This course is designed to prepare you for a career in medical journalism, or to augment your medical career and to provide an intellectually stimulating and demanding course of study. If you have successfully completed a minimum of two years of the Basic Medical Sciences BSc Honours (preclinical), this course trains you in the highest standards of medical journalism. Afterwards, you may return to medical school to complete your primary course. The course is unique – there is no other course specifically devoted to medical journalism in the UK.

Course content

You will undertake specially modified modules from our postgraduate journalism courses.

Subjects of study include: Editorial Production (Medical) • Feature Writing (Medical) • Layout and Design for Health Specialists • Press Law and Ethics for Health Specialists • Professional Writing for Health Specialists • The Context of Journalism • The Politics of Health and the Media

You will also learn skills in multimedia journalism, equipping you to use audio and video tools as part of writing for the web and learn alongside students taking Broadcast Journalism. The course will soon be revalidated and there may be some changes to the overall curriculum.

Work placement

You are required to undertake at least one three-week work placement during the course, usually between the first and second semesters. This will be with a weekly or monthly specialist magazine or on the health pages of a national newspaper. All features, news stories and editorial projects will have a medical angle with medical/health journalists from both the specialist and consumer press contributing as visiting speakers.

Entry requirements

You must have successfully completed a minimum of two pre-clinical years of your medical or dentistry degree and have passed both years at the first attempt. Alternatively, you must have successfully completed two years of a first degree in an allied subject such as nursing, or in related specialisms, such as speech therapy or veterinary medicine. You should demonstrate a strong motivation towards journalism as a career, or as part of a portfolio career, or to enrich your medical knowledge base. Such motivation may be shown through freelance work, work experience at medical/ healthcare publications and/ or relevant involvement with your university’s student publication. You must possess above average standards of written and spoken English and have a minimum of Grade B at GCSE English. You should submit an idea and treatment for an investigative feature, targeted at the health pages of a quality newspaper, such as The Daily Telegraph, with your application. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed. During the interview, you will be asked to complete a short general knowledge and English test. The interview panel will also consider samples of work. Selected candidates will be interviewed by staff and students.

Contact

Contact Course Enquiries for more information