Journalism (English taught)

Are you passionate about news and do you want to report and analyze current affairs? Do you want to know why journalism is transforming so quickly nowadays?

This internationally oriented programme trains students from diverse parts of the world to become journalists, with in-depth academic knowledge in the field of Journalism Studies presented by journalism researchers and intensive training by experienced journalists, offering a solid foundation in the skills that are needed to succeed in journalism today.

Theoretical Journalism Studies courses enable students to reflect on the nature of journalism as a profession and stimulate critical thinking about the future of news reporting. You will study how journalism culture and developments in globalization, citizenship, politics and digital journalism interrelate, while learning how to apply appropriate research methods and theories in empirical academic research focused on understanding the field of journalism.

The English-taught Master's track in Journalism takes a year and a half and has a study load of 90 ECTS. In the first two semesters, students will take academic courses and practice journalism skills. During the third and last semester students work on their master's thesis. They also take a second research seminar or complete an internship with a news organization.

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Facts & Figures

Degree: MA in Media Studies
Course type: Master
Duration: 18 months (90 ECTS)
Croho code: 60831
Language of instruction: English
Start: September
Faculty: Arts

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Why study this programme in Groningen?

Hands-on-training in small groups
State-of-the-art newsroom facilities
Aims to develop a multimedia mindset
Unique combination of practical skills and academic reflection

Students have access to professional facilities for their news productions, such as an exclusive newsroom with instruction area, powerful workstations, a radio and television studio, edit rooms and recording equipment. The programme has an excellent relation with employers and internship providers. The department is proud of it's longstanding collaboration with Dutch public broadcaster NOS in both education and academic research, and has affiliates with universities in Sheffield and Cardiff (UK).

Programme

The first two semesters show a parallel schedule of courses in journalism skills and in journalism studies.

	Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >	1a	1b	2a	2b
Journalism Skills I (5 EC)
Journalism Studies: Theory and Methods (10 EC)
Journalism Skills II (5 EC)
Journalism Skills III (5 EC)
Theoretical Specialization: Global Journalism (5 EC, optional)
Theoretical Specialization: Journalism and Political Culture (5 EC, optional)
Theoretical Specialization IV (5 EC, optional)
Business and Ethics (5 EC)
Journalism Skills IV (5 EC)
Journalism Skills V (10 EC)
Research Seminar I (10 EC, optional)
Research Seminar II (10 EC, optional)
Research Seminar III (10 EC, optional)

The third and last semester is for writing the Master's thesis and taking either a second research seminar in Journalism Studies or an internship with a news organization.

	Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >	1a	1b	2a	2b
Ma Journalism Thesis Plus (25 EC, optional)
Master's Thesis Journalism (15 EC)
Master's Work Placement Journalism (10 EC, optional)
Master's Thesis Journalism: Preparation (5 EC)

Curriculum

The 90 ECTS curriculum is 55% academic theory and 45% journalism skills. The academic theory courses include theoretical specializations such as Journalism and Political Culture, and Global Journalism, research seminars looking at topics such as News and Audiences and of course a Master's Thesis. The journalism skills courses include topics like international reporting, feature writing, television, online journalism and live radio. A two month internship with a news organization is optional.

Programme options
Optional courses (specialization) Students choose one of two theoretical specializations and one of two topical Research Seminars during the first year.
Master's placement (specialization) During this Master's track, you can follow a placement for ECTS credit points. It is your responsibility to find a placement yourself, but the Office for Student Affairs can offer help with this where necessary.

Study abroad

Study abroad is optional
Maximum of 10 EC

It is allowed to take an internship abroad. However, there is no possibility to do an exchange abroad.

Entry requirements

Transfer options

Transferring from...

All Research universities

University of Groningen

Study programme	Organization	Transition
	All Research universities	Via a pre-master
Media Studies	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: written request + entry test

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Media Studies	University of Groningen	Additional requirements Additional requirements: (motivation-) letter entry test

Study programme

Organization

Transition

Media Studies

University of Groningen

Additional requirements

Additional requirements:

(motivation-) letter
entry test

Admission requirements

Specific requirements	More information
previous education	Admission is possible with all Bachelor's degrees from recognized research universities. Candidates must have obtained at least 30 ECTS in the Journalism minor or the Media Studies minor from the University of Groningen, or comparable subjects from another university. Extensive experience in journalism may also count as 'previous education', to be determined by the admissions committee.
grade list	An official overview of the results achieved so far within the Bachelor's degree programme and/or other university degree programmes is required.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)	A Curriculum Vitae (CV)
entry test	Candidates must take a selection test (you will receive this test after applying in the admission procedure via https://www.rug.nl/let/application-mediastudies, consisting of a scientific essay assignment and an assignment on current affairs and newsworthiness. The selection procedure closes 1 May. The admission tests will be available from 1 April.
language test	Additional English language requirement (also for students wishing to pursue a premaster programme): a Dutch VWO diploma or Dutch VWO English certificate (grade 6 or higher), minimum TOEFL requirement iBT 100 (with a minimum of 25 for all components), or IELTS 7 (with a minimum of 6.5 for all components). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 185. If you have a Dutch VWO degree, you do not need to submit a language test.
(motivation-) letter	In your motivation letter you explain why you want to pursue a career in journalism, what previous experience in journalism you have, what you expect from the programme and why you are the right student for this track.
other admission requirements	As part of the selection procedure, candidates send in a motivation letter, curriculum vitae, diploma or certified grade list, passport photo, and any personal work, supplemented by the above-mentioned entrance tests. Please note: Students with a Bachelor's degree from a University of Applied Sciences must first follow a pre-Master's programme of 60 ECTS, consisting of parts of the BA Media Studies and the (pre-Master's) minor Journalism. You can find an overview of the pre-Master's programme Journalism on this webpage. Participation in the selection procedure is still compulsory.

Registration procedure

Note: it's not possible to start in February.

Selection procedure

The maximum of 60 participants per year applies to the Dutch-taught track Journalistiek and the English-taught track Journalism combined.

Application deadlines

Type of student	Deadline	Start course
Dutch students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025
EU/EEA students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025

The Master track Journalism starts in September only.

Admission requirements

Specific requirements	More information
previous education	Admission is possible with all Bachelor's degrees from recognized research universities. Candidates must have obtained at least 30 ECTS in the Journalism minor or the Media Studies minor from the University of Groningen, or comparable subjects from another university. Extensive experience in journalism may also count as 'previous education', to be determined by the admissions committee.
grade list	An official overview of the results achieved so far within the Bachelor's degree programme and/or other university degree programmes is required.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)	A Curriculum Vitae (CV)
entry test	Candidates must take a selection test (you will receive this test after applying in the admission procedure via https://www.rug.nl/let/application-mediastudies, consisting of a scientific essay assignment and an assignment on current affairs and newsworthiness. The selection procedure closes 1 May. The admission tests will be available from 1 April.
language test	Additional English language requirement (also for students wishing to pursue a premaster programme): a Dutch VWO diploma or Dutch VWO English certificate (grade 6 or higher), minimum TOEFL requirement iBT 100 (with a minimum of 25 for writing skills), or IELTS 7 (with a minimum of 6.5 for all components). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 185. If you have a Dutch VWO degree, you do not need to submit a language test.
(motivation-) letter	In your motivation letter, you explain why you want to pursue a career in journalism, what previous experience in journalism you have, what you expect from the programme and why you are the right student for this track.
other admission requirements	As part of the selection procedure, candidates send in a motivation letter, curriculum vitae, diploma or certified grade list, passport photo, and any personal work, supplemented by the above-mentioned entrance tests. Please note: Students with a Bachelor's degree from a University of Applied Sciences must first follow a pre-Master's programme of 60 ECTS, consisting of parts of the BA Media Studies and the (pre-Master's) minor Journalism. You can find an overview of the pre-Master's programme Journalism on this webpage. Participation in the selection procedure is still compulsory.

Registration procedure

Note: it's not possible to start in February.

Selection procedure

The maximum of 60 participants per year applies to the Dutch-taught track Journalistiek and the English-taught track Journalism combined.

Application deadlines

Type of student	Deadline	Start course
Dutch students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025
EU/EEA students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025

The Master track Journalism starts in September only.

Tuition fees

Nationality	Year	Fee	Programme form
EU/EEA	2024-2025	€ 2530	full-time
non-EU/EEA	2024-2025	€ 18700	full-time
EU/EEA	2025-2026	€ 2601	full-time
non-EU/EEA	2025-2026	€ 19200	full-time

Important: the master track in Journalism is a 18 months master programme (1.5 years). This means that you pay 1.5 times more tuition fee, not just ONE year.

Practical information for:

Dutch students International students

After your studies

Job prospects

After graduation you can pursue a career in journalism. You can work as a reporter or an editor in a newsroom, using different kinds of media, such as print, radio, television and online. In addition, you can become a media or journalism researcher at a university or with a private research institute. Positions in public relations or communication are also possibilities.

The English-taught Master's track offers an excellent preparation for the job market. Most alumni work in journalism, self-employed or on a contract with a news organization. Others work in communication and public relations, mostly for non-profit or (semi) government organizations. Jobs in policy development and management, education and academic research are quite common as well.

Job examples

Reporter
Editor
Academic researcher
Journalist
PR professional
Policy advisor

Research

Journalism Studies and research

Our Journalism Studies staff implements diverse research projects in the field of Journalism Studies, sometimes collaborating with universities such as Sheffield and Cardiff. During the Master's track you will learn about the staff's projects for example during the research seminars. You will acquire knowledge of theories and methodologies and learn to apply this in your own research projects, for example with your master's thesis.

Sometimes this leads to joint publications, like The editor-in-chief. Entrepreneurial journalism leadership (2011; in Dutch), that was the result of a research seminar on the role and function of modern editors-in-chief.

The department encourages students to participate in conferences and symposia in the area of Journalism and Journalism Studies. You might well be asked to help out with research projects as a student-assistant.

Examples of long-term research projects are:

On the staff pages you may find additional information on research projects our staff is working on.

Examples of master's theses can be found in the thesis repository.

Apply now Brochure Events Contact

Dutch brochure English brochure

Contact

Tessa Hummel (Study Advisor)
Email: studyadvicemediastudies rug.nl
Erika Kastelein MA (study advisor)
Email: studyadvicemediastudies rug.nl
Admission Office (Contact form)
Telephone: +31-(0)50 363 8976

Watch this video

Study associations

Max. L. Snijders

Max L. Snijders is a study association for students taking a Master's track in Journalism at the University of Groningen.

The association is named after the first Dutch professor of journalism and former editor-in-chief of the Utrechts Nieuwsblad.

https://totdemax.news/

MESA

MESA is the study association of the bachelor and master programs of Media Studies. The association aims to help the cultural and academic growth of its members as well as improve contact between them. Additionally, the association plays a vital role in promoting and introducing the bachelor to both new and prospective students.

MESA is comprised of various committees, each with their own objectives to help us achieve our goals. Numerous events are organized all year round such as the first years introduction camp, parties, trips, excursions and debates amongst other things and offers services such as high-quality summaries.

https://mesagroningen.nl/