Gain a backstage pass to the best gigs, biggest festivals and the most spectacular club nights on the planet as you discover how to effectively capture the energy of music in words.

Course overview

The Music Journalism degree at Chester will give you the best possible start for exploring the fabulous world of words and music. From early on in your course, you will hear from professional writers from a range of genres, and have the opportunity to start writing and publishing reviews.

Why study this course with us?

Music professionals are involved at every stage of this degree, which focuses on real-world experiences and opportunities in music journalism. Our students have enjoyed placements at Mojo and Mixmag, and our Journalism graduates have found staff positions at NME and Kerrang!

Our Programme Leader is a published academic and has reported on the music scene everywhere from Beijing to Brazil, Moscow to Marrakesh. He edited Ministry of Sound’s Ibiza magazine for two years and has also produced and presented TV and radio.

Students have access to Apple Mac Suites to create magazines, video and podcasts, as well as the chance to collaborate with students from other programmes.

Teaching methods

The course typically starts with five to six separate modules, although through the years you will find more choice, and more chance to engage with larger modules for a dissertation or production project.

Assessment

We use a variety of assessment methods, but principally they will be project work, perhaps a portfolio of reviews, a project on a chosen artist, or a print or online music media product.

Work based learning

It is a core belief of this course that academic study must be allied with practical and vocational experience. As part of your studies you may take our Work Based Learning module, where you will be fully supported in securing a work placement of at least 150 hours, which you may be able to use in trying out a future career. Alternatively, you may wish to undertake Experiential Overseas Learning, where you can take advantage of our long-established links with organisations worldwide. Most students have the opportunity to undertake either one of these options as an integral part of their undergraduate course.