Careers with a masters degree in journalism

Our taught postgraduate courses open doors in the media industries and beyond.

MA Journalism students in their graduation gowns pose for a group photo.
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It’s easy to see why our graduates do so brilliantly in their careers. Here at Sheffield, every student has the opportunity to learn from visiting professionals, through guest lectures and weekly masterclasses. We provide students with insight, work placement and networking opportunities. These opportunities, paired with Sheffield's mighty reputation in newsrooms across the UK and internationally and the professional accreditation for our practical MA courses, means our students leave Sheffield equipped to thrive in the workplace.

MA Broadcast Journalism

A woman wearing headphones stands next to a teleprompter.

Headline statistics

  • 90% of graduates were in work within 15 months of graduation.
  • 90% of graduates work in the information and comms sector, in journalism roles.

Job titles

These were the roles graduates found themselves in:

  • Broadcast Journalist
  • Video Journalist
  • Assistant News Editor
  • Freelance Broadcast Journalist
  • Producer
  • Video Content Production Executive

Employers

These were the destinations of our graduates:

  • BBC
  • Daily Mail
  • ITN
  • Haymarket Media Group
  • Politics.co.uk
Portrait of Miriam Walker-Khan

What I love most is telling stories, and the challenge of doing that on different platforms

Miriam Walker-Khan MA Broadcast Journalism

Miriam Walker-Khan is a freelance reporter, writer and presenter, who studied MA Broadcast at The University of Sheffield.

Source: Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2020/21

MA Global Journalism

Tiara Hasna Rachman

Headline statistics

  • 75% of graduates were in work within 15 months of graduation.
  • 20% of graduates went on to further study.

Job titles

These were the roles graduates found themselves in:

  • Journalist
  • Editor
  • Account Manager
  • Brand Manager
  • Marketing Executive
  • News Reporter & News Editor

Employers

These were the destinations of our graduates:

  • Byte dance (TikTok)
  • China Central Television
  • China National Radio
  • China-Asean Panorama Magazine
  • Economic Observer Newspaper China
  • Shanghai Media Group
Global Journalism MA graduate Siyu Chen

I mastered journalism theory by analysing news reports

Siyu Chen Global Journalism MA

Siyu Chen's precious year at Sheffield gave her the knowledge and experience to continue her studies at PhD level and win scholarship funding.

Source: Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2020/21

MA International Public and Political Communication

A protest on a street with a woman in the foreground carrying a sign that says, 'I can't believe we're marching for facts'

Headline statistics

  • 71% of graduates were in work within 15 months of graduation.
  • 14% of graduates went onto further study

These were the roles graduates found themselves in:

  • Media Officer
  • PR Officer
  • Strategy Planner
  • Teacher

Employers

These were the destinations of our graduates:

  • Leeds City Council
  • Liberal Democrats Party
  • NatWest Group
  • Fosun Foundation Shanghai

Source: Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2020/21

Portrait of Tom Parkin

Many of the friendships I made during my time here are lifelong and for that alone, I am incredibly grateful

Tom Parkin MA International Public and Political Communication

Tom Parkin studied MA International Public and Political Communication, and has just begun a PhD at the University of Sheffield.

MA Journalism

A man and a woman looking at a computer screen.

Headline statistics

  • 100% of graduates were in work within 15 months of graduation.
  • 80% of students said they went straight into a "high skilled" job

Job titles

These were the roles graduates found themselves in:

  • News Reporter
  • Trainee Reporter
  • Community Reporter
  • Copywriter
  • Journalist

Employers

These were the destinations of our graduates:

  • Reach PLC
  • Bloomberg LP
  • JPI Media
  • Twinkl Ltd

Source: Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2020/21

Portrait of Jessica Murray

My confidence in building contacts and my understanding of a good news story are grounded in my time at Sheffield

Jessica Murray Journalism MA

Rising star Jessica Murray received a Scott Trust bursary enabling her to study for our MA Journalism degree. After graduating in 2019 she joined The Guardian, where her stories have already led the front page.

How we help

Here in the Department of Journalism Studies, our dedicated work placement officer can help you find meaningful employment experience with hand-picked organisations matched to your interests.

Meanwhile our guest lectures and media careers days put you face to face with professionals from the media industries to give insights direct from the frontline and tips on what employers are looking for.

Visit our brilliant Careers Service for more about what's on offer and find out why Sheffield is the top university in the north of England for graduate employability.

University Careers Service 

Related information

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