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Posted April 28, 2025

Best journalism masters degrees in the UK

Masters degrees in Journalism

Journalism is one of the most exciting professions in the world, offering people global opportunities in a wide variety of roles and settings – from working at the local newspaper and being a staff writer on corporate communications, to reporting on international football tournaments and jetting around the world following global events.

Journalism and the media industry are also among the fastest changing professions – and as research, reporting and collating tools advance and develop, there are increasing demands on the skillsets of journalists.

Keeping up with technological advances is key to being a successful journalist – being social media savvy and understanding multiplatform technology will stand you in good stead for this career.

Why should you study a masters degree in journalism?

Studying a masters degree in journalism is a great way to develop the skills needed to advance in this career. You can opt to study a general masters degree in journalism which will explore all facets of the profession – or you could opt for a more niche focus, for example sports journalism or fashion journalism.

The best journalism departments at UK universities

According to the recent Guardian UK universities by subject rankings – these universities came out top for journalism in the UK.

University

Guardian Score/100

Teaching Satisfaction

Career After 15 Months

Oxford Brookes University

100

96.8

n/a

Leeds Trinity University

97.9

85.4

n/a

City St George’s, University of London

95.3

83.3

96

University of Sunderland

94.7

96.7

79

University of Sheffield

90

87.9

86

University of Portsmouth

89.5

92.5

76

Coventry University

88.7

85.9

n/a

Edinburgh Napier University

87.4

87.7

n/a

Falmouth University

86.9

79.6

n/a

Newcastle University

84.5

79.4

n/a

Is a masters degree in journalism available at these well-ranked universities?

Although these 2024 rankings by subject are based on undergraduate study of journalism, they can be used as an indicator of recommended places to study a masters degree in journalism. But do all of these UK universities offer a masters in journalism? Mostly, yes! With the exception of Falmouth University, these universities all have journalism masters courses on offer – although some have a larger selection of courses to choose from than others.

With a Department of Journalism that was ranked first in the UK for graduate prospects in media and communications according to the Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022, and first in the UK for journalism in the Guardian University Guide 2023 – City St George’s, University of London offers nine different journalism masters degrees as well as a PhD/MPhil in Journalism.

The journalism masters degrees on offer at City St George’s are:

  • MA Broadcast Journalism
  • MA Global Financial Journalism
  • MA International Journalism
  • MA Investigative Journalism
  • MA Journalism, Media and Globalisation (Erasmus Mundus)
  • MA Magazine Journalism
  • MA Newspaper Journalism
  • MA Podcasting
  • MA Television Journalism


Meanwhile, Coventry University has some interesting niche journalism courses to choose from including an MA in Automotive Journalism and an MA in Sports Journalism.

The University of Portsmouth teaches its MA in Journalism via distance learning, and this postgrad program can be studied either full time or part time. This makes it a particularly affordable option for international students, as they are charged the same tuition fees as home students – £9,100 to study full time or £4,550 per year part time.

How much does it cost to study a masters degree in journalism?

This table illustrates how much the tuition fees are for a selection of journalism masters degrees in 2025/26. These tuition fees are all for full-time one-year journalism masters courses.

University

Course Title

Home Student Fees

International Student Fees

Oxford Brookes University

MA in Journalism

£10,250

£17,950

Leeds Trinity University

MA in Journalism

£8,000

£15,000

City St George’s

MA in Broadcast Journalism

£12,500

£25,650

University of Sunderland

MA in Sports Journalism

£8,500

£17,000

University of Sheffield

MA in Journalism

£12,310

£29,030

University of Portsmouth

MA in Journalism (Distance Learning)

£9,100

£9,100

Coventry University

MA in Automotive Journalism

£11,200

£18,600

Edinburgh Napier University

MA in Journalism

£9,160

£21,430

Newcastle University

MA in International Multimedia Journalism

£11,200

£26,300

 

London universities offering masters degrees in journalism

The proximity of London to such a diverse range of media companies – including the BBC, The Guardian and Google – makes it a great place to study a journalism masters while you forge industry connections and network. Here are details of some London-based universities that are currently offering journalism masters courses.

City St George’s – offers nine different journalism masters degrees

The journalism MAs at City St George’s are Broadcast Journalism; Global Financial Journalism; International Journalism; Investigative Journalism; Journalism, Media and Globalisation; Magazine Journalism; Newspaper Journalism; Podcasting; and Television Journalism.

Goldsmiths University – MA in Journalism
This is a practical MA providing the essential skills to work as a journalist across myriad platforms. Accredited by the PPA.

UAL – MA in Journalism

The MA in Journalism taught out of UAL’s London College of Communication has three different pathways – Arts and Lifestyle Journalism; Audio and Video Journalism; and Social Justice Journalism. These are all multimedia courses with a strong industry focus.

Birkbeck University of London – MA in Journalism

This course can be studied full time, part time, on campus, online or via flexible learning. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, students on this course will gain a strong knowledge of the media industry.

Brunel University of London – MA in International Journalism

This course prepares students for working across all platforms – video, audio, online and print. It includes plenty of hands-on training and focuses on international reporting.

University of Westminster – MA in Multimedia Journalism (Broadcast)

With a focus on TV, radio and digital media, this MA in Multimedia Journalism is a practical course that is accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC).

The importance of journalist course accreditation

If you are interested in pursuing a career in journalism once you’ve completed your masters degree in journalism, it’s a good idea to consider an NCTJ-accredited course.

The NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) was founded in the UK in 1951 to oversee the training of journalists in the newspaper industry. Nowadays, journalism is obviously not restricted to simply print – and journalists are expected to be skilled in various media including print, broadcast, online, social media, podcasts, magazines, etc, and as a result, the NCTJ is now considered the media industry’s professional body. Regulated by Ofqual, CCEA and Qualifications Wales, the NCTJ is responsible for delivering industry-standard qualifications throughout the UK.

Other accrediting bodies in the world of journalism are the PPA (Professional Publishers Association) and the BJTC (Broadcast Journalism Training Council).

Opting for an accredited course provides an extra guarantee of teaching quality as well as proving the professional aspect of your chosen course. The accreditation will further boost your CV.

Looking to study a postgraduate program in journalism? Use our course search to find your ideal masters degree.

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