Best Global Universities for Journalism in 2022-2023

Best Journalism Universities and Programs in the World

About Journalism

Journalism is the profession of reporting, writing, editing, photographing, or broadcasting unbiased news for all mediums, print or non-print. Its sole purpose is to keep the population informed about the happenings in the world.  The specialists in this field are called journalists or reporters. Their work is to obtain information from reliable sources, assess the facts, write clearly and effectively, and communicate important and compelling stories to the public.

The following piece of information contains everything that one needs to do to pursue a career in journalism including a list of the best universities for journalism around the world. 

Duties of Journalists

The majority of journalists work full-time and have extremely flexible schedules. They spend a lot of time traveling for fieldwork to attend events or meet contacts to gather information. Since news can occur at any time of day or night, journalists may be expected to work additional hours with highly flexible schedules to keep up with it. They also spend some time working in the office. Based on the type of organization they work such as newspaper, magazine, television, or radio station their duties vary significantly. The following is a list of some typical duties of a journalist:

• Research topics to come up with news and stories 
• Conduct interviews to gather information in the form of interviews, videos, or audio about a story or news item
• Analyze and interpret the information or facts to the understanding of the audience
• Write stories, articles or news for different sources such as newspapers, television, magazines, and radio stations
• Review work for accuracy, grammar, and style
• Pitch a news or story idea to the editors
• Form good relationships with experts and contacts who provide leads on stories or articles
• Stay updated with the latest news and stories

Popular degrees for pursuing a career in Journalism

Most positions in journalism require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. However, some universities provide associate degrees of two years that cover the foundational topics but are insufficient for professional advancement due to the high level of competition. To specialize further students can go for master’s degree specializations. Some candidates even go for Ph.D. in journalism to enter academic fields. Journalism degrees are available in both the arts and sciences. Arts degrees in journalism emphasize humanities and include a foreign language requirement, whereas science degrees include more math and science coursework, including statistics, making them perfect for those interested in science journalism. 

Most undergraduate journalism degrees involve beginning courses in media, communication, and English, whereas master’s degrees in journalism combine practical experiences and projects with lectures to help students develop a professional portfolio. The following is a list of some best journalism degrees around the world.

Popular bachelor’s programs in Journalism

• B.A./B.S. in Journalism
• B.A. in Multimedia Journalism
• B.A. in Mass Communications
• B.A. in Journalism and Communication
• B.S. in Multiplatform Journalism
• B.A. in English Literature

Popular master’s programs in Journalism

• M.A./M.S. in Journalism
• M.A. in Photojournalism
• M.A. in Mass Communications
• M.S. in Communication Studies
• M.Sc. in International Journalism
• M.A. in Journalism and International Affairs
• M.A. in English Literature
• M.A. in Film and Television Studies

Popular doctoral programs in Journalism

• Ph.D. in Journalism
• Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communications
• Ph.D. in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies
• Ph.D. in Creative Arts and Media
• Ph.D. in Film and Television Studies

Specializations in Journalism

Journalism is a highly reputed profession with high standards and a high degree of competence that it requires. The demand for highly skilled journalists is growing with digitalization, and therefore specialization is given high importance in this field. The following are a set of some popular specializations that students can pursue for professional growth in this dynamic field:

• Broadcast journalism
• Investigative journalism
• Feature and magazine journalism
• News editing and producing
• Photojournalism
• Multimedia journalism
• Sports journalism
• Science journalism
• International journalism
• Content management and marketing
• Freelance writing and editing
• Data journalism

Duration of programs in Journalism

Undergraduate journalism programs, which teach the fundamentals of journalism, last three to four years. Following that, students can enroll in a specialty master’s program to get an in-depth understanding of a particular discipline of journalism, which can span one to two years depending on the university and region. The terminal degrees, like a Ph.D. in journalism, normally take three to six years to complete and involve the submission of a thesis.

Career opportunities in Journalism

Journalism is a broad field with many career opportunities in each specialization. Most of them work for newspapers, television, magazines, websites, and radio broadcasting. Few also do freelancing work. The typical employers in the journalism field are local and national newspapers, magazines, media and broadcast companies, PR consultancies, advertising and marketing companies, and charities. The following is a list of some popular career opportunities in journalism.

• Journalist
• Print journalist
• Broadcast journalist
• Photojournalist
• News reporter
• News analyst
• News producer
• Editor
• Copywriter
• Science journalist
• Freelance journalist
• Online content manager
• News anchor

Average salaries for Journalists

Journalists who work full-time are paid a salary, while those who work as freelancers are paid according to their work and experience. Full-time journalist salaries vary according to the type of employment, employer, location, and level of experience. The following is a list of average salaries for journalists in major countries.

*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.

Top universities in the world for Journalism based on world rankings

Top universities in the USA for Journalism

As per The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the job outlook for journalists are expected to grow at 6% from 2020 to 2030 which makes it a perfect degree to study in the USA. The world’s top-ranked universities in the USA, such as Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, all offer a variety of specializations for master’s programs in journalism. The following are some of the best USA colleges that offer master’s and bachelor’s degree programs in journalism:

Top universities in the UK for Journalism

The QS ranking has rated the King’s College London, London School of Economics and Political Science, University of Glasgow, University of Leeds and Cardiff University as few of the best universities to study in the UK. Their master’s courses in journalism, such as M.A. in Journalism and M.S. in Mass Communications, are some of the popular journalism graduate programs in the UK. A number of UK universities also offer bachelor’s courses in journalism for students to get started in journalism. 

Top universities in Canada for Journalism

International students prefer studying in Canada because of its high standard of living, economic independence, and excellent learning programs. The scope of traditional courses such as journalism has expanded in Canada. Postgraduate journalism degrees are in higher demand since they pay generously. The following is a list of Canadian top universities offering a variety of master’s and bachelor’s degrees in journalism. 

Top universities in Australia for Journalism

Due to the high quality of education and international recognition of the degrees, many international students prefer to study in Australia. Australian universities are also known for a long-standing history of welcoming international students to study for journalism degrees such as master’s and bachelor’s programs in journalism. The following are some of the best universities in Australia offering bachelor’s and master’s courses in journalism. 

Academic requirements for studying Journalism

Since journalism has a bit of a public service dimension to it, students with good people and communication skills are best suited. They should be intellectually curious, observant, passionate, and have a flair for writing. Since most of the news is digitalized in today’s world, aspiring journalists should be tech-savvy. They should also be proficient in video and audio editing, content management, and site design. Most institutions prefer individuals who have worked in journalism as an intern, volunteer, or in a school magazine or newspaper, therefore a strong and compelling portfolio is necessary to get selected. 

As the competition for admission to top colleges in journalism is getting fierce, students can apply through the Gyanberry website to improve their chances of acceptance. Before applying, students should consider the following academic requirements.

Bachelor’s level

• A high school education with a 3.0 GPA or above
• Academic transcripts
• Valid passport
• Personal statement 
• Passport photographs
• Completed visa application
• Letter of recommendation
• English proficiency test scores such as TOEFL (90 and above) or IELTS (6.0 and above)

Master’s level

• Internationally recognized bachelor’s degree in any relevant field with a GPA of at least 3.0 
• Academic transcripts 
• Valid passport
• Passport photographs
• Completed visa application
• Motivational letter
• Resume
• Recommendation letters
• A well-constructed portfolio
• Internship or work experience (highly recommended) 
• English language proficiency (TOEFL 90 or above and IELTS 6.0 and above)

Doctoral level

• Honours or master’s degree in a related fields with a GPA of at least 3.0
• Academic transcripts 
• Valid passport
• Passport photographs
• Completed visa application
• Statement of purpose
• Recommendation letters
• Resume
• A well-constructed portfolio
• Work experience (highly recommended) 
• Personal interview 
• English language proficiency (TOEFL 90 or above and IELTS 6.0 and above)

*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.