Journalism BA (Hons)



Over the last 30 years we have regularly been the #1 Journalism degree programme in Scotland and top ten in the UK
The Guardian University Guide

Course overview

From the start of your time at Edinburgh Napier we treat you as a working journalist, challenging you to work on real news stories and build an understanding of how audiences consume news.

Our course provides you with a practical grounding in multi-platform journalism, introducing you to a wide range of formats and techniques. You’ll also gain a critical understanding of how to produce news, sport and feature stories, while also building a critical understanding of regulation, ethics and media law.

Our emphasis on employability means that you’ll be taught by professional journalists about everyday life in the industry. With strong links to news organisations like the BBC, STV, The Herald, The Scotsman, Bauer Radio, Sky Sports and many more, you’ll have opportunities to build contacts and learn from established journalists. Journalism is constantly evolving and we’re committed to reflecting industry developments so we can produce confident, informed graduates with the strongest possible skillset. Our student-led news brand ENRG gives you the opportunity to start producing journalistic content from day one.

The course provides the opportunity to study at a partner university overseas.

Students working in the Broadcast Newsroom at Merchiston Campus

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

4 years

Start date:

Sep

UCAS code:

P500

Placement:

Yes

Study Abroad:

Yes

Course details

This is a full-time course studied over four years. Our aim is to produce converged journalists with the knowledge and transferable skills to work across different journalism platforms. Our curriculum is developed to reflect the latest industry trends, including how news is sourced, consumed and regulated. The course builds insight into the media industry, developing a sophisticated skillset that will aid employability.

You will gain practical experience in reporting across print, digital platforms and broadcast, including TV camera operation, audio and video editing and social media production. In Newsday modules, you’ll produce radio, TV and online news giving you real insight into how newsrooms work.

  • calendar

    How you’ll be taught

    You’ll learn through a variety of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials, specialist workshops, practical work in our TV and radio studios and independent study.
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    Assessments

    As part of your programme of study, you’ll experience a variety of assessments, though the vast majority fall into two categories:

    • practical work (such as news stories, feature articles, TV & radio reports, multimedia content)
    • academic essays, demonstrating your understanding of the theory behind a subject
  • study abroad

    Study abroad

    You'll have the opportunity to study a broad range of disciplines within journalism, specialising in your chosen area in Years 2 and 3. We have excellent links with universities worldwide and you'll have the opportunity to study in Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain or the USA.
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    Facilities

    This course is taught in person at our Merchiston campus.

Popular modules

Year 1

  • Global Current Affairs
  • Introduction to Reporting
  • Mobile Journalism
  • News writing
  • Podcasting
  • Public Affairs for Journalists

Year 2

  • Advanced News Writing
  • Feature Writing
  • Media Law for Journalists
  • Multimedia Content Production
  • Radio News
  • Literary Journalism/Sports Journalism/Covering the Arts (Option)

Year 3

  • Magazine Production
  • Information, Communication & Society
  • TV News
  • Investigative Journalism
  • Digital Platforms
  • Documentary Practice - Film/Video or Radio/Audio

Year 4

  • Dissertation (Option)
  • Major Project (Option)
  • Newsdays
  • Professional Development
  • Project Research
  • Content Research (Option)
  • Journalism Futures (Option)

Meet your Programme Leader and Teaching Team

Throughout your studies, you'll learn from experienced professionals and industry leaders who bring valuable expertise, insight and real-world perspectives to your learning experience.

Programme Leader: Miranda Hurst.

Course tutors include: Eamonn O'Neill, Simon Pia, Allan Boughey, Ivana Ebel, Aleksandar Kocic, Carolyn Scott, David Tanner.

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Edinburgh Napier celebrates 50 years of Journalism

In 2025, Edinburgh Napier University celebrated 50 years of pioneering journalism training with a special event at the Scottish Parliament.

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for Journalism?

Our entry requirements indicate both Standard and Minimum qualifications with which we normally accept students. Competition for places varies from year to year and you aren't guaranteed a place if you meet the minimum qualifications.

Can you go straight into second year of university?

Advanced entry into Year 2 or Year 3 of this course is possible for students with suitable qualifications. See the individual year tabs for more information.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the undergraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

Minimum Year 1

Scottish Higher

  • Standard Entry Requirement: ABBB including English or Media Studies.
  • Minimum Offer Entry Requirement: BBCC including English or Media Studies.

You may be given an adjusted offer of entry if you meet our specified minimum entry requirements within our widening participation criteria, and outlined in our Contextual Admissions Policy. Click here for further information about our entry requirements and admissions policies.

A Level

  • BBC including English or Media Studies.

Irish Leaving Certificate

  • H2, H2, H2, H3 at HL including English (Media not offered).

BTEC (QCF) Extended Diploma Level 3

  • Minimum grades DMM (Distinction, Merit, Merit) in a relevant subject plus Grade C in A Level English or Media Studies.

BTEC (QCF) National Diploma Level 3

  • Minimum grades D*D* (Distinction*, Distinction*) in a relevant subject plus Grade C in A Level English or Media Studies.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

  • Award of Diploma with 29 points overall with three HL subjects at grades 6,5,5 including Grade 5 in English (Media not offered).

T Level

  • Grade Merit
  • T Level must be completed in a English/Literary subject or A Level English or Media Studies may be required. Please contact ugadmissions@napier.ac.uk to check if you meet the subject specific requirements. 

Literary subjects accepted

*Literary subjects accepted: Modern Studies, History, Psychology, RMPS, Theology, Media Studies, Philosophy, Politics, Sociology, Geography, Latin, Classics, A level Government and Politics, A level Classical Civilisation, A level Drama.

Minimum Year 2

Scottish Advanced Higher

  • BBC including English

A Level

  • BBB including English or other literary subject*

HNC

  • Pass HNC in Creative Industries: Media and Communication, Practical Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations, Radio or Creative Industries: Television with grade B in the graded unit.

Literary subjects accepted

*Literary subjects accepted: Modern Studies, History, Psychology, RMPS, Theology, Media Studies, Philosophy, Politics, Sociology, Geography, Latin, Classics, A level Government and Politics, A level Classical Civilisation, A level Drama.

Minimum Year 3

HND

  • Pass HND in Practical Journalism, Radio or Creative Industries: Television with grade B at SCQF Level 8 in all graded units.

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test. The English Language requirements for this programme are IELTS (Academic) with 6.5 overall with no element below 6.0.  For guidance on the acceptability of other English Language tests please contact ugadmissions@napier.ac.uk.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English. Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

If you do not currently meet our minimum English language requirements, we offer a number of pre-sessional English language courses which could help you achieve the required level. 

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • MSc Nursing courses
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2026/27 2027/28
Scotland £1,820 £tba
England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £9,790 tba
Overseas and EU £18,220 tba

Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland will be invoiced the tuition fees for 3 years of their 4 years of study.



Tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other tuition fee matters, please see our Fees and Funding links above.



If additional compulsory costs other than the tuition fees are applicable, these will be detailed in the course details.



Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.




Careers & employability

Students working on computers in the Broadcast Newsroom at Merchiston

Career opportunities include:

Our graduates have an impressive track record of gaining employment with news organisations and the wider media profession. This course can lead to a number of careers in the following areas:

  • Newspapers
  • Magazines
  • Radio
  • Television
  • Digital
  • Multimedia
  • News agencies
  • Communications and Public relations

Recent graduates have gained full-time work with employers such as the BBC, STV, The Herald, Sky News, Channel 4 News, Al Jazeera, Virgin Radio, Bauer Media, Mail Online, Daily Record, Edinburgh Live, Agence France-Presse, Deadline News, The Guardian, Washington Post, and more.

Student with headphones at computer working on an audio project