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Journalism and Publishing (Professional Placement Year) at Bath Spa University - UCAS

Bath Spa University

Degree level: Undergraduate

Journalism and Publishing (Professional Placement Year)

Course options

2025 - 2026
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Bath Spa University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

30Nov
Bath Spa University undergraduate open day
Undergraduate
11Jan
Bath Spa University undergraduate open day
Undergraduate

Course summary

Become a journalist for the twenty-first century and tell the stories that matter with our publishing and journalism degree.

  • Develop a stunning portfolio of digital journalistic writing from environmental campaigning to lifestyle features.
  • Gain high-quality work experience with major media companies and student magazine Milk.
  • Build skills for a career in the creative sector, including digital marketing, audience analysis and compelling copywriting.
This is an exciting time to be a journalist. With digital storytelling at the heart of contemporary reporting, stories are now told across a range of platforms and the industry is being transformed to meet the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. We aim to develop a new generation of highly-skilled, pro-active and agile creatives with a nose for a story. You’ll understand the power of image and video content. You’ll develop a range of research approaches to give your work originality and depth. You’ll have opportunities to work on journalistic briefs and digital social campaigns for a wide range of organisations, as well as live reporting at events such as TEDx and the Historical Writers’ Association Awards. You’ll enjoy our unique campus, surrounded by wildlife and a beautiful 18th-century landscape, perfect for social media nature stories or collaborations with our wildlife conservation students to share environmental stories. This flexible journalism course is designed to let you focus on your interests and passions across a range of areas including fashion, environment, science, entertainment, sports and politics. You’ll play to your strengths, whether in news and investigative features, consumer and independent magazines, or creative campaigns across social platforms. With industry-standard facilities and specialist workshops in print, digital and live content, we aim to ensure that you graduate as an expert in publishing software and digital production techniques, along with a strategic approach to creative content development. You'll also get specialist journalistic insights through the CORQ Brand Briefings, access to key industry resources such as Nielsen Bookscan sales data, the BookMachine online industry community and Society of Young Publishers South West events, some of which are hosted at the University. More about the Professional Placement Year A Professional Placement Year (PPY), traditionally known as a sandwich year, is where you undertake a period of work with an external organisation for between 9-13 months. The placement occurs between your second and final years of undergraduate study. You can engage in multiple placements to make up the total time and are required to source the placement(s) yourself, with support from the Careers team. The PPY Bursary can make work experience more accessible, with students undertaking a PPY able to receive between £500 and £1,500 to be used towards placement costs such as travel, food, workwear or accommodation.

Modules

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 - Professional Placement Year. Year 4 - 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.

Assessment method

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.

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
S175
Institution code:
B20
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 4

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English Language Requirements for International and EU Applicants. - IELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1
EU £17670 Year 1
International £17670 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Journalism and Publishing (Professional Placement Year) at Bath Spa University - UCAS