Journalism and Creative Writing by Distance Learning

Who?

The London School of Journalism provides a wide range of distance learning courses, covering all aspects of news journalism, freelance and feature writing and creative writing.

The LSJ has been teaching journalism and writing for nearly 90 years - and unlike most 'schools' who offer distance learning courses we are a real school, staffed by real journalists and writers who enjoy working with real students. You can rely on our long experience of teaching to give you the best opportunity to succeed as a journalist - our distance learning courses are based on the same syllabus and same documentation as our internationally established postgraduate courses.

LSJ provides full-time and part-time postgraduate courses both by attendance and by distance learning.. Evening classes covering creative writing, news, freelance, travel journalism and magazine journalism are held throughout the year, a four week summer school takes place every August and a range of intensive short journalism courses are held three times a year.

Decide on the type of course that suits your needs, and click on the sidebar links. You will be able to find fully detailed information on all our courses. We hope that one of them will be right for you.

Our courses are well-known throughout the UK, and the rest of the world, for producing journalists of the highest calibre - on average around half our students come to us because of specific recommendations from newspapers, broadcasters and individuals active within the profession. You can see what Tony Maddox, Managing Editor CNN, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and others, have to say about our students.

Not all our students wish to be journalists, however.  Our courses are also taken by those for whom a knowledge and understanding of journalism is a great advantage - PR, politics, the law and advertising are only some of the professions to have sent representatives on our courses.  In almost any job, being able to write succinctly, accurately and quickly is a great advantage.

If you require any further information, please email us with your questions.

What?

Distance learning courses consist of three major parts:

Lesson modules:  Information supplied by us to yourself to be studied, which includes assignments.

Assignments:  Written work and projects to be completed after studying each module.

Returned assignments and comments:  Your tutor comprehensively reviews your assignments, and returns them to you, corrected as appropriate. With the return of your marked assignments you will receive the answers to any queries you have raised and any additional suggestions your tutor feels would be helpful.

We provide three additional facilities not available from other distance learning providers:

Online lectures: Regular lectures are given online, so that students with access to the internet can participate in group discussions and receive additional tuition.  Lectures are text-based, (or with live audio on the LSJ Second Life campus), with all participation taking place in real time.  Copies of the lecture can be downloaded upon completion and kept for reference.

Lectures in London: Throughout the academic year we hold general journalism lectures for our postgraduate tutorial students.  Journalism distance learning students may reserve places and attend these if they wish.  There is no charge - but booking is essential.

Student Bulletin Board: For intra-student discussions (with occasional tutor moderation), password protected to ensure access is only available to our students, with areas reserved for each course type.

We offer students a choice in the method of delivery of exercises and assignments.

By Email (standard price - regardless of student location)

All inwards assignments, returned assignments and comments are delivered electronically.  Students download their lessons from their own secure page in the Student section of the website, and send their completed assignments by email to the school.  Returned assignments and comments are sent to the student either as simple email, or as an Adobe .pdf file email attachment (which allows handwritten corrections to individual manuscripts to be made by your tutor).

By Post (UK and Overseas) (standard price plus additional postage)

All assignments, returned assignments and comments are dispatched by first class mail within the UK (students are responsible for supplying postage-paid self-addressed enevelopes) or by airmail to overseas students. (Return postage is included in the quoted fees for overseas students.)

All students are sent printed copies of the lesson modules which should be retained as the reference notes for the course. Students who choose to use email will receive a printed set of lesson notes to act as a backup in case of computer failure. Where students pay by instalments a complete set of lesson notes is not sent until payment in full has been made.

When?

Distance learning courses have no set start dates, and may be taken at a time to suit you and your plans. You have a two year period in which to complete the course, after that an update fee may be payable if you want to continue with your tuition. Most students find that between 9 and 15 months is enough time - on average, one lesson module a month is a reasonable target. Take too long between modules, and you will forget what you have already learnt!

Where?

		The School is based in Maida Vale. 15 minutes' walk (or two tube stops) from Paddington Station, which is at the heart of London's public transport system. One of the most attractive parts of London, it is very central, with wide streets and a peaceful atmosphere. For students and visitors , the school courtyard provides 'cafe' style space for coffee and conversation - and the occasional tutorial when the weather is suitable! Coffee and cold drinks are available at all times. The canals of Little Venice are a few minutes' walk from the School, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants for which Little Venice is well-known.
	Being a distance learning student can leave you feeling as if you are writing and working in isolation - so, for any students that are interested, we have created a virtual school on Second Life. We hold talks, live events, short story and poetry readings and competitions. Working with other writing groups we provide a base which will allow you to meet and talk to writers all over the world.

Going here will explain how ../dl/../dl/to join Second Life (it won't cost you anything) and once you have got the hang of it, a very real and enjoyable virtual experience. (Participating in Second Life is not a formal part of the courses)

Distance learning students come from all over the world -  around 65% from within the EU, 5% from North America and Australasia, and the remaining 30% from a hundred different countries.

Why?

The London School of Journalism has been teaching news journalism and freelance journalism for three generations,and continues to lead the way in the development of teaching methods which produce successful results for our journalism students. You can read some of the things recent and current students have said about the course here. Our students are well-known for the knowledge they bring to the profession. They find jobs in every kind of newspaper and magazine imaginable, in hundreds of countries, all over the world. You can see some information on where our students have found employment here. Don't forget - the LSJ has been training journalists since 1920 - we have all the experience and all the knowledge you will need. Accredited by the ODL QC, the school maintains the highest standards of teaching and personal service. And the best reason? Our tutors are highly skilled and professional journalists and writers, who will share their skills and knowledge with you. Look at the list of our tutors for more information.

Some of the companies who have employed our students.