Master's Degree Programme
| About the programme Language: English (See language requirements) | Place of study: Aarhus | Commencement: August / September (no winter intake) |
The Mundus Journalism MA programme gives you state-of-the-art insights into the current topics within journalism, media and globalisation. The curriculum combines academic, theoretical knowledge with journalistic skills to improve your ability to analyse, interpret and understand the global changes that increasingly challenge traditional boundaries between media, politics, technology, and culture. All in all, the programme prepares you to work practically towards improving and maintaining the societal and cultural legitimacy of journalism globally.
On this site, you will only find a brief introduction to the programme. Follow the link to Mundus Journalism’s own website to find all details about the programme and the application process. Please note that the application deadline is the 10th of January.
Join the Mundus Journalism programme to engage with peers and staff from more than 100 countries across the globe in an ambitious, interdisciplinary and multicultural environment. The Erasmus Mundus Journalism master's degree offers you a truly unique and international educational experience. At Mundus Journalism, you will study at leading universities in at least two European countries, work with top researchers in media studies, political science and journalism, and gain an outstanding professional network for life.
All students spend the first year of the master’s degree in Aarhus, Denmark studying at both Aarhus University and the Danish School of Media and Journalism.
The aim of the first year is to give you the analytical skills needed to identify and analyse cultural, political, and technological challenges to and opportunities for journalism across the globe. You will also learn how to integrate this sophisticated theoretical understanding with practical approaches to assert journalism within a public sphere that is undergoing decisive changes.
You can customise your studies by choosing to take electives or an approved internship as part of your second semester. Or you can apply to be one of the selected students who can study their second semester at one of our prestigious credit awarding universities:
Studying in either Prague, United Kingdom, Amsterdam or Munich
In the second year, you will be able to specialise in the area of your choice to delve into field-specific topics and strengthen your reflexive journalism skills. You can choose to study in one of the following areas of journalism:
Applicants must have completed a Bachelor’s degree (or the equivalent) in a relevant subject in order to be admitted to the Mundus Journalism programme.
Students who have not yet graduated from their BA-degree can still apply, but documentation of the Bachelor’s degree must be forwarded to Aarhus University by August to complete the enrolment process prior to course start in September.
Subjects within Bachelor's programmes in Arts/Humanities and Social Sciences are by default considered to be relevant. Applicants who have completed other programmes, but whose qualifications are deemed by the Consortium to be relevant and adequate, may also be offered admission.
To ensure that the best candidates are admitted, the Consortium has decided to give priority to academic merit; candidates will only be admitted if they have an above-average Bachelor’s degree (a minimum of an above-average class mark/GPA is expected).
Documentation of your English skills if you are not a native English speaker
The Erasmus Mundus Journalism programme is taught in English. Students must therefore be able to read academic textbooks and articles, take part in classroom discussions and lectures, and undertake written work and exams in English. Hence, we require a high command of English.
We require evidence of English language proficiency if you are not a native English speaker*. We only accept the tests listed below, as they reflect some of the essential features of academic language and thereby assesses whether you are ready to study in an English language environment. Due to visa regulations the test cannot be older than 2 years when the visa is issued.
Language tests
* We consider applicants to be native English speakers if they come from any of these countries: Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; The Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Canada; Dominica; Grenada; Guyana; Ireland; Jamaica; New Zealand; St Kitts and Nevis; St Lucia; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; the UK or the USA.
** Before taking the IELTS test you must select Aarhus University as receiver of your IELTS test results. The IELTS report should be scanned in a high-quality resolution and be included within the application package.
*** Before taking the TOEFL test you must select Aarhus University as receiver of your TOEFL test results. Aarhus University TOEFL-code is 8935. Failure to do so may result in a rejection of your TOEFL test results. If you have already taken the test, please contact the test centre in order for them to add Aarhus University’s TOEFL-code 8935 to your test. The TOEFL report should be scanned in a high-quality resolution and be included within the application package.
**** If you take a Cambridge ESOL exam, please share your results with Aarhus University through the Candidate Results Website (candidates.cambridgeenglish.org). You log on by using your ‘Candidate ID’ and ‘Secret Number’, which you get from the test center. Failure to share your test results through the Candidate Results Website may result in a rejection of your Cambridge ESOL test results. The Cambridge report should be scanned in a high-quality resolution and be included within the application package.
Applying for a language test exemption
If you are not a national of any of the countries mentioned above but you consider yourself a native speaker, you can apply for an exemption from the language test. However, please be aware that there is no guarantee that an exemption will be granted.
Please note that applicants who have a bachelor's degree in English language and/or English literature from a non-English speaking country are not exempt from submitting an English language test.
To apply for an exemption you will need to include the following documents within your application package:
Applicants must have at least three months of journalistic experience
We ask for at least 3 months’ journalistic experience, so that the need for basic practical journalistic instruction is low. Although the programme aims to maintain and enhance high journalistic standards, this programme is theory-oriented and the focus is on issues and reflective practice.
Freelance experience is also accepted, if you can provide documentation that your work has been equivalent of three-months full-time journalism experience. In this case please ask for a letter of reference by a professional journalist – preferably your former or current editor-in-chief. The person writing the reference should include an estimate of time.
If you think that you have sufficient journalistic experience even though it might not be in the more 'classical' sense, you can apply to the programme if you include relevant documentation of your journalistic experience along with a detailed explanation. The Consortium will then evaluate if this will be enough grounding to successfully finish the degree.
Application deadline: 10 January
The Mundus Journalism degree brings together a highly multicultural group of students from around the world. There are usually up to 40 different nationalities within each Mundus Journalism programme, with countries ranging from Bahrain to Bhutan, Nigeria to New Zealand, and Poland to Portugal. This access to a variety of cultures, experiences and personalities is part of what makes being a Mundusian a truly unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Monday:
8-16 Reading
Tuesday:
8-10 Reading
11-14 Lecture in Public Opinion and the Media: Theory, Methods and Practice
Wednesday:
8-12 Reading
13-15 Instructor class in Public Opinion and the Media: Theory, Methods and Practice
Thursday:
8-11 Class in Public Opinion and the Media: Theory, Methods and Practice
12-16 Reading
Friday:
8-15 Reading
The rich diversity of perspectives and knowledge that each student brings to the programme makes for a lively atmosphere both on and off campus. Mundus Journalism students tend to be very self-motivated and get involved with a huge variety of projects both inside and outside of the universities.
Every year, students put together a Bluebook that contains background information about each student, as well as fun facts about the whole cohort. And, it is no secret that everyone works hard to make their Bluebook even more spectacular than the previous year's.
Beyond this, student initiatives are as varied as the countries they come from. From radio stations to theatre groups, from competitive football teams to start-ups. The opportunities for interaction and idea development within the programme are limitless.
As an extension of their co-curricular activities many of our students write, photograph, record, tweet and blog their way through the programme. Some work for media outlets in their home countries, while others develop their own platforms. Many students also attend academic conferences and publish journal articles from their work, or seek to have their writing and research published in leading news outlets.
- experienced, photographed and filmed by the students themselves.
With thousands of pictures #yourniversity gives insight into the everyday life as a student at AU; the parties, procrastination, exams and all the other ways you’ll spend your time at university.
The photos belong to the users, shared with #Yourniversity, #AarhusUni and course-specific AU-hashtags.
The chart shows the five most common types of work for graduates 1-2 years after finishing their degree. The data is derived from a survey made by Epinion for the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and Aarhus University in 2020.
International career opportunities and an international network
We believe that today's journalists not only need practical reporting skills but also an analytical understanding of global change. That's why our degree combines journalism studies with political science, international relations and media studies.
Our alumni enter jobs at the top of their profession
Our alumni are entering successful and interesting jobs worldwide with many at the top of their profession. As a Mundus Journalism alum, many paths are open to you, and you might want to choose different directions at different times in your life.
Our alumni unanimously emphasise that learning in a multicultural environment is one of the key strengths of the Mundus Journalism degree. And the employability of our candidates suggests that the Mundus Journalism brand is seen as evidence of academic excellence.
Our latest alumni survey shows that around 77% work in the field of journalism and communication, e.g. as reporters, communications consultants and media development professionals, and many focus on entrepreneurship and start-ups. 10% of our graduates have enrolled in a PhD programme or work in academia while others work e.g. as PR consultants, political scientists and communication specialists at non-profit organisations. You can get to know our alumni, and their stories, here.
A future in global and international journalism
Graduates of Mundus Journalism, who return to journalism posts, are able to pursue their profession at a more senior level, and with a more analytical approach to journalism that has significant international content and ambition.
Mundus Journalism graduates find work in newsrooms, international organisations, information-based journalism, or communication departments in various global public and private organisations. Indeed, a majority of our current alumni have been hired for such jobs as a result of the international perspective and their analytical capabilities.
Many of our graduates have entered the job market in institutions spread around the globe and build successful careers at some of the world's top media organisations, including Dow Jones Newswires, the Wall Street Journal, Deutsche Welle, Bloomberg London, the Asian Banker (Singapore), the Kathmandu Post, the Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corporation, Nairobi's Radio Africa Group and New York's Al Jazeera offices.
A future with academic opportunities
The programme's combination of different national research traditions and its emphasis on globalisation open future academic and research opportunities. The Mundus Journalism programme has proved a unique recruitment ground for PhD programs in Europe and overseas, and some of our PhD candidates have continued into academia as associate professors and researchers.
A future in NGO's, start-ups and all areas of international work
Alumni of Mundus Journalism have also chosen to take their master's qualification and use it in other fields - our graduates have landed jobs in public relations and communications for many intergovernmental organisations, at technology start ups, and global non-profit companies among others.
Please contact the Student Counselling Office for advice about employment opportunities and the subject profile options of your degree programme.
You can read more about the career services that are available from Arts Karriere who provide information about employment opportunities as well as arranging various events and workshops.
