About this program
BA Journalism and Politics
From the latest updates at Number 10 to political unrest overseas, you can be at the forefront of political change. Our BA Journalism and Politics expands your knowledge of global politics and develops your analytical ability. Coupled with the multimedia aspect of this course, you learn how to engage with a wider audience and develop your own journalistic style alongside building a solid understanding of the issues that shape the world around us.
You explore all major areas of political science, learning within the rated top for politics in the UK (REF 2014). This is combined with modules in practical journalism, where you use multi-media channels such as radio, television and online media, and deepen your knowledge of journalism on an international scale.
This course gives you the flexibility to choose the areas of the subject that interest you. Topics which you can study include:
- International Relations
- UK and European Politics
- Democracy
- Production skills
- International journalism
During your final year, you have the opportunity to bring all aspects of the course together in a final multimedia project on a subject linked to political science.
As a student at one of the UK’s leading social science institutions, you are uniquely placed to acquire a deep understanding of the world you report on. You will join our Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies and our Department of Government where you will join our diverse community of students from all corners of the globe.
Admission requirements
Clearing entry requirements
Specific entry requirements for this course in Clearing are not published here but for most of our degree courses you will need to hold a Level 3 qualification. If you are interested in applying and have already received your results, use our Clearing application form to apply for 2022 entry and find out if you are eligible. You will be asked to provide details of your qualifications and grades.
English language requirements
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component.
Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels listed above. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications
If you are an international student requiring a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
For more information about admission requirements, please visit the university website.
Does this course require proof of English proficiency?
The TOEFL iBT® test is accepted by 11,500 universities and higher education institutions in over 160 countries. Book your test today!
Learn moreChat with students
Program content
Year 1
- Practical Reporting, Interviewing and Production (Joint Honours)
- Introduction to Politics
- The Humanities Graduate: Future Pathways
- History of Journalism
- Journalism Now
Year 2
- Audio and Video for Broadcast and Online (Joint Honours)
- Feature Writing and Magazine Project for Print and Online (Joint Honours)
- Principles of Social Justice
- Ethics and Public Policy
Final Year
- Comparative Media Law and Regulation
- Advanced Practical Journalism
Scholarships & funding
Several scholarship options are available, please visit the university website for more information.
Program delivery
BA Journalism and Politics: 3 years
BA Journalism and Politics (Including Year Abroad): 4 years
BA Journalism and Politics (Including Placement Year): 4 years
- Teaching will mainly take the form of lectures and classes of about 20 students
- Opportunities for placements
- Mentoring from professionals in your specialist subject
- A typical timetable involves a one-hour lecture and a one-hour class for each of your modules every week
Tuition
- Home/UK fee: £9,250
- International fee: £17,700
Career paths
Our BA Journalism and Politics equips you with the skills needed to pursue a number of different careers. Whether you would like to pursue a role in public relations, lobbying or a political journalist, you gain the ability to understand the society in which we live and will link this to the journalism methods you have studied and how they should be used.
You compile an impressive portfolio of published work and complete a detailed multimedia project linked to politics in your final year, allowing you to offer real evidence of your range and capabilities to future employers.
You become a multi-skilled story-teller, familiar with production techniques in television, radio, online and newspaper journalism, and with the option to gain advanced skills in specific areas in your final year.
About this institute
University of Essex
We are Essex: home to the ambitious and the inquisitive. We are proud to be top 39 in the Complete University Guide (2022), a past University of the Year (THE) and internationally recognised for Social Sciences. We're committed to two...
