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Journalism

(Certificate of Higher Education)

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Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Status:
Approved
Duration:
Two to three years part-time
Awarding body:
University of London

Course Overview

Approved by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), this highly practical Certificate of Higher Education in Journalism will develop your journalistic skills from day one. You will improve and hone your writing and interview skills, learn how to write for different audiences and specialist markets, and develop professional writing habits. You will be taught by practitioners with practical journalistic and teaching experience. 

As well as developing your professional skills, you will also learn about the social and political context of your work and the cultural and ethical issues that accompany working as a journalist. You will explore contemporary trends in British mainstream and alternative media, from print and radio to television and the internet. Birkbeck is a leading centre for media and cultural studies, so you will learn about the key figures, theories and approaches within the academic field of cultural studies. 

Option modules let you focus and you can choose to further strengthen your interview techniques, learn more about politics, media and technology, or develop useful production skills, such as sub-editing and layout and design. 

Taking this course makes you eligible to apply for NUJ student membership.

  • How often will I attend classes?

    One evening a week.

    Check the days and times at the top of each module's enrolment page.

  • Progression to degrees at Birkbeck

    Successfully completing this Certificate of Higher Education offers a progression route onto related degrees at Birkbeck, including our:


    Credits gained on this certificate can give you exemption from some modules on these courses. If you are offered a place on one of these degrees, you can apply for retrospective credit for Introduction to Journalism Practice, and Journalism in British Life. You can also receive retrospective credit for your other Level 4 and Level 5 modules, at the discretion of the course director for your degree.

More Highlights

  • Become a journalist from your first day in the classroom, developing your professional skills and improving your future employment prospects. You will acquire up-to-date skills and knowledge from experienced practitioners at the heart of London's global media industry. 
  • In film, media and cultural studies, Birkbeck fosters an especially research-intensive environment and offers an extensive portfolio of internationally respected courses that span a variety of academic disciplines and engage with the latest ideas and techniques in journalism, media and cultural theory, arts policy and management, film and television studies, creative marketing, digital culture and cultural studies.
  • We are also affiliated with a number of research centres and networks, including Birkbeck Interdisciplinary Research in Media and Culture (BIRMAC), the Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image (BIMI) and the Vasari Research Centre for Art and Technology. 
  • We offer a dynamic programme of seminars, events and guest lectures, organised by affiliated research centres and networks.

Teaching and Modules

Teaching

Teaching on this course is in small, interactive groups.

How will I be assessed?

This course is assessed by coursework.

See individual modules for more details.

Entry Requirements

All modules are taught at university level, so you should be able to read, write and speak English fluently.

What are the visa requirements?

Please note that Birkbeck does not sponsor Student visas for Certificate of Higher Education courses.

This means that if you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency or a valid visa here, then you can only study a Certificate of Higher Education on a Standard Visitor visa for courses of less than six months’ duration.

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

Fees

Fees are payable per module and vary depending on the course. Please view the Modules and teaching section and then click on the title of individual modules to see the fees for each module. The overall cost of the certificate will depend on the modules you choose.

Please note: Modular CertHE study is not eligible for student loan funding for study commencing January 2027 onwards.

Careers and Employability

Graduates can pursue career paths in:

  • journalism (newspapers and magazines, print, online and digital)
  • public relations
  • the creative industries.

This course can also provide transferable skills and knowledge to work across a broad range of professional communications roles and settings.

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.

How to Apply

This is a modular enrolment certificate, so you will need to register onto individual modules (rather than onto the course itself). Please view the Modules and Teaching section and then click on the title of individual modules to see class dates and times and to register.