English and Journalism

English and journalism is a combination that reflects the complementary relationship between two ways of engaging with language and the world. English literature and language study develops close reading, critical analysis, and the capacity to understand how texts create meaning and shape culture. Journalism trains you in the skills of information gathering, verification, storytelling, and the production of content for diverse audiences and platforms.

Together, they cultivate a writer and thinker who is equally at home with ideas and with the demands of communicating clearly, quickly, and accurately. At Roehampton University, this three-year, full-time programme also includes a foundation year option, providing an additional year of preparation for students building towards degree-level study.

You will study literary texts from a range of periods, traditions, and genres alongside the principles and practice of journalism, including news writing, feature journalism, interviewing, investigative reporting, and digital publishing. The programme engages with the critical thinking that both subjects demand, exploring how narratives are constructed, what responsibilities journalists carry, and how the media landscape has changed with the rise of digital platforms. The degree is particularly relevant in a media environment that places a premium on creative and critical thinkers who can produce original, well-researched content across a variety of formats.

Graduates of English and journalism find careers in print, broadcast, and online journalism, as well as in content creation, public relations, communications, copywriting, publishing, and marketing. The critical literacy and analytical skills developed through the English component are valued in education, the civil service, research, and any role that demands engagement with complex information and effective communication. Many graduates also proceed to postgraduate study in journalism, creative writing, media, or English literature.

For those who want to write, investigate, and communicate with purpose, this combination provides a thorough and practically relevant foundation.