Do I need to be a confident presenter to enrol in BA Television Journalism?

Not at the start — but you need to be willing to be on camera and to receive direct feedback. BA Television Journalism builds presenting craft from week one. Confidence is the output, not the prerequisite.

Does BA Television Journalism cover radio as well as television?

Yes. Radio is core, and many TV journalists begin their careers at BBC Local Radio. The degree treats radio and TV as complementary crafts and includes podcast production as standard.

Can I study BA Television Journalism online?

Yes — partially. Core craft modules run online with live tutor sessions and recorded critique. Studio operation requires on-campus blocks; distance learners typically complete two intensive on-air weeks per year in London.

Will BA Television Journalism prepare me for the BBC trainee scheme?

It builds the working broadcast craft the BBC and other UK broadcasters recruit for. The BBC Journalism Trainee Scheme is highly competitive; many BA Television Journalism graduates apply successfully after building a strong portfolio across the three years.

What sort of final portfolio will I produce on BA Television Journalism?

An on-air showreel — typically a complete bulletin, three TV packages, two radio packages, a presenter piece-to-camera and a longer current-affairs piece. Industry guests review the portfolio at year-end and many lead to internships or applications.

BA Television Journalism in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BA Television Journalism at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a three-year UK honours degree for students who want to make television news their craft — writing, presenting, producing and packaging the news for live and recorded broadcast. You work inside a student newsroom from the first term, run live newsdays every week from year two, and graduate with an on-air portfolio a regional or national broadcaster can hire on.

The degree is built around BBC Academy, Royal Television Society and Radio Academy practice. Television journalism in 2026 spans linear bulletins, streaming, social-first video and current-affairs documentary — and a working TV journalist needs to handle the full range with discipline and presence.

Key Features

Three-year student newsroom with weekly newsdays and term-end bulletins.
Studio and gallery operation — desk, vision-mixing, autocue, studio direction.
Package craft modules — scripting to camera, vox-pops, edit-suite work, voice-over.
Live presenting and two-way module with on-camera tutor feedback every week.
Broadcast law and Ofcom Code taught at a working level throughout the degree.
Final-year on-air portfolio presented to industry guests from UK broadcasters.

What You Will Learn

The BA Television Journalism is structured around the working life of a broadcast journalist. You graduate able to write for the ear, voice and present to camera, build a TV package from research to delivery, and step into a live newsroom with the right discipline.

News writing for the ear — vocabulary, pace, sentence length.
Voice training — clarity, breath control, microphone discipline.
Presenting — to-camera, two-way, panel discussion, breaking-news improvisation.
Studio operation — desk, gallery, audio, vision mixing, autocue.
Field reporting — on-camera presence, two-way live links, location sound, B-roll discipline.
Package construction — scripting, cutting, voiceover, music-bed ethics, archive use.
Broadcast law — Ofcom Code, election impartiality, court reporting on air, contempt.
Newsroom management — running order, lead-story choice, breaking-news protocols.

Who This Course Is For

School leavers drawn to broadcast journalism and willing to be on camera from day one.
International students seeking a UK honours degree in television journalism taught in the centre of London broadcasting.
Career-changers from theatre, teaching or local newsrooms moving into broadcast.
Aspiring presenters who want a working journalist's training rather than a presenter-only short course.

Career Pathways

Television journalism is competitive but there are structured entry routes — BBC trainee schemes, regional ITV bureaux, BBC Local Radio (the route many TV reporters take), independent production companies and rolling-news desks. Graduates of BA Television Journalism move into entry-level reporting, producing and researcher roles. Typical first roles include:

Broadcast Journalist (BBC Local Radio, regional ITV, independent radio)
Radio Reporter (commercial newsroom, public-service radio)
TV News Producer (national news, current-affairs strand)
Bulletin Editor (regional newsroom, rolling-news operation)
Field Correspondent (entry assignments at regional or national level)
Broadcast Researcher (current-affairs documentary, news magazine programme)

Graduates progress to an MA in Broadcast Journalism, Documentary Journalism or International Journalism.

Entry Requirements

Three A-Levels at BBC or above (or international equivalent — IB 28 points, BTEC DMM, or accepted national qualification).
GCSE English Language at grade 5 or equivalent English proficiency test.
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
A short personal statement and a short on-camera or recorded sample (a phone-recorded piece to camera is acceptable).
Mature applicants (21+) without standard qualifications may apply with a portfolio and short interview.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.