02 Mar 2021
Key Facts
Qualification Summary
This Diploma prepares students for entry to HEI undergraduate courses in Journalism and/or Media and related disciplines. It provides an introduction to and development of multi-media practices and skills, as well as journalistic planning, research and writing skills and an understanding of news selection, news writing and target audience.
The qualification also develops a knowledge and experience of sourcing stories and features. Units where a knowledge and understanding of government and politics, both national and local, and how to use statistics and data responsibly and with skill, are designed to widen students’ view of the world and so help develop some of the interests and understanding a journalist requires. Just as importantly, the Diploma contextualises the study of journalism and the media industry in terms of its role and place in wider society and establishes an understanding of legal and ethical considerations for those wanting to pursue careers in journalism and related fields.
Ungraded units have been selected to help provide students with skills to support the study of journalism and media, as well as preparing them well for their HEI career.
Optional units allow the Diploma to be tailored to the interests of individual students in this diverse field of study, which offers a wide variety of specialist options
Why choose this qualification?
This Diploma prepares students for entry to HEI undergraduate courses in Journalism and/or Media and related disciplines. It provides an introduction to and development of multi-media practices and skills, as well as journalistic planning, research and writing skills and an understanding of news selection, news writing and target audience.
The qualification also develops a knowledge and experience of sourcing stories and features. Units where a knowledge and understanding of government and politics, both national and local, and how to use statistics and data responsibly and with skill, are designed to widen students’ view of the world and so help develop some of the interests and understanding a journalist requires. Just as importantly, the diploma contextualises the study of journalism and the media industry in terms of its role and place in wider society and establishes an understanding of legal and ethical considerations for those wanting to pursue careers in journalism and related fields.
Ungraded units have been selected to help provide students with skills to support the study of journalism and media, as well as preparing them well for their HEI career.
Optional units allow the Diploma to be tailored to the interests of individual students in this diverse field of study, which offers a wide variety of specialist options.
Rules of Combination
Learners must complete 45 credits from this group - 33 credits from the Mandatory Graded group and 12 credits from the Optional Graded unit group.
Units
Learners must complete 6 credits from this group.
Journalism - Research Skills
Research Project for Journalism - Methodology
Learners must complete 27 credits from this group.
Ethical Considerations for Journalists
Introduction to News Journalism
Legal Considerations for Journalists
Multimedia Practice
The Use of Statistics in Journalism
Writing for Magazines
Learners must complete 12 credits from this group.
Exploring Different Journalistic Genres
Government and Politics for Journalists
Journalism and Society
Local News Journalism
Media and Society
Learners must complete 12 credits from the Mandatory Ungraded Group and 3 credits from the Optional Ungraded Group.
Learners must complete 12 credits from this group.
Academic Writing Skills
Optimising Examination Performance
Preparation for Higher Education
References and Reliability of Sources
Learners must complete 3 credits from this group.
Academic Reading Skills
Communication - Speaking and Listening
Developing Professional Attributes
Promoting Wellbeing and Building Resilience
Study Skills
Work Placement
Intended learner groups
a) Adults who, because of social, educational or individual circumstances may have achieved few, if any, prior qualifications and wish to progress to HE.
b) Adults who have gone straight into industry (perhaps following apprenticeship routes) who wish to progress to HE.
c) Adults who, for whatever reason, need or want to study at a higher level in a subject area that is new to them, for either purely educational or career-related aims.
Delivery methods
Classroom and/or online delivery methods are appropriate to the proposed Diploma.
It is recommended that the References and Reliability of Sources is delivered as a prerequisite to The Use of Statistics in Journalism.
The following assessment methods are used in this Diploma:
News reports, news features, essays, exams (open book), presentations, portfolios of evidence, research notes, interview notes, self-evaluation, photographs and short videos, SWOT analysis.
Progression routes
BA (Hons) Journalism, BA (Hons) Media and numerous related undergraduate courses at numerous UK universities, including degree programmes with mixed honours that include Journalism.
Progression & entry requirements
There are no specific learner entry requirements for the proposed Diploma.Provider approval criteria
Staff will be required to have qualifications in journalism and/or media or media-related fields to at least level 3 and/or relevant industry experience.
Students of this Access to HE Diploma will require access to IT equipment and facilities, including computers and internet access. It is suggested that cheap software solutions for audio/video recordings, such as Audacity, are explored/provided. A selection of recent newspapers and magazines will also need to be available to students.
There are no other requirements for specialist resources for the delivery or provider approval of the Access to HE Diploma, though students will be required to have access to mobile phones with the capacity to take photographs and record videos.
Funding information
Learning Aims Search
The Hub provides a Learning Aims Search which you can use to check the funding status of any qualification or unit.
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Hub website
From 1st July 2021, the Hub will be replaced by a new Find a learning aim (FALA) service. This service is currently in BETA so if you experience any issues with finding funding details, please double check on the Hub above, or contact your account manager.
View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website
How to find a learning aim
If you’re not sure how to use the new find a learning aim website, we’ve created a handy walkthrough to help you:
How to Use: Find a learning Aim
Additional funding information for Access to HE
- Access to HE is eligible for funding as part of the legal entitlement offer.
- Access to HE is eligible for funding via Advanced Learner Loans and appears on the Advanced Learner Loans catalogues published by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
- Access to HE Diplomas are designed for adult learners aged 19+ and the ESFA only funds young people on these programmes by exception, as stated in paragraph 149, page 39 of the Funding guidance for young people 2020 to 2021.
We have done our best to collate and summarise the key information, and wherever possible we alert our providers to changes in funding policy.
This funding information is provided in good faith and it is always advisable to check directly with the funding agencies before committing to delivery.
The following support materials will help you deliver this qualification.
Information for Access Centres
Assignment briefs
Centres approved to deliver our Access to HE Diplomas can download assignment briefs for a selection of units in this Diploma. Assignment briefs can be downloaded by logging to Prism and locating the relevant unit. More assignment briefs are being added not all units currently have assignment briefs available.
The assignment briefs can be easily adapted to suit your needs. We recommend checking the rules of combination for the Diploma and adapting the brief accordingly.
To provide a flavour of what’s available, you can download the below samples for free: