Key Info

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Digital Communication

NFQ Level 8 major Award Honours Bachelor Degree
CAO points history
380
Course code
LM039
Duration
4 Years
Subject area
Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Course Director
Kathryn Hayes
Email
kathryn.hayes@ul.ie
Tel
+353 (0)61 202267
Admissions:
Tel
+353 (0)61 233755

About you

Are you naturally curious? Do you find yourself interested in conversations about events that are happening locally, nationally or globally? Do you want to learn how to ask the right questions and explain to an audience what is happening using multimedia platforms? If you want to be at the heart of telling stories that matter in society, and you want to make a difference, then journalism is the career for you. Your natural skills should be in writing, storytelling and communicating.

Why study Journalism and Digital Communication at UL?

Journalism is an important, exciting and dynamic field. It tells us about ourselves. The platforms through which we tell our stories are evolving, and in UL we offer students a chance to engage with and deliver stories across all digital and social media platforms. We help develop real-world practical and critical thinking skills in students so that their journalism is informed by a balanced sense of justice, accuracy and life-experience. Over the four years our students will:

  • Produce their own radio reports and TV bulletins, in our state of the art studios
  • Work on the awarding winning Limerick Voice news website, social media platforms and local newspaper (www.limerickvoice.com)
  • Produce and design an online magazine
  • Work with the latest digital publishing and editing software programmes including Adobe Audition, Final Cut Pro and Indesign
  • Use social media to self-publish and promote work
  • Learn key fact-checking and online verification skills

Learn more about our courses and upcoming events

Explore
our campus

What you will study

We provide a range of core practical modules designed to produce leading multimedia journalists capable of working across all digital platforms.

Our journalism subjects include:

  • Radio and Television broadcasting
  • Writing and publishing for digital media
  • Social Media and Society
  • Interviewing and Reporting
  • Sports Journalism
  • Magazine Journalism
  • Limerick Voice news website and newspaper production

Our lecturers combine academic expertise with significant professional industry experience in a number of national and international news organisations, including The Irish Times, The Irish Examiner, Ireland’s state broadcaster RTE and The Cambodia Daily International. Our adjunct professors include Fergal Keane, BBC Africa Editor. In a special seminar series, editors, correspondents, reporters and other media-interested professionals visit the University of Limerick to talk to journalism students about the media industry and employment opportunities. Our four-year programme includes a six-month work placement opportunity in a national or regional news organisation and an international study abroad placement.

Electives in Journalism and Digital Communications

You will study a core set of journalism modules throughout your 4 years on the course.

You will also have the opportunity to study 2 electives in your first year of the course, and then you will choose 1 of these to continue studying to the end of the course. There is more information on this in the Course Structure tab below. 

The pathways available are listed below. 

  • Economics
  • English Literature
  • History
  • Law
  • Politics
  • Sociology
  • French or Japanese or German or Spanish

For more information, visit www.ul.ie/journalism

 

Semester 1

JM4011

Introduction to Journalism and Writing for News

CS4031

Introduction to Digital Media

PO4013

Gov & Politics of Ireland

 

Elective:

 

Choose Two from Economics, English Literature, History, Law, Politics, Sociology or Language Studies†

 

 

Semester 2

Summer

JM4031

Sub-editing and Design 1

 

JM4013

Radio Journalism

 

TW4006

Writing for New Media

 
 

Elective:

 
 

Choose Two from Economics, English Literature, History, Law, Politics, Sociology or Language Studies†

 

Year 2

Semester 3

JM4051

TV and Digital Broadcasting

JM4003

Interviewing & Reporting

JM4044

Magazine Journalism (core elective)

LA4013

Media Law

SO4033

Sociology of Media

 

Elective:

 

Choose one from English, Economics, History, Law, Politics, Sociology, or Language Studies

 

 

 

Semester 4

Summer

JM4034

Journalism and writing 2: breaking news and features

 

JM4024

Sports Journalism (core elective) OR

 

JM4006

Social Media and Society

 

CU4014

Analysing Media Discourse

 
 

Elective:

 
 

Choose one from English, Economics, History, Law, Politics, Sociology, or Language Studies

 

Semester 5

Cooperative Education Work Placement

 

 

Semester 6

Summer

Erasmus/Exchange placement with a partner institution abroad

 

Year 4

Semester 7

JM4008

Investigative Journalism

JM4041

Limerick Voice Digital News Project 1

 

JM4037

Individual Journalism Project 1

CU4128

New Media, Language and Globalization

 

Elective:

 

Choose one from English, Economics, History, Law, Politics, Sociology, or Language Studies

 

 

Semester 8

Summer

JM4042

Limerick Voice Digital News Project 2

 
JM4018

Individual Journalism Project 2

 

JM4052

Media Challenges in the Digital Age

 

JM4058

Broadcast Week

 
 

Elective:

 
 

Choose one from English, Economics, History, Law, Politics, Sociology, or Language Studies

 

Entry requirements

CAO points history
380
Minimum grades

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include:

Two H5 (Higher level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary level) grades

or

Four H7 (Higher Level) grades.

Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.

Note: Grade F6 in Foundation Mathematics also satisfies the minimum entry requirements. Foundation Maths is not reckonable for scoring purposes.

Subject requirements

Students must hold a minimum of H4 grade in English.

Students wishing to take a Language Studies elective must hold a minimum H3 grade in that language.

Additional considerations

Mature Student

We welcome applications from mature students. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February.

Application information for mature student applicants (PDF)

QQI Entry

Certain QQI Awards are acceptable in fulfilling admission requirements for this programme. Go to the UL Admissions QQI page for a full list of modules.

Non-EU Entry Requirements

How to apply

Where are you applying from? How to Apply
Ireland Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found here. 
The UK  Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. 
The EU EU students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website.
Non-EU country If you are applying outside of the EU, you can apply for this degree here.

Fees and funding

Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy and Tuition Fees.

A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.

An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.

EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €2,558
SUSI pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€5,658

EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €2,558
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€5,658

Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant

Student pays Tuition Fees €2,558
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€5,658

Non-EU Students

Student pays Tuition Fees €16,300
Student pays Student Levy €100
€16,400

Student course fees are comprised of the following components:

Student Contribution

Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The current student contribution is set at €3000.

Student Levy

All students are liable to pay the Student Levy of €100. Please note the Student Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.

Tuition Fees

These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.

Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows

  1. Residency
    • You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
  2. Citizenship
    • You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
  3. Course Requirements (all must be met)
    • You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
    • You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
    • You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)

Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -

  • Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
  • EU Fee Status: You satisfy the citizenship and/or residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees
  • Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.

More information about fees can be found on the Finance website

These scholarships are available for this course

Title Award Scholarships Available
Irish Examiner Video Journalism Award €500 of video-journalism equipment 1
Live 95 Radio Journalism Award €500 and your documentary will be broadcast on the radio 1

These scholarships are available for all courses

Your future career

Employability skills from this degree

  • Researching
  • Investigating
  • Interviewing
  • Reporting
  • Writing
  • Listening
  • Working productively in a team
  • Communicating information effectively and clearly
  • Technical skills: video editing, audio, content management, and web design
  • Critical analysis
  • Resourcefulness
  • Self-management
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Leadership
  • A flexible, creative and independent approach to tasks
  • Meeting deadlines

Further Study Options

Job titles for graduates with this degree

Graduates progressing directly into employment take up a wide variety of roles. The following provides a sample of initial roles listed on the Graduate Outcomes Survey by graduates approximately one year after graduation:

  • Copywriter
  • Data Entry Server
  • Development Researcher
  • Digital Media Editor
  • Digital Operations Specialist
  • Editorial Assistant
  • Fashion Intern
  • Journalist
  • Media Assistant
  • Newsreader
  • Online Journalist
  • PR Intern
  • Reporter
  • Reporter/Subeditor
  • Researcher
  • Staff Writer

Student Profiles

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Mark Boylan

Getting to experience a real-life newspaper environment was undoubtedly the most beneficial element of my education at UL. For my co-op placement, I worked as a reporter with The Racing Post. I worked alongside horse racing’s leading writers including RTÉ’s Tony O’Hehir, former Irish Independent horse racing correspondent Richard Forristal and leading sports writer David Jennings.

Every day offered a new challenge, it was always exciting. I got the opportunity to report from racing meetings around the country, generating news stories for print and online, and recording videos and podcasts. I feel the portfolio of articles, video packages and radio features I have accumulated is a testament of my abilities ahead of seeking employment.

Every step of the way I had excellent guidance from my Editor and every facet of my journalistic skills improved through this experience. In particular, I learned how to get the best out of people for stories and how to tackle sensitive topics. I couldn’t have received a better helping hand for my future career. The grounding I got at UL helped me to win the Sports Writer of the Year prize at the National Student Media Awards in 2018.

Several opportunities involving racing media have arisen as a result of this placement. Since completing Co-Op I have continued working for the Racing Post at the weekends and on my college holidays. I look forward to hopefully continuing to play a part in the paper upon graduating.


 

Lisa Blake 

My favourite subject in school was always English. When I began writing workshops as an extra-curricular activity in fifth year, I knew this was something I had to pursue at third level. There were so many courses that appealed to me but I wanted to choose one which incorporated a modern use of the language which is why Journalism and Digital Communication stood out to me. Breaking news excited me and I loved current affairs, so it seemed like a no-brainer. Four years on, I know I made the right choice.

My favourite thing about this course was the emphasis put on the practical application of what we learn in the newsroom; be it editing for radio, practicing a piece to camera, or writing a court report. Journalism is not just about writing for a newspaper, and this course recognises that. Upon graduation, I am equipped with the skills needed for working as a “multi-platform journalist” – something that all employers are looking for nowadays.

Choosing this course also allowed me to delve deeper into my personal interests, such as Law and Irish. As a self-confessed Gaeilgeoir, this course has allowed me to specialise in the area of Irish language journalism, lending me that competitive edge that “specialising” provides. Having chosen Law as my second elective, this gave me a superior understanding when it came to covering Media Law – an area that is crucial for all journalists to be well versed in.

The lecturers in Journalism at the University of Limerick understand that it is an ever-changing profession that requires dynamic and highly-skilled graduate journalists, and it is because of their expertise and hands-on approach coupled with the excellent facilities available to us at the university that I have completed this course feeling very satisfied with my CAO choice.


 

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Cathal O'Sullivan

I was drawn to journalism as a career because I like that journalists help people who aren't in a position to have their stories heard and amplify them. From a young age, I was inquisitive and wanted to get to the heart of big stories. My work placement had an extremely positive impact. I was placed with Newstalk and I am now working there four years later as a production assistant. My role is varied and involves research and programming. My degree built up the skills I use now daily. Studying journalism at UL allows students to grow, develop, and find their voice. It taught me to persevere and get to the heart of the story. The Limerick Voice project was an excellent experience and it stands to me to this day, especially on some of the broader campaigns I have been involved in.   

In any media organisation, the newsroom is the hub. Journalism students have their own dedicated newsroom as well as radio and TV studios. At UL, journalism lecturers and their students have a great connection; our lecturers knew each of us by name. Each lecturer has their own amazing experience across different media organisations and their advice was priceless.  

 I would recommend the BA in Journalism and Digital Communication to anyone who is curious, creative and has an interest in the stories that influence the world around us.