Do I need to own filming equipment for the Diploma in Documentary Journalism?

On-campus students borrow kit for project work. Online and distance students need a recent smartphone (acceptable for the documentary commission), a basic external microphone and a laptop capable of running editing software. The Diploma in Documentary Journalism supplies software access for editing.

Is the Diploma in Documentary Journalism more about video or audio?

Both. The Diploma in Documentary Journalism teaches video and audio in parallel, and most students specialise in one for their final documentary commission. Audio documentary is increasingly popular as the long-form podcast market expands.

Can I publish my Diploma in Documentary Journalism piece?

Yes, and we encourage it. Several Diploma in Documentary Journalism final pieces each year are picked up by festivals, podcast networks or digital long-form publishers. LSJHML covers entry fees for selected festival submissions.

How does the Diploma in Documentary Journalism handle vulnerable contributors?

Contributor care is treated as a core editorial skill, not an optional ethics module. The Diploma in Documentary Journalism covers informed consent, anonymisation, on/off-the-record agreements and post-publication duty of care — all checked at project planning and reviewed before publication.

What fees and instalment options are available?

Fees vary by mode and intake. LSJHML offers an instalment plan across the academic year and a small early-application discount. Contact admissions for the current schedule.

Diploma in Documentary Journalism in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Diploma in Documentary Journalism at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a nine-to-twelve-month UK qualification for emerging documentary makers — students, journalists and self-shooting filmmakers ready to commit to long-form character-led storytelling for screen and audio. You will pitch, research, shoot or record, edit and finish a documentary piece across the academic year, and learn to defend the editorial and ethical choices you made along the way.

The course is built in dialogue with the Royal Television Society, Sheffield DocFest and the Grierson Trust. London is the European centre of documentary production; the work is at your door.

Key Features

UK Diploma at Level 4/5 — recognised by employers and a credit-transfer pathway into the BA Documentary Journalism.
Documentary commission — pitch, research, shoot or record, edit and finish a piece across the academic year.
Field-recording and cinematography modules using kit comparable to entry-level production-house standard.
Audio documentary craft covering long-form interviewing, structure, scoring and sound design.
Documentary law and ethics module — consent, contributor care, archive rights, music clearance.
End-of-course screening with industry guests from UK broadcasters and indie production houses.

What You Will Learn

The Diploma in Documentary Journalism is structured around the working practice of a documentary maker — pitch, research, record, edit, finish, publish. You finish able to take a long-form idea from one-line pitch to finished documentary piece, defend the editorial choices you made and explain how you protected the people in front of your camera or microphone.

Story development — angle, premise, treatment, pitch document, sample reel.
Research and access — building trust with subjects, on-the-record agreements, contributor care.
Cinematography basics — composition, lighting, recording in unpredictable conditions.
Field sound and audio production — recording, interviewing for long-form, structure, mix.
Editing — narrative structure for long-form, pacing, the ethics of the cut.
Archive and rights — sourcing and clearing archive, music and stills, fair dealing.
Documentary ethics — informed consent, anonymisation, contributor wellbeing.
Finishing — colour, mix, accessibility (subtitles, audio description), delivery.

Who This Diploma Is For

Junior journalists and reporters ready to move into long-form factual work.
Self-shooting filmmakers, podcasters and YouTubers wanting industry-recognised craft training.
Career-changers from teaching, social work, NGO work or community organising bringing a story they want to tell honestly.
Certificate-level graduates ready to commit to a long-form piece across the academic year.

Career Pathways

The Diploma in Documentary Journalism prepares graduates for entry-level roles across production companies, broadcasters and podcast networks, and is the recognised feeder into the BA Documentary Journalism. Typical first roles include:

Documentary Researcher (factual production company, current-affairs television)
Documentary Director (entry-level self-shooting roles)
Investigative Producer (longform podcast, accountability journalism)
Series Producer (entry or assistant role)
Independent Filmmaker (with subsequent freelance career building)
Audio Documentary Producer (BBC Sounds, independent network)

Graduates progress to the BA Documentary Journalism or directly into entry-level production roles.

Entry Requirements

Completion of secondary school (A-Levels, BTEC, or international equivalent).
IELTS 5.5 overall (no band below 5.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement and a short pitch idea (one paragraph) for a documentary you would like to make.
Mature applicants (21+) may apply with two years of relevant work experience.

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.