Cardiff University
News Journalism MA
Cardiff University

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 185 graduates of News Journalism MA and other courses in History at Cardiff University for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in History.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in History

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of History at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £24000 £24000 £29000
25-75 percentile range £20500 - £27000 £18500 - £28500 £22500 - £36000


Salary of all UK Graduates of History

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £24405 £22643 £27403
25-75 percentile range £20545 - £28120 £17457 - £28376 £20781 - £35411

Course Description

Our MA in News Journalism offers a comprehensive, professional introduction to the theory, ethics, application and promotion of quality journalism. It is relevant to careers at hyperlocal, regional and national level in the UK.

Accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), our MA in News Journalism gives you the opportunity to learn the basics of how to find, produce, and publish a story using the most effective and relevant tools available.

It is an intensive year-long course during which you’ll be taught how to:

  • Write news and features
  • Create multimedia packages
  • Research stories
  • Build up contacts, and
  • Work a news patch you will be allocated.

As well as written reporting skills, you’ll learn how to take stills and shoot short videos on mobile and create data infographics suitable to upload to our public-facing news site The Cardiffian. You will also learn how to promote those stories using social media.

You’ll spend time outside the classroom putting your skills into practice, fulfilling realistic briefs which require you to put content together to reflect a variety of stories for online and print media. Practical work may also include covering press conferences, public meetings, court, councils, politics, sports events, and entertainment.

We’re not looking for ready-made journalists, but you will need to demonstrate a keen interest in news and evidence your commitment to a career in journalism through prior work experience or placements, whether paid or unpaid. We expect you to be engaged with what’s happening in the world; if you regularly read, watch and listen to the news, that’s a good start.

This course is professionally accredited by the NCTJ and prepares students to work in the UK news media, for instance by covering UK politics and the laws of England and Wales. International students who meet the entry criteria and have ambitions to work in the UK are welcome to apply, but those with broader ambitions may prefer the MA International Journalism programme.

During the course you will be expected to undertake at least two weeks of work experience, within Covid restrictions.

Accreditations

  • National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ)

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of News Journalism MA at Cardiff University

20% Administrative occupations
18% Sales occupations
9% Finance Professionals
7% Managers, directors and senior officials
5% Business and Financial Project Management Professionals
5% Protective service occupations
4% Elementary occupations
4% Information Technology Professionals
4% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
4% Business and public service associate professionals

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • MBA
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study News Journalism, MA, if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Typically, you will need to have either:

a 2:2 honours degree, in any subject, or an equivalent international degree.

a university-recognised equivalent academic qualification

or relevant professional experience evidenced by a reference.

For further information regarding entry requirements, please visit the course page on our website:

**

Costs

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

University Rankings

Positions of Cardiff University in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of Cardiff University in related subject specific rankings.

Journalism & Media Studies

    • #1 
    • #56 
    Journalism
    URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
    [Published 22 July, 2023]

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #1 
    • #126 
    Social Sciences
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 19 October, 2023]

See all 34 university rankings of Cardiff University

About Cardiff University

Established in 1883, Cardiff University is located in the urban setting of the city of Cardiff, Wales. Some of the university’s most obvious advantages include world-leading research, a knowledgeable and proactive career services office, and the central location. Cardiff is a vibrant, modern city with a young and diverse population known for accepting people from all walks of life.

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Where is this programme taught

Cathays Park Campus
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