Routes into journalism

Your options:

There are several ways to become a professional journalist. The most popular routes are obtaining an NCTJ Diploma, studying for a Master's in journalism or securing a traineeship.

No approach is right or wrong and all can lead to success. But, like any profession, you need to put the hard yards in to reach the top.

To make it easier for you, here are some options alumni have taken to enter the industry.

NCTJ Diploma

Provided by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), this qualification will equip you with key skills and prepare you for the newsroom. Training centres, journalism schools and some universities offer NCTJ-accredited courses, so there are plenty of fish in the sea. Here are two of the most popular options with Durham leavers.

Journalism Diversity Fund

Before we begin, it is important to make you aware of the Journalism Diversity Fund. Run by the NCTJ, this is a bursary for those from diverse backgrounds who need financial aid to undertake a diploma.

It is a massive source of support for those who otherwise would not be able to become a journalist. To be eligible for the bursary, you must first have secured a place on an NCTJ-accredited diploma course. An application for must also be completed and, if you pass this stage, you will then be invited to attend an interview with a panel of senior industry figures.

The JDF does generally not apply to courses eligible for a student loan.

For more information, visit their website.

News Associates 

The chances are you know someone who has studied at News Associates, which is now based in London - although there are remote courses available.

At NA's Twickenham headquarters or from the comfort of your own home, you can study from a selection of courses. These typically begin in September, November, February, or March, and comprise the following:

• NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism (in-person full-time fast-track, 22 weeks) in London, commencing February 9, 2026.

• NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism (in-person part-time, 40 weeks) in London, commencing March 7, 2026.

• NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism (in-person full-time fast-track, 22 weeks) in London, commencing September 2026.

• NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Sports Journalism (in-person, full-time, 29 weeks) in London, commencing September 2026.

• NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism (in-person part-time, 40 weeks) in London, commencing October 2026 (estimated).

• NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism (remote part-time, 18 months) commencing November 2026 (estimated).

An application process is necessary to secure a place on one of these courses, with admissions made on a rolling basis. Fees currently range from £5,250 to £6,700.

For more information, visit their website.

PA Media Academy

Another one of the big dogs for NCTJ Diploma courses is the Press Association's Media Academy. 

Again based in London but with no remote-learning option, a range of courses are offered by PA - starting in September and February of each year. These include:

• News Journalism (in-person, full-time, 19 weeks).

• Digital Features (in-person, full-time, 19 weeks).

• Sports Journalism (in person, full-time, 19 weeks).

• Journalism (in-person, part-time, 40 weeks).

Each course costs £5,563. For more information, visit their website.

Master's courses

A popular route for getting into journalism is studying for a Master's degree in journalism. These can be undertaken at swathes of universities, although only a few options are NCTJ-accredited. As expected, pretty much all the courses begin at the start of the academic year.

To pay for any of these options, it may be helpful to secure a student loan. You can do this via the usual route with Student Finance England (unless, obviously, your university is elsewhere).

Let's have a look at some of the most well-trodden university paths.

City, University of London

Continuing with the London trend, a large amount of Durham graduates looking to become professional wordsmiths can be found at City. The university has many MA courses available, including:

• Broadcast Journalism

• Global Financial Journalism

• International Journalism

• Investigative Journalism

• Journalism, Media and Globalisation (Erasmus Mundus)

• Magazine Journalism

• Newspaper Journalism

• Podcasting

Fees for these courses are £12,500 for UK students and £25,650 for internationals. Scholarships are available here.

The application process includes a personal statement, degree transcript (or a provisional one), a CV focused on your experiences in journalism, and you may be invited for an interview.

For more information, visit their website.

Cardiff University

A route often taken by general graduates is to study a journalism Master's in Cardiff. Like City, the Welsh capital's academic hub has an abundance of courses on offer (including an MSc), such as:

• AI and Digital Media Production

• Broadcast Journalism

• Computational and Data Journalism

• Creative and Cultural Industries

• Digital Media and Society

• International Journalism

• International Public Relations and Communication

• Journalism, Media and Communications

• Magazine Journalism

• News Journalism

• Political Communication

Their course fees look to be about £11,700 for UK students and £23,700 with a £2,500 deposit for internationals. As you should with all university courses, please check the individual fees. Scholarship information can be found here.

The applications process, as you would expect, is similar to City's. 

For more information, visit their website.

University of Sheffield

Finally, an option from the North! Sheffield is another post-graduate magnet for aspiring journalists, with the Steel City hosting a selection of courses - all lasting for one year. These include:

• Broadcast Journalism (if you want to be the next Dan Walker)

• Global Journalism

• International Public and Political Communication

• Journalism

• Science Communication

Home fees cost around £12,680, with overseas students being charged £30,625. Scholarship information can be found here.

For more information in general, visit their website.

Traineeships

Now for the Moby Dick of post-graduate options. Trainee schemes are incredibly challenging to obtain and many publications prefer for you to have studied for an NCTJ Diploma or a Master's in journalism before applying. There are also only a handful of opportunities available, especially when it comes to national publications. 

It is difficult to pinpoint when the application processes for such schemes will open, as this often changes year on year. Nevertheless, a great site to regularly check is JournoResources, which constantly advertises trainee schemes. 

Fortunately, our alumni community is packed with incredible journalists who have managed to secure spots on these traineeships at top publications such as the Daily Mail, The Times, the BBC, Bloomberg and so many others. As times passes, we will update this section to include tips and tricks on how to best prepare for these schemes.