Journalism & Communications BA (Hons)

Program Overview

The Journalism & Communications BA (Hons) at UCA Farnham equips students with the skills and knowledge to become expert writers or broadcasters. Through hands-on experience in radio, television, print, and online media, students develop their journalistic voice and style, preparing them for careers in various journalism and communications industries. The program is taught by practicing journalists and editors, and students benefit from placements, guest speakers, and state-of-the-art facilities.

Program Outline

Journalism & Communications BA (Hons) at UCA Farnham

Degree Overview:

Outline:

Year One:

• Launch week: Activities to bring students together and help new students integrate.
• Digital Journalism: Introduction to modern journalism, sourcing stories, and constructing news reports.
• Equality Diversity and Inclusion: Exploring the concepts and their implications for creative practice.
• Creative Storytelling for Journalists: Conducting long-form interviews and writing features.
• Launch week: More activities to integrate students.
• Essential Journalism: Core skills for competent journalism - multi-platform storytelling, using social media, website statistics, finding stories in data, media law, and ethics.
• Broadcast Journalism: Training in research, writing, and producing news articles for radio and television, voice coaching.
• Proclamation (Journalism Publication): Culmination of the year, producing a substantive work of journalism using acquired skills and experience.
• ATOM activities: Small activities to boost learning in any subject area.
• PLE Digital Outcome: Self-directed record of engagement with digital media platforms.

Year Two:

• Launch week: Activities to bring students together and help new students integrate.
• Reporting Your World: Exploring personal passions in journalism, building expertise, contacts, and authority.
• Working in the Creative Industries: Developing employability and enterprise skills for a successful career.
• Reporting Power: Exploring how power works locally, nationally, and internationally, and its impact on lives.
• Reporting Legally: Understanding copyright, data protection, sources, reporting constraints, laws, and legal boundaries.
• The News Reporter’s Toolkit: Gaining insight into the working life of a journalist, newsroom operations, roles, terminologies, preparing for a career.
• Documentary: Working in groups to investigate a chosen subject, filming on location, and utilizing other techniques to tell a story.
• ATOM activities: Small activities to boost learning in any subject area.
• PLE Digital Outcome: Self-directed record of engagement with digital media platforms.

Year Three:

• Exploring Broadcast Journalism: Putting skills into practice, producing weekly programmes, working to deadlines, taking on various roles, addressing different audiences.
• Semi-Final Major Project: Interrogating a chosen theme, researching, gathering material, analyzing ideas, studying journalism history and contemporary practice.

Careers:

• Graduates can pursue careers in various roles across multiple journalism and communications industries.
• Potential career paths include:
• Social media manager
• PR account executive
• News journalist
• Sports journalist
• Documentary maker
• Radio or television host
• Entertainment journalist
• Digital media and communications manager
• Copywriter

Other:

• The course is taught by practicing journalists and editors with experience working for various publications.
• Students undertake placements with independent magazines, PR agencies, and other relevant organizations.
• The program invites guest speakers from different industries and backgrounds.
• UCA offers a range of scholarships and fee discounts.
• The course requires a portfolio, which is assessed during an Applicant Day.
• Facilities include TV studios, radio studios, and dedicated journalism suites.

UK

Tuition fees - 2024/25 entry Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250 BA course: £9,250 If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, for 2024 you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee of £1,850. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year.

EU

Tuition fees - 2024/25 entry Integrated International Foundation Year: £9,250 (see fee discount information) BA course: £9,250 (see fee discount information) If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, for 2024 you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee of £1,850. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year.

International

Tuition fees - 2024/25 entry Integrated International Foundation Year: £16,950 BA course: £17,500 If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, for 2024 you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee of £3,390. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year. UCA scholarships and fee discounts At UCA we have a number of scholarships and fee discounts available to assist you with the cost of your studies. Financial support Additional course costs These costs will vary according to the nature of your project work and the individual choices that you make.