UDMULJOU - BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism

You will be taught in interactive workshops, where ideas and practical tasks are worked on in groups and individually. All teaching staff are practitioners in journalism and/or digital media. We make full use of social and other media, training you to work with video, audio and social media as well as the writing skills, which still lie at the heart of the communication professions.

The newsroom, TV and radio studios and mobile technology play a full part in the course.

Most assessments are coursework, with a few in-class tests.

The course aims to equip students with the analytical and critical skills essential to higher education, as well as the practical and technical skills of those who work within the digital media, communications and journalism industries.

The course aims to help students develop the ability to research and evaluate data from all sources, including data mining and scholarly research. It further aims to help students develop interviewing skills for primary research, as well as visualising and infographics skills for presenting research.

The course aims to foster the skills of working autonomously and in groups, as well as the social skills needed to pitch and sell ideas, to present concepts convincingly to different audiences and to respond flexibly to critical input.

The course aims to foster individual learning and problem solving. The course further aims to develop resilient learners, who can evaluate and learn from their learning deficits.

The course aims to help students harness their creativity to produce, ultimately, work worthy of professional publication across any or all media platforms. The course will help students explore all technical and imaginative means possible.

The course aims to fit students for further advanced study, should they so wish, in related fields.

The following learning outcomes incorporate and depend on systematic understanding of the key aspects of the knowledge base of Multimedia Journalism, including a coherent and detailed knowledge of some specialist areas in depth.

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

• deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within Multimedia Journalism;
  
• devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of Multimedia Journalism;
  
• describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, in Multimedia Journalism, recognising the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge;
  
• manage their own learning, and to make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources (for example, refereed research articles and/or original materials appropriate to Multimedia Journalism;
  
• apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding, and to initiate and carry out projects;
  
• critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data (that may be incomplete), to make judgements, and to frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions - to a problem;
  
• communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences;
  
• exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts;
  
• undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature

The course uses a wide range of assessments, from online blogs and contributions to the course website to academic essays, from video footage to magazine layouts, class presentations to pop quizzes, in-class examination and longform writing. Assessment is contributory, with formative assessment being offered at drafting and intermediate submission, both face to face and electronically. Enhancement weeks offer the chance to receive formative assessment whilst engaged on simulations, newsdays and activities.

Since much teaching is run on an interactive coaching model, tutorials are built in to class sessions as well as offered privately. Feedback on summative assessment is given within three weeks of submission.

Most modules include a reflective assessment, where students evaluate their own contribution to class via online journals, moderated by tutors.

There is a core placement module to be taken at level 5.

See Course Structure

All modules include a reflective and evaluative element. Most journalism modules use online journals to capture and moderate students’ reactions to and contribution to class.

Modules on Levels 5 and 6 include information, training and advice on employability, job applications, CVs and finances. Regular visits from the university’s employability unit are part of the course.

Simulation of the work environment, within the newsroom and on newsdays, also includes job applications and interviews.

External speakers are part and parcel of the course. We also have a panel of industry advisers.

Our journalism graduates have gone on to work in TV, radio, print and online media all around the globe, as well as in diverse fields including PR, media consultancy, social media, management, web design, fashion and marketing.

They work as journalists, multimedia journalists, production assistants, managing editors, media and communications officers and production assistants. From The Daily Star, The Independent, The Financial Times and Correos of Venezuela, to talkSPORT radio, the BBC, Swedish TV and CNN, our graduates have been making their mark.

You could also follow in the footsteps of our students who have gone on to postgraduate study in media, journalism, international conflict and film studies.

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

• a minimum of grades BBC in three A levels (or a minimum of 112 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, eg Advanced Diploma)
• English Language GCSE at grade C/grade 4 or above (or equivalent)

If you do not have traditional qualifications or cannot meet the entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing the Media and Communications Extended Degree.

Applications are welcome from mature students who have passed appropriate Access or other preparatory courses or have appropriate work experience.

These requirements may be varied in individual cases as prospective students will be invited to an interview.

Mature students with previous relevant experience are encouraged to apply.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.