Cardiff University

MA International Journalism

Hi guys,I have a conditional offer from cardiff university to study MA International journalism.any ex students or current students of this program here?pls let me know how theoretical and practical the program is and how it is different from city uni london.I have an offer from there as well.any input would be appreciated. :smile:

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Reply 1

hadwinmaij

Hi. Good to see you researching your options thoroughly!
As course director, I can tell you the MA International Journalism at Cardiff is a stand-alone programme which allows it to take a global approach throughout in both course content and student intake. There are typically students of about 20 different nationalities each year.
The programme is far more intensive than a classic MA because of the vocational element.
The academic aspects are well integrated to provide the understanding and discussion to underpin your practical journalism and the tutors work closely to offer the best possible mix for your future career as a journalist wherever you may work in the world.
A few modules are delivered in lecture format with the whole group but most contact time is spent in smaller workshop groups.
We allocate two days each semester to the hands-on journalism which you undertake in one of the four pathways - specialising in either magazine, newspaper, broadcast news (which all have integrated online elements) or documentary. So the typical group size would be around 20 working with one or two tutors depending on the activity.
You also have 24/7 access to the newsrooms and to the kit relevant to your pathway. So, for instance, the print journalists can borrow stills cameras, video cameras and recording devices to create live real world multimedia content for their print and online projects.
I believe that is rather more than the similar course at City.
Placements are not a formal part of the programme but most staff are journalists with wide-ranging contacts so can help with setting them up outside term time, during the dissertation phase and/or in the period just after submission.
We also host recruitment visits from major agencies such as Reuters and Bloomberg which regularly take students into their internships.
MA International Journalism students nearly all opt to treat their dissertation as a journalistic investigation and present their research findings in journalistic format, either as a series of in-depth features to publishable standard or as a 15-minute film or radio programme to broadcastable standard.
We have been running for more than 12 years and have alumni in senior editorial positions all around the world. Many keep in touch with us and each other long after they have left which to me suggests the MAIJ made the difference we hoped it would.
If you want to know more check out our Facebook page MA International Journalism, Cardiff, and that will link you in to past and present students.
Good luck. Hope to see you in September.
Sara Hadwin

Cardiff University

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Reply 2

desigirl01

Thank you M'am for the details.I hope to make a decision in the next few days.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 3

c2uk

Original post by desigirl01

Thank you M'am for the details.I hope to make a decision in the next few days.

I can only add that Cardiff's got one of the best Schools for Journalism in the world, but though does City. So, you might want to take a few other things into consideration, such as the city in itself, i.e. London vs. Cardiff.

Don't hesitate to get back to us if there's anything else you'd like to know.

One thing I'd like to add is that Cardiff's Students' Union got it's own Media outlets - a TV station, a radio station, a magazine and a newspaper, where you too can get involved and gain practical experience.

Reply 4

desigirl01

Am an international student...(From India precisely). am hoping that the course will include plenty of real reporting and covering stories in the pathway we choose.I heard that london is the place to be if i want to make contacts.what is the scope in cardiff?

Also,what are the chances of international students getting any jobs or even paid internships?will there be a possibility of a work visa?how much time will we have after graduation to look for jobs?

Reply 5

c2uk

At Cardiff, you've got a former BBC director, Richard Sambrook - Professor of Journalism and Director of the Centre for Journalism. I don't think you can go much better than that in terms of connections and contacts.

Of course, in London you've got most of the big media right there - but that doesn't mean you can make contacts that easily. From the sounds of it, there's plenty of opportunities at Cardiff to make such contacts, be it through recruitment visits Sara mentioned or through staff or former students.

Reply 6

desigirl01

am thinking of accepting this offer from cardiff....it seems reasonable in terms of costs,i really like the program.so maybe in 1-2 days i will firm the offer.thanks.

Reply 7

c2uk

Let me know whether there's anything else you need to know.

Also keep in touch regardless of your decision, would love to hear how you're doing - whether that's in Cardiff or elsewhere!

Good luck and all the best for your future!

Reply 8

desigirl01

thank you...very kind of you. :smile:

do you know if students from other countries can get a part time job there while studying?is it possible?just wondering.

Reply 9

c2uk

Depends what you're looking for, if you're looking for relevant work experience that's going to be tougher than say working in a supermarket.

The international office has some opportunities every now and then as well - plus there's the Students' Union JobShop - that's basically a job agency for students who's well connected in Cardiff and has always something available (regular and one-off jobs).

Reply 10

desigirl01

not looking for relevant work experience.I know that will be hard to find.anything else will do just fine but will there be time for postgrads to work somewhere else?

Reply 11

c2uk

I think it's going to be pretty intense so wouldn't personally recommend it, but as said, the jobshop is your first point of contact. It's in the Students' Union Building, ground floor:

http://www.cardiffstudents.com/shops-services/jobshop/

The union also runs an advice service for students they cover a little bit part-time work as well, so I'm sure you can drop by and talk to them (they also seem to cater for international students, but I don't know much about that):

http://www.cardiffstudents.com/advice/money/part-time-work/

In any way, the university in itself got an international support service team as well:

http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/studentsupport/international/index.html

And would you know that, there's also the Careers & Employability Team that's there to support you:

http://cardiff.ac.uk/careers/students/international-students/

As you can see, plenty of support all around you. Hope it's as good in reality as it is on paper.

Reply 12

desigirl01

thanks....firmed the offer.

Is there anyone else applying for the same course here?

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 13

desigirl01

I have to still fulfill the condition of english language test. i will be able to take the test only in march.So will i be able to book an accomodation at uni residences for myself post march or will it be too late by then?am just a little worried.

Reply 14

c2uk

No worries about that, you've got time till late August/early September even I believe.

Reply 15

desigirl01

Is there a fb group for the 2014-15 batch of this programme?

Reply 16

c2uk

Original post by desigirl01

Is there a fb group for the 2014-15 batch of this programme?

Not from what I can tell. I'll check it out for you tomorrow - if I don't forget :smile:

- could you reply to this thread again, so that I'll see it in my watched threads list and be reminded tomorrow :smile:

Reply 17

desigirl01

yeah sure.i checked too and havent found one so far.

Reply 18

desigirl01

Is there an interview after i get a unconditional offer?

Reply 19

c2uk

From what I understand no formal interview, you're happy to email them and ask them questions directly or ask them to contact you over phone or skype.

Also, Facebook group normally gets set up somewhere around Easter, they may consider doing one slightly earlier as you've requested it now :smile: