Degrees Or Apprenticeships: Which Route Into Journalism Is Best For You?

Finishing A-levels is nerve-racking. Deciding who you want to be (and how you’re going to achieve that) can feel like an impossible and stressful task. For those thinking about going into journalism, this can be particularly apparent.

There’s no one correct route into journalism, and with all the possibilities laid out in front of you, choosing what to do can be daunting. So, it’s a good idea to know all your options, which can help you figure out which path suits you the best.

Why Should I Take A Journalism Degree?

Studying at university often seems to be one of the most obvious choices for people looking to become a journalist — and there’s a good reason for that.

For many people, university is an accessible option that gives them time to properly explore their future career path. Around one third of journalists study at university, and more than 80 universities in the UK offer some type of journalism course, though this figure has decreased in recent years.

Lucy Gormanly is a freelance broadcast journalist who graduated with a BA in Journalism last year from the University of Central Lancashire. Since then, she has worked for networks like the BBC and Radio News Hub. She says: “Uni was probably the easiest route to go down, and it got me all those skills before I had to go out and do it properly.”

For Lucy and many other graduates, university provided them with the knowledge and skills needed to become journalists.

“We learnt loads of stuff, presenting, going out and reporting, and interviewing, which I think are skills that every journalist needs. That preparation has helped me so much,” she adds.

Maisie Grice (L) works for the Financial Times after completing their apprenticeship and Lucy Gormandy (R) is a freelance broadcast journalist who studied a BA in Journalism at university. 

Throughout her studies, Lucy had the opportunity to work across different platforms, including print, TV and radio and also gained her diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), a qualification which can often be seen as mandatory for news-focused roles (though this is increasingly up for debate).

She says: “Nothing can fully prepare you for going into that world, because you work with so many different people, but I think [practising] the key [and] core skills so often, really helps you out in the long run.”

While university degrees do place an emphasis on the practical, by nature of being part of an academic institution, they do also incorporate elements of academia. As one journalism lecturer, Andy Dickinson, reflects: “Journalism is a weird fish in the university lake. Perhaps the weirdest. What’s clear is that the way we teach and assess journalism doesn’t neatly fit anywhere. We don’t do a lot of essays and exams like traditional academic courses, and our demand on resources doesn’t quite fit the pen/paper/library/book model that universities use to box in humanities courses.

“But our practice-based assessment and teaching sit uncomfortably with other practice-based courses. In the eyes of arts courses, we often aren’t critical or creative enough compared to other parts of their provision. We’re not technical enough for technical courses […] I think the nub of this is that universities still haven’t got a handle on vocational courses.

“I’ve certainly been in the room (more than once) where it’s generally accepted that studying the output of journalism is seen as more academically acceptable than learning how to do it.”

In other words, while the NCTJ Diploma is directed towards more in-the-field practical work to prepare you for the on-the-go nature of the job, universities can offer a whole range of approaches in their journalism syllabus. So, it’s important to read the finer details of what you’ll be learning to see if it aligns with your aspirations.

This broad range of courses does give an added bonus of flexibility: some courses will give you the opportunity to explore different styles of journalism, such as making magazines, podcasts, or documentaries. They can also introduce you to new areas of journalism you may not have considered before, like politics, sport, fashion, or world affairs. You may discover a passion for something you’ve never considered before or, in some cases, a topic you thought you’d love might turn out not to be all that.

Caroline Hawtin is the course leader for journalism at the University of Central Lancashire. She says: “In that period between 18 and 21, so much changes in that person’s life and a university course has the flexibility built-in to deal with that.”

Having the space and time to figure things out can be very appealing; however, it’s certainly not for everyone, especially if you already know exactly what you’d like your career to look like. A three-to-four-year degree can feel exceptionally long compared to a 22-week fast-track NCTJ course.

It’s also worth noting that university isn’t only a change in education, it’s a change in lifestyle. In many cases, you’ll need to consider if you’re ready to move away from home and live independently, as well as pick up the responsibility of guiding your own study.

While some of the courses are smaller and provide more individual support, many universities have 100 or more students studying on the same course, so it’s often down to you to seek enough guidance to ensure your work is up to scratch.

Nevertheless, university continues to be widely thought of as one of the best ways to learn journalism and, for many people, their time there is rewarding and fun. So, if you know you want to be a journalist but haven’t quite made up your mind about a specialist topic or platform you want to work on, it may be a good fit for you.

Can You Go Into Journalism Without A Degree?

First things first, we want to say the answer to this is an emphatic yes. While research shows the majority of current journalists are degree-educated, you absolutely don’t need to be — and it’s important that we keep the profession open to everyone.

Many major companies offer to teach school leavers essential journalism skills through in-the-field apprenticeships, which are typically suited to those who are ready to head straight into the world of work.

Maisie Grice works as a personal finance reporter at The Financial Times, having completed her apprenticeship with the company. She says: “For me, it’s always been the duality of having to learn, while being hands-on. I’ve always done quite well in that environment.”

Maisie tells us she gained experience across regional, national and international news as a newsroom apprentice, as well as spending time with The Manchester Evening News. “That’s a really good way of getting your boots on the ground and really getting into journalism,” she adds. “You just get thrown into the mix straight away, it’s a great way to learn.”

“While I was there, I did courts, coroners, and live news. I was there during the general election, so I covered that. It was all really great training. You have the opportunity to learn from so many different journalists, from so many different scopes. It’s going to set you up really well.”

Another perk of apprenticeships is that you can build a strong relationship with your chosen company. While not guaranteed, in cases like Maisie’s, this can lead to a full-time job after completing your training. This is definitely not an advantage to be overlooked, as it is well known that journalism is a difficult industry to establish yourself in.

Finally, there’s the all-important pay packet, with apprentices paid while you learn. While salaries can vary, a growing number of companies are choosing to pay at least the London Living Wage. But do bear in mind that the salary does mean you’re also going straight into work and full-time employment, with all the hours that entails.

Adele Jones is the Early Careers and Development Manager at The Financial Times. She concludes: “Journalism should be, and can be, for everyone. And so, if university isn’t for you, whether that’s through choice, finances or life circumstances, don’t let that get in your way.”

However, with there being far fewer apprenticeship providers than universities teaching journalism, many of these opportunities are highly competitive. Providers like the BBC receive thousands of applications for their apprenticeships every year, usually only offering a dozen or so places. For smaller companies, they may only be taking one or two apprentices for each cohort.

This is, of course, no reason to not apply, but be mindful that the odds of getting an apprenticeship are lower than they might be for getting into university. This means you’ll need to make sure you put aside proper time for your applications and are able to show a commitment and dedication to the profession — it might help to start by reading our guides to both The Financial Times and The Telegraph schemes to get some pointers.

What Alternatives Are There To Degrees And Apprenticeships?

If neither a degree nor an apprenticeship feels right, there are other options, with various training programmes on the market. Some colleges offer adult courses to teach you all you need to know about journalism. Other institutes provide fast-track schemes to earn your NCTJ diploma. Then, there are some that act as a bit of a middle ground between university and work. In other cases, you can find degrees which are accredited by the NCTJ, offering you both qualifications at once and for one fee.

The School of Journalism, run by News Associates, is one such programme that has been designed to teach students to become journalists in a unique environment.

Lucy Dyer, the editorial development director at News Associates, which is behind the programme, says:  “We are a newsroom. We are [doing] journalism training in a newsroom. What we are not – and what we don’t try to hide – is that we are not a big, traditional university campus.”

Run in collaboration with Plymouth Marjon University, it’s framed as an alternative route to a degree and NCTJ, which focuses on practical skills. As Lucy explains, this ‘school’ is not the same as a university and you aren’t so much treated as students, but rather as journalists. The team is to quickly build up a portfolio of work to showcase to future employers.

Oliver Murphy is a graduate from the school who now works for Newsquest. He explains: “For me, the School of Journalism was a fundamental part of my career journey, in that it taught me the foundations of good journalism.

“I got some really helpful advice from the tutors there about how to set myself apart from the crowd and something I really benefited from there was the advice about freelancing.” While studying, his work was published in various outlets, including Metro.co.uk.

He continues: “It gave me a really strong portfolio to take, once I’d graduated, and show it to prospective employers. So, I think the support and the emphasis on producing quality journalism while you’re studying definitely helped. I think it would suit someone who has a real hunger and appetite to learn what it is that makes journalism such a great industry, and also someone that’s willing to take risks, someone that’s willing to get stuck in on day one.”

Similarly, fast-track NTCJ courses can also offer a speedy route into the industry; however, since being reclassified as a Level 5 Qualification, the opportunity to study these at further education colleges has decreased. It’s also important to balance how much time you think you need to grow and develop, with some courses as short as 22 weeks. Ultimately, it comes down to personal circumstances.

At 17 or 18 years old, it’s normal to feel confused about the direction your life is heading, and journalism can sometimes feel like a very confusing industry to understand. Still, simply gearing up for adulthood, thinking about your future, and what you might want your career to be, will help.

You will never be able to predict exactly what your life will look like — and that’s fine! Give yourself some time to figure out the type of person you are and the style of education that will suit you the best. Hopefully, with whatever you choose, the next few years will be fulfilling and exciting.

This piece was updated on August 19 to change wording that described the NCTJ as a postgraduate qualification.

Header image via Unsplash.