Where would people say is the best university to study journalism at?

Question

And also, how likely is it that they will take you even if you don't quite reach the right grades?

Ok sorry people i mean in the UK...and if possible further North so that i can get a flat eventually. What do you think about Sunderland or Durham?

Answer 1

Dear lord! Do not go to Darlington College of Technology as suggested! As an ex-student of there (I did my NCTJ there and a degree at Teesside University, which stopped its awful journalism degree after I left though they may have since revived it), I can honestly say it is a vile place. The technology is outdated, the teachers worse than useless (you have to ask yourself why people teach this subject - mainly it is because they are not good enough to work in the career itself any more), the organisation laughable. Plus my course was held just down the corridor from the beauty students and the waft of perming solution was sickening.

But that isn't an answer to your question. I was always very impressed by Sheffield's course although you need high grades to go there. I chose not to go because it was my home city and I wanted to move away but I believe it's highly regarded.

I was also considering Napier which is in Edinburgh and offered a good degree. I don't know anyone who's been however, but a lot of the university was an old asylum so I'd go just for the character...

Here's another point though. While a journalism degree is all well and good, you could also choose to do any other degree, like English or Psychology and do an NCTJ qualification alongside it. To be honest, I always felt this would have be a good idea seeing as the NCTJ gives you practical skills, whereas the degree will cover the more theoretical side - stuff like film studies, the history of the press, morals, politics and media theory. If you're not seriously into all that it can be dull. The NCTJ course will provide you with more realistic stuff like interviewing techniques, shorthand (only good if you want to be a court reporter or your dictaphone is on the fritz), DTP and radio skills.

So think wisely about your choices. And remember these courses tend to be very popular, but have a high rate of dropouts because everyone thinks they want to be a journo but then discover it's not as glam as they think.

Also - work experience will be invaluable to you. Pack as much in as you can!

Answer 2

Well - which country do you want to study in? For the UK; I'd recommend either City University or the University of Westminster which are both in London. (I did my degree at Westminster) As for the grades, you'll need fairly decent grades just to get called for an interview - and then they'll make you an offer. If you miss the target grades on the offer by a fairly small amount, they'll take you anyway. That's what happened to me three years ago when I started my BA (Bachelor of Arts) course there.

Answer 3

I work at the University of Teesside (don't come here!)

Of Sunderland and Durham, I would recommend Sunderland. Durham is a bit 'old fashioned.'

Answer 4

London University

Answer 5

Oxford University

Answer 6

Experience is crucial!Some may say moreso than qualifications (but get into a newsroom and half have graduated from Cardiff /Edinburgh/Cambridge so that's not entirely true)

But from my experience as a working journalist the best universities are Cardiff (especially for broadcast journalism) and University of the Arts London.

Whatever you do, do not study media. It's too generic and not well respected in the industry.

All the best

Answer 7

City University, London is the UK's flagship course.

The list of top level journalists that came from City is extensive.

Roy Greenslade, leading media critic, Media Guardian commentator and former editor of the Mirror works there.

http://www.city.ac.uk/journalism/

Answer 8

im not sure if its a degree course but i know that there is an amazing course at darlington tech college. People from all over the world go there and its in the north. I think its a post grad, So go somewhere for fun first if you need to do a degree and then do this and get a cheap house.

Answer 9

Being someone that hires journalists, I would say Syracuse Univ, Ithaca College, Emmerson in Boston or NYU also ASU has the walter cronkite school, i have seen some real bright folks come out of there

Answer 10

The Times has a good unviersity guide, sadly it doesn't list Journalism but does list Communciation Media Studies.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,8403,00.html

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,716,00.html