MA Visual Journalism and Storytelling

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

Throughout the programme, you’ll develop competitive skills and knowledge. You’ll also find, tell and publish your own self-directed stories across a range of media to create a portfolio to demonstrate your work to future employers. Your online portfolio will showcase your diverse skills and highlight the specialisms you choose to nurture with us.

Graduates of our established China-based multimedia and visual media programmes have successful careers in diverse roles in online, print and broadcast environments and across a range of national and international media organisations. These include CNN, Getty Images, Reuters, The New York Times, Bloomberg, China Global Television Network (CGTN), The European Journalism Centre, International War and Peace Reporting, UNICEF, UNHCR and Greenpeace.

What can I do with this qualification?

Alternative career options

Graduates can also use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. For some of these roles, relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required. Some of these careers include:

• Public relations
• Digital marketing and advertising
• Marketing communications
• Social media management
• Web content management
• Art and design
• Teaching and education
• News design
• Media research
• Digital strategist
• Brand marketing consultant

Students should assemble their own kit including cameras and laptops. Optional travel and other project-related expenses, including any non-mandatory training, will be covered by the student.

Home/EU Fees

Home students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Home fee of £8,496 for the academic year 2026/27.

International Fees

Overseas students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Overseas fee of £17,500 for the academic year 2026/27.

Bursaries

Click here for more information on our Master's Bursaries.

Important note regarding tuition fees: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

Home Undergraduate Tuition Fee Adjustment

The tuition fee applicable to the first year of your programme of study is confirmed in your offer letter. The tuition fee set is based on the regulations and guidance in force at the time of offer but remains subject to adjustment in accordance with any government-approved inflationary increase. The University reserves the right to amend tuition fees for all years of study, including the first year, by no more than the maximum increase permitted under legislation and regulatory guidance issued by the UK Government and the Office for Students.

Where such increases are approved, they will not exceed the rate of inflation, as measured by an appropriate index such as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), or any successor measure specified by government. The University will apply any adjustment consistently across affected student cohorts and will give reasonable notice to students of any confirmed change to the published fee before the start of the relevant academic year.

This approach ensures that tuition fees remain compliant with applicable legislation, proportionate to inflationary changes, and consistent with government policy linking permitted fee uplifts to the maintenance of high-quality education and outcomes. For more information, please refer to the government guidance at: gov.uk – Universities to deliver better outcomes in return for full fees.

Postgraduate and International Tuition Fee Adjustment

The tuition fee applicable to the first year of your programme of study is confirmed in your offer letter. The University reserves the right to amend tuition fees for subsequent years of study in accordance with its Course Fees Policy. Where such increases are approved, they will not exceed the rate of inflation, as measured by an appropriate index such as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), or any successor measure specified by government. The University will apply any adjustment consistently across affected student cohorts and will give reasonable notice to students of any confirmed change to the published fee before the start of the relevant academic year.

Our teaching and learning strategies help you acquire and develop appropriate concepts, knowledge and skills. You can expect practice-based workshops, self-directed study, lectures, seminars, critiques, tutorials, and presentations. We adopt a blended style of learning and teaching, including online delivery and engagement, where appropriate.

It’s important to realise that the time spent with a tutor during formally scheduled activities is only a small part of the learning time identified for a module. You’ll also need to spend a significant amount of time undertaking guided independent study, such as general background reading, preparing for seminar activities and working on assignments. We’re committed to supporting you throughout your learning journey, but as time progresses, our guidance will become less structured and prescriptive. We’ll expect you to demonstrate significant independence in your study, taking responsibility for managing your own learning time and increasing your autonomy as you progress.

The assessment strategy aims to help you achieve the overall aims of the programme and the learning outcomes for individual modules. As well as being a way to assess your achievement, the assessments also help you organise and develop your learning. Assessment feedback can help you build your skills and understand your strengths and weaknesses.

There are two types of assessment: formative and summative. Formative assessments help you learn and develop your knowledge and skills, while the results of your summative assessments provide your grades. Formative assessment occurs via tutorial discussion, group workshops that include peer and tutor review, and guidance on work in progress. Formative feedback is given face-to-face, online or in written form. Summative assessments consist of both practical and theoretical work. These include practical projects, presentations, and written assessments in the form of essays, portfolios, and production documents.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

• Digital Imaging
• Reporting and Writing News
• Visual Journalism Practice
• Contemporary Currents and Practice
• Visual Storytelling Portfolio
• Journalism Master's Project

Assessment methods

Learning Activities

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.