Journalism BA(Hons): What our students say

Watch a video to find out why you should study Journalism at Kingston University:

"The Journalism course at Kingston University not only gives you the practical skills needed to be a good journalist, but also an understanding of issues facing the industry today.

"I found the mix of hands-on journalistic training, alongside theory and analysis to be just right. Having finished my degree I now feel I could work in a newsroom, and understand how the industry works. Unlike some other courses in the country, this degree shows you how to be a journalist through hands-on experience and evaluation of factors affecting the media, such as law and ethics.

"The first two years of the course gave me the basic skills - interviewing, news writing and shorthand - every journalist needs, whatever they are writing about and wherever their work is appearing. I was also taught multimedia techniques like layout and online journalism, which are essential in the modern newspaper and magazine industries.

"My third year was the most exciting because I was able to apply what I had learnt during two work placements, one at The Observer and the other at the music magazine Plan B. Undertaking a work placement is part of the course, as is working on the University paper, The River. The River was probably the most rewarding and memorable part of the course. It was an intense and realistic working environment, and every hour we put in (and there were many!) proved to be worthwhile, given the quality of the finished product we produced.

"Every step of the way we had the support of lecturers who are experienced, well respected, and still involved in the industry. This course is probably worth choosing for their guidance alone. There are plenty of opportunities to get to know the staff and students at the regular guest lectures and social events, such as the infamous journalism Christmas party.

"As well as getting advice from lecturers, I found that by the third year, my fellow students were helping me with issues relating to journalism. It was great that my friends were from such diverse backgrounds and all had interests in different areas of the profession. This was particularly helpful when working on The River and meant the course was never boring.

"Now that I have finished university I feel that I have gained enough experience from my time at Kingston to be in a good position when looking for a job. I have cuttings from my placements and time on The River to show potential employers, along with the high quality news and feature writing, and multimedia skills newspapers and magazines are looking for.

"Kingston as a town is a great location and the perfect place for students. There are plenty of student-friendly bars, clubs, and restaurants, as well as the expansive and picturesque Bushy Park situated right next to the Thames. Being so close to central London means there is easy access to resources like the British Library, and all the country's major media employers, so it is especially well placed for journalism students. Yet somehow it doesn't feel like a city at all, and is just the right size to be able walk everywhere - giving you the best of both worlds."

"The Journalism course at Kingston has been fantastic. From day one it's been so practical and engaging. You are chucked right in and given the task of writing features, interviewing people, researching news stories and any number of other assignments within weeks of arriving. By the end of the year you can really feel yourself becoming a competent writer.

"In the first year we were taught exactly how to write features and news stories, the importance of primary research, and how to conduct interviews. Then, almost immediately, we were let loose to cover whatever took our fancy. This was so good for my confidence, and meant that from day one I was building on the skills I was being taught, and putting them into continual practice.

"There are many opportunities for group work on the course, too - for example, in year two we were involved in making a website. The growing importance of a ‘multimedia' approach to journalism has always been emphasized, and to have this incorporated into the course gave me a chance to learn and develop many computer and design skills that will certainly be going on my CV.

"Alongside the more obviously journalistic sides of the course, we were also given insight into non-fiction writing, and several modules required academic essays, rather than journalistic articles, so there was no chance I would forget these essential skills! I was able to become a much better researcher through writing these essays, trawling through masses of library books and structuring my writing accordingly - all skills I have been able to positively apply to my journalism.

"The third year was perhaps the best for me. I felt that all of the skills I had been taught all came together, and through the modules available I was really given the chance to put them into practice.

"The students each apply for a role on the student newspaper The River, and produce the entire thing from scratch - supplying the stories, laying out and designing the pages, sending it off to the printers, and ensuring all 4,000 copies are distributed all over the University's various campuses.

"The chance to do this was, for me, the most rewarding part of the course. To see the finished result after putting in so much hard work as a team - an entire newspaper created by your close-knit group - with your name in print next to a story you had shed tears over was really fulfilling.

"Another compulsory element of year three was to spend ten working days on a work placement. Again, the experience and chance to reflect on that in class, and with our lecturers, was vital. It is also a fantastic thing to put down on your CV, and has prepared me immensely for the working world.

"One of the best attributes of the course is the lecturing staff - between them, they make sure there is not a second of wasted time on the course. I felt throughout my three years at Kingston that I was being taught by the best. My tutors offered me continual support, and brought to the course such enthusiasm, encouragement, and a real zest for what they were doing that this has really rubbed off on me.

"The advice they offer students, drawn from their extensive experience in the industry, is priceless, and the contacts that they have brought to the University have helped to make this course unique. We have been lucky enough to sit in small lecture halls with some big names that, thanks to the lecturers and their contact books, happily chatted away about the vital tools needed for journalism and answered any and all of the questions we threw at them. I feel lucky to have met some of these professionals.

"The course as a whole has been hugely energetic, productive, and practical. I feel I am walking away with a mammoth amount of skills and experience. I could not have asked for more from the thrills of uni life - or for a course that would keep me more motivated and excited. I'm extremely sad to be leaving."

"One of the best things about the Journalism course at Kingston University is the range of skills you learn and the variety of journalistic areas you cover. Whether it's researching, writing, sub-editing, interviewing, designing web pages, making a magazine, finding an eye-catching news story or writing an inspiring feature, the practice and experience provides a real insight into what being a journalist involves.

"Modules like Print Journalism and Online Journalism taught me how to work across a multimedia platform and develop my writing style for both print media and websites.

"Writing the News modules trained me to find, research and write different types of news stories under pressure to meet tight deadlines. It gave me the opportunity to expand my portfolio and interview a variety of people. Being taken to Kingston Crown Court to report on cases was especially exciting. Our intensive shorthand course proved invaluable for taking down notes during court hearings and interviews.

"Making an actual magazine and website in the second year taught me a lot about design software like QuarkXpress, Adobe Indesign, and Dreamweaver. Having to generate ideas, come up with the content, and design and lay out the pages really opened my eyes to the pressures of both the editorial and production sides of journalism. Collaborating on virtual publication is also a brilliant way of getting to know your course mates, as you all share roles and responsibilities.

"Working on the University paper The River was one of the best, most exciting and fun experiences. The long hours and endless laughs mean your team quickly become your second family. Being placed in an editorial role and then acting as a writer gives you a real sense of what working on a newspaper is like. You end up working on all aspects of the paper, like commissioning articles, researching pictures, laying out pages, writing witty captions and headlines - and doing endless subbing.

"The compulsory two-week work placement in the final year serves to put all the skills students have developed in the previous two into practice. It is a brilliant opportunity to find out if journalism is really for you and make some useful contacts that can turn into potential employers. It also looks great on your CV when you graduate, as work experience in the field is vital these days when trying to get a job.

"The Individual Research Project and Dissertation modules give you the chance to focus on your own particular interests. I really enjoyed the freedom to carry out in-depth research into something that I was passionate about. The scope of the work was challenging but seeing the end result was definitely satisfying.

"During my time at Kingston I found all the journalism staff were really friendly and were always willing to help and give useful advice."