Do I Need An NCTJ? Your Step By Step Rundown Of The Journalism Qualification

Whether you’re working towards your A Levels, have just graduated, or want to pivot careers entirely, we assume you are here because you’re interested in becoming a journalist.

And if you’re thinking about working in journalism in some capacity, you have probably contemplated studying an official journalism qualification. But what does that actually mean?

These days, there are so many different options and courses out there that deciding which route to take can be difficult. In the UK, 58 universities offer 207 different journalism degree courses, according to What Uni? And that’s just undergraduate courses.

If you have already done some research, you might also have heard of a qualification called the ‘NCTJ’. While it’s not a university degree itself, some university courses are ‘NCTJ-accredited’ (we’ll get onto this later), and there are several ways you can study for the qualification. You might have seen the NCTJ crop up on job descriptions for journalism jobs, so it’s worth looking into.

What Is The NCTJ Diploma?

The NCTJ stands for the National Council for the Training of Journalists and was established in 1951 to deliver the newspaper industry’s training scheme, following the findings of a Royal Commission on the Press. Now a charity as well as an awarding body, it is one of the UK’s most well-known journalism organisations.

The qualification you’ll hear most people refer to as ‘the NCTJ’ is the ‘Level 5 Diploma in Journalism’. However, there is also what’s known as a ‘Certificate in Foundation Journalism’, which is the NCTJ’s Level 3 qualification, and the ‘National Qualification in Journalism’ – a Level 6 qualification which sees you qualify as a senior journalist.

The NCTJ also offers a Level 7 qualification for current and future editorial executives — ‘Leadership and Management for Journalists’ — as well as a Level 5 ‘Practical International Journalism’ qualification.

Right now, though, we are sticking with the Level 5 Diploma in Journalism. Many people study for the qualification after completing an undergraduate degree (not necessarily related to journalism), but others will complete it as part of an apprenticeship programme.

Where Can You Study For An NCTJ?

The NCTJ itself doesn’t teach the NCTJ Diploma. That’s down to the course providers. The options to study the Level 5 qualification are an NCTJ-accredited university degree course (where the NCTJ modules and requirements are woven into the degree programme), a dedicated NCTJ course (for which there are part-time and full-time options), via distance learning, or as part of a journalism apprenticeship.

Course providers such as PA Media Academy and News Associates offer several options for studying a dedicated NCTJ course. For example, with PA Media Academy, you can study the qualification part-time over 40 weeks or full-time in just 19 weeks. You can also choose to specialise in areas like digital features or sports. News Associates also offers full and part-time options and a three-year BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism degree.

In 2022, News Associates also launched a remote, part-time option which allows students to study for the Diploma over 18 months with evening teaching sessions three evenings a fortnight.

What Do You Study On The NCTJ?

To pass the Diploma, you’ll need to achieve A–E grades in all your modules, including the four mandatory ones. You might be able to choose the non-compulsory modules you take. However, some courses will set all of the modules themselves.

The NCTJ’s four mandatory modules are Essential Journalism (22 credits), Essential Journalism E-Portfolio (12 credits), Essential Media Law and Regulation (10 credits), and Essential Journalism Ethics and Regulation (3 credits).

Most courses will also offer the Public Affairs for Journalists module and the Journalism for a Digital Audience module, which has been particularly attractive to employers in recent years due to the ever-evolving journalism industry.

Other modules you might come across include: Sports journalism (7 credits); Data journalism (7 credits); Media law court reporting (7 credits); Business and finance journalism (7 credits); Video journalism for digital platforms (7 credits); Editing skills for journalists (7 credits); Shorthand for Journalists (14 credits); Practical magazine journalism (14 credits); PR and communications for journalists (14 credits); Introduction to PR for journalists (7 credits); Broadcast Journalism (14 credits); Photography for journalists (7 credits); TV journalism (7 credits); and Radio journalism (7 credits).

As you can see, there is a large variety of modules. While you might often hear the NCTJ discussed in the context of news journalism, there are plenty of opportunities to pursue other areas of journalism.

How Do You Pass The NCTJ Diploma?

To pass the Diploma, you’ll need to achieve A–E in all modules taken (making up a minimum of 82 credits), and 60wpm shorthand if taken, and to obtain the ‘Gold Standard’ pass, you’ll need to achieve A–C in all modules taken (making up a minimum of 82 credits) and 100wpm shorthand if taken.

While most courses will teach the shorthand module, you don’t need it to achieve the Gold Standard. For its remote, part-time course, News Associates switched out shorthand for two other modules — Data journalism and PR and communications for journalists — due to the logistics of teaching it remotely.

Do I Really Need An NCTJ?

So, we’ve gone through the logistics. Now for the most commonly asked question: do you really need an NCTJ Diploma to become a journalist?

It’s important to reinforce that there isn’t one set route into journalism, and employers value many different skills and experiences that can be developed in other ways. So, you certainly shouldn’t be put off pursuing a journalism career if you are coming from another field entirely. Having other lived experiences can often work in your favour.

Earlier in 2024, Press Gazette published an article noting a shift in hiring practices in media and journalism, namely to skills-based hiring – the prioritisation of transferable skills a candidate has developed rather than a chronological list of education and employment history. Press Gazette points to research conducted by recruitment software specialists TestGorilla, which surveyed 1,019 employers and 1,100 employees from the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Latin America, Spain, Germany, and France in March 2024.

According to the report, 81 per cent of employers use skills-based hiring, which was up from 73 per cent in 2023 and 56 per cent in 2022. It also found that 91 per cent of employers have seen improved retention rates, up from 89 per cent last year.

Studying the NCTJ Diploma, however, can help you build upon those skills while developing an extensive portfolio of work.

The NCTJ’s Head of Partnerships, Will Gore, tells Journo Resources: “We remain committed to ensuring that our qualifications continue to evolve in line with industry needs,” he adds. “The NCTJ develops qualifications which are equally applicable in print, digital, and broadcast contexts.”

He also stresses that there are now specific modules focusing on magazines, broadcast, data and digital journalism, as well as pointing to high employability rates among the media industry.

NCTJ alumni are almost three times more likely to secure a journalism job within 15 months, according to the Destinations of NCTJ Diploma in Journalism students report, published in April 2024.

The report found that 88 per cent of NCTJ graduates secured a job within 15 months – 74 per cent of which were in a journalism-related job, compared to 28 per cent of journalism graduates who were working. It also found that 88 per cent of students who achieved the gold standard in the Diploma were in a journalism-related job.

Jess Warren, journalist for BBC London News (L), and Will Gore, Head of Partnerships at the NCTJ (R)

Toby Granville, who is the editorial development director at Newsquest – the second largest publisher of regional and local newspapers in the UK – told the Student Publication Association: “There are countless courses claiming to teach journalism, but if they are not NCTJ accredited, they are not teaching the right skills and gold standard needed for our newsrooms.”

“Recruiting journalists with NCTJ qualifications has always been important as it’s a stamp of quality,” agrees Ian Carter, Editorial Director of Iliffe Media Group, one of the UK’s largest privately owned media groups.

He adds: “That has become ever more important as people at last seem to be recognising what we’ve been saying for years: trusted news by trained reporters is essential for democracy. Being able to point to our journalists’ qualifications and adherence to the Editors’ Code is a huge part of that.”

Graham Dudman, former managing editor at The Sun and current deputy managing editor of News Associates, says while the choices facing students can be “bewildering”,  NCTJ courses “show you’re serious about working as a journalist”.

He says while editors and editorial executives might disagree on many things, “they all agree applicants from NCTJ-accredited courses will have the right skills to work in their newsrooms.”

However, there are other options for people keen to break into journalism. Perhaps most prominent and prestigious are City, University of London’s journalism degree programmes. Of those who competed the BA (Hons) Journalism, 80% go on to work or further study, and 70% say they are using what they learnt during their studies in their current work, according to National Student Survey results.

City offers ten different MA courses in various areas of journalism, including magazine journalism, broadcast journalism, and podcasting – the latest addition to its journalism offerings. While City’s degree programmes are not NCTJ-accredited, a range of the courses are accredited by Broadcast Journalism Training Council or the Professional Publishers Association.

Journo Resources spoke to a range of reporters and writers who took their first steps in the industry without the NCTJ. Jess Warren now works as a journalist for BBC London News but began her career as a trainee reporter at The Wokingham Paper after completing a degree in human geography and running her student paper, Gair Rhydd.

While the paper did go on to sponsor Jess to complete the Diploma, she says she was already covering “everything from murders and armed kidnap robberies to a visit from the Princess Royal” before getting the qualification and interviewing Theresa May.

Freelance music journalist Cazz Blase says she was able to get bylines by pitching to smaller publications outside of her specialist area. She explains: “People seem to be more willing to take a chance on someone if they can pitch and have some clips showing that they can string a sentence together.” Cazz also says she used the open writing platform Medium to experiment with different topics and writing styles and to build up a portfolio of pieces for editors.

In short, we can’t give you a definitive answer as to whether or not the NCTJ is right for you, but there are several key factors to consider. Editors hiring for newsroom jobs, especially at locals and regionals, usually expect some kind of journalism qualification – with some even going as far as to stipulate the NCTJ Diploma. It’s certainly the most recognised of the bunch, and will stand you in good stead.

However, there isn’t one set route into the industry, and employers value many different skills and experiences. The NCTJ is just one of those routes, designed to help you develop the skills needed in a newsroom while building up a portfolio of work. It shows employers you have a foundation of knowledge – particularly when it comes to media law and ethics.

Depending on which area of journalism you hope to work in, you may find other courses better suited to your needs, such as in broadcast, social media, or magazines. But in each case, look at the course content individually and their employment track record. Not having an NCTJ is no barrier to pitching and putting yourself out there as a freelancer – but make sure to brush up on your pitching and writing skills.

How To Actually Study and Fund The NCTJ

If you’ve decided to study the NCTJ, it’s worth running through the how as well. It might sound like a silly question, but there are a number of ways to get that piece of paper:

• Through an Accredited University Course: One of the most common ways to study the NCTJ is alongside your BA or MA. You’ll find the content integrated with your course, though you will have to sit additional exams and it’s worth checking who’ll foot the bill for these. The bonus of this method is you won’t have to fork out more for additional tutoring and will get more time to rack up placements and hone your skills.
• Through A Fast-Track Journalism School: Another popular way to study an NCTJ is through a fast-track course, which typically takes 22 or 44 weeks, depending on if you study full or part-time. The courses, which are often cheaper than university and have high employment rates, are usually honed to give you real-world experience quickly.
• Through Distance Learning: The cheapest and most flexible option is the NCTJ’s own distance learning course. It’s open to anyone, but primarily aimed at those who can’t study at an accredited centre. You pay per module, with the average fee totalling just over £1,000. Just a heads up, we have heard it can be quite difficult due to the lack of structure and actual teaching, but it is a more flexible option and gives you more time to work through it.
• Through Your Employer: It’s also worth noting that some employers will fund you to study while you work. Look out for trainee reporter jobs or apprenticeships, and several graduate schemes will include NCTJ training.

The NCTJ’s directory is a good place to start, and our jobs board also has a specific filter to find apprenticeship-level roles. Funding the course depends on how you choose to study, but if you’re struggling with finances, options include:

Have more questions about the NCTJ or want to share your thoughts? Get in touch with us here.

Featured Image: Roman Kraft / Unsplash