Birmingham City University
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Course contact details
Course Enquiries Team
Email:courseenquiries@bcu.ac.uk
Phone:0121 331 6295
Journalism
- BA (Hons)
- 3 Years
- Full-time
- 09/2026
- Undergraduate
- Parkside Building Campus
Course summary
This course will prepare you for a career in journalism by providing you with the knowledge and cutting-edge skills required to be a professional journalist. You will become an agile, independent reporter working across multiple platforms with the ability to understand the democratic role of journalism in society, ensuring a diversity of stories are told. The course will enable you to become an adaptable journalist capable of working in innovative, engaging and entrepreneurial ways.
This course has been designed in close collaboration with leading industry experts and researchers in journalism. Through a range of complementary modules, you will learn a diverse set of journalistic skills for all news platforms and understand the wider issues that face the journalism industry. The course will prepare you for everything from live reporting to interviewing key figures, enabling you to ask the difficult questions required to cover the key contemporary issues that make up an ever-changing and increasingly diverse news agenda.
Professional Placement Year
This course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.
If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course.
Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.
Ways to study this course
Campuses
- Parkside Building Campus
Study options
- BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years
Start dates
- 09/2026
Apply by
14 January
This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.
Application codes
- Course code:
- P503
- Institution code:
- B25
- Campus name:
- Parkside Building Campus
- Campus Code:
- C
- Points of Entry:
- Year 1
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Birmingham City University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?
How to apply
Apply by
14 January
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- P503
- Institution code:
- B25
- Campus name:
- Parkside Building Campus
- Campus Code:
- C
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
UCAS Tariff
112 pointsA level
BBCA Level: 112 UCAS tariff points / BBC (or equivalent). AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels. A maximum of four subjects will be considered.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
112 UCAS tariff points. Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.
Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits. At least 45 credits at level 3. Accepted subjects: Arts, Media, Publishing, Retail, Commercial Enterprise and Business subjects preferred but other subjects also considered.
Scottish Higher
112 UCAS tariff points from three Advanced Highers (CCD) or two Advanced Highers (CD) plus two Highers (CC).
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
112 UCAS tariff points. Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
112 UCAS tariff points. Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.
Scottish Advanced Higher
112 UCAS tariff points from three Advanced Highers (CCD) or two Advanced Highers (CD) plus two Highers (CC).
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
28 pointsObtain a minimum of 28 points overall
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
Minimum of 112 UCAS tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects
GCSE/National 4/National 5
This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications.
T Level
MMerit overall. All subjects accepted but Digital Production, Design and Development and Media, Broadcast and Production preferred.
Welsh Baccalaureate: 112 UCAS tariff points. Considered with three A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.
OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications: 112 UCAS tariff points.
NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications: 112 UCAS tariff points.
WJEC Level 3 qualifications: 112 UCAS tariff points. Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s).
UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma: Merit overall
Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design and Media): Distinction overall
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | overall with 6.0 in writing and no less than 5.5 in the remaining three skills. |
Historical entry grades data BETA
This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Not enough data available
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
| EU | £18570 | Year 1 |
| International | £18570 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
- The Government is proposing to increase the cap on full-time regulated tuition fees to £9,535 from 2025/26 onwards and the University is planning on increasing fees to that maximum level once legislation is enacted. Part-time fees are charged pro-rata, where applicable.
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