UK · Bachelor's
City, University of London
BA (Hons) Journalism
City, University of London
Course Overview
City, University of London's Department of Journalism is consistently ranked the UK's #1 journalism school — alumni include current senior editors at BBC, Reuters, FT, Guardian, ITN, and Sky News. The BA Journalism is fully accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) and the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) — the two binding UK industry accreditations. Students learn shorthand (100wpm), media law, public administration, video reporting, podcast production, and data journalism in fully-equipped TV and radio studios at Northampton Square — minutes from Fleet Street, the FT and BBC Broadcasting House.
Sri Lankan applicants — particularly aspiring sports journalists, business / financial reporters, and South-Asia-focused English-language writers — choose City for the unmatched industry pipeline. City alumni have authored bylines on the Premier League, Champions Trophy cricket, the South Asia financial pages of the FT, and the BBC Tamil / Sinhala services. The 2-year UK Graduate Route on completion gives a clear runway to land trainee posts at Reuters, Bloomberg or major UK newsrooms before returning to senior posts at Daily Mirror / Daily News / Sunday Times Sri Lanka.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle A Level: BBB-AAB with no specific subject requirement; English Language or Literature at C+ preferred.
- check_circle IB Diploma: 30-32 points with HL English at 5+.
- check_circle Sri Lankan Local A Level: 2B + 1C minimum.
- check_circle Personal statement showing genuine engagement with current affairs and journalism (mention specific publications you read, journalists you follow).
- check_circle Portfolio of writing samples (school newspaper, blog, freelance) strengthens applications but not required.
- check_circle Successful applicants may be interviewed (online for international applicants).
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.0 Overall (min 6.5 in each band) — higher than typical UG due to journalism's writing demands.
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 100 Overall (min 23 in each section).
- check_circle PTE Academic: 65 Overall.
- check_circle Waived only if all secondary education was conducted in English at a recognised institution for the final 4+ years.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (£) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year) | £24,500 | Rs. 9,800,000 |
| Living Expenses (per year, London) | £16,000 | Rs. 6,400,000 |
| Student Visa & IHS Fee (3 years) | £2,500 | Rs. 1,000,000 |
| Total Programme Investment (3 years) | £124,000 | Rs. 49,600,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for the 2-year UK Graduate Route. City Journalism graduates feed directly into BBC News graduate trainee programme, Reuters / Bloomberg cadet schemes, Guardian / FT internships, ITN newsroom posts, and Sky News digital teams. The dual NCTJ + BJTC accreditation makes graduates immediately newsroom-deployable. UK starting reporter salary: £24,000-32,000 (regional); £32,000-45,000 (national / London).
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