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LOCATION
Docklands Campus
Location Fees and Funding
Here's the fees and funding information for each year of this course
Overview
Rehearse for your career as a fashion journalist in East London, at the sharp end of the London fashion brand.
You will learn fashion journalism by doing it, as a reporter and editor working for UEL Journalism's publications and for external clients.
In addition to producing fashion journalism, you will plan your role in its future and develop your own creative projects.
If you don't meet the entry requirements for a BA, you can study this course as an 'extended', four-year programme. You'll begin by taking a foundation year which prepares you for a successful transition to the BA degree. This means it will take you four years to complete the course full-time, and eight years to complete the course part-time.
What makes this course different
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
You will learn:
- Professional, editorial formats (text, photo, audio, video, social media) for fashion journalism
- Fashion styling
- Fashion trends and social forecasting
- Story ideas and how to spot them
- Interviewing
- Reviewing
- How to collaborate on editorial outputs
- How to pitch ideas to commissioning editors
- How to work to a client’s brief
- How to be a commissioning editor
- Media law
- Journalism ethics
- Past, present and future projections of fashion journalism
- How to conduct original research and develop commercially viable projects
MODULES
- Core Modules
Academic Development CloseAcademic Development
This module will provide students with the opportunity to identify the skills, competencies and experience required for successful development to embarking on their university degree and successfully completing it and progressing on to a range of potential future career areas.
Central to the developmental process is for each student to cultivate the reflective skills, openness and self-awareness to enable themselves to assess what they are doing, identify areas for improvement, and confidently receive and give constructive feedback.
Social Media Project CloseSocial Media Project
The module will develop basic individual research and production skills for social media content. Students will also develop their reflection and evaluation skills. Throughout the module students will create new content for a social media account relating to their chosen subject pathway, or topic of interest. Students will also be encouraged to consider current issues and debates surrounding social media.
Journalism Portfolio CloseJournalism Portfolio
The module will introduce students to key theoretical and practical concepts in relation to journalism, reporting, media and professional writing. Students will get a feel for what working as a journalist is really like through a variety of topics from research and interview skills, to proof-reading and self-editing. Students will be required to apply their understanding of theoretical and practical concepts in the form of a portfolio.
Narrative and Creativity CloseNarrative and Creativity
This module will provide students with the opportunity to identify the skills and knowledge necessary to create oral, visual and written narratives for all kinds of media production. This module aims to give students the theoretical understanding of narrative and creativity. Throughout the module students will be encouraged to consider how these theories shape their chosen subject. Students will be assessed on their ability to present their understanding of narrative theories and give supporting examples of how these apply to various forms of media.
Ways of Looking CloseWays of Looking
This module will introduce students to how meaning is made and transmitted in visual texts. Students will be introduced to the various ‘ways of looking’ (frameworks) at media, and how this is applies to current media examples. Students will be expected to conduct their own research and encouraged to consider how the ‘ways of looking’ at media can be applied to their own subject specific pathway.
Students will also learn how to apply key composition and aesthetic (typography, colour, and layout) skills to their own work in the form an academic poster using industry standard software.
Professional Development (Mental Wealth) CloseProfessional Development (Mental Wealth)
This module will provide you with the opportunity to identify the skills, competencies and experience required for employment and employability and how employability and industry connections are implemented in the curriculum.
You will begin to recognise the areas for your own personal professional development (including emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligences) through taught and workshop activity.
Central to the developmental process is for each student to cultivate their reflective skills through collaboration with other undergraduate students and analysing effective approaches to industry briefs and creative problem solving.
- Core Modules
Essential Journalism CloseEssential Journalism
This module will introduce the range of essential journalistic skills that students will develop as they progress through the programme. We begin by offering students the skills and confidence to write grammatically and effectively. Students will then learn how to gather and analyse news and data from various sources including social media, prior to creating news-oriented content in a range of readily recognisable editorial formats, paying particularly close attention to industry standards in writing and copy-editing.
Photo, Audio and Video ClosePhoto, Audio and Video
This module focuses on how to use audio, video and stills effectively online. We begin by looking at the rapidly changing nature of multimedia presentation and online interactivity before requiring students to complete a series of exercises in which they are required to shoot, record and edit their own material. The next stage is to enable students to develop original multimedia ideas that they will then publish and promote on their own Wix or WordPress site.
Media Law, Ethics and Regulation CloseMedia Law, Ethics and Regulation
Journalism’s position at the centre of public life means that journalists must operate within a complex set of regulatory, legal and ethical constraints. The purpose of this module is for you to understand the rules and internalise them. Students will learn about legal and ethical traditions pertaining to journalism; you will become familiar with the latest developments in law ethics and regulation.
Production Journalism CloseProduction Journalism
For journalists to work effectively and professionally, besides creating content they need to be able to edit copy and process assets for publication. This module builds on the self-editing skills students were introduced to in Essential Journalism, and equips them to prepare unfinished content for publication, taking it through a production process which often entails re-writing copy and re-sizing/cropping the picture. Students will learn about all stages of editorial production, utilising desktop publishing tools not only to correct copy, but also to write headlines and captions, and lay out the content ready for publication.
Broadcast Journalism CloseBroadcast Journalism
This module will equip students with the essential skills necessary to work as journalists in a television or radio newsroom. Following an introductory stage during which we will cover broadcast regulation, students will look at some of the best practice available in this area, before being familiarised with some of the techniques and technology of broadcast newsrooms. They will then be coached on how to research, write and produce reports for both radio and TV, before producing and delivering their own broadcast content.
Mental Wealth: Professional Life 1 (Rising East) CloseMental Wealth: Professional Life 1 (Rising East)
Developing the key psychological and physical determinants of human performance are increasingly critical for successful graduate-level employment, entrepreneurship and career progression in the 4th industrial revolution.
This module will provide students with the opportunity to identify the skills, competencies and experience required for successful development to, and in, a range of potential future career areas.
Herein they will advance the areas identified at level 3 or begin to recognise the areas for their own personal professional development (including emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligences) through taught and workshop activity.
Students will reflect on the success of the strategies that they employed to further develop their reflective skills, self-awareness, ‘life style’ and ‘self care’ approaches and where necessary improve their approaches. This will be achieved through the students engagement an internal/external live project, in the form of Rising East.
Students will have the opportunity to create content and develop their digital proficiencies in the role of multimedia reporters for Rising East. In this position they will focus on the importance of research in journalism, filing content and developing a professional production routine. Students will practice key methods, including digital research methods and qualitative methods used in industry today, including trends and news coverage. Students will learn the conventions of research and analysis, in order to develop a pitch or story proposal in response to a client brief. Their work will be documented in a digital portfolio mapped on to the requirements of NCTJ e-portfolio assessment.
- Core Modules
Mental Wealth: Professional Life 2 (Rising East 2) CloseMental Wealth: Professional Life 2 (Rising East 2)
Developing the key psychological and physical determinants of human performance are increasingly critical for successful graduate-level employment, entrepreneurship and career progression in the 4th industrial revolution.
This module will provide students with the opportunity to pursue and acquire skills, competencies and experience required for successful development to, and in, a range of potential future career areas.
Herein they will advance their own personal professional development (including emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligences) through taught and workshop activity.
Through the engagement with the Careers Passport, students will reflect on the success of the strategies that they employed to further develop their reflective skills, self-awareness, ‘life style’ and ‘self care’ approaches, and where necessary improve their approaches. This will be achieved through the students engagement in an internal/external live project, in the form of Rising East.
Students will have the opportunity to create content and develop their digital proficiencies in the role of multimedia reporters for Rising East. As ‘beat’ reporters, they themselves will be responsible for designated areas of Rising East’s coverage of East London. In this position they will focus on the importance of research in journalism, filing content regularly and sustaining a professional production routine. Students will practice key methods, including digital research methods and qualitative methods used in industry today. Students will learn the conventions of research and analysis, in order to develop a pitch or story proposal in response to a client brief. Their work will be documented in a digital portfolio.
Employment and Enterprise (Journalism) CloseEmployment and Enterprise (Journalism)
- For students to gain experience of the changing media landscape
- For students to equip themselves with promotional tools and the online presence necessary to compete effectively in the journalism-related job market
- For students to apply for a work placement (or College-based work experience with a client external to the Journalism sub-cluster)
- For students to undertake a work placement (or College-based work experience with a client external to the Journalism sub-cluster)
- For students to escalate their preparations for professional life
Features (1): Interviews CloseFeatures (1): Interviews
The module begins with the double page spread as the classic format for interview-based, photo-led features in print. Students develop their capacity to integrate text and image on the page, before considering the interview format as it has subsequently developed on other platforms, i.e. in broadcasting and online. Students learn how to control the dynamics of the interview itself – the art of instrumental conversation, and how to implement the various forms in which editorial interviews are presented.
Brands and the Magazines Business CloseBrands and the Magazines Business
Magazines are a business - or they go out of business. But their 'core business' is reader engagement; and readers relate to a magazine title because its content is exciting and its approach is enticing. How do they do that? How do publishers make readers feel that this is 'my magazine'. What is the role of brands and branding in defining content and establishing relations with readers? How do we analyse a magazine's strengths and weaknesses in addressing target readers and sustaining a relationship with them, in print, online and via social media? What is the shape of today's magazines sector and how does it differ from yesterday's and tomorrow's industry? In this module you will learn research methods and utilise them in the investigation of these questions.
Documentary: Publications (1) CloseDocumentary: Publications (1)
- For students to act as multimedia reporters for Rising East online
- For students to act as reporters for Rising East magazine, in print.
- For students to file copy/content regularly – on time and as briefed.
- For students to maintain professional production routines.
- For students to develop their reporting and content creation skills by working on real stories in a range of formats.
[These aims and concomitant learning are similar to the Journalism sub-cluster’s iteration of Mental Wealth 2: this is to enable a year-long publication cycle which sustains the Rising East news brand.]
Fashion Writing and Trend Forecasting CloseFashion Writing and Trend Forecasting
Main aim(s) of the module:
- To introduce trend forecasting in the fashion industry
- To give students the tools to understand, analyse and predict trends
- To use trend forecasting reports in order to produce fashion features
- To differentiate between fashion trade and fashion consumer titles
You will be introduced to the concept of trend forecasting and look at industry data generated by companies like Stylus and WGSN (formerly Worth Global Style Network). You will see how such data has been interpreted in the past and how it affects a wide range of industries. You will then analyse a range of sources and be offered the opportunity to deliver your own insights and trend predictions in a trend analysis report. From this report, you will generate feature ideas for two different fashion audiences.
- Core Modules
Mental Wealth: Professional Life 3 (Rising East) CloseMental Wealth: Professional Life 3 (Rising East)
Developing the key psychological and physical determinants of human performance are increasingly critical for successful graduate-level employment, entrepreneurship and career progression in the 4th industrial revolution.
This module will provide students with the opportunity to apply the full range of skills, competencies and experience required for successful development to, and in, a range of potential future career areas.
Herein they will advance the areas identified at level 5 for their own personal professional development (including emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligences) through taught and workshop activity.
Through engagement with the Career Passport, students will reflect on the success of the strategies that they employed to further develop their reflective skills, self-awareness, ‘life style’ and ‘self care’ approaches and where necessary improve their approaches.
Students will have opportunity to work on the live internal/external project, Rising East, in the role of Editor. In this position they will learn and begin to apply the cognitive, cultural and social intelligences developed elsewhere in their studies (and from external activities) as required in the workplace, namely cognitive flexibility, emotional resilience, motivation, ethical decision-making, managing your audience, coordinating with others, negotiation, creativity, active listening, attention, problem solving, research, synthesis and analysis.
Students will enact these capabilities by undertaking the role of section editor for Rising East. In this capacity they will take full responsibility for the content of a designated section of this news brand. With academic staff to monitor, support and direct their activities in line with legal, professional and ethical considerations, the student cohort will take the reins of Rising East across various publication platforms.
Final Project: Development CloseFinal Project: Development
- For students to acquire detailed knowledge of the threats which journalism currently faces
- For students to become closely familiar with journalism’s current opportunities
- For students to engage with threat and opportunity as rehearsing journalists
- For students to come to see themselves as the future of journalism
Final Project: Completion CloseFinal Project: Completion
The module will lead on from the development stage of your self-identified research project based on your preferred choice of production, for example a written dissertation that engages with contemporary debates in media or a complete practice project, produced through a developed programme of research supported by a verbal demonstration of the critical discourses it speaks to.
The aim of the module is to extend knowledge in the chosen field of research, to produce or write the project according to your planning and to complete and present the final research project within the given time frame. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your skills in an accompanying project portfolio, including production folders for practice projects or reviews of existing academic literature on the written dissertation topic and a comprehensive bibliography.
Projects will be developed through subject-specific supervision and peer support.
Aesthetics and Technologies: Publications (2) CloseAesthetics and Technologies: Publications (2)
- For students to act as multimedia commissioners and editors for Rising East online.
- For students to act as commissioners and editors for Rising East magazine, in print.
- For students to support and direct reporters to produce content as briefed.
- For students to devise production schedules & implement them to a professional standard.
- For students to develop strategies for the promotion of their publications.
[These aims and concomitant learning are similar to the Journalism sub-cluster’s iteration of Mental Wealth 3: this is to enable a year-long publication cycle which sustains the Rising East news brand.]
Features (2): Data and Visualisation CloseFeatures (2): Data and Visualisation
This module provides the knowledge and skills to enable students to analyse, understand, extract, apply and present data in a range of journalistic styles. As data increasingly form a significant part of a journalist’s professional life, we work through a range of data sources, apply these in the writing of news stories, and present them in a range of visual formats.
Visualising Fashion: Photo and Video Storytelling CloseVisualising Fashion: Photo and Video Storytelling
- For you to understand visualisation and styling
- For you to build on existing skills in photography and video
- For you to gain proficiency in image post production and page layout
- For you to undertake on location and studio shoots using lighting, stills and video
- For you to work collaboratively on all stages of a fashion spread
- For you to generate a portfolio of image-led work
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
You'll be taught by a range of staff, many of whom are practitioners in the area they teach. Some of the assessments focus on practical skills and are presented as 'live or simulated briefs'.
This ensures that the practice-led teaching is relevant to industry and practice. Our staff are well placed to take advantage of a range of professional networks and industry contact. Each module is designed with practical components and a reflective component, with the intention that students develop an ability to comment on and justify their creative process.
Guided independent study
When not attending timetabled lectures or workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve skills development through online study, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects and preparing coursework assignments and presentations.
Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, specialist facilities, such as edit suites, the library, the full Microsoft Office software, including MS Teams, and Moodle: our Virtual Learning Environment.
Academic support
Our academic support team provides help in a range of areas - including learning and disability support.
Dedicated personal tutor
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of the academic course team who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at UEL and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer.
Workload
Each year you will spend around 300 hours of timetabled learning and teaching activities. These may be lectures, workshops, seminars and individual and group tutorials. Contact hours may vary depending on each module.
The approximate workload hours for this course are:
- Scheduled teaching - 318 hours
- Guided independent study - 882 hours
Your timetable
Your individualised timetable is normally available within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9.00am and 6.00pm.
For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible.
Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
Class sizes
To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally attracts 5 - 10 students a year. Lecture sizes are normally 20 plus students.
In the classroom you will be taught in groups of 18-20 students. However, this can vary by academic year.
HOW YOU'LL BE ASSESSED
Coursework will include practical outcomes, e.g. written assignments, podcasts or research-based assignments,individual or group-based films, presentations.
The approximate percentages for this course are:
- Year 1: 100% coursework
- Year 2: 100% coursework
- Year 3: 100% coursework
You'll always receive, in-person, written or audio feedback, outlining your strengths and how you can improve. We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 15 working days.
CAMPUS and FACILITIES

Docklands Campus, Docklands Campus, London, E16 2RD
WHO TEACHES THIS COURSE
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
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YOUR FUTURE CAREER
We're determined to prepare you in the best way possible for a career in after journalism after your studies.
Journalism is, of course, a competitive world to enter. You have a head start at UEL, though, thanks to teachers with exceptional contacts who know exactly what newspapers, radio stations and other media outlets are looking for.
You can go on work in different areas such as fashion journalism, the fashion industry, PR, branding and communications.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.