BA (Hons) Broadcast and Multimedia Journalism with a Placement Year
Course options
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Arts
- UCAS Course Code
- P50P
- Typical Offer
- ABB
- Contextual Offer
- BBC
- Course Length
- 4 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2024
Why you should choose us
Course Overview
Truth-seekers and storytellers apply here. If you want to make a difference in the world, hold power to account, and find out what’s really going on, then this is the course for you. As a future journalist, you’ll be fascinated by the world around you, have a determination to succeed and excellent communication skills. We’ll teach you how to find and research stories for TV, radio, social media and online. You’ll learn investigative skills and how to find and use data. You’ll understand the political structures that deliver the public services, and you’ll practice inclusive journalism, working with diverse communities to help them tell their stories. Importantly you’ll also learn about UK media law so you can do the job professionally. We’re based in the Department of Politics at UEA, so we have a strong focus on asking the tough questions of those who make, and sometimes break, the law.
On this Broadcast and Multimedia Journalism degree, you’ll be taught by lecturers with extensive and recent experience of journalism and broadcasting. You'll learn core journalistic skills such as story finding, researching, writing, audio and video recording and editing, presentation skills, interviewing, news package production, court reporting, longer programme making, data and investigative journalism and website production. You’ll develop an understanding of media regulation and law including court reporting, defamation, privacy, copyright and other legal constraints.
Some of your modules will be taught on campus, but much of your teaching will take place at our dedicated media centre in the heart of Norwich, ‘Broadcast House.’ We are based in the former studios of Radio Broadland and Heart Radio in the centre of this attractive and newsworthy city. The building was refitted by UEA in 2021 and is home to three purpose built soundproofed studios, equipped with a radio studio, a TV studio, and a flexible space. We also have a 24-seat newsroom with Adobe Audition, Premier Pro and Burli workstations, and modern TV gallery. The best journalistic work by students will be published on UEA Journalism website.
You’ll complete 15 days of assessed industry placement (or an industry engagement portfolio) as an essential part of your course. You'll also participate in at least 15 newsdays in both years 2 and 4, which will prepare you for life as a working journalist, closely mirroring practice within professional broadcast or online newsrooms.
From the moment you enter the UEA newsroom, your tutors will work alongside and encourage you to maximise your potential.
On BA Broadcast and Multimedia Journalism with a Placement Year, you’ll normally spend 9-12 months of your third year in a placement, gaining invaluable working experience and employability skills in a relevant area of your choice.
Placement Year and Study Abroad
Want to graduate with professional experience? On this course, you'll normally spend 9-12 months of your third year* in a placement, gaining invaluable work experience and employability skills in a relevant area of your choice. You'll be expected to seek your own work placement, and will be supported in doing so by UEA’s Career Central Service and your School. Support for you to find your placement will start early in the first year and will be tailored to the particular needs you'll have at various stages of the process.
The field in which you'll do your placement will depend on your own interests, and some of the preparatory workshops will help you have a clearer idea of what these are, what your values are, and which career they may lead to. Broadcast and Multimedia Journalism graduates go into a wide range of sectors, and so placements can be done in fields such as media, public relations, marketing, the public sector, creative industries and many more. We will, however, require that the tasks you'll conduct as part of your placement meet the required learning outcomes and are complex enough to help you develop a range of skills that you'll be able to translate and use during the final year of your degree and your post-graduation career.
*Placements may be shorter on some occasions, or take place during different years of the degree, but this has to be agreed by the Placement Director and Learning and Teaching Services.
Have a business idea? If you have an idea you think would make a great business, you may be able to turn your Placement Year into a ‘Year in Enterprise’*. Your idea (business plan, budget etc.), motivation and academic record would have to be assessed by our team. Should you be given the go-ahead, you could use the year to start your business in a structured and supportive environment, accessing numerous training courses and extensive mentoring.
*Note that if you’re studying with us on a Student Visa, you can’t currently undertake a Year in Enterprise due to Visa rules.
This version of the degree gives you the opportunity and support to greatly enhance your employability by securing and undertaking a year-long placement in the third year of your degree. Find out more about this exciting opportunity on our 'Placement Years in Arts and Humanities' page.
Accreditations
The degree is accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC). As a successful graduate, as well as receiving your degree, you'll receive a Journalism Skills Certificate from the BJTC. This professional qualification lets future employers know you have received industry-standard training, have learned the core skills they require and are ready for employment.
The BJTC is supported by major industry players such as Reuters, ITN, BBC, Channel 4, Associated Press, ITV and Sky News and these may offer placement opportunities. (In the event of continuing pandemic circumstances, the BJTC may authorise an alternative means of demonstrating and assessing a student’s industrial understanding and engagement).
As this is a BJTC accredited course, you'll be able to read the UEA’s ‘Promise of Performance,’ our commitment to deliver a course which has undergone BJTC scrutiny.
Study and Modules
Structure
We’ll treat you as a journalist from day 1 of this course and you’ll be out looking for stories right from the start. You’ll learn the basic journalistic skills you need to find, research and create news stories. You’ll learn how to use professional cameras and audio recording equipment, and you’ll create audio, video and text stories. You’ll create and populate your own website with stories which you can show to a potential employer. You’ll learn about media regulation, law and ethics, which are an essential part of functioning as a journalist in the UK. You’ll receive two hours of voice coaching either one-to-one or in small groups.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Your learning will take place at Broadcast House at least one day per week, and this will normally follow a workshop format. Sessions will contain elements of lecture, seminar and class discussion along with practical reporting activities. There will be hands-on workshops when you’ll learn how to use the cameras and audio recorders, and how to edit audio and video. Self-directed study time includes watching, reading and listening to the news every day; finding, researching and producing news stories on a weekly basis, and background reading via textbooks.
Assessment
In the first year, you’ll produce an online portfolio of journalistic work which you'll populate with text, audio and video news stories. Other assessment will follow traditional academic norms, such as essays and presentations. There will be a law and regulation exam which you must pass to proceed to Year 2 of the degree.
Structure
In your second year, you'll delve deeper into journalistic practice, studying investigative and ethical dilemmas which face today’s journalists. You’ll take part in workshops to hone your practical radio, online and video skills and you’ll take part in 15 student-led newsdays in which you’ll work with your colleagues to create online content, radio bulletins or TV programmes in just one day. You’ll also further your study of media law, political and public affairs and industry regulation. You'll receive two hours of voice coaching either one-to-one or in small groups.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Your second year is more intensive with practical workshops and newsdays at Broadcast House throughout the year. Sessions on Law and Public Affairs and some option modules will follow a more formal lecture/seminar format. You'll also visit courts and local councils and practice your reporting skills on these visits. Work placements support will be given during Year 2, when you'll organise your placements. In your self-directed study time, you’ll watch, listen and read a wider variety of news outlets which will prepare you for your newsdays. You'll continue to find, research and publish stories on your personal website on a weekly basis. Weekly reading of key texts will form an important part of your learning.
Assessment
You'll produce more in-depth news stories in text, video and audio formats. You’ll be assessed on your practical reporting skills over the course of 15 newsdays. There will be some traditional academic work such as essays and presentations. There will be an examination testing your understanding of law and regulation which you mass pass to proceed to Year 3 of the course.
Structure
Your third year will be spent on your placement, providing you with the opportunity to experience the world of work while applying the skills and knowledge you’ve developed during your first two years of study.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
You’ll spend your third year on a placement. You'll be responsible for securing the placement, supported by UEA’s well-established connections throughout the UK and beyond. During your placement, you’ll be supported by a placement mentor, who will regularly monitor and review your progress with you, and you’ll have access to remote support from UEA, too, to make sure everything is going smoothly and that you’re getting the most of your experience.
Assessment
You'll be asked to reflect on your placement by, for instance, offering a self-appraisal of what you have learnt and demonstrating your broader commercial awareness of your placement’s sector.
Structure
In your final year, you’ll draw upon the skills you have developed to produce more sophisticated forms of audio-visual content including longer-form documentary production.
You'll undertake a further 15 newsdays with increasing complexity, report back on your placement activities and take your choice of optional modules. You’ll receive two hours of voice coaching either one-to-one or in small groups.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Your final year of your broadcast and multimedia journalism degree will see you operating more independently. You'll finish your work experience placements and produce a portfolio of work detailing what you have learned. You’ll spend much of the final year working towards your final documentary project on a subject of your choice, putting into practice all the skills you have learned in Years 1 and 2. You'll receive law and regulation reminder sessions in the final year to ensure you are ready for your transition into the industry. As before you'll complete 15 newsdays and 2 hours of voice coaching.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed on your journalistic performance during a further 15 newsdays, you'll produce, and be assessed on a documentary which you'll create in either video or audio format. Your optional module may follow more traditional academic norms with assesments such as essays and/or presentations.
Entry Requirements
- A Levels
- ABB If you are taking an EPQ and three A-levels, we may offer you a one grade reduction on our advertised typical offer, if you achieve an A in the EPQ.
- T Levels
- Obtain an overall Pass including a B in the core of the T Level and a Distinction in the Occupational Specialism.
- BTEC
- DDM excluding BTEC Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration. See below for accepted subjects and combinations
- Contextual Offer
A Level-BBC
BTEC L3 Extended Diploma- DMM
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes.
- Scottish Highers
- 3 subjects at H2, 3 subjects at H3
- Scottish Advanced Highers
- BCC. A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable
- Irish Leaving Certificate
- 3 subjects at H2, 3 subjects at H3
- Access to HE Diploma
- Pass Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 30 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 15 credits at Level 3
- International Baccalaureate
- 32
- GCSE
You are required to have Mathematics and English Language at a minimum of Grade C or Grade 4 or above at GCSE.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS: 7.5 overall (minimum 7.5 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
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- Interviews
If your application tells us that you're passionate about your chosen course, we will invite you to a one-to-one online interview with one of our experienced journalists. This is a chance to meet us, discuss the course and tell us about your interest in Journalism, giving you a taste of what it would be like to study it here at UEA. You'll be asked to talk about your favourite news programme, for example, and what kind of articles you'd enjoy writing, and you'll also have the chance to talk about your current studies, extra-curricular interests and what excites you about being a journalist.
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Intakes
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake is in September each year.
Additional Information or Requirements
Extended Diploma: DDM. Excluding BTEC Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration.
Diploma: DD plus B at A-Level. Excluding BTEC Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration.
Extended Certificiate: D plus BB at A-Level. Excluding BTEC Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration.
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as - BA Film and Television Studies with a Foundation Year
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes.
We welcome and value a wide range of alternative qualifications. If you have a qualification which is not listed here, or are taking a combination of qualifications, please contact us via Admissions Enquiries.
International Requirements
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. View our International Students pages for specific information about your country.
Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
You'll be required to travel into the centre of Norwich for some of your modules. You'll be required to travel within Norfolk to report on news stories on a regular basis, and some limited travel outside of the county may be required. Some additional study trips or visits may require a student contribution. Technical equipment will be provided although it is beneficial for students to have access to a modern smart phone.
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of other course-related costs.
How to Apply
Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), using UCAS Hub.
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information:
Employability
After the Course
After the course students are ready to work as staff or freelance broadcast journalists in local or regional newsrooms. Students of related courses at UEA have gone on to careers in radio, TV, online and other forms of journalism.
Careers
Examples of careers you could enter include:
- Independent local radio reporter
- Local or regional TV / Radio journalist
- Local or national newspaper journalist
- Independent media production company staff
- Journalist for a national or international broadcaster
- Running your own business
Discover more on our Careers webpages.