BA (Hons) Journalism Bachelor's degree at the University of Lincoln
BA (Hons) Journalism at University of Lincoln is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and recognised as a nationally accredited UK degree.
About this course
At Lincoln, a digital newsroom culture offers students the opportunity to develop the skills and instincts of a journalist, from spotting a scoop to developing in-depth feature ideas. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Journalism is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Lincoln, based in Lincoln Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Journalism graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 80% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £25,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Media & Communications, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
First Year 7 modules
- Essential Journalism 1Core
Module details
Introduces students to journalism's most fundamental vocational skills and techniques, including identifying news values, finding original stories, interviewing and researching effectively, and producing journalistic writing for different media platforms. Covers ethical dilemmas and industry codes.
Assessment: Two portfolios which students work towards throughout the module
- Essential Law & Crime ReportingCore
Module details
Introduces students to the legal system, operation of the courts, and examines the impact of legislation and codes of practice on journalism when covering crime stories and the courts.
- Introduction to Higher EducationCore
Module details
Provides foundational knowledge and skills supporting transition into higher education, including study skills (communication, academic reading, personal development), equality, diversity and inclusion, intercultural communication, ethical scholarship, and academic integrity.
- Introduction to Journalism StudiesCore
Module details
Highlights journalism's vital role in democracy, examining economic, political and organisational pressures influencing news production, changing audience expectations, and evolving journalist-source relationships. Explores diversity, representation, ethics, professional responsibility, and the impact of social media and digital technologies.
- Journalism Production OneCore
Module details
Provides a strong foundation for practical multiplatform skills needed in journalism and communications industry. Based on current industry practices and production methods. Will adapt as AI develops and new software and hardware are introduced.
- Politics for JournalistsCore
Module details
Examines how legislation is drafted and enacted in the UK and journalism's role as the Fourth Estate checking Government and Parliament. Covers constitutional government, ministerial roles, political parties, civil service, local government structures, and government information services.
- ShorthandCore
Module details
Teaches the theory of the Teeline system for fast, accurate note taking. Students work on building their speed with the aim of achieving the NCTJ 'gold standard' 100 words per minute qualification.
Second Year 8 modules
- Essential Journalism 2Core
Module details
Progresses fundamental journalism skills while introducing advanced techniques vital for modern media careers. Includes advancing skills in finding original stories, interviewing and researching, and producing writing for different platforms. New advancements include data journalism, live reporting, and press conferences.
Assessment: Portfolio which students work towards throughout the module
- Journalism Production TwoCore
Module details
Delivers practical multiplatform skills ensuring graduating students can succeed in industry. Focuses on delivering the same story across different digital and media platforms. Based on current industry practices and production methods, adapting as AI and new technologies develop.
- Law, Ethics and RegulationCore
Module details
Builds on legal and administrative knowledge from Level One. Examines how criminal and civil legislation affecting print, online and broadcast journalists has developed. Identifies areas of conflict and uncertainty, requiring application of legislation and case law to given scenarios.
- Specialist Reporting and ProductionCore
Module details
Allows students to discover their journalistic voice by specialising in chosen pathway such as TV/radio bulletins, sport broadcast storytelling, magazine design, digital photography, podcasts, or long-form features. Guided by industry-experienced staff with hands-on workshops to develop professional-level skills.
- Ethics and International Human Rights for JournalistsOptional
Module details
Looks at how journalism connects with human rights and why ethics matter. Students learn about freedom of speech, privacy, fair representation, and challenges when reporting on difficult or sensitive stories. Builds skills in making ethical decisions and applying these ideas in real reporting situations.
- Industry PlacementOptional
Module details
Provides continuous experience of full-time work within a journalism, media or communications organisation. The Placement Year constitutes a work placement during an academic year, funded by full-time paid employment, taking place between Level 5 and Level 6. Minimum duration is 39 weeks.
- Journalism and SocietyOptional
Module details
The role of the media as a 'mirror' of society means journalists encounter cross-cultural issues in newsgathering and news processing. This module aims to prepare students to write stories with cultural sensitivity, care and compassion.
- Journalism International ExchangeOptional
Module details
Students have the opportunity to study for a term at one of the international institutions with which the School has a partnership arrangement. Students share classes with local students, live and socialise in another culture, and examine the international journalism industry practice.
Third Year 7 modules
- DissertationCore
Module details
Develops students' ability to carry out rigorous, independent academic research on a journalism-related topic of their choice. Explores key stages of the research process including forming effective research questions, undertaking critical literature review, selecting suitable methodologies, and engaging with ethical considerations. Highlights critical engagement with scholarship, ethical and reflective research practice, and application of theoretical and analytical frameworks to contemporary i
- Journalism Production Three: News and Sport Production DaysCore
- Journalism ProjectCore
- Advanced Court ReportingOptional
- Intro to PR for JournalistsOptional
- Journalists on the ScreenOptional
- Peace and Conflict ReportingOptional
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
At Lincoln, you'll develop the skills and instincts of a journalist within a digital newsroom culture, from spotting a scoop to developing in-depth feature ideas. A course like this typically begins with foundations in media theory, communication and production skills across platforms, then moves into journalism practice, research methods and digital cultures. In your final year, you'll usually choose specialist options such as PR & advertising, film & TV, social media, games & interactive or production portfolio work, alongside an industry project or placement and a substantial piece of journalism or media production. Throughout, you'll blend practical storytelling with critical understanding of how media industries operate.
Who it's for
This course suits those with A-level qualifications or equivalent. Recent entrants typically held A-levels or equivalent qualifications, with a common UCAS tariff band of 112–127 points. The course is taught in English at Lincoln Campus.
University & format
This is a 3-year full-time BA (Hons) degree taught in English at the University of Lincoln, a public university on its Lincoln Campus. The course is accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), and the university holds Gold status for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. Lincoln is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so your degree is nationally recognised.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 100% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code P500). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at University of Lincoln →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Media & Communications graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £25,000 | £23,000 – £29,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £22,000 | £18,500 – £24,500 | 85 |
| 5 years after | £28,000 | £23,500 – £33,000 | 90 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in media & communications · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Media & Communications nationally
National figures for Media & Communications graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Media & Communications courses at the same study level.
Compared with 541 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Media ProfessionalsSOC 2020 249 · 50% of published destinations · ASHE median £40,895
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 40; response rate: 60%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Media & Communications graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Media & Communications graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Media companies
- Agencies
- In-house comms teams
- Broadcasters & charities
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Media & Communications graduates.
Media Operations, VP (Parental Leave Cover)WPP MediaMedia Relations ManagerCommonwealth War Graves CommissionMedia ManagerUS Tech SolutionsMedia Planning and Buying CoordinatorBurberryMedia Sales ExecutiveService ServiceMedia Planner/BuyerDifferent Technologies Pty Ltd.Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £25,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.0 out of 10: NSS 85.4% · in work or study 90% · continued 95%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Lincoln
Media, journalism and communications across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Lincoln Campus
1,962 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Media & Communications right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Lincoln from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Lincoln; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Lincoln’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Lincoln and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Lincoln
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Common questions
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