The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Journalism - the first of its kind to be launched in Britain - combines academic study and research with journalistic training to an advanced level. The first phase of the MFA is designed to equip students with the personal and professional skills needed to progress to a senior level in this intensely competitive industry.

The second phase will provide them with an opportunity to work on a book-length manuscript of non-fiction or a portfolio of reportage within a supportive community of resident journalists and guest professionals. It will also give students the option to enhance their chances of a career as university lecturers by completing Kingston's postgraduate certificate in learning and teaching in higher education.

All members of the course are practising journalists with a wide range of journalistic and publishing experience and contacts in newspapers, publishing (print and online) and magazines.

Students may apply for the two-year MFA or direct entry to the second year of the course, which will follow completion of an appropriate MA in Journalism (either at Kingston University or elsewhere in the UK or abroad).

The qualification is split into two stages - Stage 1 is an MA in Journalism or Magazine Journalism; and Stage 2 is the MFA.

At Stage 1 you will develop a range of professional and practical skills to equip you for a job in journalism, including news writing, sub-editing and design techniques, online journalism, research skills and media law. All students will complete a compulsory work placement with a professional journalism organisation, such as a newspaper, magazine, news agency, website, public relations agency or press office.

Stage 2 (the MFA) is assessed by a 40,000-word dissertation and a professional practice 'log'. You will benefit from one-to-one supervision from an experienced journalist, backed by self-directed research, non-assessed seminars and workshops, and a vibrant extracurricular programme featuring guest journalists, non-fiction writers and masterclasses, all enhanced by similar programmes associated with the School's MFA in Creative Writing and its MA in Publishing Studies.