Journalism and Publishing

This course combines hands-on journalistic and publishing experience with a critical understanding of global media industries and audiences - the context in which you’ll work.

You’ll learn to use industry-standard software, with opportunities to develop your abilities in image use, video, digital production and collaborative, project-based working.

The flexibility of the course enables you to tailor it to suit your interests and ambitions - you can choose to spend more of your time on either journalism or publishing elements.

During the course, there are many opportunities to gain high-quality work experience with leading international media companies such as the BBC, Penguin Random House, individual TEDx events and a wide range of local and regional news, magazine and digital content companies.

You'll leave with a wide range of transferable skills, and a stunning portfolio of journalism and innovative publications relevant to the area of the industry in which you want to work.

Year one
We’ll teach you the core skills of journalism: concise, meaningful and accurate writing and solid desk research skills. Fast-turnaround deadlines will get you used to quickly assessing and distilling information.

You’ll experiment with different types of content and take creative risks to make exciting, new, innovative publications. You’ll be introduced to the contemporary global media industry, learn how to edit your work, and produce publications using industry-standard software.

Year two
Alongside enhancing your writing skills and learning how to develop original research material, you’ll explore digital storytelling techniques for multiplatform journalism and social media campaigns. These might include photography, video, podcasting and live creative content-making for major events on Twitter and Instagram.

Optional modules allow you to focus on specialist areas, both practical and theoretical, such as international journalism, data journalism, science journalism, and publishing skills for social enterprise and charity work.

Year three
You’ll gain a solid grounding in the latest digital publishing techniques. With the expert guidance of tutors, you’ll plan and create your own journalism portfolio and undertake a substantial individual project tailored to your interests and career plans.

Optional modules offer specialisation in areas such as digital content strategy, magazines, investigative journalism, and lifestyle and entertainment journalism. Specialist careers coaching is provided within the course to help you land a job in your area of choice.

You’ll be assessed by practical and creative coursework, including portfolios of your writing, multiplatform journalism and publications, essays, reflective commentaries and reports. In some modules you’ll share your work through short, informal presentations.

You’ll be taught through creative workshops, skills labs, seminars, one-day challenges, reporting days, and lectures.

A wide range of visiting journalists and media publishers will offer insights from the front line of contemporary journalism.

Ongoing tutor feedback and workshop exercises will help you to develop your work to a high level.

You'll learn to be adept at project management, whether for a particular story you are working on, or for a larger project.

Throughout the course, you’ll work to briefs set by your tutors or industry collaborators, or your own negotiated briefs.

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

You’ll have the opportunity to participate in fieldwork across Journalism and Publishing modules.

We spend much time creating and negotiating high-quality work experience opportunities on your behalf with leading international media companies such as the BBC, Penguin Random House and individual TEDx and X Media Lab events, alongside a wide range of local and regional news, magazine and digital content companies.

During your course, you’ll have the opportunity to work on live projects and collaborations. You’ll also be able to contribute to multiplatform student magazine, Milk, and be part of the vibrant Publishing and Journalism Society, which holds workshops, talks and social events throughout the year.

Specialist careers coaching is provided within the course to help you land a job in your area of choice. We support applications for a range of paid internships and work with industry contacts to develop internship and work experience opportunities for students.

We have an excellent track record in helping students gain graduate level jobs.

Journalism and publishing skills are extremely transferable, enabling you to work in a wide range of additional professions including publicity, social media marketing, digital content development, web editing and brand development.

Publishing graduates have been employed in a variety of roles, including Digital Editor, Production Assistant, Publications Officer, Digital Marketing Coordinator, Social Media Executive and Project Manager. Graduates have been employed by major publishing companies including:

• BBC
• Future Publishing
• Taylor & Francis
• Penguin Random House
• Immediate Media.

If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.

You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.

The Professional Placement Year (PPY) provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Before your PPY, you'll work to identify roles of interest and secure a placement. The Placements Team will support through timetabled sessions and 1:1 appointments.

As well as completing a minimum of 900 placement hours, you will complete two assessments demonstrating your skill development, growth in professional behaviours and how the PPY has impacted your future career aspirations.

Aiming to make work experience more accessible, we have introduced the PPY Bursary. Students undertaking a PPY can receive between £500 and £1,500 to be used towards placement costs such as travel, food, workwear or accommodation.

For more information and details of eligibility criteria, please visit the PPY Bursary webpage.

Journalism and Publishing is taught on our Newton Park campus. You'll have access to a wide range of excellent facilities, including:

• Publishing Labs: digital and print making spaces
• Reuters Business Lab: professional news facility
• Newton Park library
• Commons building
• Our Virtual Learning Environment (Ultra).

As a Journalism and Publishing student, you'll benefit from:

• The latest specialist software, as well as print and publishing equipment including digital cameras, iPads and booklet makers
• Experienced technical demonstrators to support you
• Free online resources to increase your software expertise through LinkedIn Learning
• Free equipment hire with SISO, Bath Spa’s equipment loan system.