Overview
If you love writing and reporting, our Journalism with Creative Writing degree course can help you turn your abilities with the written word into a fulfilling career.
You'll study, experience, and combine the complementary disciplines of factual journalism and creative writing. One day you might write a news report about a local charity or review a concert, and the next author a short story, a poem, or a play script.
You'll also develop research skills and learn about the structure and mechanisms of the industries you could end up working in – from getting a script approved to legal issues surrounding publishing news stories.
You’ll graduate ready to dive into a career in professional writing, with the skills and knowledge you need to get started in whichever writing field you choose.
What you'll experience
On this Journalism with Creative Writing degree course you'll:
- Get further professional journalistic qualifications by taking National Council for Training Journalists (NCTJ) exams
- Refine your practice by learning from published authors of novels, poetry and screenplays, and journalists with written and broadcast experience in local, regional, national and international journalism
- Grasp of the role of journalists in democratic society by learning about media law and industry code
- Enhance your discipline and teamworking skills by collaborating with other students on other courses within the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
- Gain valuable industry knowledge and experience by taking an optional placement
- Capture information at 100 words-per-minute writing speed by taking shorthand training
Work experience and career planning
Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience. You can also venture into freelancing, or set up and run your own business with help from the University Startup Team.
Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.
Our Journalism courses offer two placement opportunities during your studies: a placement year, and a 10-day work placement. Both placements are optional on our combined Journalism courses.
Programme Assessment
Teaching methods on this course include:
- lectures
- seminars
- practical workshops in the newsroom
- group-based activities, such as magazine and web-page production
- one-to-one tutorials
You can access all teaching resources on Moodle, our virtual learning environment, from anywhere with a Web connection.
You'll be assessed through:
- essays
- presentations
- in-class tests
- media artefacts (e.g. producing a video or magazine)
- practical and written exams
- short stories
- screenplays
- a collection of poems
- a public relations campaign
- final-year dissertation
You'll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
Student Destinations
As traditional communication and literature move towards web and digital, the demand for journalists and writers is growing. Print newspapers and magazines may be declining, but digital versions are replacing them. In addition, social media, blogging, TV and film production, and other platforms contribute to the demand for journalists and writers. Graduates with strong transferable skills are also sought in related industries such as public relations or communications.
As a graduate, you'll have diverse writing skills that will help you in most sectors.
You can also freelance or pursue postgraduate studies.
Areas that you could go on to work in include:
- broadcast, print and online journalism
- creative writing
- marketing
- public relations
- communications
- teaching
- advertising
- arts management
What jobs can you do with a Journalism with Creative Writing degree?
Previous graduates from our journalism and creative writing courses have gone on to work in roles including:
- trainee reporter
- social media editor
- digital marketing executive
- copywriter
- theatre manager
- editorial assistant
Other graduates have continued their studies at postgraduate level or set up successful businesses with help and support from the University.
After you graduate, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.
