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Last modified: 2026-10-01

# Studying Journalism Abroad: Where to Study, How Selection Works and What It Costs

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Journalism abroad is taught at universities as a 3–4-year bachelor's or a 1–2-year master's. There is no licence to practise, so employers look at your published work, your language and your newsroom experience rather than at the diploma itself. Language sets the real entry bar: UK master's programmes ask for IELTS 7.5, German degrees are taught in German, and you will be expected to write at near-native level. Prices for 2026–2028 range from no tuition at TU Dortmund to $34,150 (£25,700) for a one-year master's in Cardiff and $71,802 for an academic year at Northwestern University.

| At a glance | What to know |
| --- | --- |
| Licence | None. Portfolio, language and newsroom experience decide |
| Levels | Bachelor's 3–4 years; master's 1 year (UK) or 2 years (continental Europe) |
| Language | IELTS 7.5 at Cardiff and Sheffield; German-taught degrees in Germany |
| Cost per year | From $0 tuition (TU Dortmund, semester contribution extra) to $71,802 (Northwestern, 2026/27) |
| UK professional standard | NCTJ accreditation: students sit NCTJ diploma exams alongside university assessment |
| Post-study work in the UK | Graduate visa: 2 years if you apply by 31 December 2026, 18 months from 1 January 2027 |

A television news studio before a broadcast: cameras, lighting and set. Photo: Vini6305 / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Est%C3%BAdio_da_TV_Bahia_(2022).jpg), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

## Four kinds of programme hide behind one word {#section-1}

Before you compare countries, decide which type of degree you actually want. Entry tests, language demands and job outcomes differ.

| Programme type | What you learn | Who it suits | Typical title |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Practical journalism | reporting, interviewing, editing, video and audio, media law; shorthand in many UK schools | future newsroom reporters | BA/MA Journalism, MA News Journalism |
| Media and communications | media theory, audience research, media policy | research, analysis, PR | BA/MA Media and Communications |
| Media management | media economics, production, digital products | producers and managers | MA Media Management |
| Specialisms | data, science, finance, international affairs, photojournalism | applicants with a subject already | MA Data Journalism, Financial Journalism |

A common mismatch is enrolling on a media-studies degree when you wanted to report. If newsroom work is the goal, look for a teaching newsroom, a required placement and a media-law module in the curriculum.

## First decide which language you will work in {#section-2}

A reporter sells words to readers in their own language, so journalism is more language-bound than most fields. Three realistic scenarios:

1. English-language media. You need English good enough to edit other people's copy. Cardiff asks for IELTS 7.5 with 7.5 in every component; Sheffield asks for 7.5 with at least 7.0 in each.
2. German-language media. Public universities charge no tuition, but you study and are assessed in German. This pays off if you intend to live and work in Germany.
3. International, remote or adjacent roles. Data skills, video, fact-checking and editing matter more than the badge. English-taught programmes in Denmark, the Netherlands, France or Turkey fit here.

## Where to study: routes compared {#section-3}

| Country or format | Language | How you apply | Example and price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| United Kingdom | English | UCAS for bachelor's; direct application for master's | Cardiff, MA News Journalism, 1 year: $34,150 (£25,700) for overseas students starting in 2027, deposit $3,990 (£3,000) |
| Germany | German | admission ranked by grades (NC), prior newsroom internship required | TU Dortmund, B.A. Journalistik, 8 semesters, one-year newsroom traineeship built in; no tuition |
| Denmark and the Netherlands | English | programme's own application, written reflections, media experience | Erasmus Mundus Journalism (Aarhus, Amsterdam and other universities), 2 years: $10,220 (€9,000) in year one and $13,630 (€12,000) in year two for the 2027–2029 intake |
| France | English and French | school's own platform, essays, interview | Sciences Po journalism master's: $23,440 (€20,640) a year for families outside the EEA, 2026/27 |
| United States | English | application with essays and references | Northwestern University (Medill): undergraduate tuition $71,802 for 2026/27 (three quarters at $23,934) |
| Turkey | English or Turkish | school certificate and language test | see our page on [journalism in Turkey](https://www.studyu.org/en/program-journalism) |

Two details matter. At Dortmund the one-year traineeship (Volontariat) runs in semesters 7 and 8, and a four-week journalism internship completed beforehand is a condition of enrolment. Erasmus Mundus Journalism is highly selective: up to 700 applications a year for roughly 80–90 places.

For what "free" study in Germany still costs, see [tuition-free university education in Germany](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-free-university-education-germany).

## How selection works {#section-4}

Admissions panels want proof that you can find a story and finish it. Expect to provide:

- Writing samples: two to four published or class pieces. Reportage and interviews beat opinion essays.
- A statement or programme questions: which beats you want to cover and why this programme.
- Evidence of experience: Dortmund will not enrol you without the four-week internship; Erasmus Mundus Journalism scores media experience explicitly.
- An English or German certificate with a strong writing score.
- An interview or timed task, common in UK and French schools, sometimes including live editing.

### What NCTJ accreditation means

Many practical UK courses are accredited by the NCTJ, the National Council for the Training of Journalists. Students sit the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism exams alongside university work; Cardiff's MA News Journalism also trains shorthand to 100 words per minute. UK regional and news employers know this standard well. Outside the UK it is helpful but not required.

## Bachelor's or master's? {#section-5}

A journalism bachelor's makes sense if you are sure you want to work in that country's newsrooms and can study in its language for three or four years. Applicants with a Russian or similar 11-year school certificate usually need a foundation year for UK bachelor's entry; Manchester, for example, states this directly. See our guide to the [UK foundation year](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-foundation-year-in-the-uk).

A master's is often the better investment. Many strong journalists first studied economics, law, history or computing. A UK MA lasts a year and delivers core skills plus the NCTJ diploma; two-year European programmes go deeper into research and international reporting. Most master's courses accept any bachelor's degree plus evidence of published work.

## What it costs and what the fee covers {#section-6}

| Programme | Period | Fee | Not included |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cardiff, MA News Journalism | starts September 2027, 1 year | $34,150 (£25,700) | housing, visa, immigration health surcharge |
| Erasmus Mundus Journalism | 2027–2029 intake, 2 years | $10,220 (€9,000) + $13,630 (€12,000) | housing, moves between countries |
| Sciences Po, master's | 2026/27, per year | $23,440 (€20,640) | housing, application fee |
| TU Dortmund, B.A. Journalistik | 8 semesters | no tuition | semester contribution, living costs |
| Northwestern, undergraduate | 2026/27 academic year | $71,802 | insurance $5,996, housing, fees |

Erasmus Mundus Journalism awards scholarships to the 10–15 highest-ranked applicants of any nationality: a full tuition waiver, $1,590 (€1,400) a month for up to 24 months and insurance. Applicants who already hold a two-year master's are not eligible. For other options, see [scholarships abroad in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-scholarships-abroad-2026).

## Working during and after your studies {#section-7}

Student visas generally allow limited part-time work, but newsroom placements matter more. In the UK, students find them with careers-service support; at Dortmund the traineeship is part of the degree.

After a UK degree you can stay on the Graduate visa. Applications made before the end of 2026 give two years; from 1 January 2027 the visa lasts 18 months. You apply from inside the UK, and the health surcharge is $1,380 (£1,035) per year. The Home Office makes the decision.

## A note for Russian citizens {#section-8}

Russia's list of "undesirable" organisations includes several bodies that train journalists or fund fellowships and internships: Deutsche Welle (and with it the DW Akademie master's), RFE/RL, OCCRP, the International Center for Journalists and the Institute for War & Peace Reporting, among other media and press-freedom groups. Under Russian law, participating in a listed organisation's activities is an administrative offence (Article 20.33 of the Administrative Code); doing so again after an administrative penalty, or funding or organising such activities, is a criminal offence (Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code). Russian citizens should check every internship, fellowship and summer school against the current Ministry of Justice list before applying. Studying at a university that is not on the list does not create this risk by itself. For legal ways to pay tuition from Russia, see [how to pay for studies abroad from Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia).

## Timeline for 2027 entry {#section-9}

| When | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| Now to December 2026 | Choose your working language and programme type; collect six to eight pieces and pick the best two to four |
| October 2026 to January 2027 | Take IELTS or a German test with a margin on writing; UK bachelor's applicants submit via UCAS by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time |
| December 2026 to March 2027 | Apply to master's programmes; each sets its own deadline on its website |
| Spring 2027 | Interviews and tasks; compare offers and scholarships |
| Summer 2027 | Pay deposits, get your confirmation of enrolment for the visa, arrange housing |

For Germany, plan the pre-study internship a year ahead.

## Common mistakes {#section-10}

- Choosing a "media" degree that has no teaching newsroom.
- Studying journalism in a language you cannot yet edit in, hoping to catch up on arrival.
- Sending essays and social posts instead of reportage or interviews.
- Accepting fellowships or placements without checking legal restrictions that apply to your citizenship.
- Counting tuition only: in London or US cities, rent can rival the fee.

## FAQ {#faq}

### Do I need a journalism bachelor's to apply for a journalism master's?

Usually not. Most master's programmes accept graduates of any field but want published work or media experience. The programme's admissions panel decides, weighing your writing, motivation and language level together.

### Can I study journalism abroad without paying tuition?

Yes: in German at public universities such as TU Dortmund, which charges no tuition but does collect a semester contribution. The other route is an Erasmus Mundus Journalism scholarship covering tuition plus $1,590 (€1,400) a month; the programme consortium awards it competitively.

### What English level do UK journalism programmes expect?

A high one. Both UK programmes in this guide expect an overall IELTS 7.5, and Cardiff accepts no component score below 7.5. A weak writing score is the most common reason for rejection.

### Can I stay and work after graduating?

In the UK, on the Graduate visa: two years if you apply by the end of 2026 and 18 months from 1 January 2027. The Home Office issues the visa; finding the job is up to you.

### Is a foreign journalism degree recognised back home?

For newsroom work, formal recognition is rarely needed because journalism is not a licensed profession. Recognition matters if you plan doctoral study or a post that requires a verified degree; in Russia that decision is made by Rosobrnadzor.

## Sources {#section-12}

- Cardiff University: [MA News Journalism — requirements, 2027 fees, NCTJ](https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught/courses/course/news-journalism-ma)
- University of Sheffield: [MA Journalism — NCTJ and IELTS](https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/2026/journalism-ma)
- NCTJ: [qualifications and accredited courses](https://www.nctj.com/qualifications-courses/)
- TU Dortmund: [B.A. Journalistik](https://www.tu-dortmund.de/studiengangsdetail/journalistik-636/)
- Erasmus Mundus Journalism: [tuition and scholarships 2027–2029](https://mundusjournalism.com/admissions/tuition-stipends-and-scholarships)
- Sciences Po: [tuition fees 2026/27](https://www.sciencespo.fr/en/admissions-and-financial-aid/tuition-fees/)
- Northwestern University: [undergraduate tuition 2026/27](https://www.northwestern.edu/sfs/tuition/undergraduate/index.html)
- University of Manchester: [entry requirements for applicants from Russia](https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/international/country-specific-information/russia/entry-requirements/)
- UCL: [example UCAS deadline for 2027 entry](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/study/prospective-students/undergraduate/courses/architecture-bsc)
- GOV.UK: [Graduate visa](https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa)
- Russian Ministry of Justice: [list of undesirable organisations (in Russian)](https://minjust.gov.ru/ru/pages/perechen-inostrannyh-i-mezhdunarodnyh-organizacij-deyatelnost-kotoryh-priznana-nezhelatelnoj-na-territorii-rossijskoj-federacii/)

All sources checked on 1 October 2026. ECB reference rate of 30 September 2026: €1 = $1.1355 and €1 = £0.85463 (£1 ≈ $1.3287). Amounts are rounded to $10.

If you want to work through your route, send a [request](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply): document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the university makes the admission decision.

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Journalism in Turkey](https://www.studyu.org/en/program-journalism)
- [New Media and Journalism in Turkey](https://www.studyu.org/en/program-new-media-and-journalism)
- [Free University Education in Germany for International Students: Where Tuition Is Zero and What You Still Pay](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-free-university-education-germany)
- [Foundation Year in the UK: Types, Entry Requirements, Costs and Progression](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-foundation-year-in-the-uk)
- [Scholarships abroad 2026: where international students study for free](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-scholarships-abroad-2026)
- [How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia)

Updated: October 2026