MA Magazine Journalism

Course Overview

The MA Magazine Journalism at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for working magazine writers, longform reporters, freelance contributors and Bachelor's graduates ready to push their craft to publishable Master's standard. The course is built in dialogue with the Professional Publishers Association and the Society of Editors.

You will work at advanced feature-writing depth, build a substantial portfolio of published longform pieces, study the contemporary economics and ethics of magazine journalism, and produce a 12,000–15,000-word longform piece or dissertation on a magazine-journalism subject of your own.

Key Features

• UK Master's degree — one year full-time or two years part-time, with online and distance routes available.
• Advanced feature-writing taught across multi-draft tutor cycles with industry-experienced supervisors.
• Longform reporting module — research-driven features built across months, with editorial supervision.
• Pitching and commissioning at Master's level — pitch directly to commissioning editors, place pieces in working titles.
• Magazine economics module — subscription, advertising, freelance and member-funded models.
• 12,000–15,000-word capstone — a longform piece or research dissertation, supervised by a working senior journalist or editor.

What You Will Learn

The MA Magazine Journalism is structured around the working life of a senior magazine writer — pitch, research, draft, defend, publish. You finish able to land a longform commission at a UK national title, research and write a 5,000–10,000-word feature to publishable standard, and write a Master's dissertation on a question facing the form.

• Advanced feature writing — voice, structure, scene-setting, the use of telling detail at Master's level.
• Longform reporting — research-driven features built across months.
• Profile craft — the long-form profile, access negotiation, the interview as research method.
• Pitching at Master's level — landing commissions at UK national magazines and longform digital publishers.
• Editorial relationship management — working with commissioning editors, draft cycles, fact-checking.
• Magazine economics — subscription, advertising, freelance, member-funded models.
• Media law at advanced level — defamation, privacy, harassment, advertising standards in magazine context.
• Dissertation research methods — research design, longform reporting as research, academic writing.

Who This MA Is For

• Working magazine writers, longform reporters and freelance contributors wanting a Master's credential.
• Bachelor's graduates in journalism aiming directly at magazine-specialism entry roles.
• Career-changers from academia, civil service or marketing with strong writing portfolios moving into longform.
• Independent newsletter writers and substack publishers wanting structured longform craft training.

Career Pathways

The MA Magazine Journalism supports progression into senior magazine writing, editorial and commissioning roles. Typical post-MA destinations include:

• Magazine Features Writer (senior role at general-interest, consumer, business or trade title)
• Section Editor (national title, longform digital publisher)
• Long-form Journalist (longform online publisher, weekend supplement)
• Commissioning Editor (national title, specialist magazine)
• Freelance Feature Writer (multiple titles, established beat)
• Editorial Director (small to mid-size magazine or longform publisher)

The MA also supports launching a substack or independent longform venture, or progressing into senior editorial roles at established publishers.

Entry Requirements

• A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in journalism or a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant writing experience.
• IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
• Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, writing background and intended specialism.
• Two academic or professional references.
• Strong writing sample required at application.

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.

Apply for the MA Magazine Journalism

Apply now — admissions are open year-round with September and January intakes. Scholarship review is automatic.