Is the MA Documentary Journalism a film degree?

No — it's a journalism master's with a documentary specialism. The MA Documentary Journalism focuses on truth-telling, research, ethics and long-form factual storytelling. Pure fiction filmmaking is not covered; documentary craft and the journalism that grounds it are.

Can I specialise in audio rather than video on the MA Documentary Journalism?

Yes. The course works across both formats, and the graduating documentary can be either a video or audio long-form piece. Longform audio is an expanding market, and several MA students each year specialise in audio for their graduating project.

Does the MA Documentary Journalism include a published or screened final?

Yes. The graduating documentary is screened at year end before commissioning editors and industry guests. Several graduating projects each year are picked up by UK broadcasters, podcast networks or long-form digital publishers.

Can the MA Documentary Journalism be studied online?

Yes. The online route mirrors the on-campus master's, with live tutorials and edit reviews over video. Online and distance students complete the same graduating documentary with remote supervision; some travel to London for screening week.

Is the MA Documentary Journalism recognised by UK broadcasters?

The MA Documentary Journalism is a UK master's-level qualification structured around standards drawn from the Royal Television Society and the Grierson Trust. Your graduating documentary and portfolio are read alongside the credential by commissioning editors at UK broadcasters and independent producers.

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

Course Overview

The MA Documentary Journalism at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for working journalists and graduates committed to long-form factual storytelling — on screen, in audio and in long-form digital. You will work through advanced documentary craft, research and access at master's level, the ethics of working with contributors and subjects, and produce a graduating documentary that screens before industry guests.

The MA Documentary Journalism is built around the assumption that documentary is a craft of patient, evidenced storytelling — and that doing it well requires both technical skill and serious ethical literacy. The course works across video and audio formats, with students typically specialising for the graduating project.

Key Features

UK-recognised master's degree aligned with Royal Television Society, Sheffield DocFest and Grierson Trust standards.
Advanced documentary craft across video and audio formats.
Research and access at master's level — building trust, working with vulnerable contributors, sustained source relationships.
Documentary law and ethics — consent, archival rights, music clearance, post-publication duty of care.
Industry-led masterclasses from working documentary directors, commissioning editors and longform podcast producers.
Graduating documentary screened at year end before commissioning editors and industry guests.

What You Will Learn

The MA Documentary Journalism is structured around the working practice of a documentary maker at master's level — research, access, recording, edit, finishing, ethics. You leave able to take an idea from a one-line pitch to a 30-to-60 minute documentary, defend the choices you made to a commissioner, and explain how you protected the contributors in front of your camera or microphone.

Advanced story development — angle, treatment, pitch document, sample reel.
Research and access — building trust, sustained source work, working with vulnerable contributors.
Cinematography and field sound at master's level — composition, lighting, recording in unpredictable contexts.
Audio documentary craft — interviewing for long form, structure, scoring, sound design.
Editing — narrative structure for long form, pacing, ethics of what gets cut.
Archive and rights — sourcing and clearing archive, music and stills, fair dealing.
Documentary ethics — informed consent, anonymisation, contributor wellbeing, post-publication duty of care.
Funding and commissioning landscape — UK broadcasters, podcast networks, festival routes.

Who This MA Is For

Working journalists moving into documentary specialism at senior level.
BA graduates in journalism, film or related fields progressing to master's.
Independent filmmakers and podcast producers seeking a recognised UK postgraduate credential.
Career-changers from teaching, social work or NGO work bringing a subject and community they want to film honestly.

Career Pathways

MA Documentary Journalism graduates move into documentary production, broadcast current affairs and long-form audio roles. Typical post-MA destinations include:

Documentary Researcher (current-affairs television, factual production company)
Documentary Director (post-MA, with portfolio)
Investigative Producer (current affairs, longform podcast)
Series Producer (factual television, podcast network)
Independent Filmmaker (festival route, broadcaster commissions)
Longform Audio Producer (BBC Sounds, independent network)

The MA also supports doctoral research in documentary studies or international journalism progression.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant professional experience.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, relevant experience and intended specialism.
Two academic or professional references.
Applicants without a related undergraduate degree may be considered with significant industry experience and a written sample.

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.