MA Visual Journalism and Storytelling
MA Visual Journalism and Storytelling
Award
MA
Start Date
21/09/2026
Duration
12 months
Mode
Full-time
Location
私人午夜福利 Manchester
Our MA Visual Journalism and Storytelling trains you in the cornerstones of visual journalism. Combining photography, video, reporting, writing and multimedia, this course offers you maximum agility for telling non-fiction stories across platforms with the greatest impact. Our experienced and industry-engaged staff will support you to gain essential skills for a career in this expanding, exciting and evolving field.
Course Overview
No matter whether in print, online or on TV, powerful images capture the world鈥檚 attention and have the ability to inform, illuminate and evoke powerful emotion. Visuals play an increasingly central role in driving the world鈥檚 news coverage. Meanwhile, online and social platforms have led to new ways to tell visual stories and engage today鈥檚 audiences, from ephemeral social stories to long-form digital interactives and online documentaries. Our intensive, practice-focused programme aims to develop visual and multimedia skills in high demand across a range of journalism, media and communication sectors.The University of Bolton鈥檚 MA Visual Journalism and Storytelling is designed to appeal to a diverse range of people with interests in journalism, documentary, social advocacy and other forms of non-fiction storytelling. You鈥檒l be trained in practical skills, via hands-on instruction, alongside the principles of professional visual journalism. You鈥檒l work on assignments that mirror real industry briefs to develop reporting and storytelling skills to underpin your creative practice.
Core faculty continue to work professionally in the fields of visual journalism and communications, allowing us to offer global industry links and, where relevant, support you in making connections. You鈥檒l also have the opportunity to connect with professionals across the world through guest speakers and masterclasses.
You鈥檒l critically engage with broader industry issues and debates such as diversity, ethics, audience issues and new technologies and consider them in the context of the contemporary field of visual storytelling and your own practice. We are committed to training the next generation of image-makers to be ethically aware, adaptable and forward-thinking. Taking advantage of emerging and future innovations, our aim for you is to thrive in a career creating stories that capture, inform and influence an audience.
This programme sits alongside our successful China-based multimedia and visual media programmes. Graduates of these programmes work as staff and freelancers at major news organisations as camera operators, documentary producers and filmmakers, photojournalists and multimedia reporters. Others work as communications directors or content creators in non-profit, governmental and commercial sectors. The work of our staff and alumni has been recognised with prestigious industry awards, including World Press Photo and the George Polk Award.
Highlights
- Combining training in video, photography, news gathering, writing and multimedia, this postgraduate course focuses on preparing you for contemporary and emerging digital-first, visual journalism and non-fiction storytelling environments. We鈥檒l equip you with the skills and versatility to work in a single medium or combined media across diverse platforms.
- The programme is ideal for graduates and professionals. The skills and knowledge you鈥檒l develop will ensure you are competitive for a career in journalism and other media and communication sectors.
- You鈥檒l learn to research, report, produce and edit video, photography, text and multimedia stories from start to finish, working individually and collaboratively, so you develop the essential skill set for today鈥檚 visual journalist.
- Our industry-engaged staff are nationally and internationally published visual practitioners in the journalism, documentary, non-profit and commercial sectors.
- Project-based exercises and assignments that mimic real-world industry briefs and processes build your practical expertise and professional knowledge, supporting you to develop the range of skills needed to thrive in this competitive industry.
Key Features
- Teaching focuses on bringing real-time industry practices and debates to the classroom. We鈥檒l encourage you to question, explore, and navigate new practices, discourses and media landscapes.
- The programme offers a scaffold that supports you to develop the skills, confidence and autonomy to produce ambitious visual stories from start to finish. You鈥檒l begin with short-form set assignments and exercises before moving onto longer form, self-initiated projects under the guidance and supervision of our expert tutors.
- We鈥檒l support you in developing a portfolio of visual stories across various media formats and platforms to demonstrate your skills to potential employers.
- Through both theory and practice, you鈥檒l critically engage with industry issues and debates, such as diversity, ethics, audiences and new technologies and consider them in the context of the contemporary field of visual storytelling and your own practice.
- Working collaboratively with our lecturers on visual journalism projects, you鈥檒l explore and experiment with potential new approaches, practices, workflows, platforms and technologies.
- A carefully selected board of industry advisors and visiting lecturers add diverse perspectives, keeping the curriculum current and relevant.
- By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.
Entry Requirements
- Normally, you should have at least an upper second class (2.1) honours degree in a relevant subject. Relevant subjects include (but aren鈥檛 limited to) photography, video, media studies, media production, creative writing, web design, web programming, journalism and communications. Subjects that underpin a specialist area of journalism, such as public health, international development and environmental sciences also offer an excellent foundation for this postgraduate degree.
- You must have a keen and genuine interest in journalism, current affairs and storytelling.
- If you don鈥檛 have the above academic qualification but have alternative qualifications or significant experience in a relevant field, we鈥檒l be happy to consider your application.
- We'll consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University鈥檚 Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
- You鈥檒l be required to attend an interview and provide a portfolio of appropriate work. You must present a portfolio of media work (in one discipline or a mix of text-based articles, photography, video, graphic design, audio, etc.) and examples of academic or professional written work. Your portfolio will be discussed/assessed at the interview, demonstrating your suitability and aptitude for the course, and should demonstrate skills such as writing, communication, analytical and critical thinking, and research. For those without prior experience, we offer a pre-sessional module focused on developing basic camera operation and photography skills for students whose portfolio and interview performance assures us of their aptitude for storytelling and passion for developing visual journalism skills.
- If English isn鈥檛 your first language, you鈥檒l also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications 鈥 please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
Throughout the programme, you鈥檒l develop competitive skills and knowledge. You鈥檒l also find, tell and publish your own self-directed stories across a range of media to create a portfolio to demonstrate your work to future employers. Your online portfolio will showcase your diverse skills and highlight the specialisms you choose to nurture with us.
Graduates of our established China-based multimedia and visual media programmes have successful careers in diverse roles in online, print and broadcast environments and across a range of national and international media organisations. These include CNN, Getty Images, Reuters, The New York Times, Bloomberg, China Global Television Network (CGTN), The European Journalism Centre, 私人午夜福利 War and Peace Reporting, UNICEF, UNHCR and Greenpeace.
What can I do with this qualification?
Of course, you can also choose to continue your education. PGCE, MPhil and PhD degrees are available at the University of Bolton.
Alternative career options
Graduates can also use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. For some of these roles, relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required. Some of these careers include:
- Public relations
- Digital marketing and advertising
- Marketing communications
- Social media management
- Web content management
- Art and design
- Teaching and education
- News design
- Media research
- Digital strategist
- Brand marketing consultant
Fees & Funding
Students should assemble their own kit including cameras and laptops. Optional travel and other project-related expenses, including any non-mandatory training, will be covered by the student.
Home/EU Fees
Home students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Home fee of 拢8,496 for the academic year 2026/27.
私人午夜福利 Fees
Overseas students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Overseas fee of 拢17,500 for the academic year 2026/27.
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the web page on www.gov.uk for information.
Home Undergraduate Tuition Fee Adjustment
The tuition fee applicable to the first year of your programme of study is confirmed in your offer letter. The tuition fee set is based on the regulations and guidance in force at the time of offer but remains subject to adjustment in accordance with any government-approved inflationary increase. The University reserves the right to amend tuition fees for all years of study, including the first year, by no more than the maximum increase permitted under legislation and regulatory guidance issued by the UK Government and the Office for Students.
Where such increases are approved, they will not exceed the rate of inflation, as measured by an appropriate index such as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), or any successor measure specified by government. The University will apply any adjustment consistently across affected student cohorts and will give reasonable notice to students of any confirmed change to the published fee before the start of the relevant academic year.
This approach ensures that tuition fees remain compliant with applicable legislation, proportionate to inflationary changes, and consistent with government policy linking permitted fee uplifts to the maintenance of high-quality education and outcomes. For more information, please refer to the government guidance at: .
Postgraduate and 私人午夜福利 Tuition Fee Adjustment
The tuition fee applicable to the first year of your programme of study is confirmed in your offer letter. The University reserves the right to amend tuition fees for subsequent years of study in accordance with its Course Fees Policy. Where such increases are approved, they will not exceed the rate of inflation, as measured by an appropriate index such as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), or any successor measure specified by government. The University will apply any adjustment consistently across affected student cohorts and will give reasonable notice to students of any confirmed change to the published fee before the start of the relevant academic year.
How to apply
Home Applicants
You may apply directly to the University using the University's online application form. Please select your chosen start date from the list below:
You should have to hand:
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Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates
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Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course 鈥 you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies
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Details of any employment history including name, address, dates and role
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Personal statement 鈥 this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately
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Details including e-mail addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference
Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.
Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already input.
If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or admissions-team@greatermanchester.ac.uk
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Apply online: 私人午夜福利 Manchester
私人午夜福利 Applicants
Thank you for your interest
In order to determine your suitability for this course as an international student and also to confirm you meet any initial eligibility criteria, we need you to answer a few short questions.
English Language Qualifications
Have you completed an English Language qualification prior to application or have a valid exemption as per the list below? (The qualification/exemption must be uploaded with this application) E.g. Applicants from Nigeria/Africa must upload their WAEC or NECO certificate before the application is submitted for a prompt response and offer.
Acceptable English Language Tests 鈥 Undergraduate and Postgraduate
These tests must have been taken within 2 years of the start of the course
| Test | Entry Requirements |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (taken within 2 years) |
Undergraduate programmes 6.0 with no band below 5.5 Postgraduate programmes as per entry requirements |
| PTE Academic |
Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0 No less than 59 in each component Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5 No less than 59 in each component Postgraduate requiring IELTS 7.0 No less than 76 in each component |
| TOEFL iBT |
Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0 Must meet the following component scores: Reading 鈥 18 Writing 鈥 17 Listening 鈥 17 Speaking - 20 Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5 Must meet the following component scores: Reading 鈥 20 Writing 鈥 19 Listening 鈥 19 Speaking 21 Postgraduate requiring IELTS 7.0 Must meet the following component scores: Reading 鈥 24 Writing 鈥 24 Listening 鈥 22 Speaking 25 |
| Other qualifications we currently accept (which do not require an additional SELT) | |
| GCSE in English Language (from a UK awarding body) |
Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0 Grade 4 Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5 Grade 5 |
| Irish Leaving Certificate Ordinary Level English |
Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0 Grade C/C3 (20 points) Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5 Grade B/B3 (37 points) |
| Irish Leaving Certificate Higher Level English |
Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0 Grade D/D2 (46 points) Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5 Grade C/C2 (66 points) |
| IGCSE English as a First language (for syllabus 0500 Listening and Speaking must be separately endorsed on the certificate) |
Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0 Grade 4 Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5 Grade 5 |
| IGCSE English as a Second language (for syllabus 0510 Speaking must be separately endorsed on the certificate) |
Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0 Grade 4 Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5 Grade 5 |
| Cambridge Advanced English |
Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0 170 points with no component below 160 Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5 180 points with no component below 170 Postgraduate requiring IELTS 7.0 185 points with no component below 180 |
| 私人午夜福利 Baccalaureate (IB) Standard or Higher Level English Language (Syllabus A) |
Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0 Grade 4 Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5 Grade 5 |
| 私人午夜福利 Baccalaureate (IB) Standard or Higher Level English Language (Syllabus B) |
Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0 Grade 5 Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5 Grade 6 |
| European Baccalaureate English Language |
Undergraduate and Postgraduate requiring IELTS6.0 Grade 70% Postgraduate requiring IELTS 6.5 Grade 80% |
European qualifications
English component - obtained within the last 4 years
| Country | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Austria | Reifeprufungszeugnis/Maturazeugnis at 2.0 |
| Belgium | Diplome d'acces a l'enseignment superieur/Diplome van Hoger Secundair Onderwijs at 75% |
| Bulgaria | Diploma Za Sredno Obrazovanie at Grade 3 |
| Croatia | Svjedodzba o Maturi at grade 4.0 |
| Cyprus | Apolyterion at 15 |
| Czech Republic | Maturitni Zkou'ce/Maturita at grade 2.0 |
| Denmark | Studentereksamen/HF/HHX/HTX/IBB /Diplomingenior at grade 9 |
| Estonia | Riigieksamitunnistus or G眉mnaasiumil玫putunnistus at 70% |
| Finland | Ylioppilastutkintotodistus or Studentexamensbetyg at grade 5 |
| France | Baccalaur茅at (le bac) or the Option 私人午夜福利e du Baccalaur茅at at grade 12.5 |
| Germany | Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife or Abitur or a Fachgebundene Hochschulreife at grade 2 / gut |
| Greece | Apolyterion at grade 15 |
| Hungary | Erettsegi at grade 4 |
| Italy | Diploma di Esame di Stato at grade 8/80% |
| Latvia | Atestats Par Visparejo Videjo Izglitib at grade 8 |
| Lithuania | Brandos Atestatas at grade 8 |
| Malta | Matriculation Certificate at grade C |
| Moldova | Diploma de Bacalaureat or Atestat de Studii Medii de Cultura Generala at grade 9 |
| Netherlands | Diploma Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs (MBO) or Diploma Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO) at grade 8 |
| Norway | Vitnemal-Videregaende Opplaering at grade 4 |
| Poland | Swiadectwo Dojrzalosci / Matura at grade 70% |
| Portugal | Diploma de Ensino Secundario at grade 14 |
| Romania | Diploma de Bacalaureat (English with all components at B2) |
| Slovakia | Vysvedcenie O Maturitnej at grade 2 |
| Slovenia | Maturitetno Spricevalo at grade 4 |
| Spain | Titulo de Bachillerato at grade 8 |
| Sweden | Fullstandigt Slutbetyg Fran Gymnasiesk at grade C |
| Switzerland | Maturitatszeugnis or Maturite Federal at grade 5 |
| Ukraine | A褌械褋褌邪褌 锌褉芯 锌芯胁薪褍 蟹邪谐邪谢褜薪褍 褋械褉械写薪褞 芯褋胁褨褌褍 at grade 10 |
Acceptable 私人午夜福利 Regional qualifications
Must be obtained no more than 4 years before the proposed start date of the course
| Country | Qualification | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Bahamas | General Certificate of Secondary Education | Grade C in English |
| Botswana | General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level | Grade C/4 in English |
| Brunei | Cambridge O Level | Grade C6 in English |
| Cameroon | GCE O level | Grade C in English |
| Hong Kong | HKCEE | Grade C in English (Syllabus B) |
| Hong Kong | HKDSE | Grade 4 in English |
| Kenya | Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education | Grade C in English |
| Malaysia | Malaysian 1119 | Grade 6C in English - IELTS 6.0 |
| Singapore | Singapore Cambridge O Level | Grade C6 in English |
| South Africa | South Africa National Senior Certificate | Grade 5 in English |
| Tanzania | Certificate of Secondary Education | Grade C in English |
| Uganda | Certificate of Education | Grade 6 |
| Zambia | Zambia School Certificate | Grade 6 in English |
| Zimbabwe | General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level | Grade C in English |
| Caribbean Examination Council | General proficiency Grade III in English | |
| Nigeria/Ghana | WAEC/NECO | Grade C6 in English |
I understand the English Language Qualifications/Exemptions. I will upload the evidence with this application or when I obtain the certificate or exemption.
Thank you for your interest
Please secure an approved English language qualification and then apply for the next intake.
backQuestion
Have you ever received a visa refusal for entry into the UK or any other country?
Thank you for your interest
Unfortunately we would be unable to sponsor under the Student Route Visa. If you do not require a visa to study in the UK please email us for further advice: intadmissions@greatermanchester.ac.uk
backYour Funding
Do you have full funding in place to cover your full tuition fees and living costs as required by UKVI? Please click for more information.
Question
Have you read and understood the course entry requirements and confirm that you fully meet the requirements? (Please click on Entry Requirements tab above to ensure you comply with all the requirements for this course)
You may also refer to the following pages for information about 私人午夜福利 Qualifications equivalency:
For further assistance with international qualifications equivalency (paid service) 鈥 please refer to the ECCTIS website (previously known as NARIC):
Thank you for your interest
Unfortunately we will be unable to proceed with your application as all entry requirements must be met.
backFinal Terms & Conditions
Please read the following:
- I understand that the university reserves the right to withdraw their offer at any stage once the quota for the course has been filled.
- I understand that I will be required to pay specific fees before CAS issuance is considered by the university.
- I must declare any agent or consultant at the start of my application and they must be on the list of approved agents. (We also have Branch Offices in , , Middle East and who fully manage applications in their respective regions.)
- I am able to complete the course in the normal duration.
- I am able to arrive on time for the published start date.
- I confirm that I will be 18 years old or more on the start date of the course.
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I understand that the following documents will be uploaded as part my application:
(a) Passport with at least 6 months validity before start of course.
(b) Personal statement (written by myself).
(c) CV if applicable.
(d) Previous qualifications.
(e) English language certificate or proof of exemption.
(f) Professional references if applicable.
(g) Bank Statements and TB Certificate if applicable at the CAS issuance stage. - I have read and understood all questions and answered them correctly and truthfully to the best of my ability and knowledge.
Congratulations
Based on the information supplied, we would like to invite you to apply for this course.
Apply Online
The University welcomes applications from international students from all over the world. We try to make the application process as simple and as fast as possible for our international applicants.
How you apply is determined by your current location and what you are choosing to study:
- Apply direct to the University. Links for the next available intakes of this course are shown below. Please click the link which will direct you to the online application form. Please read the user guidance before completing this.
- Apply via one of our approved in-country referral partners. A list of our partners may be found on the 私人午夜福利 pages of this website.
- Apply via UCAS for courses starting in September only 鈥 visit .
Should you have any queries please contact the 私人午夜福利 Team on +44 (0) 1204 903110 or email international@greatermanchester.ac.uk
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Apply online: 私人午夜福利 Manchester
Teaching & Assessment
Our teaching and learning strategies help you acquire and develop appropriate concepts, knowledge and skills. You can expect practice-based workshops, self-directed study, lectures, seminars, critiques, tutorials, and presentations. We adopt a blended style of learning and teaching, including online delivery and engagement, where appropriate.
It鈥檚 important to realise that the time spent with a tutor during formally scheduled activities is only a small part of the learning time identified for a module. You鈥檒l also need to spend a significant amount of time undertaking guided independent study, such as general background reading, preparing for seminar activities and working on assignments. We鈥檙e committed to supporting you throughout your learning journey, but as time progresses, our guidance will become less structured and prescriptive. We鈥檒l expect you to demonstrate significant independence in your study, taking responsibility for managing your own learning time and increasing your autonomy as you progress.
The assessment strategy aims to help you achieve the overall aims of the programme and the learning outcomes for individual modules. As well as being a way to assess your achievement, the assessments also help you organise and develop your learning. Assessment feedback can help you build your skills and understand your strengths and weaknesses.
There are two types of assessment: formative and summative. Formative assessments help you learn and develop your knowledge and skills, while the results of your summative assessments provide your grades. Formative assessment occurs via tutorial discussion, group workshops that include peer and tutor review, and guidance on work in progress. Formative feedback is given face-to-face, online or in written form. Summative assessments consist of both practical and theoretical work. These include practical projects, presentations, and written assessments in the form of essays, portfolios, and production documents.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Digital Imaging
- Reporting and Writing News
- Visual Journalism Practice
- Contemporary Currents and Practice
- Visual Storytelling Portfolio
- Journalism Master's Project
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 57% Practical exams 43% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 80% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 20% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative 鈥榦ptional modules鈥 that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
Related Courses
Programme Contacts
Disclaimer: The 鈥淕reater Manchester Way鈥 represents our preferred teaching and learning approach; however, not all courses follow a block-teaching model. While course structures and delivery patterns may vary to meet Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements, all courses benefit from the GM Way approach to curriculum design and assessment. Applicants and students should refer to individual course specifications for the most accurate and up-to-date information.


