For many people, journalism is a career that has no equals; being able to write and report on ground breaking events – or simply on those of a local nature – is something that thousands of people enjoy and, more to the point, make a living from. Journalism is taught across the world to degree level at many universities, but what do you look for in a journalism degree?

The first thing to consider is whether you wish to study part time or full time; there are courses available in both spheres, meaning that if you are working in a different field and looking to change to a journalism career you can study part time. The benefits of this are enticing to some, but the younger generations may wish to study for a degree in journalism on a full time basis.

Another option is to look at one of the online courses that are available; typically these cover a longer period of time before completion, but the convenience of studying from home can be a major benefit to those who have a family to occupy them.

Journalism is a broad spectrum, a phrase that covers many aspects of the news providing sector. You may wish to go into research, in which case looking for a degree with that aspect to the fore would be advisable, or your desire may be to enter the radio or television world, and in this case it would be sensible to investigate one of the many degrees that combine journalism with media studies in order to broaden your horizons.

Many of the world’s top universities offer very impressive and respected journalism degrees, but some can be found in less likely places; in the UK some of the smaller universities are highly rated for journalism – Cardiff and London City have been recommended – while in the USA the universities of Florida and Maryland come particularly highly rated.

Whatever you choose to do, the resources for investigating the best places to study journalism are extensive; it is highly recommended that you join any local clubs and speak to local press outlets with a view to gaining work experience, and talk to others who may have taken a course at a particular school and found it satisfactory, or otherwise.