MA Investigative Journalism

Build the vital skills in research and reporting that are needed to form robust investigations with the power to change lives and society. Our pioneering Investigative Journalism MA is an intensely challenging programme that focuses on the practical investigative abilities you'll need to succeed.
You will learn how to investigate and communicate across different journalistic platforms. You will develop a range of skills, including how to write clean news copy for print and online platforms, and how to self-shoot, record and produce engaging short films and podcasts. We will teach you how to investigate using open and closed sources, open-source intelligence, data journalistic techniques, access to information laws, financial investigative journalistic techniques, and interviewing (including how to deal ethically and legally with vulnerable people). We will also teach you the basics of ethical undercover work. You will become confident in dealing with legal and ethical difficulties, ensuring that your investigations are professional, powerful and safe.

You should hold an upper second class honours degree or the equivalent from an international institution.
You must be able to demonstrate commitment to journalism through relevant work experience, including regional newspapers, magazines, online, broadcast or student journalism. You don't need a set number of weeks of work experience, but we advise you to get as much as possible, both before and after submitting your application.
As well as new graduates, we also welcome mature applicants with substantial work experience in the industry.

To apply for this course, please fill out your application online and upload all relevant documents, including:
Personal Statement outlining why you wish to take this particular course. You may wish to explain how the course will feed into your future career plans and/or your research interests. You could describe any relevant professional or academic experience you currently have, and explain how it informs your intentions to study. You will need to make sure your statement is specific to our course and institution, and not generic. You may be asked to provide further details if your statement is too generic. For this course, you must provide details of your work experience in journalism. You should also explain what attracts you to investigative journalism, and discuss the a subject you would like to investigate.
Degree Transcript/Provisional Transcript For any and all completed degree courses, we need your final transcript of marks with a clear overall grade. If you have not yet finished your course, please provide a provisional transcript of marks received to date. If your transcript is not in English, please provide an official translation as well as the original documents.
A 250 word article, which should be a write up of an interview you conducted with someone interesting in your local area.
A copy of your CV with your work experience in journalism clearly highlighted.
A copy of your valid passport.
Accepted proof of English Language Proficiency if required.

This course requires the equivalent of an IELTS academic test with an overall score of 7.0 with no less than 7.0 in the writing subtest and no less than 6.5 in any other subtest.