University of Kent Speciality : Communication
programme: Media and Journalism

I did a media studies with a year in journalism degree.

I did the year in journalism last year and would say it was as intense as three years of my media degree combined into one. The expectations are high due to the journalism centre teachers coming from top TV and written news backgrounds, with one being the head editor of a major UK newspaper in the past. I have learned a lot about producing video, radio and written news stories. We also had to create a website for one of our stories. The classrooms are typically equipped with iMacs and have a radio recording studio.

My media lecturers knew what they were talking about and were so useful for end-of-final-year projects due to their field experience (I wrote a new horror show script and pitch which was evaluated by a film producer, and people were able to do marketing and pitch new apps).

Some of the accommodation is perhaps overpriced, but I stayed in the cheapest one (Parkwood houses) in my first year and was satisfied. The campus is beautiful with lots of bunnies, and the nightclub at the centre has great nights, although, again, is overpriced. Being in the middle of beautiful Kent also has its perks.

Overall, I had a great four years and would certainly recommend it for doing a journalism degree.