Magazine Journalism and Feature Writing

Description

Studying on one of the longest established and most respected courses in the country, you will gain all the skills you need to enter this growing industry with an impressive portfolio of both written and online work.

The Magazine Journalism and Feature Writing degree at Solent is designed in partnership with leading industry professionals and includes a highly successful work placement programme.

Key elements include:

• At least 120 hours of work experience – helping you develop an impressive portfolio
• Combination of vocational training and academic study
• Using the latest professional digital technology to produce good copy, accurately and to deadline
• Opportunities to visits locations such as Paris, New York and Tokyo to develop industry knowledge and skills
• Guest lectures by leading industry figures to help you build contacts and insight
• Teaching methods include practical workshops, news-gathering experiences and news production days
• Individual support and guidance including copy clinics and tutorials
• Weekly review sessions to analyse progress and support development
• Regular opportunities to feedback to staff – ensuring the course is relevant and effective
• Expert staff team of practising journalists working at leading national publications and able to adapt teaching to meet industry demands.

The course is accredited by the Periodical Training Council, which has joined students in praising the level of industry input on this cutting-edge degree.

Solent is also a Skillset Media Academy, meaning it is officially recognised as a national centre of excellence in media education.

Industrial focus

Employability is at the heart of this course, and in 2011 80% of graduates were working in magazine-related jobs or freelancing for established publications within four months of graduating.

Recent graduates have gone on to work for:

• Glamour
• Grazia
• Empire
• Cosmopolitan
• FHM
• Tesco Magazine
• Sunday Mirror
• Daily Mail
• Sky
• Heatworld.com

The transferable skills and knowledge taught on the course have also helped other students find work in PR, corporate communications and advertising.

Detailed Course Facts

• GBP 9000 Year (EEA)
• GBP 10610 Year (Non-EEA)

• English

Course Content

Year 1

Seven core units:

• Magazines and Cultural Theory
• The Magazine Journalist’s Toolbox
• Magazine Journalism
• The Big Debate
• Layout and Visualisation
• The Culture of the Glossy
• The Multi-Platform Approach.

Year 2

Five core units and two option units:

• Law for Journalists
• The Editorial Hub
• Identity and Celebrity
• Magazine Business
• Magazine Production.

Options:

• Photography Practice
• Persuasion and Propaganda
• Layout and Design
• Making Magazines
• Fashion in Film and Fiction
• Global Affairs
• The Body, the Magazine and Difference
• Fashion and Visual Merchandising
• Work Placement
• Health Journalism
• Education Journalism
• Magazine Production
• Music and Society
• Presenting Skills
• Lifestyle Journalism
• Introduction to Fashion and Styling
• Music Journalism
• Sports Journalism
• Web Layout and Design
• Fashion Strategy.

Year 3

Five core units and two option units:

• Multi-Platform Publishing
• Ethics and the Magazine Journalist
• Life as a Freelance
• Keeping it Legal
• Major Project (Theory, Practical, Digital or Photojournalism).

Options:

• Fashion and Editorial Styling
• Digital Photography
• Reporting Politics
• Fashion and Difference
• Buying, Forecasting and Trend Analysis
• The Fame Game
• Life as a Freelance
• The Title Race
• Advanced Visual Merchandising
• Advancing Technology
• Key Characters in Journalism
• Science and Technology Journalism
• Journalism in Film
• Business Journalism
• Travel Journalism
• Changing the World
• Writing Criticism
• Investigative Journalism
• Creative Entrepreneurship/Freelance Practice
• Fashion and Styling.

(Options are periodically updated and subject to change.)

Why choose Solent?

A dynamic and diverse degree, written and supported by key industry figures, the BA (Hons) Magazine Journalism and Feature Writing will develop your skills as a multimedia writer and designer. You will have the freedom and choice to create your own learning journey and develop specialisms which will open doors and secure employment for those determined to succeed.

Run by industry practitioners and leading academics, the degree is both innovative and challenging, offering students the chance to participate in numerous real-world projects from the Glastonbury festival to producing magazines for brands such as Empire Cinemas.

• Opportunity to visit Paris, New York and the Far East to broaden your mind and your knowledge of the publishing industry on a global scale
• Accredited by the Periodical Training Council (PTC)
• Solent is an exam centre for the National Council for the Training of Journalists, allowing you to sit the NCTJ Law and Teeline shorthand exams at the end of your degree
• An industry-standard study environment with access to the latest technology
• Key industry speakers on a weekly basis plus established links with industry, providing regular live briefs.

Assessment

News and feature articles, research projects, individual and group presentations, essays, reflective journals, live briefs and simulated industry practical production, online packages, magazine page design. There are no exams.

Projects/work experience

This year students have gained work placements at consumer magazines such as Elle, Grazia, Heat, Zoo and Kerrang!, at the Daily Mirror, Sunday Times Travel, The Economist, NME, Bizarre, Cosmopolitan, LOOK and More!, as well as at special interest titles including Press Gazette and The Lawyer, and a range of local and national newspapers.

Key career skills

Copywriting, design skills, presentation, online editing and content management systems, sub-editing, teamwork, creative thinking and analytical skills.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6 TOEFL paper-based test score : 550

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

260 UCAS tariff points to come from A Levels or equivalent qualifications (for example, Level 3 National Diplomas/Awards).

Mature applicants may be considered based on relevant experience, without having the required tariff points.

International students

Applications are welcomed from students who have been educated outside the UK system, and a number of overseas qualifications are recognised as equivalent to those listed. Applicants should give full details of their qualifications, including subjects, grades, date and the name and address of the school, college, university or awarding authority.

Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed threshold attainments for undergraduate courses are:

• GCSE or GCE ‘O’ Level (Grade C);
• IELTS 6.0 or a TOEFL score of 550 or more; or
• City and Guilds ESOL (written assessment) pass in Higher Intermediate examination, plus a comparable pass in City and Guilds SESL (speaking assessment) examination.
• Where students enter direct to a course at the University, in the final year, without any prior experience of the UK Higher Education System will require IELTS 6.5.

Qualifications are checked before enrolment and international students must bring their original certificates when coming to study at the University.

The University also offers an International Foundation Programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than Southampton Solent University.

Funding

To help you cover the cost you can take out a tuiton fee loan to pay your fees, which is paid directly to the University by the Student Loan company. Some students are also eligible for a maintenance loan to help with their living costs.

You only repay both loans when you finish your course and are earning £21,000 or more. If you don't have an income this high you will not have to pay anything until you are earning £21,000 or more.

Our student support and welfare advisers have more information regarding financial help and details can be found on our Funding advice pages.