course are listed below.

For details about the part-time course, contact us at studyinmfm@sussex.ac.uk

How will I study?

You’ll learn through core modules and options in the autumn and spring terms. In the summer, you develop a research project that can take the form of a conventional dissertation or a project.

Assessments include:

essays
oral and poster presentations
learning diaries
multimedia submissions
a portfolio of practical journalism.

The MA culminates in a substantial research-led project or a 15,000-word dissertation.

Placement

You have the opportunity to go on a short work placement.

Modules

These modules are running in the academic year 2019/20. We also plan to offer them in future academic years. They may become unavailable due to staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let our applicants know of such changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Broadcast News and Features (1)
Broadcast News and Features (2)
Digital Features and Design
Digital Reportage
Journalism in Transition A

Options

Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests.

Dissertation (Journalism)
Journalism Project
Activist Media Practice
First Person Film (MA)
Global News Industries A
Media Audiences
Media, Culture and Communication
New Developments in Digital Media 1b
Photography: Documentary, Landscape, Politics
Promotional Culture
Queering Popular Culture
Race, Culture and the Media
Working in the Creative Industries: Critical frameworks

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Our experts

Ms Judy Aslett

Teaching Fellow in Journalism

View Judy Aslett's profile

Dr Sally Xiaojin Chen

Lecturer in Journalism

Research interests

Chinese internet culture, Cultural understanding of the Chinese media, Journalism and journalists in China, Media and protest, Political communications, Resistance and activism in digital China, The public sphere

View Sally Xiaojin Chen's profile

Dr John Doyle

Senior Teaching Fellow in Digital and Multimedia Journalism

View John Doyle's profile

Ms Rachael Duncan

Senior Teaching Fellow in Journalism

View Rachael Duncan's profile

Prof Ivor Gaber

Professor of Political Journalism

Research interests

Broadcast News, Journalism, Labour Party, Media and Elections, Media and Policymaking, Media and Social Work, Media Bias, Media Regulation, News Agendas, political communication, Political Parties, Polling, Social Media

View Ivor Gaber's profile

Dr Monika Metykova

Senior Lecturer in Media Communications/Journalism Studies

Research interests

cultural and media policies, Journalism, media and democracy, media and diversity, media and migration, political economy of media

View Monika Metykova's profile

Mr Rob Sharp

Teaching Fellow

View Rob Sharp's profile

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Fees and scholarships

How much does it cost?

Fees

UK/EU students:: £11,000 per year
Channel Islands and Isle of Man students:: £11,000 per year
International students:: £19,300 per year

Note that your fees, once they’re set, may be subject to an increase on an annual basis - see details on our tuition fees page.

If you are a self-funded international student starting a Masters course in September 2020, you are required to pay a tuition fee deposit. Find out more about Masters tuition fee deposits.

Living costs

Find out typical living costs for studying at Sussex

Find out about our terms and conditions

How can I fund my course?

Postgraduate Masters loans

You can borrow up to £10,906 to help with fees and living costs if your course starts on or after 1 August 2019. Loans are available from the Student Loans Company if you’re from the UK or if you’re an EU national studying for a Masters.

Find out more about Postgraduate Masters Loans

Scholarships

Our aim is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to despite financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique individuals.

Chevening Scholarship

Chevening is the UK government’s international awards scheme aimed at developing global leaders. Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)

Find out more

Sussex GREAT Scholarship Thailand

The GREAT Scholarships scheme is jointly funded by the UK government’s GREAT Britain Campaign, the British Council and the University of Sussex.

Find out more

Sussex GREAT Scholarship Turkey

The GREAT Scholarships scheme is jointly funded by the UK government’s GREAT Britain Campaign, the British Council and the University of Sussex.

Find out more

How Masters scholarships make studying more affordable

Working while you study

Our Careers and Employability Centre can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work

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Careers

Our graduates possess knowledge and transferable skills relevant to employment in a wide range of areas including, among others:

the media industries
public relations
journalism
teaching
public services.

Graduate destinations

Recent International Journalism MA graduates have gone on to jobs including:

journalist, The Independent
multimedia reporter, The Argus
sub-editor, The University Paper.

(School of Media, Film and Music careers database)

Broadcast News and Features (1)

15 credits
Autumn Semester, Year 1

Using models derived from the BBC, Public Radio in the US and other broadcasters from around the world, this module will introduce you to a wide range of radio and podcast journalism (from documentaries to features to essays).

You will study different aesthetic modes for factual audio-casts, as well as different approaches to creating audio narrative. After closely listening to various examples of radio/audio journalism, you will produce your own audio project of 7-9 minutes (packaged for the web) on a non-fiction subject in a style of your choice, but with a strong and clear narrative structure.

You will be encouraged to critically reflect on your own journalism practice within the theoretical context covered during the module and will produce a written reflection as part of the final assessment.

Broadcast News and Features (2)

15 credits
Spring Semester, Year 1

You are introduced to a range of television and video journalism genres.

Using models derived from the BBC and other international and innovative (including independent) broadcasters, this module will introduce you to a wide range of video broadcast journalism (from short news packages to longer features).

You will study the different approaches to creating visual narratives. After closely viewing examples of high-quality, and innovative video journalism, and developing your own technical skills, you will produce your own news feature of 3-5 minutes (packaged for the web) in a style of your choice, but with strong and clear content and structure. By the end of the module you will be able to research, write and produce high-quality reports and packages for video broadcast.

You will be encouraged to critically reflect on your own journalism practice within the theoretical context covered during the module and will produce a written reflection as part of the final assessment.

Digital Features and Design

15 credits
Spring Semester, Year 1

This module will introduce you to the practice and principles of newspaper and magazine design and how to sub-edit and layout pages. You will learn how to re-write and shape reporters' copy for print, broadcast and the internet. You will also learn how to write snappy headlines, online subbing and how to write search engine optimised headlines and stand firsts. You will complete a tabloid news page individually and work towards a news day when as a group you will work on a real-life news story and create regularly updated web pages with social media spin-offs and a newspaper front page to deadline. Throughout, you will be encouraged to engage in self-reflective critique of their professional practice.

Digital Reportage

15 credits
Autumn Semester, Year 1

This module equips you with essential knowledge and skills in news research and writing and you will be encouraged to produce news material for a range of platforms. You will also explore key theories surrounding different approaches to news and writing, and the key ethical and legal challenges involved.

The module delivers a foundation in the key principles and techniques of news gathering, news reporting and feature writing. You will proceed from exploring news values, finding story ideas, doing research, identifying and interviewing sources to reporting straight news as well as writing different types of feature stories (e.g. columns, profiles, lifestyle pieces, backgrounders). By the end of the course, you will have gained a solid skill and knowledge base in news and feature writing such as:

- drawing on a range of sources and turning raw information into a publishable news report or feature
- building an effective story structure
- grabbing and maintaining the reader's attention in print and online
- identifying the story angle
- quoting people effectively and accurately, and
- using style and vocabulary appropriate to the genre and context

You will practice all of these via in-class exercises and real-life journalism assignments. You will also obtain a critical understanding of the genres and sub-genres of news and feature and apply this understanding to a critical analysis of existing news products. You will be encouraged and instructed to write publishable content for mainstream news publications.

Journalism in Transition A

30 credits
Autumn Semester, Year 1

The International Journalism in Transition module explores debates that are crucial for an understanding of the roles of journalism and its actual practises in contemporary societies. It opens with a discussion of the broader context of media's roles in contemporary societies and the relationships between these and democracy. It then explores key debates on audiences, contents and media professionals to shed light on areas and developments that have had a major impact on journalism. Throughout the discussion close attention is paid to the influence of economic, political and technological changes on media and journalism. The concepts and theoretical approaches discussed in the course of the module are of an interdisciplinary nature, they stem from sociology, cultural studies and media studies as well as the political economy.

Dissertation (Journalism)

60 credits
All Year Teaching, Year 1

The dissertation will utilise skills and knowledge derived from areas and practices studied on the Journalism Postgraduate provision including history, theory, economics and culture of journalism. Some of these will be drawn together in a significant piece of written work. The aims of the dissertation module are:

- To develop your ability to undertake a sustained investigation into a particular topic or issue within your chosen field of study.
- To enable you to formulate a research proposal justifying selection of appropriate methods.
- To test your ability to design, plan, organise, research and write a substantial piece based on independent research.

Journalism Project

60 credits
All Year Teaching, Year 1

This independent study module involves the completion of a critical journalism project on a topic of your choice. The module offers you the chance to work independently with guidance and advice from an appropriate tutor appointed as a project supervisor. You will be encouraged to seek relevant work experience, if appropriate, as part of the project.

You are expected to demonstrate how your ideas and knowledge have developed over the year and how these ideas inform your professional work experience. You will develop a portfolio of your journalism and reflect on this process in the associated learning diary and essay.

Activist Media Practice

30 credits
Spring Semester, Year 1

Social movements have historically struggled to get their message reported clearly, accurately and effectively through the lens of mainstream media. This has lead to the rise of alternative media practices and strategies to break through or unsettle the corporate and state-run media systems around the world. In order to challenge hegemonic discourses, activist media seeks to circumvent and dismantle traditional media's communicative strategies either through a disruptive aesthetic or through a reconfigured mode of civic engagement. Whether through radical leaflets, pirate radio, graffiti, protest music, performance art, activist videos, political documentaries, or social media and the internet, today's media landscape has evolved into a range of complex transnational networks that can be activated by independent counter-hegemonic media practices and expressions.

This module asks you to learn about various forms of cultural resistance (through readings, screenings, lectures and discussions) in order to to formulate an effective form of activist media provocation. This piece of activist media may take the form of a video, a website, site-specific performance, series of photographs, media prank, etc. You will also be asked to write a reflective essay that contextualises the finished piece within the conceptual debates of the module.

First Person Film (MA)

30 credits
Spring Semester, Year 1

First Person Film examines the ways in which film can be used as a personal, subjective medium, whether in fiction or documentary. Autobiographical or analytical, abstract or essayistic, professional or amateur, the first-person modality is increasingly present in all filmmaking practices. This module seeks to introduce you to theories of subjectivity whether from psychoanalysis, post-structuralism and/or literary theory considering the multiple theoretical incursions on the unity of the subject from Lacan to Butler and Nancy, and even the outright denial of the author (Barthes). We will explore questions of subjectivity such as: what constitutes a subject? from what position does s/he speak? and what or who is the 'I' that speaks? From this will arise further questions regarding the address: to whom does s/he speak and to what avail? who is being interpellated as audience? and how is identification constructed? The module will survey a range of first-person filmmaking, including the fictional autobiography, artist's experimental films, first-person documentary, the essay film, the home movie and the proliferation of YouTube direct address.

Global News Industries A

30 credits
Spring Semester, Year 1

This module explores the function, impact and current status of international journalism in an increasingly 'deterritorialised' media environment. The module will cover a comparative study of different news media systems in the world, the global news flow, institutional and professional issues in international news reporting, and the transformation in international journalism. It will also investigate the extent to which the audiences of global journalism might constitute alternative news networks and a putative global public sphere. New technologies from blogging to multiplatform television, twitter to online distribution, have also transformed the way news is made, disseminated and consumed. This module provides a critical consideration of the economics, culture, politics and sociology of journalism on a global scale. It examines fundamental issues in theories and practices of journalism and assesses ongoing developments in the area of journalism development, expansion, ethics and policies. The module aims to enable you to understand rapid technological changes and further internationalisation of journalism and the impact and consequences for future of journalism.

Media Audiences

30 credits
Spring Semester, Year 1

On this module you will explore and evaluate the broad tradition of critical research into media audiences which has developed over the past two decades. You will consider, through an exploration of this tradition, how we should understand the nature of media texts, and in particular how meanings, uses, (dis)pleasures and responses are produced in the complex interactions between audiences and texts, in specific social settings. This module gives you the chance - and to develop the skills to be able - to carry out a small piece of original audience research. Key methods encountered on the module include interviews, semi-structured focus group discussions, open-ended questionnaires, respondents' letters, and participant observation.

Media, Culture and Communication

30 credits
Spring Semester, Year 1

The module offers you the chance to explore at an advanced level a number of principal theories and methods within a cultural studies approach to media studies, and to consider how these shape the ways we might think about and research particular media industries, forms and issues. The module begins with a focus on questions concerning media production, distribution and consumption. In the latter part of the module, we pay attention to a variety of methodological approaches which draw attention in particular to different ways of conceptualising the relation between the media and concepts like subjectivity, identity, perception and experience.

The theory element aims to introduce you to the key thinkers, traditions and debates in media and cultural studies and contributing disciplines. You will investigate media as institutions and systems of representation and explore problems of production and consumption in a variety of social and geo-political contexts. You will be encouraged to prepare informal presentations and to engage in discussion with other members of the seminar group. Each week there will also be a short introduction to the following week’s topic in the lecture given by members of the Media and Film faculty. The research element aims to develop a systematic and critical understanding of the practical, epistemological and ethical issues involved in conducting different kinds of media and cultural research. It also aims to make you methodologically self-conscious in your own research and written work.

New Developments in Digital Media 1b

30 credits
Spring Semester, Year 1

This module critically surveys developments in the expanding field of new media. You will explore the dynamics driving digital convergence, viewed as an industrial, political, social, economic and technological process. You will ask what drives convergence between previously discrete industries, technologies, contents, and what limits convergence processes. You will also explore key developments in the field of new media, including phenomena such as social networks, pervasive and locative technologies, new forms of knowledge organisation and gathering. This version of the module is theoretical; seminars explore the areas outlined above through critical reading, seminar discussion and presentation, and you will also write a 5000-word term paper.

Photography: Documentary, Landscape, Politics

30 credits
Spring Semester, Year 1

This module introduces you to a wide range of work in the documentary and landscape genres, both historical and contemporary, but with an emphasis on `conceptual documentary' and contemporary politicised landscape photography. You will also focus on the problematics of documentary and photojournalism, such as ethical issues and questions of efficacy, and the use of text and sound in documentary publications, gallery installations and websites.

The module will be taught through tutor-led discussion in seminars, and regular `group crits' of student work-in-progress in the lab. Early on in the module you will conceive and research your own idea for a photographic project, and start producing images for class viewing. The module will equip you with the necessary production & critical skills to continue working independently on your projects during the Easter vacation before the assessment deadline in early Summer.

Promotional Culture

30 credits
Spring Semester, Year 1

This module is not about advertising per se or the marketing 'tools' usually suggested by the term promotion but an exploration of 1) how advertising has crossed over into domains beyond the commercial with an alleged collapse of boundaries, and 2) how branding seems increasingly to take over aspects of the lifeworld. According to Andrew Wernick, from whom the term promotional culture is borrowed, advertising 'has come to shape not only culture's symbolic and ideological contents, but also its ethos, texture and constitution' (1991: viii).

The module is about understanding contemporary promotional culture via a grasp of historical developments. These include the development of the capitalist market, the rise of a sign-culture and women as key consumers.

The module opens up theoretical ideas and debate via a series of case studies which may include 'the department store', 'spin', 'celebrity politics', PR journalism, 'the spectacular university', 'the branded self'. The questions it is concerned with include: does it matter that commercial advertising has been overtaken by branding and promotion extending into politics, public services, the arts and charity organisations? Does this mark a problematic undermining of a 'public sphere'? Or can the 'inauthenticity' of promotional culture be democratically enabling in so far its practices lay open the malleability of social life? Do the developments of other modernities (eg. South/East Asia) suggest we should think about the rise of the market, branding and promotion in different ways than is suggested in a Western literature?

Queering Popular Culture

30 credits
Spring Semester, Year 1

This module offers you the chance to explore lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer contributions to, and perspectives on, the key fields of popular culture, including film, television, the press, popular music, fashion and style. Topics for detailed study will include lesbian representation in mainstream television genres; cinematic homosexualities and their historical context; lesbian and gay 'community television'; contemporary lesbian and gay magazines and newspapers; queer pop from David Bowie to the Pet Shop Boys and beyond; sexuality and style politics; and the pleasures and problematics of camp.

You will investigate issues of representation, consumption and interpretation; unravel debates over stereotyping, subcultures and sensibilities; and ask whether a specifically 'queered' critique of the existing academic discourses used in the study of popular culture is conceptually feasible and/or politically desirable. You can expect to sharpen and deepen your skills in interdisciplinary cultural analysis, and there will be a particular emphasis on a self-reflexive examination of (y)our own popular cultural tastes and practices, exploring the connections and contradictions between theoretical accounts of popular images and forms and our experiential investments in them as consumers located in (or interested in) sexual minorities.

The approach on this module is unrepentantly interdisciplinary - there is no overarching theoretical model to which you will be obliged to subscribe. Students with or without backgrounds in cultural studies will be made equally welcome.

Race, Culture and the Media

30 credits
Spring Semester, Year 1

This module explores the intersection of race, culture and analogue/digital media.

It begins by looking at the origins of these debates and introduces how their transformation can be approached through discourse and performance.

It then moves to explore key theoretical lenses through which this module’s topic can be engaged, including a discussion of:

whiteness
class
gender
post-colonialism

Following this conceptual grounding, the course explores a number of contemporary debates that highlight different transformations of race, culture and the media.

These include explorations of the War on Terror, drone warfare, urban multiculture (sound systems, pirate radio and YouTube music videos), #blacklivesmatter, and debates on post-race. Through these means the module complements the School’s offerings in the areas of media, digital media, culture and social change in addition to complementing Global Studies options.

Subjects may include:

origins and transformations: race, culture and media
whiteness
race and class
race, gender and difference
post-colonialism and orientalism
the War on Terror: Twin Towers to Jihadi John
drone warfare
urban multiculture: from analogue to digital
#blacklivesmatters
post-race and rehumanistion

Working in the Creative Industries: Critical frameworks

30 credits
Spring Semester, Year 1

This module addresses the changing scope and experiences of working in the creative industries.

Work is situated in the context of neoliberal economic-political developments and the discursive shift from ‘cultural’ to ‘creative’ industries. It focuses on your own work lives and empirical case studies (from sociology, media, urban and cultural studies) to explore and understand the tensions and contradictions of such work: competitive and collaborative, creative and repetitive, passionate and precarious.

Critically it draws on a range of ideas including immaterial labour and precarity; field, capitals and cultural intermediary; emotional/affective labour; governmentality and individualisation; prosumer/co-creation and ‘gifted’ labour.

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