Course Summary
The MA Journalism at University of Galway prepares graduates to become skilled, critical, and creative journalists. Combining practical newsroom training with academic study, the programme equips students to report across print, broadcast, online, and multimedia platforms, ready for a fast-changing media industry.
College Link
Career Sectors
This course prepares you for working in the Career Sectors below. Follow the links to get a fuller understanding of the sectors you are preparing for.
Entry Requirements
Candidates must hold at least a Second Class Honours Level 8?primary degree in a related subject area or hold a primary degree in a?related area (which is acceptable to the college) without honours and?have three years’ relevant practical experience in the subject area.
Application Details
Closing Date: Applications will be considered in two rounds.
Applications must be completed online at: https://nuigalway.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Login.
An application requires a registration fee of €35. You will be asked to upload proof of identification, academic transcripts, a personal statement, an academic reference and documentation to fulfil the English requirement (where English is not your first language).
Next start date: September 2026
Fees
Fees: EU
€10,140 p.a. full-time; €5,105 p.a. part-time (including levy) 2024/25
Fees: Tuition
€10,000 p.a. full-time; €5,000 p.a. part-time 2024/25
Fees: Student levy
€140 p.a. full-time; €105 p.a. part-time 2024/25
Fees: Non EU
€20,000 p.a. (€20,140 including levy) 2024/25
Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant—please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2024/25). You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee. A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.
The Student
Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.
Linguistic
The Linguistic's interests are usually focused on ideas and information exchange. They tend to like reading a lot, and enjoy discussion about what has been said. Some will want to write about their own ideas and may follow a path towards journalism, story writing or editing. Others will develop skills in other languages, perhaps finding work as a translator or interpreter. Most Linguistic types will enjoy the opportunity to teach or instruct people in a topic they are interested in.
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
Administrative
Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.
They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.
Career Progression
Alumni work in national and regional newspapers, radio and television stations, digital-first outlets, wire services, and international broadcasters. Many also move into communications, NGOs, politics, cultural organisations, and digital media roles. Typical early career positions include reporter, sub-editor, broadcast producer, digital content creator, researcher, and communications officer. With experience, graduates progress into senior posts such as editor, correspondent, features writer, documentary maker, or newsroom manager.
Employers value the advanced writing, multimedia production, data analysis, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making skills developed on the programme. The ability to work under pressure, adapt to new technologies, and produce high-quality journalism across platforms prepares graduates for the realities of today’s media environment. The journalism profession is evolving rapidly, with strong growth in digital and multimedia roles, audience engagement, and data-driven reporting. Skills in verification, investigative methods, and multimedia storytelling are in demand across media, NGOs, and corporate communication sectors. The programme also provides an excellent foundation for further academic research, and many graduates have gone on to doctoral study and academic posts in Ireland and internationally.
Recent graduates have gone on to work at:
RTÉ TG4 The Irish Times Irish Independent TheJournal.ie BBC Reuters The Washington Post Politico Bloomberg Connacht Tribune Galway Bay FM Clare FM