What Grades Do I Need to Apply for Journalism?
Journalism is an incredibly broad area that covers everything from writing blog posts about celebrity news and events to broadcasting updates about global affairs and politics.
A career in journalism would also suit you if you want to raise awareness about social issues and enjoy visiting new places and meeting people from a variety of backgrounds.
Journalists themselves come from a variety of backgrounds and often choose their journalism specialism because of their own area of interest.
Whether you dream of being on television or hope to run an online magazine there is a career in journalism for you.
However, because media is such a competitive industry, it will often help if you formally study journalism, as well as establishing a portfolio of work, before applying for jobs.
Here’s more about studying a Journalism degree.
What kind of Journalism degrees are available?
The two most common pathways are print and online journalism and broadcast journalism.
This means that it’s important to research courses carefully to ensure that you’re making the right choice. Some courses will cover both online and broadcast journalism, which is ideal if you’re not sure which direction you want to go in after graduation.
A more specialised course will focus on different roles and functions within journalism, as well as allowing you to develop the professional skills needed for a journalism career either in print and online or as a broadcast journalist.
What grades do I need to apply for Journalism?
At the majority of universities students from all academic backgrounds are likely to be considered, as long as they can prove their motivation and determination to study journalism.
Certain subjects may be looked at more favourably by universities. These subjects include:
- English (Language and/or Literature)
- Media Studies
- Sociology
However, it’s vital that you check the individual entry requirements of all universities that you’re interested in to make sure you meet their expectations.
For example, if they ask that you’ve taken Humanities based subjects and you haven’t, then you’re only going to be disappointed when they turn you down.
Exact grade requirements vary between universities with universities such as Leicester looking for ABB.
Are there any other entry requirements for a Journalism degree?
As well as a good academic record you’re also going to need a strong personal statement to show a genuine interest in journalism.
Your personal statement should show that you take an active interest in current affairs and that you’re knowledgeable about what’s happening in the world.
You’ll also want to talk about your extracurricular activities such as writing for the school paper, starting your own blog or vlog, any relevant work experience placements, and anything else that proves to the admissions tutor that you have what it takes to do well on the course and become a successful journalist.
Where can I study Journalism?
Journalism is a very popular course so the majority of universities offer Journalism courses or related courses such as Media and Communication.
Remember to research each course thoroughly to ensure that you’re applying for the course that best suits your learning style and your future career goals.
Some universities that offer Journalism and related courses are:
- Teesside
- Kent
- Roehampton
- Birmingham City
- Bedfordshire
- De Montfort
- Chester
- Lincoln
- Winchester
If you have a particular area of journalism in mind after you graduate, for example if you want to become a political journalist, then you might also want to consider taking a joint degree – in this case Journalism and Politics.
This means you’ll need to check with universities that you’re interested in that they teach both subjects and allow their students to combine the two.
What are my career prospects with a Journalism degree?
Even being a “journalist” could mean a wide variety of things and your career could take you all over the world.
There are also a number of industries that are not directly related to journalism but you’d find the skills you’ve gained during your degree highly useful. This includes PR and marketing, business, publishing, and even television production.
Some career paths may require you to complete postgraduate study or you may want to take a course to combine your journalism skills with another area of interest and increase the number of job options open to you.
