City University London

When I began my International Journalism Masters degree at City University, I had precious little practical journalism experience. I wanted to be a journalist but didn't know how to go about it successfully. My training at City proved invaluable and taught me the basic principals that allowed me to then launch a career. City University professors were actually working journalists with extensive knowledge about how the business actually works. The fact that the course is in one of the world's biggest news hubs made it easier to find employment after the course was over. I never would have believed that only months after finishing City I would be sent abroad by the AP to cover the Kosovo conflict. Even after all of the places that I have been, what I learned at City University has remained a point of reference and helped me in the many difficult situations I have encountered in the field.

City changed my life completely: I hoped an MA in International Journalism would increase my chances of working in the UK for a German broadcaster - now I am back in Germany working for the BBC. City laid the foundation for my career, taught me the skills, gave me confidence and the opportunity to meet people from around the world. I still benefit from my City contacts - and of course I get the odd call myself. There were moments of disappointment but that prepares your for REAL journalism too. Without City I would not be with the BBC.

The course was an eye-opener to the latest practices of broadcast journalism. In some cases we learned even beyond the standards of some of the programmes being broadcast today.

What I liked best about the course was the fact that I know now there's no limit to what I can do. Theres so much more that I can achieve and I've learned that from this course.

City University's journalism program is highly regarded and has opened up doors for me. Just by being in London, there were a plethora of resources available. As a student, I interviewed Simon Jenkins of the Guardian, the British Olympic Association, and Hugh Robertson, the Shadow MP for Sport & the Olympics. The design of the course is structured to take you step by step, continuously building upon each skill set so that in just a few weeks, you're out in London, chasing stories. And then, before you know it, you're putting together long features or documentaries. Not only did I have confidence in my skills to get internships, I actually contributed, not just shadow another journalist. Eventually, all this led to my first position as a reporter. Plus, the course was FUN! The instructors are invaluable sources, and their enthusiasm and passion for their craft is inspiring. Add to that, the diversity of the students on the course offered such unique perspectives which provided for many thought-provoking discussions. Absolutely priceless!

When I decided to pursue an MA in journalism, I wanted two things: a course with international flavour and the opportunity to learn about international news from the people who report it. City University gave me what I wanted. Many of the course instructors are working professionals from some of the world's best media companies. They often bring an impressive array of guests and real world experiences into the classroom. The diverse body of the students at City also contributes to the truly international aspect of the course. Students from all over the globe, with varying levels of professional experience, stimulate class discussions focused on the world's top stories. Many of these discussions spill out of the classroom and into the pub, signifying a sense of passion and friendship which quickly grows amongst the students. For these reasons alone, I would recommend City University to anyone curious about international journalism.

I chose the City MA primarily because of its location: knowing that publishing was the industry for me, I realised that London was my obvious choice. The MA exceeded my expectations. The wealth of knowledge of our lecturers and guest speakers, who all had first-hand knowledge of publishing today, was invaluable. Also, the work placement was a huge bonus, especially for those who'd not seen the working realities of a publishing house. What I learned from the course, my work placement, and other placements I did during the year on my own time, without doubt helped secure me my first job as Editorial Assistant at Virgin Books. I was immediately given lots of responsibility at Virgin as my previous experience meant I began the job with an existing knowledge of editorial duties, particularly in the area of desk-editing. I'm 100% gad I did the MA and really recommend it to all those wanting to enter the publishing industry.

Before the MA even began, Mary Ann, our course director, was helping us get real work experience placements. The course itself was a fantastic mix of practical training for the industry, academic business research and above all contact with professionals from all across the publishing world. I gained a real understanding of the industry, and relished the variety of problem-based learning. There was huge variety in the module assignments, from blogging to producing real print material and presenting new business ideas to CEOs. City's name opened doors for me, both getting high-profile interview candidates for my dissertation, and getting work experience placements throughout the course. The MA made my CV stand out in a crowded field and got me into interviews where I had the knowledge and confidence to get my dream job in editorial.

I didn't realise how much I was learning during the MA because I was having too much fun. The projects, placements and the friends I made during the program have all become valuable life experiences. The lecturers and course director work tirelessly to help you achieve your goals and make the connections needed to get you started in your career. If I had stayed in the USA to do a similar degree program it would have taken around two years to complete and been much more expensive. I also would never have had the opportunities afforded to me at City.