BA (Hons) in Journalism and Publishing
Bath, United Kingdom
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
23 Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 16,905 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international full time | UK part time: £4,625 | UK full time: £9,250 | professional placement year full time for UK: £1,850 international: £3,381
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
This is an exciting time to be a journalist. With digital storytelling at the heart of contemporary reporting, stories are now told across a range of platforms and the industry is being transformed to meet the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.
We aim to develop a new generation of highly-skilled, pro-active and agile creatives with a nose for a story. You’ll understand the power of image and video content. You’ll develop a range of research approaches to give your work originality and depth.
You’ll have opportunities to work on journalistic briefs and digital social campaigns for a wide range of organisations, as well as live reporting at events such as TEDx and the Historical Writers’ Association Awards. You’ll enjoy our unique campus, surrounded by wildlife and a beautiful 18th-century landscape, perfect for social media nature stories or collaborations with our wildlife conservation students to share environmental stories.
This flexible journalism course is designed to let you focus on your interests and passions across a range of areas including fashion, environment, science, entertainment, sports and politics. You’ll play to your strengths, whether in news and investigative features, consumer and independent magazines, or creative campaigns across social platforms.
With industry-standard facilities and specialist workshops in print, digital and live content, we aim to ensure that you graduate as an expert in publishing software and digital production techniques, along with a strategic approach to creative content development.
You'll also get specialist journalistic insights through the CORQ Brand Briefings, access to key industry resources such as Nielsen Bookscan sales data, the BookMachine online industry community and Society of Young Publishers South West events, some of which are hosted at the University.
Professional placement year
Overview
This optional placement year provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.
By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.
Year one (Level 4) modules
- Introduction to Journalism
- Journalistic Research
- Introduction to Editing and Production
- What’s the Story?
- Create Lab
- Introduction to Publishing Year two (Level 5) modules
- Digital Storytelling
- Research and Reporting
- Marketing and Selling Books
- The Editor
- The Book
- The Independent Magazine
- International Journalism
- Broadcast Journalism
- Journalism Portfolio
- Science Journalism and Publishing
- Publishing for Good
- Influencers and Contemporary Celebrity
- Professional Placement Year Year three (Level 6) modules
- Publishing Innovation
- In-depth Investigations
- Publishing Industry Project
- The Magazine Business
- The Story Behind the Stats
- Lifestyle and Entertainment Journalism
- Non-fiction Publishing
- Political Journalism
- Sports Journalism
- Content Marketing Strategy
What you'll learn
Overview
This course combines hands-on journalistic and publishing experience with a critical understanding of global media industries and audiences - the context in which you’ll work.
You’ll learn to use industry-standard software, with opportunities to develop your abilities in image use, video, digital production and collaborative, project-based working.
The flexibility of the course enables you to tailor it to suit your interests and ambitions - you can choose to spend more of your time on either journalism or publishing elements.
During the course, there are many opportunities to gain high-quality work experience with leading international media companies such as the BBC, Penguin Random House, individual TEDx events and a wide range of local and regional news, magazine and digital content companies.
You'll leave with a wide range of transferable skills, and a stunning portfolio of journalism and innovative publications relevant to the area of the industry in which you want to work.
Course structure
Year one
We’ll teach you the core skills of journalism: concise, meaningful and accurate writing and solid desk research skills. Fast-turnaround deadlines will get you used to quickly assessing and distilling information.
You’ll experiment with different types of content and take creative risks to make exciting, new, innovative publications. You’ll be introduced to the contemporary global media industry, learn how to edit your work, and produce publications using industry-standard software.
Year two
Alongside enhancing your writing skills and learning how to develop original research material, you’ll explore digital storytelling techniques for multiplatform journalism and social media campaigns. These might include photography, video, podcasting and live creative content-making for major events on Twitter and Instagram.
Optional modules allow you to focus on specialist areas, both practical and theoretical, such as international journalism, data journalism, science journalism, and publishing skills for social enterprise and charity work.
Year three
You’ll gain a solid grounding in the latest digital publishing techniques. With the expert guidance of tutors, you’ll plan and create your own journalism portfolio and undertake a substantial individual project tailored to your interests and career plans.
Optional modules offer specialisation in areas such as digital content strategy, magazines, investigative journalism, and lifestyle and entertainment journalism. Specialist careers coaching is provided within the course to help you land a job in your area of choice.
How will I be assessed?
You’ll be assessed by practical and creative coursework, including portfolios of your writing, multiplatform journalism and publications, essays, reflective commentaries and reports. In some modules you’ll share your work through short, informal presentations.
We have an excellent track record in helping students gain graduate level jobs.
Journalism and publishing skills are extremely transferable, enabling you to work in a wide range of additional professions including publicity, social media marketing, digital content development, web editing and brand development.
Publishing graduates have been employed in a variety of roles, including Digital Editor, Production Assistant, Publications Officer, Digital Marketing Coordinator, Social Media Executive and Project Manager. Graduates have been employed by major publishing companies including:
- BBC
- Future Publishing
- Taylor & Francis
- Penguin Random House
- Immediate Media.
How will I be taught?
You’ll be taught through creative workshops, skills labs, seminars, one-day challenges, reporting days, and lectures.
A wide range of visiting journalists and media publishers will offer insights from the front line of contemporary journalism.
Ongoing tutor feedback and workshop exercises will help you to develop your work to a high level.
You'll learn to be adept at project management, whether for a particular story you are working on, or for a larger project.
Throughout the course, you’ll work to briefs set by your tutors or industry collaborators, or your own negotiated briefs.
Course length
Three years full time, or four years full time with professional placement year. Part time available.