Journalism (MA)

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
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Course Overview

The MA Journalism at NUI Galway is an innovative, digital-first journalism programme focusing on key multimedia skills needed to work in the new media era. The programme aims to train journalists to work in the fast-paced world of journalism, equipping graduates with essential training in traditional reporting skills for print and broadcast, as well as new media training in social media, audience development and analytics, data journalism, ‘MoJo’, multimedia, social video, podcasting and verification.

NUI Galway has a long tradition of journalism training and all journalism students are required to undertake a rigorous programme of news writing and reporting, broadcasting, media law, politics and current affairs, ethics and regulation, and can choose from a suite of optional elective modules to give them specialist knowledge in niche areas. These elective modules include data journalism, financial journalism, cultural journalism, economic reporting and sports writing and analysis.

Journalism classes take place in the digital newsroom and broadcast studios, completely refurbished in 2019. NUI Galway has partnerships with all major national media organisations and all students are guaranteed an eight week work placement as part of their studies, in semester three (circa May/June).

NEW PROGRAMME FOR 2019: MA Sports Journalism and Communication

Scholarships Available
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.

Applications and Selections

Application is via an online application and competitive interview. To apply, click here.

To apply, upload to your online application your CV, a personal statement of no more than 500 words detailing your interest in the programme and your career aspirations, and at least one sample of your work; for example, a blog post, student media, short radio or television or other media. International applicants will need to supply an English language test result, if English is not your first language.

Who Teaches this Course

Sean O’Rourke, Adjunct Professor of Journalism and presenter, ‘Today with Sean O’Rourke’ on RTE Radio One
Conall O Fatharta, lecturer in news writing and journalist with the Irish Examiner
Fiona McGarry, lecturer in radio journalism and producer, Clare FM
Mike Finnerty, Sports Editor, Mayo News and Sky Sports presenter
Tom Felle, Head of Journalism and former Irish Independent correspondent
Bernadette O’Sullivan, Lecturer in journalism
Liam Horan, former Irish Independent Gaelic Games Correspondent and Sports Editor, Evening Echo

Students also attend regular lectures, workshops and news days with working professionals from a range of backgrounds.

Requirements and Assessment

All modules involve continuous assessment, regular assignments, project work, presentations and portfolio development. Media Law also involves a formal exam during the exam period at the end of Semester One. Following Semester Two, you will complete a professional work placement and either a final journalism project or dissertation during Semester three (summer).

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

To be accepted you must have a minimum Second Class Honours degree, or be in your final year of study and expecting to graduate this Summer. We also welcome applications from people with prior experience in journalism looking to update their skills. English language requirement: IELTS of 7.0 overall with not less than 6.0 in any component.

Additional Requirements

Duration

1 year, full-time or 2 years, part-time

Next start date

September 2020

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

Closing Date

There are two rounds of closing dates: April 30 and July 31, 2020

NFQ level

Mode of study

Taught

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

Course code

1AJ1 (full-time) | 1AJ2 (part-time)

Course Outline

This one-year programme is split into three semesters, with a mix of practical class, theory and context. Students have a busy week with taught classes as well as reporting assignments and independent study. In semester one students work on news reporting practice for print, online and broadcasting in ‘Journalism Bootcamp’. Key ethical and regulatory issues are explored in ‘Journalism Ethics and Regulation’. In Semester Two students work on a hyperlocal website, a local newspaper and produce a drivetime radio show in ‘Multimedia Newsdays’. New innovations, business models and start-up culture are examined in ‘Journalism Innovation, Enterprise and Employability’. Students can also choose from a range of elective modules.

Semester One

Journalism Bootcamp (10 ECTS credits)
Journalism Ethics and Regulation (10 ECTS credits)
Media Law (5 ECTS credits)
Social and Digital Production (5 ECTS credits)

Semester Two

Multimedia Newsdays (10 credits)
Choose 20 credits from a range of modules
- Journalism Innovation, Enterprise and Employability (10 ECTS credits)
- Features Journalism (10 ECTS credits)
- Financial Journalism (10 ECTS credits)
- Sports Journalism (10 ECTS credits)
- Researching the Media (5 ECTS credits)
- Data Journalism (5 ECTS credits)
- Political Reporting (5 ECTS credits)

Semester three

Final Project (30 ECTS credits)

Journalism Dissertation (30 ECTS credits)

Note: you must take Researching the Media in Semester Two if you choose the dissertation option.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (90 Credits)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

This programme prepares you to work as a professional journalist across multiple platforms and graduates have careers at national news organisations including RTE, Newstalk, The Irish Times, Irish Examiner, Irish Independent and a range of local newspapers and local radio. Graduates work in roles including reporters, editors, researchers, producers and on-air presenters as well as new careers in data journalism and analytics, social media production and audience development. Graduates also work in the wider media in PR roles, in policy, advocacy and political communications.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€8,500 p.a. 2020/21

Fees: Tuition

€8,276 p.a. 2020/21

Fees: Student levy

€224 p.a. 2020/21

Fees: Non EU

€16,500 p/a 2020/21

Fees: Part time
€4,310 p.a. 2020/21.

Find out More

Tom Felle
Head of Journalism
T: + 353 91 492 049
E: tom.felle@nuigalway.ie
Twitter: @tomfelle

Quick Links

Paul O’Malley | Journalist, Western People

The Masters in Journalism at NUIG provided an excellent platform for my preferred career choice of working in the media. It provided me with a diverse skill set which gives me the knowledge and ability to succeed in any area of journalism, including print media, radio, television and online media. The course gave me the opportunity to learn from those who had relevant experience in the media industry while also refining my work to be of a professional standard through their consistent and valuable feedback.

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Postgraduate Taught Prospectus 2020 PDF (21 MB)

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