Program FAQs

The Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program at Western University is the only program in Canada teaching core skills in both journalism and communications. Regardless of whether you already know which career path you want to take, or if you’re still unsure, the MMJC program will open doors to both industries, maximizing your options. 

Today’s journalists and communications professionals need advanced media skills, as well as the ability to anticipate which new tools and digital platforms will help them tell their stories best. The Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program teaches a core set of skills in the first and second terms that are required for both journalism and communications, including storytelling, professional writing, interviewing, research, podcasting, video editing, photography, data analytics and metrics, multimedia and social networking fluency. In the second term, students can choose courses that provide more advanced skills in either journalism or communications, or they can continue to gather skills relevant for both fields. In the third term, the professional internship is your chance to get real experience working in journalism or communications, while making industry contacts.

The Master of Media in Journalism & Communication program takes 12 months to complete, whereas similar graduate programs at Toronto Metropolitan University, UBC and Carleton take two years to complete. Other one-year programs that do exist, for example in journalism, generally require a journalism undergraduate degree or years of newsroom experience. The MMJC program is open to students from any academic background. A core feature of the MMJC program is that journalism and communication are taught together in one degree, which is unique in Canada and allows graduates to move seamlessly between newsrooms, corporate communications, public relations, digital media, and non-profit roles.

The Master of Media in Journalism & Communication program is one of the top graduate journalism and communications programs in Canada, and Western University is among the top 1% of universities globally. Graduates of the MMJC program are industry leaders with national, international and regional news organizations, and as communications professionals and digital media specialists in government, healthcare, finance, non-profits, creative/brand consulting, and as independent business owners. The MMJC program maintains a strong reputation.

The Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program takes 12-months of continuous full-time study to complete. The Fall and Winter terms consist of intensive course work and technical skill building, and the third term requires students to participate in a professional internship while completing the final two course requirements. The MMJC program cannot be taken part-time.

As a professional master’s program, students should expect the Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program to be intensive. Students will be very busy with courses, workshops and assignments, and class attendance is mandatory. The upside is that you’ll also have a ton of fun, try things you’ve never tried before, and make great friends and new contacts.

Our full-time instructors include professional journalists and communicators, broadcast industry specialists, and tenured faculty members with PhDs who have research expertise related to journalism or communications. Each year we also supplement our core faculty with part-time instructors coming directly from industry positions with news organizations, corporate communications and related fields. In the winter term we appoint an Asper Fellow, typically a senior professional journalist, to teach a course of their choosing and to help connect students to their industry contacts.

A professional master’s program at Western, such as the Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program, is an intensive, one-year program that teaches students practical skills in specific fields so that they are job-ready upon graduating. In the case of the MMJC program, students also have the opportunity to build a portfolio and start networking with industry contacts while still completing the requirements of the degree. A master’s level degree remains a valuable credential to add to your resume that raises your employment ceiling.

Students must achieve a minimum of a 70% average in the last two years of a four-year degree to qualify for the Master of Media in Journalism & Communication program. Competitive applicants typically have averages of about 78%. Grades are not the only factor the admissions team looks at, as an applicant’s professional work, community contributions and writing ability all carry weight. Strong applicants have been admitted with averages below 78%. If you are above 70% and can make a compelling case based on other factors, you are encouraged to apply.

The Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program is designed to accommodate students from a wide variety of academic backgrounds. There is no restriction on what type of undergraduate degree you need to hold to apply, and we have welcomed students from a wide variety of disciplines, such as science, social science, arts, business, and more.

You do not need to have any experience in journalism or communications to be considered for the Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program. Some students do, and others do not. We start teaching MMJC students with the assumption that you have no experience in journalism and communication.

The application asks for work samples, as opposed to a professional portfolio. If available, include samples of published journalism-related and communications-related work. If you do not have those things, share evidence of personal or professional media activities such as blogs, audio work, video work, design work, social media, and anything related to using media to tell stories.

Students in the Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program will learn how to use industry-standard audio, video, editing, and multimedia equipment. This includes high-end broadcast and mirrorless cameras, Adobe Premiere and Adobe Audition software and voiceover recording studios, and much more.

Yes. In the Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program you will learn how to produce short-form video stories, as well as longer pieces, from conception to filming, conducting interviews, editing and packaging.

Students in the Master of Media in Journalism & Communication program produce written stories, videos, podcasts, and social media content. Journalism-focused assignments ask students to produce stories about things like local sports, city council, international affairs, crime, arts and culture, and more. In Communications-focused courses, students learn to write press releases, create vertical videos, design social media strategies and work with local businesses and non-profits to improve their communications strategies. Students can also produce a short documentary and a full-length podcast. In second semester, students will gain experience running a full, live newscast out of the Broadcast Studio and control room.

Yes. All students in the Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program are required to complete a professional internship in order to graduate. The internship must be in a journalism or communications role and be a minimum of four weeks, full-time. Students are able to find their own placements, with assistance from MMJC staff and faculty. Internships can be paid or unpaid.

No. An internship can be completed anywhere. Many students travel to cities other than London to complete the internship requirement, and in some cases, even go abroad. We encourage our students to dream big and aim high when pursuing their internship placements.

Visit our Internships page for examples of placements.

Students begin applying for internships during the first and second semesters. Graduate Student Services staff will provide a list of current internship opportunities, but students are also able to independently find and apply for other internship opportunities within the journalism or communications industries. Graduate Students Services staff and MMJC faculty have many existing relationships with potential internship providers and are available to help students apply and succeed in their internship placements.

Tuition and fees for the Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program are set by the University and change year-to-year.

To get the most current information, use Western's Graduate Student Affordability Calculator tool.

The Master of Media in Journalism and Communication does not offer an internal funding package. Students are expected to cover expenses via personal savings, OSAP loans, bank loans, or other funding sources they have access to.

The MMJC program offers an array of awards and scholarships. Some entrance scholarships are automatically awarded to students without needing to apply. These students are notified about the scholarship when they receive their offer of admission. Other scholarships or awards require an application to be submitted. Each year the MMJC program distributes over 20 donor-funded awards and scholarships that total close to $90,000.00.

Equipment/Software

Students will be required to purchase a student subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud for the duration of the program in order to access editing software like Premiere and Audition. All other technical equipment, computers, video cameras, purpose-built podcasting and editing suites and software needed to complete the program are provided.

Textbooks

Some courses may have required books, but necessary materials will also be available on reserve at the library and so purchase is generally not required.

As a small program, the Master of Media in Journalism & Communication program lets international students work closely with faculty and learn about Canadian culture and politics through their own reporting, making close friends, and professional connections in the process. Eligible graduates can qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit of up to three years. A guaranteed internship provides Canadian work experience. Applicants should confirm current work permit requirements with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Strong English skills are essential.

The academic admission requirements for international students are the same as for domestic students, with the exception that applicants born outside Canada whose first language is not English may be required to prove English proficiency. See our How to Apply page for more details.

As with domestic students, international students are required to source their own funding for the Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program. International students are eligible to apply for over 20 donor-funded awards and scholarships offered by the MMJC program. Collectively, available scholarships and awards for the MMJC program total nearly $90,000.00.

In the case of the Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program, international students are permitted to participate in the internship component because it is a requirement to graduate from the program.

Yes. Throughout the course of the Master of Media in Journalism and Communication program you will have the opportunity to build a professional portfolio through coursework, community partnerships, and the internship placement.

Master of Media in Journalism & Communication graduates work across many industries: news organizations, digital marketing and PR agencies, government ministries, hospitals, NGOs, technology businesses, banks, organizations and corporations – large and small. An increasing number of students are also choosing to launch their own businesses, freelancing or consulting on communications, marketing, PR and social media. Grads become journalists, producers, communications specialists, managers, directors, PR agents, digital media specialists, marketers, and much more.

The time it takes graduates to land their first job varies based on individual circumstances. Some students finish the program having already secured full-time work, others are able to land positions within the first month or two. What type of work you want, whether you are open to moving, your network of contacts, and how well you present yourself all factor in to how long it can take to land that first job.