Coronavirus: Latest information for centres including Adaptations for 2021-22

Access to HE Diploma (Journalism)

Key Facts

Level:
Level 3
Subject Sector:
9.4 Publishing and Information Services
Credits:
60
Qualification No:
QAAQ002544
Price:
£140.00 per learner
Age Range:
19+
QAA aim code:
40008745

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

Graded Research Units

Learners must complete 6 credits from this group.

Journalism - Research Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026398
Click here to view full unit details

Research Project for Journalism - Methodology

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026162
Click here to view full unit details
Mandatory Units: Graded Academic Subject Content

Learners must complete 27 credits from this group.

Ethical Considerations for Journalists

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU026196
Click here to view full unit details

Introduction to News Journalism

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU026232
Click here to view full unit details

Legal Considerations for Journalists

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU026206
Click here to view full unit details

Multimedia Practice

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026225
Click here to view full unit details

The Use of Statistics in Journalism

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026236
Click here to view full unit details

Writing for Magazines

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026234
Click here to view full unit details
Optional Units: Journalism

Learners must complete 12 credits from this group.

Exploring Different Journalistic Genres

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU026246
Click here to view full unit details

Government and Politics for Journalists

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU026220
Click here to view full unit details

Journalism and Society

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026244
Click here to view full unit details

Local News Journalism

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
6
Unit No:
QU026223
Click here to view full unit details

Media and Society

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU026240
Click here to view full unit details
Ungraded Units

Learners must complete 12 credits from the Mandatory Ungraded Group and 3 credits from the Optional Ungraded Group.

Mandatory Units: Ungraded

Learners must complete 12 credits from this group.

Academic Writing Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025276
Click here to view full unit details

Optimising Examination Performance

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025280
Click here to view full unit details

Preparation for Higher Education

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025532
Click here to view full unit details

References and Reliability of Sources

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU026344
Click here to view full unit details
Optional Units: Ungraded

Learners must complete 3 credits from this group.

Academic Reading Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU018346
Click here to view full unit details

Communication - Speaking and Listening

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU007560
Click here to view full unit details

Developing Professional Attributes

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025278
Click here to view full unit details

Promoting Wellbeing and Building Resilience

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU028487
Click here to view full unit details

Study Skills

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU018318
Click here to view full unit details

Work Placement

Level:
Level 3
Guided Learning Hours:
Not available
Credits:
3
Unit No:
QU025609
Click here to view full unit details

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

There are now two main sources for funding information, a straightforward ESFA Qualification Search and the more detailed Find a Learning Aim website.

The new Find a learning aim (FALA) service provides a search tool that you can use to check the funding status of any qualification, framework, unit, standard or T Level:

View this qualification on the ESFA’s Find a learning aim website

The Education and Skills Funding Agency search provides funding information on qualifications. It does not provide funding information for units, non-regulated activity and work placements, for this information please use Find a learning aim (FALA).

View this qualification on the ESFA Qualification Funding Search

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.

Access to HE Quick Guides

Information for Access Centres

Access to HE Administration

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:

Log in to Prism to download more assignment briefs

Related Qualifications