Journalism (MA)

MA (Journalism)

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
Find Out More

Course Overview

The MA Journalism at University of Galway is an innovative, digital-first journalism programme focusing on key multimedia skills needed to work in the modern newsroom. The programme aims to train students to work in the fast-paced world of journalism, equipping graduates with essential training in traditional reporting skills for print, online and broadcast, as well as digital media experience in audience development and analytics, data journalism, podcasting and OSINT verification.

University of Galway has a long tradition of journalism training and all journalism students are required to undertake a rigorous programme of news writing and reporting, broadcasting, media law, politics, economics and current affairs, and ethics and regulation, and can choose from a suite of optional elective modules to give them specialist knowledge in areas. These elective modules could include Humanitarian Reporting, Documentary Storytelling (Audio and Video), International Human Rights and Peacekeeping, Communicating Climate Action and Science, and Introduction to Investigative Reporting.

Journalism classes take place in the digital newsroom and broadcast studios, completely refurbished in 2019. University of Galway has partnerships with all major national media organisations and students receive support in seeking out employment opportunities and internships both in Ireland and internationally.

Scholarships available

Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.

Applications and Selections

Application is via an online application and competitive interview. To apply, click here. You’ll need to supply the following supporting documents to apply:

A copy of your academic transcript (if you are in the final year of your degree, you can supply a copy of your results to date)
Your CV
A personal statement of 500 words outlining your interest in, and suitability for, the programme
A sample of your work, for example student radio or previously published news articles. If you don’t have anything published you can write a 300 word news story and submit that.
The names of two referees (we do not require written references, we will contact your referees if we need them)

To see full details of documentation for this course, please visit Supporting Documents website.

Who Teaches this Course

Dr. Mei-Ling McNamara, Investigative Journalist, MA Journalism Programme Director, Assistant Professor in Journalism, Documentary Filmmaker, Writer, Producer
Professor Sean O’Rourke, Adjunct Professor of Journalism and former RTÉ broadcaster
Professor Conor Brady, Adjunct Professor, former Editor, The Irish Times and former Garda Ombudsman
Professor Orla Guerin, Honorary Professor of International Journalism and BBC International Correspondent
Conall Ó Fátharta, lecturer in news and investigative journalism and former senior news reporter with the Irish Examiner
Fiona McGarry, lecturer in radio journalism and radio producer
Dr. Tom Felle, Head of Journalism and former Irish Independent correspondent
Dr. Uinsionn Mac Dubhghaill, lecturer in Journalism
Dr. Kelly Fincham, Lecturer in Social Media

Students also attend regular lectures, workshops and news days with working professionals from a range of backgrounds.

Requirements and Assessment

All modules involve continuous assessment, regular assignments, project work, presentations and portfolio development. Media Law also involves a formal exam during the exam period at the end of Semester One. Following Semester Two, you will complete a professional work placement and either a final journalism project or dissertation during Semester three (summer).

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

To be accepted you must have a minimum Second Class Honours degree (ideally at 2.1 honours or higher) or equivalent. To apply, send your CV, a personal statement of no more than 500 words detailing your interest in the programme and your career aspirations, and at least one sample of your work, for example, a blog post, student media, short piece for radio, television or other media. We also welcome applications from people with prior experience in journalism looking to update their skills.

The English language requirement for this programme is: IELTS of 7.0 overall with not less than 6.5 in any component.

Additionally, students interested in the International Journalism and Human Rights stream must be able to demonstrate competence in a language other than English or Irish.

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

1 year, full-time or 2 years, part-time

Next start date

September 2025

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

Applications will be considered in two rounds.

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

Course code

MA-JOU

Course Outline

This one-year programme is split into three semesters, with a mix of practical class, theory and context. Students have a busy week with taught classes as well as reporting assignments and independent study. In semester one students work on news reporting practice for print, online and broadcasting in ‘Journalism Bootcamp’. Key ethical and regulatory issues are explored in ‘Global Media and Society’. In Semester Two students work on hyperlocal website Galway Pulse, a local newspaper and produce a drivetime radio show in ‘Multimedia Newsdays’. Students can also choose from a range of elective modules.

Semester One

Journalism Bootcamp (10 credits)
Reporting Economics and Politics (10 credits)
Global Media and Society (5 credits)
Social and Digital Production (5 credits)

Semester Two

Multimedia Newsdays (10 credits)
Media Law (5 credits)
Researching the Media (5 credits)

Choose 10 credits from the following elective modules

Features Journalism (10 credits)
Investigating Miscarriages of Justice (10 credits)
Business and Financial Journalism (10 credits)
Data Journalism and Visualisation (10 credits)

Additionally, students who choose the International Journalism and Human Rights stream have the following outline, including modules in Human Rights, and ‘Being a Foreign Correspondent’:

Semester One

Journalism Bootcamp (10 credits)
International Human Rights Law (10 credits)
Global Media and Society (5 credits)
Social and Digital Production (5 credits)

Semester Two

Being a Foreign Correspondent (10 credits)
Researching the Media (5 credits)

Choose 10 credits from the following elective modules

Investigating Miscarriages of Justice (10 credits)
Data Journalism and Visualisation (10 credits)
International Peace Operations (10 credits)
Climate Justice (5 credits)
Media Law (5 credits)

Students who choose the Global Business and Financial Journalism stream have the following outline, including modules in business and financial journalism:

Semester One

Journalism Bootcamp (10 credits)
Reporting Economics and Politics (10 credits)
Global Media and Society (5 credits)

Semester Two

Multimedia Newsdays (10 credits)
Business and Financial Journalism (10 credits)
Data Journalism and Visualisation (10 credits)

Choose between:

Researching the Media (5 credits)
Social and Digital Production (5 credits)
Media Law (5 credits)

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (90 Credits)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

This programme prepares you to work as a professional journalist across multiple platforms and graduates have careers at national news organisations including RTE, Newstalk, The Irish Times, Irish Examiner, Irish Independent and a range of local newspapers and local radio. Graduates work in roles including reporters, editors, researchers, producers and on-air presenters as well as new careers in data journalism and analytics, social media production and audience development. Graduates also work in the wider media in PR roles, in policy, advocacy and political communications.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€10,640 p.a. full-time; € TBC p.a. part-time (including levy) 2025/26

Fees: Tuition

€10,500 p.a. full-time; € TBC p.a. part-time 2025/26

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. full-time; € TBC p.a. part-time 2025/26

Fees: Non EU

€20,500 p.a. (€20,640 including levy) 2025/26

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant—please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2024/25). You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee. A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Postgraduate fee breakdown = Tuition (EU or NON EU) + Student levy as outlined above.

Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here.

Find out More

Dr. Mei-Ling McNamara

Programme Director | Assistant Professor | Lecturer Above the Bar | Journalist | Filmmaker

Discipline of Media E-mail: mei-ling.mcnamara@universityofgalway.ie

Quick Links

Amy Blaney | Intern, Irish Independent

After I graduated with a BA (Joint-Honours) in Irish and History at NUIG, I decided embark on the MA (Journalism) at NUIG. The practical nature of the course really appealed to me & it challenged me to work both independently, & as part of a team, to deliver weekly work across print, radio, TV & online to build a strong multimedia portfolio. There was a great mix of highly experienced journalists teaching on the course that brought their passion, skills and advice, & this really made it enjoyable for students. The journalism facilities in NUIG were great, eg, 4K TV studio & radio studio that allowed me to develop my broadcasting skills. In second semester, the MA class manages their own news website "The Galway Pulse", which gave me great practical experience in reporting & writing stories in a newsroom setting. The MA provided me with great opportunities, such as interviewing MEPs in the European Parliament in Strasbourg & working with RTE for the general election. Overall the MA really boosted my career prospects. After I finished the MA, I received a graduate internship in the European Parliament’s audio visual unit, & I am now an intern in the Irish Independent.

in Connect with Amy

Paul O’Malley | Journalist, Western People

The Masters in Journalism at NUIG provided an excellent platform for my preferred career choice of working in the media. It provided me with a diverse skill set which gives me the knowledge and ability to succeed in any area of journalism, including print media, radio, television and online media. The course gave me the opportunity to learn from those who had relevant experience in the media industry while also refining my work to be of a professional standard through their consistent and valuable feedback.

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