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Studies & Degrees in International Journalism

International journalism is journalism practised across borders: reporting on events in other countries for an audience at home, or producing news for readers and viewers in several countries at once. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that journalists report international, national and local news, and that those who cover international events, called foreign correspondents, often live in another country and report about a specific region of the world.

Students learn the same newsroom skills as any journalist: news writing, interviewing, research, media law and ethics, and production for print, online, audio and video. The international part adds the context in which foreign news is made. The International Journalism MA at Brunel University of London, for example, trains students to produce video, audio, online and print journalism for global audiences. Its modules include fact-checking and image verification, the news values and methods of other countries, and the role of journalism in international political processes. Reporting with cultural sensitivity, working with translators and local partners, and finding reliable information in an unfamiliar setting remain part of the job, and a second language is a clear advantage.

Qualifications and levels

International journalism is rarely a first degree in its own right. Most students take a general journalism or communications degree and specialise later.

  • Bachelor's degree. In England a journalism degree usually takes three years. The BA (Hons) Journalism at the University of Sunderland lasts three years full-time, includes a work placement in the final year and prepares students for the diploma of the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), which the university describes as an industry-recognised qualification. In Spain, an official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits.
  • Master's degree. This is the level at which most programmes called "international journalism" are taught. The Brunel MA takes one year full-time or two years part-time, and a version with a work placement adds a year. According to the UK National Careers Service, graduates of other subjects can take a postgraduate course in journalism lasting one to two years. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.
  • Professional qualifications. NCTJ qualifications exist at several levels and can be taken online, part-time or through fast-track training.

Fees differ widely between universities. For 2026/27, Sunderland lists £17,500 a year for international students on its journalism degree, and Brunel lists £20,400 for the full-time MA.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists two active schools for international journalism, both in the United Kingdom and both teaching in English.

  • Richmond American University London, in west London, awards its graduates both a UK and a US degree. Its undergraduate list includes Communications and Media Studies BA (Hons).
  • The University of Sunderland, in the north-east of England, offers the BA (Hons) Journalism described above and lists an MA Journalism among its related courses.

Check with each school which modules cover international reporting, since the degree title alone does not say. To study in the UK, students from abroad who are 16 or over need a Student visa, which requires an offer from a licensed student sponsor. Applying from outside the UK costs £558, and the earliest date to apply is six months before the course starts (GOV.UK, checked October 2026).

Careers

Graduates work as reporters, correspondents, producers and editors for newspapers, news agencies, broadcasters and websites, or in fact-checking and verification teams. Brunel states that graduates of its MA work for organisations that include the BBC World Service, and that the same skills transfer to public relations, non-governmental organisations and the public sector.

The job market is tight. In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of news analysts, reporters and journalists to decline 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 3,400 openings a year, all from replacing people who leave the occupation. The UK National Careers Service also warns of strong competition for jobs and advises students to build up published work while they study.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a journalism degree to take a master's in international journalism?

Not necessarily. Brunel asks for a 2:2 UK honours degree or an equivalent international qualification in subjects such as Journalism, English, Politics, Economics or History, and considers other applicants individually.

How long does it take to study international journalism?

A bachelor's degree in journalism takes three years full-time at the University of Sunderland. A master's degree such as the Brunel MA takes one year full-time or two years part-time.

What level of English do I need?

It depends on the university. Brunel asks for IELTS 6.5, with at least 6 in every area, for its International Journalism MA.

What is the NCTJ?

The National Council for the Training of Journalists accredits journalism courses in the UK and awards its own diploma. Sunderland's journalism degree is NCTJ-accredited, and Brunel offers the option of an NCTJ-accredited course.