journalism phd london

Culture, Communication and Media MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

The MPhil/PhD programme provides a route for you carry out a piece of research that will make a distinctive contribution to knowledge in the fields of education, culture and communication. You will work closely with your supervisor(s) to develop your project, supported by a flexible programme of methodology courses and a strong research community of staff and doctoral students. This programme is available to study both face-to-face and online.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

• Entry requirements

The normal minimum requirement is a Master’s degree from a UK university in a subject appropriate to the programme to be followed, or a qualification of equivalent standard appropriate to the programme to be followed awarded by a university (or educational institution of university rank) outside the UK. The majority of our successful applicants hold a Merit at Master’s level, and may have additional relevant experience.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The Department of Culture, Communication and Media has innovative, research-active staff able to supervise postgraduate research in the following areas: applied linguistics; TESOL; art, design and museology; music education; English education, social semiotics and multimodality; media education; learning with digital technologies; teacher professional development; and psychosocial studies. We have seven research centres: The Centre for Applied Linguistics, The Academic Writing Centre, The Confucius Institute for Schools, The International Centre for Intercultural Studies, Digital Arts Research in Education, The Centre for Multimodal Research and the UCL Knowledge Lab.

Who this course is for

The MPhil/PhD is for applicants with a strong interest in an aspect of educational and social research, which may be understood broadly across the life course, in relation to other subject areas and wider social, economic, political and cultural changes. You should normally have completed an MA to merit level and want to develop a specific area of research. You may have a background in education or a cognate area of study. It is suitable for both recent graduates and those progressed in a career.

What this course will give you

IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society is a world-leading centre for research in education and related social science. We host the UK's largest doctoral cohort in these areas. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2023), the Institute was ranked first for education for the tenth year running, ahead of Harvard, Stanford, Oxford and Cambridge. In the UK's recent Research Excellence Framework (2021), we were ranked first for research strength and research power in Education, according to the Elsevier REF 2021 Results Analysis Tool. We attract extensive research funding each year and host many prestigious research centres and projects.

Doctoral students at IOE have access to the wider UCL community as well as the education cluster constituting the ESRC  UBEL Doctoral Training Partnership . The Institute's programme has been designed to provide comprehensive and broadly based research training and to meet the requirements of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the UK Researcher Development Framework.

Students work closely with their supervisor(s) to develop each stage of research; supervisors also help put together a programme of additional courses and activities to support progress towards completion of the final thesis.

The foundation of your career

Students will develop general and specialist skills in research methodology, academic writing and presentation, as well as gaining experience of engaging with a wide range of practitioners across different sectors of education.

UCL’s commitment clearly supports research like mine through bespoke, untested and uncommon approaches. This luxury is something not lost on me - it motivates me each and every day. David Ruttenberg Culture, Communication and Media MPhil/PhD Q&A with David Ruttenberg

Employability

IOE doctoral graduates in the Department of Culture, Communication and Media progress to careers in university teaching, educational research, policy and curriculum development, as well as creative arts education.

The Department of Culture, Communication and Media has a wide range of research seminars, where students can join discussion of our ongoing projects, as well as being the base for national and international conferences. There are also opportunities to work with education practitioners and organisations beyond IOE. The Centre for Doctoral Education holds two annual conferences for IOE doctoral students; and there are opportunities for students to offer specialist reading groups and workshops and to act as facilitators on courses within the research training programme.

Teaching and learning

In addition to UCL's Doctoral Skills Development Programme, IOE's Centre for Doctoral Education provides a comprehensive Research Training Programme.

The Core Courses aim to meets the needs of early stage doctoral students.

There is also a wide range of introductory, advanced methods, advanced theoretical, and generic academic skills courses, as well as student-led workshops and reading groups.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) consists of a piece of supervised research, normally undertaken over a period of three years full-time or five years part-time. Assessment is by means of a thesis, which should demonstrate your capacity to pursue original research based upon a good understanding of the research techniques and concepts appropriate to the discipline. It must also represent a distinct and significant contribution to the subject, whether through the discovery of new knowledge, the connection of previously unrelated facts, the development of new theory, or the revision of older views. It should reflect the exercise of critical judgement with regard to both your own work and that of other scholars in the field.

For those who decide not to pursue the full PhD, or are unable to do so, the degree of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) consists of a piece of supervised research, normally undertaken over a period of three years full-time or five years part-time. Assessment is by means of a thesis, which should represent a contribution to the subject, either through a record of your original work or a critical and ordered exposition of existing knowledge.

You must ensure you have adequate time to devote to this research, at least six hours a day (2-3 days a week part time).

Research areas and structure

• Applied linguistics: bilingualism and multilingualism; neoliberal ideology and language teaching; materials analysis; English as a global language; language learning and identity; language teacher identity; language education, gender and sexuality; critical discourse analysis; second language acquisition; language testing; translanguaging; ethnography
• Art, design and museology: artists in sites of learning, curatorial practices and the shaping of knowledge in galleries and museums, artists interventions in educational contexts; visual culture
• Music education: musical development, the psychology of music, singing and voice science, music in special education, music ideology, gender and music, the sociology and philosophy of music, informal and popular music education, the wider benefits of music
• English education, social semiotics and multimodality: teacher identities; literature in urban classroom; social and digital literacy practices; identity, subject knowledge and communication; visual methodologies; subject knowledge and policy
• Media education: the moving image and video games; young people’s production of digital animation, film and computer games; online communities, virtual worlds, play and film
• Learning with digital technologies: software interventions to support learners with disabilities; the development of adaptive technologies; learner modelling; virtual learning environments; methods for analysing the effectiveness of interactive learning environments; technology mediated knowledge in the curriculum
• Psychosocial studies: reflexivity; psychoanalytically informed approaches to educational research; knowledge practices in the humanities and social sciences; unconscious aspects of learning, professional practice and research; post-structural theories of gender and subjectivity

Further details of staff research and publications are available on the department website.

Research environment

As a research student in the Department of Culture, Communication and Media, you can participate in the seminars organised by department research centres or according to interest groups.

Since October 2014, we have also – in addition to the campus-based mode - offered the option to study online in a distance-learning mode. Choosing the distance-learning mode means that there are no residency requirements and it is not necessary to attend during doctoral study, the viva examination take place in-person at UCL or online. However, you are welcome to visit and use campus facilities including the library, attend seminars etc. In the first year of full-time study (and first two years of part-time study), distance learners take a series of compulsory research methods modules that are studied online. This typically involves provision of materials (articles, eBooks, videos etc.), forums to facilitate discussion of various tasks, and synchronous sessions to discuss the activities. Alongside these you will work with your supervisors on your research (e.g., using Teams/Zoom and email). In addition, there are other resources and training opportunities to support distance-learning students, e.g., sessions to develop generic skills.

The length of registration for the research degree programmes is 3 years for full-time.

You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade viva 9-18 months after initial registration.

IOE Centre for Doctoral Education provides an extensive Research Training Programme. A mandatory core course is provided that aims to meet the needs of early-stage doctoral students. There is also a wide range of introductory, advanced methods, advanced theoretical, and generic non-credit bearing academic skills courses, as well as student led workshops and reading groups which you can attend.

Full-time MPhil/PhD students are required to fulfil minimum 20 ‘points’ of training activity in their first year, and are encouraged to fulfil the same in their subsequent years of study. This training can be selected from the UCL Doctoral Skills Development Programme, IOE faculty’s Research Training Programme, the multi-institutional Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network, and from other sources. Each point is worth approximately a half-day of face-to-face training, or an online equivalent. Other activities such as attending and presenting at conferences also count towards research training. Students may undertake additional training beyond these minima, as relevant to their research and/or as agreed with their supervisors.

You are expected to upgrade from MPhil to PhD status towards the end of your first year of study if full-time. Students whose performance is satisfactory will transfer from MPhil to PhD status.

Processes aimed at assisting you during your course of study include the Research Student Log (an online project management tool), and periodic reviews of students’ progress.

Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration you may, if necessary, register as a register as a completing research status (CRS) student while you finish writing your thesis.

The length of registration for the research degree programmes is 5 years for part-time.

Part-time students are required to fulfil minimum 12 ‘points’ of training activity in each year of study. This training can be selected from the UCL Doctoral Skills Development Programme, IOE faculty’s Research Training Programme, the multi-institutional Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network, and from other sources. Each point is worth approximately a half-day of face-to-face training, or an online equivalent.  Other activities such as attending and presenting at conferences also count towards research training. Students may undertake additional training beyond these minima, as relevant to their research and/or as agreed with their supervisors.

You are expected to upgrade from MPhil to PhD status at around 18 months if part-time. Students whose performance is satisfactory will transfer from MPhil to PhD status.

Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration you may, if necessary, register as a completing research status (CRS) student while you finish writing your thesis.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Where you'll study

The Department of Culture, Communication and Media is committed to excellence in research and teaching in the areas of Art, Design and Museology, Academic writing, English education, Applied Linguistics, Music Education, Learning with Digital Technologies and teacher professional development.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

Students should take into account any travel, accommodation and expenses involved in their thesis.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding webpage: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/scholarships/funding-students-postgraduate-research-courses

UCL's Research Excellence Scholarships (RES) are available annually to prospective and existing UCL research students from any country: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/scholarships/research-excellence-scholarship . The UCL, Bloomsbury and East London Doctoral Training Partnership offers studentships annually. More information is found here: https://ubel-dtp.ac.uk/

UBEL, RES and other funding programmes are not available to online and non-resident students.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

After choosing a programme to apply for, you should develop a research proposal and identify a potential supervisor. For more information, visit our website to find a supervisor and get in touch with departmental graduate tutors.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Got questions get in touch.

Culture, Communication and Media

[email protected]

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What do you want to do?

Find out about the research we do in journalism.

• Journalism PhD

Find a supervisor

Mode of study

3 years full-time

6 years part-time

International   £21,260

UK   £4,786

Entry requirements

Research profile.

The Journalism group members are at the forefront of research into subjects as diverse as journalism and the implications for it of emergent digital and social technologies; migration and refugees; social justice and political communication; environmental and health communication. We also have specialist expertise in media and journalism in China and Hong Kong.  Our staff comprise some of the biggest names in the business, who will enable you to be an effective journalist in any international setting.

Our main themes of research include

• Bodies, Space and Political Resistance - Dr Anita Howarth (see also Dr Monica Degen, Dr Sara De Benedictus, Dr Meredith Jones, Dr Sharon Lockyer in Sociology and Communications on Bodies, Space and Culture) 
• Communication, protest and social change - Dr Anita Howarth (see also Dr Lesley Henderson and Dr Sanjay Sharma in Sociology and Communications) 
• Chinese media and journalism - Dr Jingrong Tong
• Digital cultures - Dr Christian Stiegler (see also Dr John Roberts, Dr Sanjay Sharma, Dr Peter Wilkin, Dr Meredith Jones, Dr Monica Degen in Sociology and Communications for Digital Cultures, Networks and Social Media)
• Social media, politics and society (social media analysis) - Dr Jingrong Tong (see also Dr John Roberts; Dr Sanjay Sharma; Dr Peter Wilkin; Dr Meredith Jones; Dr Monica Degen in Sociology and Communications)
• Digital data analysis - Dr Jingrong Tong
• Emergent Digital Media Technologies (including Immersive Storytelling, Virtual and Augmented Reality b- Dr Christian Stiegler (see also Dr Paul Moody in Sociology and Communications)
• Environmental, health, science and risk communication  - Dr Jingrong Tong; Dr Anita Howarth (see also Dr Lesley Henderson, Dr Sanjay Sharma in Sociology and Communications)
• Hunger, poverty and social justice - Dr Anita Howarth (see also Dr Peter Wilkin, Dr Sara d Benedictis, Dr John Roberts and Prof Nicola Ansell in Sociology and Communications on the precariat)
• Journalism/journalists in comparative, historical and digital contexts - Dr Jingrong Tong, Dr Anita Howarth
• Migration, Refugees and Sanctuary - Dr Anita Howarth; (see also Professor Sarita Malik, Dr Sanjay Sharma, Dr Simon Weaver, Dr Meredith Jones and Dr Paul Moody in Sociology and Communications on race, racism and othering)
• Political Communication - Dr Anita Howarth; Dr Jingrong Tong
• Political Economy of media industries/journalism - Dr Christian Stiegler (see also Dr Peter Wilkin, Dr John Roberts and Dr Paul Moody in Sociology and Communications on Approaches to Political Economy)
• Popular culture and mass media - Dr Christian Stiegler (see also Dr Paul Moody in Sociology and Communications and Dr Leon Hunt in Film & TV on film and media history)

You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour .

Our researchers create knowledge and advance understanding, and equip versatile doctoral researchers with the confidence to apply what they have learnt for the benefit of society. Find out more about working with the Supervisory Team .

You are welcome to approach your potential supervisor directly to discuss your research interests. Search for expert supervisors for your chosen field of research.

While we welcome applications from student with a clear direction for their research, we are providing you with some ideas for your chosen field of research:

Research journey

While we welcome a wide range of topics in the areas of journalism, political communication and media here is an example list of potential research topics that we would like to supervise:

• Chinese media, journalism and society
• Data Journalism
• Digital cultures
• Environmental, health and science journalism
• Food communication and social conflict
• Immersive media/Virtual and Augmented Reality
• Media and the creative industries
• Sanctuary, refugees and asylum
• Political communication
• Political economy of journalism
• Poverty, hunger and social justice
• Refugees and migration
• Social media, politics and society (social media analysis)

This course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in January. Or this course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in October. Or this course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in April.

Find out about what progress might look like at each stage of study here:  Research degree progress structure.

Research support

Excellent research support and training

The Graduate School provides a range of personal, professional and career development opportunities. This includes workshops, online training, coaching and events, to enable you to enhance your professional profile, refine your skills, and plan your next career steps as part of the Researcher Development Programme . The researcher development programme (RDP) offers workshops and seminars in a range of areas including progression, research management, research dissemination, and careers and personal development. You will also be offered a number of online, self-study courses on BBL, including Research Integrity, Research Skills Toolkit, Research Methods in Literature Review and Principles of Research Methods.

Library services

Brunel's Library is open 24 hours a day, has 400,000 books and 250,000 ebooks, and an annual budget of almost £2m. Subject information Specialists train students in the latest technology, digital literacy, and digital dissemination of scholarly outputs. As well as the physical resources available in the Library, we also provide access to a wealth of electronic resources. These include databases, journals and e-books. Access to these resources has been bought by the Library through subscription and is limited to current staff and students.

Dedicated research support staff provide guidance and training on open access, research data management, copyright and other research integrity issues.

Find out more: Brunel Library

Careers and your future

You will receive tailored careers support during your PhD and for up to three years after you complete your research at Brunel. We encourage you to actively engage in career planning and managing your personal development right from the start of your research, even (or perhaps especially) if you don't yet have a career path in mind. Our careers provision includes online information and advice, one-to-one consultations and a range of events and workshops. The Professional Development Centre runs a varied programme of careers events throughout the academic year. These include industry insight sessions, recruitment fairs, employer pop-ups and skills workshops.

In addition, where available, you may be able to undertake some paid work as we recognise that teaching and learning support duties represent an important professional and career development opportunity.

Find out more.

UK entry requirements

The general University entrance requirement for registration for a research degree is normally a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (1st or 2:1). 

An interview will be required as part of the admissions process and will be conducted by at least two academic staff members remotely via MS Teams, Zoom, or face to face.

Applicants will be required to submit a personal statement  and a research statement. Please contact your proposed supervisor, where possible, to receive feedback and guidance on your research statement before submitting it. Learn how to prepare a research statement  here .   

EU and International entry requirements

If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by  UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list . This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.

English language requirements

• IELTS: 7.5 (min 7.0 in all areas)
• Pearson: 73 (64 in all subscores)
• BrunELT : 73% (68% in all areas)
• TOEFL: 108 (min 20) 

You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our  English Language Requirements  page.

Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our  Brunel Language Centre .

Please check our Admissions  pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.

Fees and funding

2024/5 entry, international.

£21,260 full-time

£10,630 part-time

£4,786 full-time

£2,393 part-time

Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.

Some courses incur  additional course related costs . You can also check our  on-campus accommodation costs  for more information on living expenses.

Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. Recently the UK Government made available the Doctoral Student Loans of up to £25,000 for UK and EU students and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.

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• Brunel Graduate Discount

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Course detail

Entry requirements.

• Fees & funding
• Study & career progression

The London School of Film, Media and Design offers  a PhD in Media by individual research within the areas of expertise of the School’s   teaching staff.   These include Media Studies, Media Arts,  Media History and Theory,  and  Media Archaeology. 

The combination of theoretical and practical research specialisms in the department means we can support either a written or practice-based PhD in Media, which could include elements of archival research or film practice.

Many of our academics have highly active research backgrounds in a variety of subjects. We offer expert supervision across a wide range of topics. We are currently seeking applications for PhDs in the following broad areas:  

• feminist theory and philosophy   
• gender, technology and work  
• media arts, art and design history, cultural history, communication design, design and visual literacies  
• media history and theory, media archaeology, gallery and museum studies
• media studies, media transformations, television, news and journalism
• promotional culture, branding, advertising and public relations 
• photography history and theory, media and photography practice, photography and philosophy, literature and photography. 

Find out more  about the full range of  PhD study  opportunities    in the London School of Film, Media and Design.

See a list of potential PhD supervisors and read about their expertise, in the 'Supervisors' section lower down the page. 

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Why study Media with us?

What our students say…

The staff members that I encountered were warm, welcoming and supportive of my studies. The relatively small size of the University’s postgraduate school created a close family/communal environment for both staff and students. This provided a good support system as I could quickly grow acquainted with the postgraduate team and other Doctoral research candidates.

Research Repository - Media

The Repository is a digital archive of research output by our academics and research students.

World-leading Research

The University of West London has been recognised by the Government's Research Excellence Framework (REF) for its exceptional research work.

The School of Film, Media and Design can offer expert supervision by established researchers and practitioners, and hosts a growing community of outstanding doctoral researchers in the field of Media. 

About PhD study

This course is available for you to study either on a full-time or part-time basis and you have the flexibility to switch should you need to.

A PhD is founded on independent research.  You will undertake a systematic and in-depth exploration of your chosen topic to produce a substantial body of knowledge and make an original and important contribution to the subject area.  

The support provided by your supervisory team will be vital to your student experience and scholarly advancement.  You and your supervisors will have regular one-to-one meetings which will provide you with opportunities to develop your research topic and discuss your progress.

Our research record

View our  academic journal 'New Vistas'   to see the work of students and academics who are making an impact both locally and globally through their research findings.

Based in the heart of Ealing, west London, you can make use of the excellent transport links to travel to the the capital or further afield - ideal for attending research meetings and networking events.

Got a question?

If you would like guidance or more information about studying for a research degree, you can contact Dr Helen Hester and  Professor Garin Dowd .

To enable you to enhance your professional profile, we support you throughout your research degree by:

• providing research seminars
• organising doctoral events and activities
• facilitating networking and collaboration opportunities
• encouraging and supporting publication and dissemination of your research
• offering opportunities to gain teaching expertise and experience.

We provide structured research training, expert supervision, and an environment where you can discuss your research with other PhD students and researchers.

We run seminars in research methods from the Graduate Centre, as well as an ongoing series of events and activities organised by Schools and Colleges. Specialist help with academic English for students for whom English is not their first language is available.

Our facilities include a fully equipped TV Studio containing a lighting grid with DMX lighting control, green and white screens, Ross Crossover Vision Mixer for live editing and audio and video recorder / playback devices.

Media Resource Centre

Our Media Resource Centre is available to all London School of Film Media and Design students for free. We hold a variety of cameras, lights, sound equipment and recording devices. Students can also loan equipment demonstrated in class.

The Paul Hamlyn Library

The Paul Hamlyn Library provides an extensive range of books, journals and digital resources, PC and Mac workstations and a variety of study spaces. Find out more about what the  Paul Hamlyn Library has to offer .

We contribute to national and international initiatives and promote collaboration and networking opportunities. We also encourage and support you to publish and disseminate your research in academic journals and via presenting papers at conferences.

We run an annual conference for doctoral students, where you are encouraged to present a paper about your research. As well as being an opportunity to discuss your work with other students, the conference is a chance to gain valuable experience in presenting your research and participating in open discussions with academic peers.

You will also find other opportunities such as postgraduate student seminars and forums within your specific subject area.

Once you start a PhD course at UWL, you become part of our research community. You will have access to a postgraduate common room, located at our Ealing campus on St Mary’s Road, where you will meet fellow researchers from other subject disciplines offering scope for collaborations or simply to discuss ideas, allowing you to be part of a vibrant research environment.

• Requirements: UK
• Requirements: International

The minimum entry requirements for a research degree are:

• a good first degree (First Class or Upper Second Class), or equivalent qualification in a relevant field
• a Masters Degree (MA, MSc, MBA or MRes) with Merit, or equivalent postgraduate or research experience.

We look for students with:

• a passion for their chosen subject.

You will also have a well thought through and persuasive proposal.

• Competence in written and spoken English is a pre-requisite for entrance to this programme. An IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5 (with no element under 6.0).

Fees & funding

• Funding: UK
• Funding: International

The fee above is the cost per year of your course.

If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year. If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.

Government regulation does affect tuition fees and the fees listed for courses starting in the 2025/26 academic year are subject to change.

If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

Funding for postgraduate students usually comes from one or more of a range of key sources:

• research councils
• charities and trust funds, including those funded by the UK government
• higher Education institutions
• overseas governments (international students only)
• professional and career development loans
• self-funding (including family funds).

Find out more about funding opportunities. Examples of most of these types of funding are included on the postgraduate studentships website , (with the exception of funding you may be able to obtain from your employer and self-funding).

Bursaries and scholarships

We offer generous bursaries and scholarships to make sure your aspirations are your only limit. See our PhD scholarships , scholarships and bursaries .

For any overseas students, your first port of call should be grant-awarding bodies in your own country (eg The Ministry / Department of Education) and your local (or nearest) office of the British Council.

The British Council manage a small number of international studentship grants in some countries and should be able to tell you what other awards may be available to you - they also produce the Sources of funding for international students guide.

Supervisors

Professor helen hester.

Dr Matilde Nardelli

Professor Garin Dowd

Dr Junko Theresa Mikuriya

Associate Professor Dennis Olsen

Study & career progression

Studying for a PhD enables you to develop an area of specialism that will give you an edge whether you are planning to work in industry or to develop expertise to teach in academia.

During your PhD, you will also be learning transferable core skills that apply to jobs both in and out of academia, including:

• written and oral communication
• research and information management
• public speaking   
• project management
• critical Thinking
• collaboration
• analysis and problem-solving
• conflict resolution
• negotiation.

By the end of your research degree you will be able to articulately apply these skills to enhance your career path.

How to apply

• How to apply: UK
• How to apply: International

To apply for one of our research courses, click the green 'apply now' link shown below to complete an online application form. You will need to attach the following documentation to your online application form:

• research proposal outline (5000 words maximum)
• transcript of your highest qualification.

The research proposal outline, or statement of research interests, enables us to assess your suitability for higher degree work including:

• viability of the topic as a research study
• the most appropriate supervisor(s) to be appointed.

Click here  for more information on applying for a PhD.

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MSc Media and Communications

• Graduate taught
• Department of Media and Communications
• Application code P4U1
• Starting 2024
• Home full-time: Open
• Home part-time: Open
• Overseas full-time: Open
• Location: Houghton Street, London

This programme offers an intensive, year-long exploration of a wide range of contemporary issues in media and communications.

It aims to provide a broad-based understanding of the development and forms of media and communications in relation to political economy, regulation and power, production and organisation, processes of mediation and influence, communication content and audience response. It offers an up-to-date engagement with diverse theoretical, conceptual and empirical developments in research on media and communications through a mix of compulsory and optional courses and an independent research project.

We attract students from a diverse range of backgrounds, often including professional experience working in media and communications-related fields. Indeed, the opportunity for cross-cultural meetings and exchange of ideas among the student body is a valuable feature of studying within the Department.

You may also be interested in the research track of this programme , which is particularly suited to students wishing to undertake MPhil/PhD degrees or pursue research-related careers.

Programme details

For more information about tuition fees and entry requirements, see the fees and funding and assessing your application sections.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements for msc media and communications.

Either (a) Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in social science, or (b) Upper second class (2:1) degree or equivalent in another field with professional experience in the media and communications field

Competition for places at the School is high. This means that even if you meet the minimum entry requirement, this does not guarantee you an offer of admission.

If you have studied or are studying outside of the UK then have a look at our  Information for International Students  to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

Assessing your application

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students and want to recruit students with the very best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of their background.

We carefully consider each application on an individual basis, taking into account all the information presented on your application form, including your:

- academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades) - statement of academic purpose - two academic references - CV

See further information on supporting documents

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency, although you do not need to provide this at the time of your application to LSE.  See our English language requirements .

When to apply

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis, meaning the programme will close once it becomes full. There is no fixed deadline by which you need to apply, however, to be considered for any LSE funding opportunity, you must have submitted your application and all supporting documents by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section for more details. 

Fees and funding

Every graduate student is charged a fee for their programme.

The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It does not cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees 2024/25 for MSc Media and Communications

Home students: £27,480 Overseas students: £27,480

The Table of Fees shows the latest tuition amounts for all programmes offered by the School.

For this programme, the tuition fee is the same for all students regardless of their fee status. However any financial support you are eligible for will depend on whether you are classified as a home or overseas student, otherwise known as your fee status. LSE assesses your fee status based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education.

Further information about fee status classification.

Fee reduction

Students who completed undergraduate study at LSE and are beginning taught graduate study at the School are eligible for a  fee reduction  of around 10 per cent of the fee.

Scholarships and other funding

The School recognises that the  cost of living in London  may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is eligible for needs-based awards from LSE, including the  Graduate Support Scheme ,  Master's Awards , and  Anniversary Scholarships . 

Selection for any funding opportunity is based on receipt of an offer for a place and submitting a Graduate Financial Support application, before the funding deadline. Funding deadline for needs-based awards from LSE:  25 April 2024 .

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas.  Find out more about financial support.

Government tuition fee loans and external funding

A postgraduate loan is available from the UK government for eligible students studying for a first master’s programme, to help with fees and living costs. Some other governments and organisations also offer tuition fee loan schemes.

Find out more about tuition fee loans

Further information

Fees and funding opportunities

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.  

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students . 

1) Take a note of the UK qualifications we require for your programme of interest (found in the ‘Entry requirements’ section of this page). 

2) Go to the International Students section of our website. 

3) Select your country. 

4) Select ‘Graduate entry requirements’ and scroll until you arrive at the information about your local/national qualification. Compare the stated UK entry requirements listed on this page with the local/national entry requirement listed on your country specific page.

Part-time study Part time study is only available for students who do not require a student visa.

Programme structure and courses

You take two courses on media and communications theories and concepts and a course in research methods, and will choose courses from a range of options within the Department and across other relevant departments, such as sociology, gender, law, and psychological and behavioural science. In addition, you will submit a dissertation of 12,000 words. 

(* denotes half unit)  

Theories and Concepts in Media and Communications I (Key concepts and interdisciplinary approaches)* Addresses key theoretical and conceptual issues in the study of media and communications, within a broadly interdisciplinary social science perspective.

Communication: Culture and Approaches* Examines key concepts and critical perspectives on the process of communication that underpin social, economic and institutional relations across diverse spheres of modern life.

Methods of Research in Media and Communications (including Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis)* Aims to provide you with general training in research methods and techniques including research design and the collection, analysis and interpretation of data.

Dissertation An independent research project of 12,000 words on an approved topic of your choice.  

Courses to the value of one and a half units from a range of options.

For the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant  School Calendar page .

You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.

You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School’s  Calendar , or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the  updated graduate course and programme information page.

Teaching and assessment

Contact hours and independent study.

Within your programme you will take a number of courses, often including half unit courses and full unit courses. In half unit courses, on average, you can expect 20-30 contact hours in total and for full unit courses, on average, you can expect 40-60 contact hours in total. This includes sessions such as lectures, classes, seminars or workshops. Hours vary according to courses and you can view indicative details in the Calendar  within the Teaching section of each course guide . 

You are also expected to complete independent study outside of class time. This varies depending on the programme, but requires you to manage the majority of your study time yourself, by engaging in activities such as reading, note-taking, thinking and research.

Formal classroom teaching is usually completed by the end of the Winter Term. Coursework is usually submitted in January and May, and examinations are generally held in May and June. The remaining months are set aside for you to complete the dissertations supported by staff supervision. 

Teaching methods

LSE is internationally recognised for its teaching and research and therefore employs a rich variety of teaching staff with a range of experience and status. Courses may be taught by individual members of faculty, such as lecturers, senior lecturers, readers, associate professors and professors. Many departments now also employ guest teachers and visiting members of staff, LSE teaching fellows and graduate teaching assistants who are usually doctoral research students and in the majority of cases, teach on undergraduate courses only. You can view indicative details for the teacher responsible for each course in the relevant  course guide .

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It is designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. You will be summatively assessed by written examinations (seen and unseen), research assignments, essays and the dissertation, which must be submitted in August. 

Part-time students will normally take and be examined in courses to the value of two units in each year of study. In the first year, these two units, selected in discussion with your academic mentor, will usually include the compulsory theoretical course(s) and one or more option course(s). The methods course(s) and the dissertation are then usually taken in the second year, together with the remaining option course(s). You may be permitted to vary the courses to be taken in each year with the approval of your academic mentor.

Academic support

You will also be assigned an academic mentor who will be available for guidance and advice on academic or personal concerns.

There are many opportunities to extend your learning outside the classroom and complement your academic studies at LSE.  LSE LIFE  is the School’s centre for academic, personal and professional development. Some of the services on offer include: guidance and hands-on practice of the key skills you will need to do well at LSE: effective reading, academic writing and critical thinking; workshops related to how to adapt to new or difficult situations, including development of skills for leadership, study/work/life balance and preparing for the world of work; and advice and practice on working in study groups and on cross-cultural communication and teamwork.

LSE is committed to enabling all students to achieve their full potential and the School’s  Disability and Wellbeing Service  provides a free, confidential service to all LSE students and is a first point of contact for all disabled students.

Student support and resources

We’re here to help and support you throughout your time at LSE, whether you need help with your academic studies, support with your welfare and wellbeing or simply to develop on a personal and professional level.

Whatever your query, big or small, there are a range of people you can speak to who will be happy to help.  

Department librarians   – they will be able to help you navigate the library and maximise its resources during your studies. 

Accommodation service  – they can offer advice on living in halls and offer guidance on private accommodation related queries.

Class teachers and seminar leaders  – they will be able to assist with queries relating to specific courses. 

Disability and Wellbeing Service  – they are experts in long-term health conditions, sensory impairments, mental health and specific learning difficulties. They offer confidential and free services such as  student counselling,  a  peer support scheme  and arranging  exam adjustments.  They run groups and workshops.  

IT help  – support is available 24 hours a day to assist with all your technology queries.   

LSE Faith Centre  – this is home to LSE's diverse religious activities and transformational interfaith leadership programmes, as well as a space for worship, prayer and quiet reflection. It includes Islamic prayer rooms and a main space for worship. It is also a space for wellbeing classes on campus and is open to all students and staff from all faiths and none.   

Language Centre  – the Centre specialises in offering language courses targeted to the needs of students and practitioners in the social sciences. We offer pre-course English for Academic Purposes programmes; English language support during your studies; modern language courses in nine languages; proofreading, translation and document authentication; and language learning community activities.

LSE Careers  ­ – with the help of LSE Careers, you can make the most of the opportunities that London has to offer. Whatever your career plans, LSE Careers will work with you, connecting you to opportunities and experiences from internships and volunteering to networking events and employer and alumni insights. 

LSE Library   –   founded in 1896, the British Library of Political and Economic Science is the major international library of the social sciences. It stays open late, has lots of excellent resources and is a great place to study. As an LSE student, you’ll have access to a number of other academic libraries in Greater London and nationwide. 

LSE LIFE  – this is where you should go to develop skills you’ll use as a student and beyond. The centre runs talks and workshops on skills you’ll find useful in the classroom; offers one-to-one sessions with study advisers who can help you with reading, making notes, writing, research and exam revision; and provides drop-in sessions for academic and personal support. (See ‘Teaching and assessment’). 

LSE Students’ Union (LSESU)  – they offer academic, personal and financial advice and funding.  

PhD Academy   – this is available for PhD students, wherever they are, to take part in interdisciplinary events and other professional development activities and access all the services related to their registration. 

Sardinia House Dental Practice   – this   offers discounted private dental services to LSE students.  

St Philips Medical Centre  – based in Pethwick-Lawrence House, the Centre provides NHS Primary Care services to registered patients.

Student Services Centre  – our staff here can answer general queries and can point you in the direction of other LSE services.  

Student advisers   – we have a  Deputy Head of Student Services (Advice and Policy)  and an  Adviser to Women Students  who can help with academic and pastoral matters.

Student life

As a student at LSE you’ll be based at our central London campus. Find out what our campus and London have to offer you on academic, social and career perspective. 

Student societies and activities

Your time at LSE is not just about studying, there are plenty of ways to get involved in  extracurricular activities . From joining one of over 200 societies, or starting your own society, to volunteering for a local charity, or attending a public lecture by a world-leading figure, there is a lot to choose from. 

The campus 

LSE is based on one  campus  in the centre of London. Despite the busy feel of the surrounding area, many of the streets around campus are pedestrianised, meaning the campus feels like a real community. 

Life in London 

London is an exciting, vibrant and colourful city. It's also an academic city, with more than 400,000 university students. Whatever your interests or appetite you will find something to suit your palate and pocket in this truly international capital. Make the most of career opportunities and social activities, theatre, museums, music and more. 

Want to find out more? Read why we think  London is a fantastic student city , find out about  key sights, places and experiences for new Londoners . Don't fear, London doesn't have to be super expensive: hear about  London on a budget . 

Quick Careers Facts for the Department of Media & Communications

Median salary of our PG students 15 months after graduating: £30,000

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

• Advertising, Marketing, PR, Media, Entertainment, Publishing and Journalism           
• Government, Public Sector and Policy   
• Education, Teaching and Research            
• Consultancy      
• International Organisations

The data was collected as part of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Graduates from 2020-21 were the fourth group to be asked to respond to Graduate Outcomes. Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and who were working in full-time employment.

On graduating, our students enter a variety of careers in the UK and abroad, including broadcasting, journalism, advertising, new media industries, political marketing, market research, regulation and policy, media management and research in both the public and private sectors.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Kate Lovell

Ipswich Massachusetts, USA

The MSc in Media and Communications has provided me with an excellent overview of theory and research methods in the increasingly important field of media studies.  I love how the programme combines a variety of disciplines within the social sciences to form a coherent and all-encompassing view of the complexity of the media. The international perspectives I am able to gain in my lectures and seminars from my diverse peers, professors and from the cosmopolitan environment of London with its proximity to neighbouring European countries has by far been the most rewarding aspect of my year at the LSE.

I have gained tremendous insight into the kind of career I would like to pursue combining my previous professional experience and now strong theoretical background.  Through a methodology assignment, I gained work experience at a local television production company, which has been invaluable. I will come out of this experience with newly discovered passions, perspectives and confidence.

Support for your career

Many leading organisations give careers presentations at the School during the year, and LSE Careers has a wide range of resources available to assist students in their job search. Find out more about the  support available to students through LSE Careers .

Preliminary reading

Set out below, you will find some suggested readings that will prove helpful to you in preparing for your arrival at LSE, and for finding out about courses you may be interested in taking.

It is not essential that you read everything on the list - the intention is simply to give you an idea of the level and range of material covered. 

• Allen, Stuart (ed).  The Routledge Companion to News and Journalism . Routledge 2010
• Beckett, Ch. (2008)  SuperMedia: Saving Journalism So It Can Save The World.  Malden, MA: Blackwell/Wiley.
• Briggs, A. and Burke, P. (2002)  A Social History of the Media: From Gutenberg to the Internet.  Cambridge: Polity.
• Calabrese, A. and Sparks, C. (eds) (2004)  Toward a Political Economy of Culture, Capitalism and Communication in the 21st Century,  Lanham MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
• Castells, Manuel. (2009).  Communication Power . Oxford University Press.
• Couldry, N. (2012).  Media, Society, World: Social Theory and Digital Media . Cambridge: Polity.
• Curran, J. and Gurevitch, M. (eds) (2005)  Mass Media and Society.  4th ed. London: Arnold.
• Curran, J. and Seaton, J. (2003)  Power Without Responsibility.  London: Routledge.
• Mansell, R. (2012)  Imagining the Internet: Communication, Innovation and Governance . Oxford University Press.
• Mattelart, A. (2003)  The Information Society: An introduction.  London: Sage.
• McChesney, R (2000)  Rich Media Poor Democracy.  New York: New Press.
• Papacharissi, Z. A. (2010).  A Private Sphere: Democracy in a Digital Age . Cambridge: Polity. 
• Silverstone, R. (2007)  Media and Morality.  Cambridge: Polity.
• Silverstone, R. (1999)  Why Study the Media?  London: Sage.
• Thompson, J.B. (1995)  The Media and Modernity: A Social Theory of the Media.  Cambridge: Polity.
• Wasko, J. (ed.). (2005)  A Companion to Television.  Malden, MA: Blackwell.
• Wu, Tim. (2010)  The Master Switch. The Rise and Fall of Information Empires . Borzio Books.

Find out more about LSE

Discover more about being an LSE student - meet us in a city near you, visit our campus or experience LSE from home. 

Experience LSE from home

Webinars, videos, student blogs and student video diaries will help you gain an insight into what it's like to study at LSE for those that aren't able to make it to our campus.  Experience LSE from home . 

Come on a guided campus tour, attend an undergraduate open day, drop into our office or go on a self-guided tour.  Find out about opportunities to visit LSE . 

LSE visits you

Student Marketing, Recruitment and Study Abroad travels throughout the UK and around the world to meet with prospective students. We visit schools, attend education fairs and also hold Destination LSE events: pre-departure events for offer holders.  Find details on LSE's upcoming visits . 

How to apply

Virtual Graduate Open Day

Register your interest

Related programmes, msc media and communications (research).

Code(s) P4U6

MSc Media, Communication and Development

Code(s) P3U2

MSc Media and Communications (Media and Communication Governance)

Code(s) P3U3

MSc Strategic Communications and Society

Code(s) P3U5

MSc Gender, Media and Culture

Code(s) Y2U7

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MA, PG Cert, PG Dip

Application options include:

Course Overview

Our journalism postgraduate course offers you the opportunity to acquire a fast-track but thorough grounding in practical journalistic skills, a strong working knowledge of the media industry and the principal contemporary theories of media and culture, along with an ability to develop professional writing skills across journalistic genres. Beyond the core skills delivered in the fast-track module, subsequent modules combine professional skills with a more conceptual understanding of how to interpret and communicate ideas in professional media work.

The course equips you with skills relevant to a wide range of professional contexts, and accordingly covers diverse aspects such as web journalism and other online media production, public relations, professional communications, and other skills relevant to the creative industries. You are strongly encouraged to develop your own areas of interest as well as to identify emerging areas of demand in the industry.

We offer this course as a Master’s, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate. For the Diploma and Certificate you study fewer modules and do not complete a dissertation.  

The MA programme is part of our new Birkbeck Flexible Master’s UK , which gives you the choice of how you want to study - on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both . 

Discover the career opportunities available by taking Journalism (MA, PG Cert, PG Dip).

Key information and modules

Journalism ma: 1 year full-time, on campus, starting october 2024, journalism: january start ma: 1 year full-time, on campus, starting january 2025, journalism ma: 1 year full-time, flexible learning, starting october 2024, journalism ma: 1 year full-time, online, starting october 2024, journalism ma: 2 years part-time, on campus, starting october 2024, journalism: january start ma: 2 years part-time, on campus, starting january 2025, journalism ma: 2 years part-time, flexible learning, starting october 2024, journalism ma: 2 years part-time, online, starting october 2024, journalism pg cert: 1 year part-time, on campus, starting october 2024.

Central London

Journalism PG Dip: 1 year full-time, on campus, starting October 2024

Journalism pg dip: 2 years part-time, on campus, starting october 2024.

Find another course:

• We offer a number of  bursaries for postgraduate students .
• This course enables you to attain a high standard of journalistic practice.
• Graduates in other fields can achieve professional standards of practice and understanding of the journalism industry.

Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

Entry Requirements

A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in any related subject; other qualifications will be considered. Applications are encouraged from those with prior journalistic experience.

Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now  to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

International students:  if you need a Student visa to study in the UK, you must meet certain minimum in-person attendance requirements. You will be required to primarily study on campus and so will only be able to apply for the on-campus study mode.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this programme is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement,  we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our  English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country .

Visa and funding requirements

If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

• Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
• Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol as a student on Birkbeck's part-time courses (with the exception of some modules).

For full information, read our visa information for international students page .

Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country .

Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

If you have studied at university, you may have accumulated credits through the modules you studied. It may be possible to transfer these credits from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

Journalism MA: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, flexible learning, starting in academic year 2024-25

Academic year 2024–25, starting october 2024.

Part-time home students: £5,400 per year Full-time home students: £10,800 per year Part-time international students : £9,915 per year Full-time international students: £19,830 per year

Journalism: January start MA: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25

Academic year 2024–25, starting january 2025, journalism ma: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, online, starting in academic year 2024-25, journalism ma: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25, journalism pg cert: 1 year part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25.

Part-time home students: £3,600 per year Part-time international students : £6,610 per year

Journalism PG Dip: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2024-25

Part-time home students: £3,600 per year Full-time home students: £7,200 per year Part-time international students : £6,610 per year Full-time international students: £13,220 per year

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the College Fees Policy .

If you’ve studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a discount on the tuition fee of this course.

Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

International scholarships

We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship. Discover if you are eligible for a scholarship .

At Birkbeck, most of our courses are taught in the evening and all of our teaching is designed to support students who are juggling evening study with work and other commitments. We actively encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching, to ensure our students have the best learning experience.

Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, and practical classes and tutorials. Formal lectures are used in most degree programmes to give an overview of a particular field of study. They aim to provide the stimulus and the starting point for deeper exploration of the subject during your own personal reading. Seminars give you the chance to explore a specific aspect of your subject in depth and to discuss and exchange ideas with fellow students. They typically require preparatory study.

In addition, you will have access to pastoral support via a named Personal Tutor.

Methods of teaching on this course

Teaching is in small groups and features seminars, tutorials and presentations.

Teaching hours

Our evening hours are normally between 6pm and 9pm (6-7.30pm and 7.30-9pm). Some programmes also offer teaching during the day and this will be clearly signposted to you where it is available.

On our taught courses, you will have scheduled teaching and study sessions each year. Scheduled teaching sessions may include lectures, seminars, workshops or laboratory work. Depending on the modules you take, you may also have additional scheduled academic activities, such as tutorials, dissertation supervision, practical classes, visits and field trips. On our taught courses, the actual amount of time you spend in the classroom and in contact with your lecturers will depend on your course, the option modules you select and when you undertake your final-year project (if applicable).

Alongside your contact hours, you will also undertake assessment activities and independent learning outside of class. The amount of time you need to allocate to study both for taught sessions (this might include online sessions and/or in-person sessions) and personal study will depend on how much you are studying during the year and whether you are studying full time or part time.

Birkbeck’s courses are made up of modules and allocated ‘credit’. One credit is equivalent to ten hours of learning time. Modules are usually in 15, 30 or 60 credit units. A 15-credit module will mean around 150 hours of learning, including taught sessions and independent study or group work. This is spread out over the whole period of that module and includes the time you spend on any assessments, including in examinations, preparing and writing assessments or engaged in practical work as well as any study support sessions to help you in your learning.

On our distance-learning and blended-learning courses, discussion, collaboration and interaction with your lecturers and fellow students is encouraged and enabled through various learning technologies.

Timetables are usually available from September onwards and you can access your personalised timetable via your My Birkbeck Profile online (if you have been invited to enrol).

Indicative class size

Class sizes vary, depending on your course, the module you are undertaking, and the method of teaching. For example, lectures are presented to larger groups, whereas seminars usually consist of small, interactive groups led by a tutor.

Independent learning

On our taught courses, much of your time outside of class will be spent on self-directed, independent learning, including preparing for classes and following up afterwards. This will usually include, but is not limited to, reading books and journal articles, undertaking research, working on coursework and assignments, and preparing for presentations and assessments.

Independent learning is absolutely vital to your success as a student. Everyone is different, and the study time required varies topic by topic, but, as a guide, expect to schedule up to five hours of self-study for each hour of teaching.

Study skills and additional support

Birkbeck offers study and learning support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed. Our Learning Development Service can help you in the following areas:

• academic skills (including planning your workload, research, writing, exam preparation and writing a dissertation)
• written English (including structure, punctuation and grammar)
• numerical skills (basic mathematics and statistics).

Our Disability and Dyslexia Service can support you if you have additional learning needs resulting from a disability or from dyslexia.

Our Counselling Service can support you if you are struggling with emotional or psychological difficulties during your studies.

Our Mental Health Advisory Service can support you if you are experiencing short- or long-term mental health difficulties during your studies.

Assessment is an integral part of your university studies and usually consists of a combination of coursework and examinations, although this will vary from course to course - on some of our courses, assessment is entirely by coursework. The methods of assessment on this course are specified below under 'Methods of assessment on this course'. You will need to allow time to complete coursework and prepare for exams.

Where a course has unseen written examinations, these may be held termly, but, on the majority of our courses, exams are usually taken in the Summer term, during May to June. Exams may be held at other times of the year as well. In most cases, exams are held during the day on a weekday - if you have daytime commitments, you will need to make arrangements for daytime attendance - but some exams are held in the evening. Exam timetables are published online.

Find out more about assessment at Birkbeck, including guidance on assessment, feedback and our assessment offences policy.

Methods of assessment on this course

Assessment is 100% coursework, with additional in-class writing exercises and portfolio requirement. Unassessed written work.

Careers and employability

Graduates can pursue career paths in journalism, the media, or public relations. Possible professions include:

• broadcast/newspaper journalist
• press sub-editor
• publishing copy-editor/proofreader
• public relations officer
• market researcher

Jobs gained by some of our BA and MA graduates include:

• Producer, BBC News
• Research Manager, BBC News
• Project Coordinator, Sony Interactive Entertainment ltd
• Marketing Manager, Red Deer
• Broadcast Journalist, LBC, Classic FM, Capital and Heart
• Staff Writer, Field Gibson Media
• Communications Officer, Bristol Water
• Staff Reporter, European Medical Journal
• Executive Producer, Mongolian Media Council
• Business Analyst, GSK
• PR Director, Notable

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

You will need to prove your identity when you apply - read more about suitable forms of identification .

When to apply

You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places on your chosen course and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

You will also receive information about subject-specific induction sessions over the summer.

Help and advice with your application

Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at Birkbeck.

Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.

Apply for your course

Apply for your course using the apply now button in the key information section .

Course structure

Course structure listing, course structure and modules for journalism ma: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, flexible learning, starting october 2024.

For this flexible route, you can choose to take modules online or on campus. You must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

• a core and a compulsory module (30 credits each)
• two option modules (30 credits each)
• a final project, dissertation or portfolio (60 credits).

Core and compulsory modules

• Fast-track Practical Journalism Skills
• Theoretical Perspectives on Media

Option modules - on campus

• Advanced Sub-Editing, Layout and Design
• Digital Culture
• Digital Surveillance
• Inside Out of Culture: organisations, placements and practice
• Introduction to Data Journalism
• Media, Digitalisation and the City (level 7)
• Political Communication and Citizen Engagement in a Digital World

Option modules - online

• Digital Journalism
• Introduction to Investigative Reporting
• Public Relations and Professional Communications

MA Journalism final project/dissertation/portfolio

• Final Project / Dissertation / Portfolio

Course structure and modules for Journalism: January start MA: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting January 2025

You must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

• two option modules, one of which must be Digital Journalism (30 credits each)

Option modules

Course structure and modules for journalism ma: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, online, starting october 2024.

For this online route you must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

Course structure and modules for Journalism MA: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2024

For this on-campus route you must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

• a final project, dissertation, or portfolio (60 credits).

Course structure and modules for Journalism PG Cert: 1 year part-time, on campus, starting October 2024

You must complete two modules worth a total of 60 credits.

Course structure and modules for Journalism PG Dip: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2024

You must complete modules worth a total of 120 credits, consisting of:

• two option modules (30 credits each).

Please note: not all option modules will be offered every year.

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Course type

Qualification, university name, phd degrees in journalism.

15 degrees at 13 universities in the UK.

Customise your search

Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study

Related subjects:

• PhD Journalism
• PhD Journalism and Publishing
• PhD Print and Publications Design
• PhD Print and Publishing
• PhD Publishing

• Course title (A-Z)
• Course title (Z-A)
• Price: high - low
• Price: low - high

Journalism and Communications PhD

University of gloucestershire.

What is Journalism and Communications Research a topic of your choice or work on an extended creative project. Boost your professional Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £5,100 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £3,400 per year (UK)

PhD/MPhil Journalism

City, university of london.

On the PhD/MPhil, you will join our internationally renowned Journalism department, whose expertise includes editors of leading academic Read more...

• 2 years Full time degree: £5,110 per year (UK)
• 3 years Part time degree: £2,560 per year (UK)

Professional Writing, Film, Media, New Media, Journalism, Creative Studies, Drama, Professional Writing PhD

Bangor university.

The School of Creative Studies and Media welcomes applications from well-qualified graduates who wish to engage in research for the Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

University of Essex

Our Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies offers supervision for PhD Journalism from our expert academics, covering a range of Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £9,375 per year (UK)
• 7 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Journalism and Public Relations PhD

Newcastle university.

Our PhD in Journalism and Public Relations gives you access to a wide range of professional and academic opportunities. Join us for a PhD Read more...

• 36 months Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 72 months Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

PhD/ MPhil/ MRes Journalism, Media & Communication

University of strathclyde.

The Journalism, Media & Communication (JMC) PhD is taken within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and supported by a team of Read more...

Journalism PhD

Brunel university london.

Research profile The Journalism group members are at the forefront of research into subjects as diverse as journalism and the implications Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree
• 6 years Part time degree

Journalism, Communication & Creative Writing PhDs and MPhils

University of portsmouth.

If you're ready to take your expertise in Journalism, Communication and Creative Writing into a postgraduate research degree, Portsmouth is Read more...

Journalism, Communication & Creative Writing PhDs and Mphils (Distance Learning)

• 6 years Distance without attendance degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

University of Derby

In Humanities there are many opportunities for you to study for a research degree at PhD level in your chosen subject area. This can be in Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,596 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,298 per year (UK)

University of Lincoln

The School of English and Journalism offers research opportunities at the highest level of academic qualification a PhD or a PhD by Read more...

• 2 years Full time degree: £4,830 per year (UK)
• 3 years Part time degree: £2,415 per year (UK)

Journalism and PR PhD

University of sunderland.

A PhD is “probably the most internationally transferable qualification” according to the Higher Education Policy Institute. You will Read more...

• 6 years Distance without attendance degree: £3,681 per year (UK)
• 4 years Distance without attendance degree: £3,681 per year (UK)
• 4 years Full time degree: £4,500 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £3,681 per year (UK)

Journalism, Media and Culture (PhD/MPhil)

Cardiff university.

We are committed to undertaking research that engages with contemporary issues across journalism, the media and communications both Read more...

• 5 years Part time degree

Journalism Studies PhD

University of sussex.

Join the growing research culture in Journalism Studies at Sussex and explore the practices, politics, and impact of journalism in a wide Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree

Journalism and PR Existing Published or Creative Work PhD

A PhD by Published or Creative Work is designed for individuals with an existing portfolio of published work addressing a central Read more...

• 6 months Part time degree: £6,000 per year (UK)

Course type:

• Distance learning PhD
• Full time PhD
• Part time PhD

Qualification:

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• Staff & students

MA Journalism

Course information.

Media, Communications and Cultural Studies

1 year full-time

Scholarship information

Funding available

Course overview

Accredited with distinction by the Professional Publishers Association, this practical MA gives you the essential skills to work as a journalist for multiple audiences across myriad platforms.

• Journalism is about the world outside. It’s about the story and the people who make it. It’s about being on top of the zeitgeist. And being on top of the deadlines.
• The Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies has been ranked 2nd in the UK for 'world-leading or internationally excellent' research (Research Excellence Framework, 2021) and 16th in the world (3rd in the UK) in the 2024 QS World Rankings for communication and media studies.

What you will learn

• This MA gives you the practical skills to work as a journalist at the highest level in print and online. We will learn what news means, and where it comes from. We will give you the ability to write compelling features and interviews. We’ll also be focusing on the kinds of questions you need to ask – of the individual, the state or the organs of power. And we address how the new digital world has transformed the way we go about journalism, adding new platforms and new technical skills.

The processes we use

• The programme is practice-based so you’ll be creating magazines and working on our local news website while you’re here.  EastLondonLines  is a live news site run from the Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies and covering a large area of East and South London. Working on ELL as a journalist will give you unrivalled hands-on experience of being part of an editorial team, finding and breaking news stories and features, and using digital tools like data and video.

The approach we take

• You will work in a small group both during your editorial control period of Eastlondonlines and on your digital and magazine project because working in such teams is common professional practice. Underpinning the practice-based work are more theoretical modules essential to give background – these cover media law and ethics, politics and public affairs, and journalism in context. 
• You’ll discover how different mediums dictate how you create a story and how to adapt your style of writing to reflect the nature of the platform, from print newspapers to digital features. Join us and discover how to express yourself concisely, grab the attention of readers and think on your feet in this swipe-left-and-right world. 

Professional accreditation

• The MA Journalism has just received a renewed two-year accreditation from the Professional Publishers Association, with the new, highest accolade of a 'distinction' awarded to us.  
• This is now given by the Association to reward programmes of the highest overall quality which achieve a distinction level in the majority of categories in the accreditation process, which cover all aspects of the programme.
• The inspection team commended the programme as 'exceptional' and said we produced 'highly motivated' students who were given 'excellent opportunities to produce real live journalism on Eastlondonlines', received 'formidable feedback' and a high level of day-to-day support in their studies. They also believed that we had achieved the right balance between introducing new digital techniques and teaching traditional core practices. And they were incredibly complimentary about the students themselves and the work they produce. 

• This degree is part of our School of Journalism. Find out more about what we do and other degrees we teach .

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Terry Kirby .

What you'll study

The programme is divided into a series of modules that cover the key practical skills and theoretical background. There are no optional modules or alternate pathways.

The four practical modules focus on the basic journalistic skills common to different media: news and feature research and writing, interviewing, image, video and data skills print and online production techniques. You will learn how to apply these skills across all platforms.

In the summer term, you work in groups to produce magazines. In the past, these have won the annual Periodical Publishers Association competition for student magazines.

There are four lecture-based theoretical modules in which we give you the background theoretical knowledge to become expert practitioners. These are:

• Journalism in Context , which places journalism in the wider political and social context
• Media Law and Ethics , which delivers a grounding in legal issues
• Politics and Power, a module that delivers a basic grounding in how government and public sector operate
• Asking the Right Questions, which teaches advanced research skills for journalists, and is delivered by expert guest speakers

Practice modules are largely assessed by portfolios of your work, while theory modules are all assessed by essays or written research work.

Guest speaker programme

Additionally, a wide range of journalists and those associated with the media are invited to speak to and network with students through various strands of our guest speaker programme - whether it is through the Asking the Right Questions module, Wednesday morning guest speakers or Thursday evening Media Forums.

Recent speakers have included Owen Jones and Felicity Lawrence of the Guardian, Patrick Strudwick of Buzzfeed and alumna Tabby Kinder from the Lawyer. Others have included Geoffrey Dobbs of the D Notice Committee and Guy Parker, chief executive of the Advertising Standard Authority. 

Download the programme specification .

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

Entry requirements

You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard and have evidence of some journalism (or equivalent) experience.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification ) of 7.0 with a 7.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study .

Fees, funding & scholarships

Annual tuition fees.

These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year.

• Home - full-time: £12520
• International - full-time: £23660

If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office , who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.

It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.

If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment .

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page .

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.

Funding opportunities

Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities . If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

Scholarships

Applicants to this programme may be eligible for the  CSC Shared Scholarship Scheme .

Scott Trust Foundation Bursary UK applicants for this programme are eligible to apply for the Scott Trust Foundation Bursary, which consists of:

• a bursary covering full tuition fees
• £5,000 subsistence allowance

Find out more about funding opportunities for  MA/MSc Digital Journalism  programmes.

How to apply

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system. 

Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:

• Details of  your academic qualifications
• The  email address of your referee  who we can request a reference from, or alternatively a copy of your academic reference
• Copies of  your educational transcripts   or certificates
• A  personal statement  – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online.  Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

Deadline for applications

There is no deadline for applications, however applicants are encouraged to apply early to avoid disappointment.

When are applications reviewed?

Applications are considered in stages, based on when you apply.

• Applications received by 31 January will be considered for a February interview day.
• Applications received by 31 March will be considered for an April interview day.
• Applications received after 31 March are considered on an individual basis once the April interviews are completed.
• We may hold further group interview days during late spring and summer if there are places available.

Are applicants interviewed?

Applicants who are considered suitable for the programme based on their application will be shortlisted to attend an interview. Overseas applicants who can’t attend an interview day are interviewed by Skype.

On group interview days, you are given a tour of our facilities, as well as a presentation with the opportunity to ask any questions about studying Journalism at Goldsmiths. You’ll then be tested on your knowledge, and given the chance to write something for Eastlondonlines , the news website we run by students from the Department. You will also have a one to one interview.

Is a portfolio required?

Yes. Your portfolio should include evidence of published journalistic work, either in undergraduate student journalism or in the professional arena. You can also include evidence of journalistic or media work experience that has not resulted in published work. Some applicants may be considered without a portfolio if they can pass some written tests, interview well and meet other selection criteria.

Personal statement

In your personal statement, we’re looking for evidence that you understand the programme and what studying at Goldsmiths is all about. We’d also like you to demonstrate that you have an understanding and passion for journalism, and what being a journalist involves. You should cite your journalistic influences and media sources, as well as any relevant work experience in the field. You should also outline what you hope to achieve from the programme.

Find out more about applying .

All lecturers and tutors who teach on the programme have extensive experience at the highest levels of national publications and are committed to delivering that knowledge and understanding of how journalism works to our students.

Take a look at the profiles of some of our key staff, who are all highly experienced at the national level in newspapers and magazines:

Terry Kirby , Programme Convener

Becky Gardiner , leader of features and magazine modules

Angela Phillips , programme founder and Journalism in Context module leader

See more about the staff who are involved in this degree on our website .

Student work

Student journalism.

EastLondonLines  is an independent news website run by the School of Journalism in the Department of Media and Communications. The site runs throughout the year and students on all journalism programmes spend time working on the site, gaining valuable experience and building up their CVs. You work under the supervision of School academic and technical staff.

It began in November 2009 as a means of giving students an opportunity to work as professional journalists in a real life environment. The area covered by the site is a large, diverse, multi-cultural and vibrant part of London, ranging from inner city Hackney in the North to Croydon on the southern borders of London and provides exciting and varied journalistic challenges.

Visit the EastLondonLines website . 

Journalism students also contribute to  London Multimedia News which collates London based news stories with a radio and sound focus and are able to take part in broadcasts through our radio and television studios. 

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths . 

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MA Audio, Radio and Podcasting

Sound is the most dynamic part of the media industry right now and this long-standing MA in Audio, Radio and Podcasting will give you the theoretical knowledge and practical experience to navigate it and excel in it. We value what you have already achieved. Creativity in the audio medium is a uniquely personal experience and your existing knowledge and skills mean you'll be able to add diversity to the area of the industry you intend to join.

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London School of Journalism

• Tel: +44 (0) 20 7432 8140
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Providing flexible, individual, top quality learning, delivered in enjoyable and interesting courses..

The LSJ has been teaching journalism and creative writing for almost 100 years - and unlike most ‘schools’ who offer distance learning courses, we are a real school, staffed by real journalists and writers who enjoy working with real students.

We continue to lead the way in developing new and effective teaching methods. The result is demonstrated by the success of our students.

Choose the right Distance Learning course for you:

Freelance and feature writing (with optional video tutorials).

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News Journalism

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Short Story Writing

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Freelance and Travel Writing (with optional video tutorials)

Freelance and music and the arts (with optional video tutorials), freelance and sports writing (with optional video tutorials).

Although writers attract the plaudits (and brickbats) of the literary world, those who work on the…

Feedback from our students

I just wanted to send you a final note to say a great big 'THANKS'. Your comments, suggestions and encouragement were a big factor in my decision to study for an MA as a technical author. Which along with freelancing will make a very enjoyable working life.

Thanks to both of you for being firstly so quick at getting Lessons and Assignments back to me and for your encouragement and support for helping me to complete my Diploma and learn new skills which I am now successfully using as a Deputy Editor for a regional film magazine and website. I thoroughly enjoyed the course, particularly the travel and writing for TV & Radio assignments.

I also wanted to let you know that as a result of sending off my interview feature, from a previous assignment, to some local publications, I was approached last week about becoming a regular contributor for one of the magazines! This couldn't have happened without my doing the LSJ course, so I want to thank you again for all your help.

It was terrific to receive feedback from a real author, a title I aspire to have one day, and being able to add the great hints and advice into my next story...again thank you for very much for telling me what your keen eyes saw and for parting with your hard earned experience when it comes to all things concerning writing.

It has been absolutely a wonderful experience doing the course at the School. I am highly indebted and in awe of my tutor. His advice and guidance comes in handy with every line that I write. I would also like to pass on the credit to my tutor for the reader response and various congratulatory calls that I receive after each article. My editor too is very happy with my work.

In the same week I had my Alpine Dove article accepted for France magazine. I interviewed the wood sculptor and added some quotations to the article, as you suggested in your feedback, which obviously worked. I don't know which edition it will appear in yet. Anyway, I just wanted to share my good news, especially as your tutoring is largely responsible for it.

Yes, it's great to be doing a course through LSJ again, let's hope I have as much success with this course!! I'm absolutely snowed under with deadlines and I have to say the freelance journalism course has to be the best (and most profitable!) course I've ever done. Writing a novel is something which I've always wanted to do, so fingers crossed!

...my tutor Ken Ashton will be happy to know that now my articles appear frequently in the local press and I will continue to send articles from Australia to Sri Lanka. I am very glad that I followed the LSJ course and for all the encouragement I got from my tutor. Please convey my regards to him.

The producer of the show was polite, and tried to avoid an awkward silence with friendly chit chat. She asked me if I was a student. ''I have a B.A. in American Culture and Literature. Oh, and I just finished a program at the London School of Journalism'', I replied. Her eyes lit up like fireflies. I was offered a job on the spot.

Thank you SO MUCH for all of your help, feedback and encouragement as you have tutored me these last months. I have really appreciated and valued your insights and shared knowledge. You have encouraged me as writer, and helped me to sharpen my skills. I have thoroughly enjoyed the time spent in lessons, on assignments, and with your feedback. Honestly, I'm just sad that it's over!

Many thanks for your sound advice and encouragement, even after some hefty periods of silence from me. I am impressed with the quality of LSJ's distance course. I'm a better writer because of it which makes it more than worth the money and effort. It was a bargain.

Writing for children was different to anything I had done before, but with Ellen Renner's support and encouragement, I soon became comfortable with the techniques required. The varied course material covered writing for all ages and by the end of the course I had completely changed the direction I had originally planned. I found studying with the London School of Journalism very worthwhile and easy to fit into my busy lifestyle.

Postgraduate Course in Journalism

Postgraduate Diploma courses offer one of the best routes into modern journalism.

Journalism is changing rapidly, and we make certain that our students fully understand what is required for today - and for tomorrow - so that each individual can maximise the chances of achieving their personal goals.

Some recent employers of our students:

Every year employees at hundreds of companies and governmental and non-governmental agencies from all over the world receive training in writing and journalism skills from the London School of Journalism. The largest single reason is ‘word of mouth’ recommendations - from within the industry and from our students, past and present - and because the quality of our courses and the skill of our tutors have been established for almost 100 years.

Students from the LSJ consistently demonstrate a good grasp of the practical skills and requirements, and obviously have been taught what is needed to be successful journalists.

Whether you are an overseas student or based in the UK, our summer school provides a unique opportunity for you to acquire the fundamental skills required and to receive professional journalism training in small, friendly groups, while at the same time enjoying the sights and culture of London.

LSJ Summer School

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International Sports Journalism MA, PGDip, PGCert

Previous degree

Distance learning available

Student visa accepted?

1 year (full-time)

Share the world’s stories with our International Sports Journalism master’s.

Navigate sports communications in a global context with our International Sports Journalism master’s. You will balance theory and practice covering the following topics:

• sports writing
• sport and globalisation
• digital sports journalism
• the marketing and sponsorship of sport
• critical and ethical issues in sports journalism.

Trailblazers in sports communication

We are internationally celebrated for our sports-related degrees. You will study on the world’s first journalism master’s to explore sport and communications in its global context.

Collaborations with industry professionals

We regularly collaborate with industry professionals to inform course content. As a result, you will explore the latest trends and issues in the sports media.

State-of-the-art facilities

You will learn in our industry-standard Media Production Suite , equipped with:

• a radio studio
• vocal booth
• green screens
• studio-quality sound-system.

Contribute to the Sport Gazette

Kickstart your career by contributing to our online magazine, Sport Gazette . You will create and edit exciting content alongside industry professionals and other students.

Expert teaching and support

Our academics are award-winning journalists, broadcasters, and researchers. View our staff .

Dr Daragh Minogue

Associate Professor and Course Leader - Sport Journalism

Upcoming webinars and events

Postgraduate events

Join us at a postgraduate event

Course content

The modules listed below are the modules that were available to students in the 2023/24 academic year and are illustrative of what may be offered for 2024/25. 

Please note: it is possible that a module listed on the website will not be able to run due to reasons beyond our control. For more information please refer to our course information disclaimer .

Sport, Globalisation and the Media

Digital Sports Journalism

Critical Issues in Sports Journalism

Sports Journalism Project

Sports Writing

Working in the Sports Media

Marketing and Sponsorship of Sport

Entry requirements

Applicants with appropriate professional experience are also encouraged to apply.

Additional requirement information

Applicants should have a desire and capacity to study at postgraduate level for a career in broadcasting, journalism and communications.

We ask every applicant to submit a sample of their journalism with their application. If applicants do not have a recent sample, the programme director will set you a written sports journalism task prior to proceeding to interview. When appropriate, applicants will be interviewed in person or via Skype.

International Requirements

International students should check our country-specific pages for equivalents. If English is not your first language you will need to achieve an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any section. We now accept  IELTS Indicator  test results as proof of your English language level.

Further Information

For more information about entry requirements please email [email protected] .

Fees & funding

September 2024.

International

Additional costs

Your tuition fees will cover the cost of all mandatory elements of your programme. Additional costs could be incurred depending on optional modules chosen and other projects undertaken.

For further information about additional costs please see our additional costs webpage . 

Alumni discount

A 20% tuition fee discount is available for our alumni (undergraduate and PGCE) planning to study this Master's degree. Those studying for a PGDip of PGCert are not eligible for the discount.

You can check on the UK government website to see if you may be eligible for a loan of up to £12,167 to help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate programme.

Home and international students may also be eligible for external sources of funding. International students should check their eligibility for our International Scholarship .

For more information, please look at our postgraduate funding page.

How the degree is taught

Assessment methods.

You will be assessed through a wide range of practical journalism tasks, including working on live sports events. You will produce sports news stories and features, write essays, undertake research, work on team projects and participate in group presentations.

Career opportunities

Our courses offer one of the best routes into sports communications. We will train you to become a content creator for the digital age. Our international graduates work all across the world of sport. Check out these profiles:

• James Pike (USA)
• Louis Olvera (USA)
• Emilia Ottella (Finland)
• Rachel Mathewson (USA)
• Flavia Festa (Italy)
• Olga Bagatini (Brazil)
• Lyes Bouzidi (Algeria/USA)
• Tadhg Creedon (Ireland)
• Caleb Mumtombwa (Zimbabwe) .

Our International Sports Journalism master’s will also help you develop essential transferrable skills, such as communication, creativity, and critical thinking.

Contact our Career Services at [email protected] for further information on jobs and postgraduate opportunities.

Some examples of job roles and areas of work for graduates of International Sports Journalism MA, PGDip, PGCert include:

What our students say about this course...

In Rio, no one really lives on campus at University, whereas at St Mary’s it is so different. I became part of a community.

Marina Isidro

Graduated 2012

Make sure to check our step-by-step guide to application process.

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Useful links

Open Days are a fantastic opportunity for you to meet academic staff. You'll also be able to look around the campus, speak to current students and find out more about services such as Accommodation, Student Wellbeing and Study Abroad.

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USC cancels ‘main stage’ commencement ceremony

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USC announced Thursday that it is canceling its main May commencement ceremony, capping a dramatic series of moves that began last week after it informed valedictorian Asna Tabassum, who had been opposed by pro-Israel groups, that she would not be delivering the traditional speech .

In ending the university-wide May 10 graduation ceremony altogether, President Carol Folt aimed to quell the controversy that grew as the school chipped away at core parts of the ritual , drawing criticism from both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel activists.

The cancellation took place amid unrest on university campuses across the nation stemming from the Israel-Hamas war. On Wednesday at a pro-Palestinian encampment at USC, 93 students and off-campus activists were arrested.

“With the new safety measures in place this year, the time needed to process the large number of guests coming to campus will increase substantially,” USC said in its announcement. “As a result, we will not be able to host the main stage ceremony that traditionally brings 65,000 students, families, and friends to our campus all at the same time and during a short window from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.”

A university spokesman did not reply to a request to interview Folt, who has not spoken publicly about the cancellations.

At least 23 satellite graduation ceremonies at USC’s schools and colleges will continue as scheduled, in addition to smaller departmental receptions.

“We understand that this is disappointing; however, we are adding many new activities and celebrations to make this commencement academically meaningful, memorable, and uniquely USC, including places to gather with family, friends, faculty, and staff, the celebratory releasing of the doves, and performances by the Trojan Marching Band,” USC said in a statement.

The university also announced that it will require tickets for “all commencement events taking place on May 8-11” and direct “all campus access through specific points of entry.”

It said that tickets would be limited to eight per graduating student and that they would not be transferable.

“There will be an appeal process if more tickets are needed,” said the letter, which added that commencement events would include a security screening “similar to those for attending athletic events at the Coliseum.” Guests at the Coliseum enter through a metal detector and their bags are X-rayed. USC also said only clear bags would be allowed at graduation events.

USC valedictorian’s grad speech is canceled: ‘The university has betrayed me’

Asna Tabassum was selected as USC valedictorian and offered a slot to speak at graduation. The university canceled her speech after pro-Israel groups criticized her Instagram.

April 16, 2024

Since citing unspecified security threats as the reason for canceling Tabassum’s speech, USC has seen a series of on-campus protests, including this week’s pro-Palestinian encampment.

University officials had followed their cancellation of Tabassum’s speech by calling off a speech by film director Jon M. Chu and appearances on the main stage by honorary doctorate recipients, including tennis legend Billie Jean King, saying they wanted to “keep the focus on our graduates.”

Some of the smaller commencement ceremonies will still host keynote speakers, including King, who is scheduled to address Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism graduates on May 10.

King has not responded to interview requests from The Times.

National Endowment for the Arts Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, who was also deprived of the chance to receive an honorary degree on the main stage, is scheduled to deliver a May 10 keynote speech to graduates of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy.

Via an NEA spokeswoman, Price declined an interview request.

Actor and activist Sean Penn will also still give a May 11 address to graduates of the Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, according to his representative.

LAPD arrests 93 people at USC amid Israel-Hamas war protests

LAPD officers in riot gear arrested 93 people on trespassing charges as they cleared an encampment at the center of the USC campus that formed in protest against the Israel-Hamas war.

April 24, 2024

The last time the main USC commencement was canceled was in 2020 after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those graduates participated in online and in-person ceremonies the next year, along with the Class of 2021.

“This is a rather unusual commencement, to put it in obvious terms,” said Donal Manahan, a USC biologist who has been the university marshal for the main stage ceremony since 2016. “It’s the whole country going through it.”

William Tierney, a university professor emeritus at USC’s Rossier School of Education and an expert in higher education policy and administration, said he blames Folt for the university’s failure to engage “in difficult dialogues.”

“This president hasn’t even made a statement. She’s gone. She’s invisible,” he said. Instead, he added, “the university has determined it’s a dangerous place and locked it down. ... And now we’ll cancel the main commencement because it is so dangerous for us to have a dialogue.”

“We could protect the Obamas when they came to campus,” Tierney said, referring to former President Obama and his wife attending their daughter Sasha’s graduation last year. “We could protect the campus at other times. But now it’s simply too dangerous? That just fails the leadership test across the board.”

USC junior Lawrence Sung said he was disappointed to not have a chance to celebrate his graduating friends at the main stage event.

“This is a massive overreaction,” said Sung, who studies international relations. “If USC was to choose the worst option at every step of the way in this controversy, this would be it.”

The saga at USC began April 15, when Provost Andrew T. Guzman released a campus-wide letter citing unnamed threats that came after the university announced Tabassum as the valedictorian and a scheduled speaker. Guzman said the attacks were of an “alarming tenor” and “escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security and disruption at commencement.”

Guzman did not say what the threats were or who was targeted. A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department told The Times that the agency had no crime reports regarding violent threats targeting Tabassum or the commencement ceremony.

The complaints focused on a link on Tabassum’s Instagram profile to a pro-Palestinian website that said, “Zionism is a racist settler-colonialist ideology,” and “One Palestinian state would mean Palestinian liberation and the complete abolishment of the state of Israel” so that “both Arabs and Jews can live together.”

Tabassum has denied she supports antisemitic views and said she is being singled out as a hijab-wearing Muslim woman.

Then last Friday, USC called off an appearance by Chu — the director of “Crazy Rich Asians” — and other commencement honorees. In canceling those events, USC cited “the highly publicized circumstances surrounding our main stage commencement program.”

In an interview prior to Thursday’s announcement of the main stage cancellation, Joel Curran, USC’s senior vice president of communications, said the decision about Chu and honorary degree recipients was made in order to avoid putting them “in an awkward situation” to address the valedictorian controversy or the Israel-Hamas war.

“We are putting them in an awkward situation, difficult situation. There have been a lot of conversations around commencement. We do not want to put them in that position,” Curran said.

Last week, 11 members of the Advisory Committee on Muslim Life at USC — more than half the membership — resigned in protest of the decision on Tabassum. Folt had convened the group in mid-2023 amid complaints of anti-Muslim bias on campus.

USC is one of dozens of colleges and universities where tensions have grown in recent weeks over free speech and protest over the Israel-Hamas war, including Columbia, Yale, UC Berkeley and Cal Poly Humboldt.

In its Oct. 7 attack on Israel , Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people and took roughly 240 hostages. Gaza health authorities say Israel’s retaliatory war has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians. According to the United Nations, 2 million Gazans are living in near-famine conditions.

Times staff writers Angie Orellana Hernandez and Jenna Peterson contributed to this report.

More to Read

Photos: Tensions grow as pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses continue

April 26, 2024

Pro-Palestinian protests grow at California campuses as opposing demonstrators clash at UCLA

April 25, 2024

Biden’s Morehouse College graduation invitation draws backlash

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Jaweed Kaleem is a national correspondent at the Los Angeles Times. Based in L.A. with a focus on issues outside of California, he has traveled to dozens of states to cover news and deeply reported features on the complexity of the American experience. His articles frequently explore race, religion, politics, social debates and polarized society. Kaleem was previously based in London, where he was a lead news writer on Russia’s war on Ukraine and spearheaded European coverage for the Times, including the Global California initiative. Before joining The Times in 2016, he reported on religion for HuffPost and the Miami Herald, where he was a member of a Pulitzer Prize finalist team recognized for coverage of Haiti. His reporting has also received awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Society for Features Journalism, the Asian American Journalists Assn., the South Asian Journalists Assn. and the National Headliner Awards.

Matt Hamilton is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. He won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting with colleagues Harriet Ryan and Paul Pringle and was part of the team of reporters that won a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the San Bernardino terrorist attack. A graduate of Boston College and the University of Southern California, he joined The Times in 2013.

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Don’t Miss: Sebastião Salgado at London’s Somerset House

The exhibition, which raises more questions than it answers, has rightfully been a hot ticket during its short run..

Launching a retrospective of Sebastião Salgado must be a daunting task. Salgado has a good claim to be the most famous living photographer; his style is instantly recognizable and endlessly imitated. With images captured in over 100 countries, his body of work documents some of humanity’s darkest stains: displacement, famine, conflict and environmental degradation. To do his work justice, one would need a space that matches the scale of a career that stretches over half a century and has reached every corner of the globe. The responsibility is huge.

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Those in London can find such an attempt at Somerset House, which celebrates Salgado’s career in an exhibition running through May 6. Salgado, who turned 80 this year, is the 17th recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Photography Award and the retrospective is displayed as part of a wider exhibition of the Sony Photography awards.

Salgado is an obvious choice. He would spend years on individual projects that covered a range of subjects: migration, urbanization and industrialization. Before he found his calling as a photographer, Salgado completed a PhD in economics. It was only after his frequent visits to Africa working for the International Coffee Organisation that he decided to quit economics and focus on photography full time, yet his interest in how the forces of geopolitics push against the workers of the world remained a consistent feature in his work.

SEE ALSO: Gianluca Costantini Is Using Art to Change the World

In the 1990s, Salgado stopped photographing for several years; decades of documenting hunger and violence took its toll on his body and mental health. “I lost my faith in our species,” he once said. “I didn’t think it was possible for us to live any longer.”

But Salgado later returned to photography, devoting his energies to documenting wildlife and the natural environment, including in his native Brazil. (In 1998, he and his wife Lélia Deluiz Wanick Salgado founded Instituto Terra, a non-profit committed to environmental restoration in the Rio Doce basin.) His later work has none of the human suffering that characterizes so much of his career, but it shares the same visual language that makes him one of the most recognizable photographers alive: sharply contrasting black and white, strong lighting and deep tonalities. Throughout his long career, Salgado photographed the planet’s most vulnerable, be they people, animals or landscapes.

The range of Salgado’s projects is presented here in Somerset, although none are given the full attention they deserve. Only a small selection of images are presented out of the hundreds that could have been chosen. There isn’t a single weak image in the collection. It’s only when you take a step back that you consider what’s missing.

The images themselves are iconic. The thousands of bodies climbing up and down ladders in a Brazilian gold mine; an explosion in an oil field in Kuwait; the scaly fingers of a Galápagos iguana—all share Salgado’s distinctive black-and-white visual style. There’s no clear flow between the rooms, although some of the images are paired deliberately to mirror their composition and contrast their subjects, like the landscape of the Benaco refugee camp in Tanzania above an image of abandoned babies on a tall roof in São Paolo, Brazil.

There are unavoidable ethical questions in photography, particularly when documenting suffering. In recent years, the role of the photojournalist going into foreign countries to photograph people in desperate situations has been scrutinized. So too has the idea that images of other people’s pain can be considered art. How should we respond to photographs of some of the most distressed people on earth hanging in frames in the East Wing of Somerset House?

Part of me praises the composition of an image showing Tigrayan refugees huddled under the shelter of a tree, and the technical expertise necessary to capture the sunlight falling gracefully through the leaves. Another part of me feels monstrous for even thinking about questions of aesthetics when looking at an image of refugees. There’s no doubt that Salgado deeply cares about the people he’s photographing. The question is whether his audience will.

Salgado once said, “I try with my pictures to raise a question, to provoke a debate, so that we can discuss problems together and come up with solutions.” (Many of his projects were in collaboration with NGOs like Doctors Without Borders, and some of the proceeds from exhibitions and book sales went back to those organizations.) One only hopes that audiences will look at the photographs on display not just as works of art but as calls to action, reflecting on how they relate to present-day challenges like the hunger crisis in East Africa, the war in Sudan and the plight of millions of refugees seeking safety all around the world today.

Though modest in size, the exhibition is a reminder why Salgado is one of the few living legends in photography. The exhibition has rightfully been a hot ticket during its short run. Hopefully, audiences will see the work not just as a cultural signifier but as a provocation to reflect on the inequality that still defines much of our world. Salgado wants his photographs to forge conversations that lead to solutions. In the third decade of the twenty-first century, when the old problems of war and hunger still remain and the new challenges of climate change are causing millions of people to suffer, those conversations are more necessary than ever.

The Sony World Photography Awards 2024 exhibition is at London’s Somerset House through May 6.

• SEE ALSO : Leonora Carrington’s Surrealist Masterpiece Expected to Sell for a Record $18M

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German ministers call on China, Gulf states to contribute climate finance

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• German ministers urge China, others, to fund climate efforts
• Deadline to agree new U.N. climate goal this year
• More need to do their share, development minister says
• Developing countries need $2 trln a year for transition

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Reporting by Riham Alkousaa in Berlin, Kate Abnett in Brussels Additional reporting by David Stanway Editing by Peter Graff and Sharon Singleton

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Riham Alkousaa is the energy and climate change correspondent for Reuters in Germany, covering Europe’s biggest economy's green transition and Europe’s energy crisis. Alkousaa is a Columbia University Journalism School graduate and has 10 years of experience as a journalist covering Europe’s refugee crisis and the Syrian civil war for publications such Der Spiegel Magazine, USA Today and the Washington Times. Alkousaa was on two teams that won Reuters Journalist of the year awards in 2022 for her coverage of Europe’s energy crisis and the Ukraine war. She has also won the Foreign Press Association Award in 2017 in New York and the White House Correspondent Association Scholarship that year.

Kate Abnett covers EU climate and energy policy in Brussels, reporting on Europe’s green transition and how climate change is affecting people and ecosystems across the EU. Other areas of coverage include international climate diplomacy. Before joining Reuters, Kate covered emissions and energy markets for Argus Media in London. She is part of the teams whose reporting on Europe’s energy crisis won two Reuters journalist of the year awards in 2022.

The French industry minister Roland Lescure on Friday launched a call for interest for carbon capture at various sites to help carbon-intense industries abate emissions.

China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) has secured its first yuan-denominated trade finance to import Chinese PV modules for a solar plant in Brazil, official media said on Friday.

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A labor panel under the trilateral trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada ruled in favor of Mexico, which argued the agreement did not have the jurisdiction to review alleged labor rights violations at a mine in the country, Mexico said on Friday.

A Canadian regulator said on Friday a Cenovus Energy subsidiary has been fined C$2.5 million ($1.83 million) for its role in the 2018 oil spill off the country's Atlantic Coast.

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University protests

Trump's hush money trial

Columbia president faces key vote of censure from faculty as protests continue nationwide

By Elizabeth Wolfe, Dalia Faheid, Aya Elamroussi and Nouran Salahieh, CNN

ACLU urges universities to allow campus protests

From CNN's Paul Glader

The American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to leaders at public and private universities Thursday, urging them to make space for student speech and protest.

“As you fashion responses to the activism of your students (and faculty and staff), it is essential that you not sacrifice principles of academic freedom and free speech that are core to the educational mission of your respected institution,” said the letter from the ACLU's executive director Anthony D. Romero and its National Legal Director David Cole.

The organization noted five "basic guardrails" to ensure free speech and academic freedom on campus. But some of that guidance also highlight the challenge for college administrators. The second guardrail reads:

"They must protect students from targeted discriminatory harassment and violence, but may not penalize people for taking sides on the war in Gaza, even if expressed in deeply offensive terms."

The letter also points to previous legal cases and historic moments where law enforcement used "inappropriate and excessive force in responding to protests." And it warned protesters that "violence is never an acceptable protest tactic."

Human Rights Watch statement: The advocacy group also mentioned the rights of protesters in a letter published Friday by the group's UN Director Louis Charbonneau.

"As protests spread to campuses across the country, university administrations should be careful not to mislabel  criticism  of Israeli government policies or advocacy for Palestinian rights as inherently antisemitic or to misuse university authority to quash peaceful protest. Instead, universities should safeguard people’s rights to assembly and free expression," Charbonneau wrote.

Columbia to hold briefing at 5:30 p.m. ET

From CNN's Elisabeth Buchwald

Columbia University officials from the Office of Public Affairs plan to hold a press briefing with reporters on the “ongoing campus situation,” according to a notice sent out Friday afternoon.

The university did not provide any further details on who will be addressing reporters. In recent days, Columbia administrators have been engaging in negotiations with students partaking in the pro-Palestinian encampments on campus. 

CNN will be covering the briefing. For updates following along here.

Emory tenured faculty push for no-confidence vote of university president following violent protests

From CNN's Nick Valencia, Jade Gordon , Kaylin Blue and Eva Roytburg

Emory University faculty gathered on campus to express concerns about the violent arrests that took place on campus on Thursday, with tenured professors calling for the university's president, Gregory Fenves, to step down over the decision to call in state and local police to clear out the protesters. 

Philosophy Professor Dilek Huseyinzadegan spoke to the crowd and said that a police officer pointed a "machine gun" at her head and she was threatened with arrest while she was trying to listen to a student give out the phone number to call her mother. 

Huseyinzadegan added that she "does not feel safe enough to return to campus for the rest of the year," and may not return at all.

Noelle McAfee, the university's Philosophy Department Chair, also spoke at the event and received a nearly minute-long ovation. McAfee was among those detained during Thursday's protest calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. She was not charged and was released on the scene with a citation, she said.

McAfee told CNN she was at the scene to act as an unofficial observer of law enforcement officers when she was detained. 

 "This university has let down our students and I think the faculty is super motivated to express to our students our solidarity with them and to help them flourish as human beings in the world," McAfee said. 

The motion will be sent to the entire Emory College of Arts and Sciences faculty next week, and they will all be able to vote electronically.

UT Austin puts Palestine Solidarity Committee on "interim suspension" 

From CNN's Ashley Killough

The University of Texas at Austin has placed the Palestine Solidarity Committee on "interim suspension," citing the "alleged violation of institutional rules," according to Brian Davis, a spokesman for the university. 

"To be clear, the group is on interim suspension. Not the individuals. Length of suspension is determined by the Dean of Students office," Davis said in a statement. 

The group, which organized Wednesday's event that was met with a large police presence, posted a statement on Instagram Friday, calling the suspension "an attack on free speech to distract from and enable israel’s genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people!"

CNN is seeking clarity on what the interim suspension entails for the group. The PSC was planning to hold a vigil this coming Monday, but it's unclear if that will continue. CNN has reached out to members of the group about the suspension. 

The university has stood by its decision to bring in law enforcement to prohibit the rally from moving forward on Wednesday, resulting in over 50 arrests and multiple clashes between police and students. The Office of the Dean of Students had also issued a letter to the PSC on Tuesday, warning that the event was not approved and the group would face disciplinary action, including suspension, if it proceeded. 

While the group used terminology like "occupy the lawn" in its  promotional posts  for Wednesday's event, PSC members have told CNN they never intended to set up encampments on the lawn or stay overnight, and they had a  schedule  for the event that included study breaks and teach-ins. 

On Thursday, the university's president, Jay Hartzell, released a statement saying the school tried to stop the event because "we had credible indications that the event’s organizers, whether national or local, were trying to follow the pattern we see elsewhere, using the apparatus of free speech and expression to severely disrupt a campus for a long period."

Hartzell also noted that 26 of the 55 arrests were individuals with no affiliation to the university. 

Hartzell said the university has seen 13 pro-Palestinian events take place in recent months without incident, including another one that took place Thursday afternoon on campus.  

Yale faculty split on university's response to protests

From CNN's Samantha Delouya

Two open letters are circulating among Yale faculty reacting to the university administration's pro-Palestinian protests this week, according to the school's student-run newspaper. The story was first reported by The Yale Daily News .

One from the Faculty for Justice in Palestine organization criticized student arrests this week and said that faculty are prepared to stage walkouts and boycott Yale’s graduation ceremonies “if the administration continues to meet students’ demands for disclosure and divestment with silence and punishment."

The other letter denounced Yale's administration for failing "in your responsibility to protect the Jewish students, staff and faculty at Yale." The letter cites alleged examples of protesters intimidating and harassing Jewish students.

The two letters' differing messages underscore the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the protests roiling college campuses across the US, not only for the students but also for academics and other staff.

Virginia Tech encampment does not comply with university policy, school officials say

From CNN's Chandelis Duster

Virginia Tech officials on Friday issued a statement about an encampment on campus, saying they told protesters the event does not comply with university policy.

“Earlier today, a small gathering of members of the university community and others not affiliated with Virginia Tech convened at the Graduate Life Center and placed tents on the lawn,” the university said in a statement. “This gathering was not a registered event consistent with university policy. University officials and Virginia Tech Police responded on site to explain the university’s facility use and event policy ( University Policy 5000 ) and related public safety policies. The university will continue to act in accordance with its policies.”

The statement continued, "The safety and welfare of all members of the Virginia Tech community is the university’s primary responsibility while we remain  unequivocally committed to upholding freedom of speech and academic freedom . This is expressed and upheld through our  Principles of Community ."

New York lawmakers propose legislation that would establish “antisemitism monitor” on college campuses

From CNN's Chandelis Duster and Haley Talbot

Bipartisan legislation announced on Friday by New York lawmakers would empower the US Department of Education to appoint a third-party antisemitism monitor at colleges and universities that receive federal funding.

The bill, College Oversight and Legal Updates Mandating Bias Investigations and Accountability (COLUMBIA) Act, is sponsored by Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres and Republican Rep. Mike Lawler.

If passed and signed into law, colleges chosen would pay for the monitorship and could lose federal funds if they don’t comply, according to the lawmakers. The monitor would also have to release a report every quarter on efforts by the college or university to combat antisemitism and would issue recommendations.

“Rising antisemitism on our college campuses is a major concern and we must act to ensure the safety of students," Lawler said in a statement. "If colleges will not step up to protect their students, Congress must act."

Torres said he and his office have spoken with Jewish students who feel “deeply unsafe, purely as a result of their religious and ethnic identity.”

“This is a blatant violation of Title VI and the federal government cannot allow this to continue unchecked,” he said in a statement. “This past week’s crisis at Columbia is not an isolated incident -- it is the straw that has broken the camel’s back -- and I am prepared to do something about it.”

Head of Hillel International: "This is not an issue of free speech"

Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International said Friday the pro-Palestinian encampments at university campuses nationwide are "not an issue of free speech."

"We're talking about students who god-forbid show their Jewish identity publicly having a kippah or other aspects of their identity literally ripped from their bodies. This is beyond unacceptable," Lehman said Friday at a joint press conference with Jewish student leaders and heads of other Jewish organizations held at Columbia University.

Lehman decried universities that aren't enforcing policies that he said are meant to protect students from harassment. University presidents, however, have received considerable backlash over suppressing free speech for their efforts to disband encampments on campuses including, in some cases, authorizing police to make arrests.

Hillel as an organization supports the right to free speech, Lehman said, adding that "our students are desperate for dialogue."

"But when the debate that's taking place results in the intimidation and harassment and silence of one part of that community, there is not free speech for everyone," he said.

Brian Cohen, executive director at Columbia and Barnard's Hillel, echoed Lehman's remarks at Friday's press conference.

"Students have a right to protest. You have a right to say things that I and others strongly disagree with and even find deplorable," Cohen said. "But protections are supposed to be in place to restrict when and where this activity can take place. They cannot occur 24 hours a day, seven days a week in locations where students live and learn."

Police move closer to students from Paris university pro-Palestinian protest

From CNN's Chris Liakos in Paris and Catherine Nicholls in London

Dozens of police officers dressed in riot gear are outside one of the campus buildings at Sciences Po University in Paris on Friday, appearing to prepare to break up a pro-Palestinian blockade in the main campus building of the major French university.

Police are lined up with riot shields facing the students. Many students are sitting on the ground, waving Palestinian flags and chanting.

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