Journalism with Media and Communications Foundation Year

Journalism is the practice of researching, verifying, and communicating information to the public through print, broadcast, and digital platforms. It is a profession that combines rigorous editorial standards with the practical skills of interviewing, writing, editing, and multimedia production, and one that carries genuine civic importance as a mechanism for accountability and public understanding. Studying journalism at degree level means developing both the technical production skills needed to work in the industry and the critical understanding of news values, media ethics, and the changing media landscape in which journalists operate.

At the University of Lincoln this four-year full-time programme includes a media and communications foundation year, providing the background needed for students entering from a broader range of starting points before progressing to the industry-accredited main degree. The course is designed to prepare aspiring journalists to produce news content to a print or broadcast standard, putting journalistic theory into practice in the researching and crafting of real stories. The programme includes a sandwich placement year and a work placement component, giving you substantial professional experience in newsrooms or media organisations before you graduate.

The typical entry tariff of 120 points reflects the accessible entry that the foundation year creates.

You will develop skills in news writing, interviewing, sub-editing, digital publishing, broadcast production, and data journalism, alongside the critical understanding of media law, ethics, and regulation that professional journalism requires.

Graduates pursue careers in print, online, and broadcast journalism, as well as in public relations, content marketing, documentary production, podcasting, and corporate communications. Postgraduate study in journalism, media law, or communications is a well-established route for those wanting to specialise or develop expertise in specific areas of practice.