Hong Kong Baptist University has taught International Journalism for more than a decade as a branch of its Journalism degree, which started in 1968 as the founding programme of what is now the School of Communication. The MA in International Journalism Studies Programme was founded in 2007 and aims to provide professional postgraduate studies in international journalism with a particular emphasis on Hong Kong, Mainland China and East/Southeast Asia. The programme has two concentrations: International Journalism and Business and Financial Journalism.
The Business and Financial Journalism concentration aims to accommodate students with or without previous experience working in or studying business and economics. Students not only learn how companies and markets function, but are also taught the skills of writing and reporting business and financial news for daily newspapers, business journals and financial websites.
The International Journalism concentration aims to cultivate journalism professionals with an in-depth understanding of international politics, economy and culture and equip them with the necessary skills to operate in English in covering international news.
Curriculum Design
Business and Financial Journalism concentration
International Journalism concentration
All students are required to complete a total of 27 units for the award of an MA degree. Each unit-bearing Course counts as 3 units. A 3-unit course involves 45 hours of teaching. The 27 units consist of 15 units of unit-bearing Core Courses and 12 Elective units.
Course Structure
Core Courses
For International Journalism
Course
Units
JOUR7010 * International Relations Theory & Practice OR
JOUR7020 * Comparative & International News
JOUR7040 Multimedia Journalism
JOUR7060 News and Feature Writing for International Practice
JOUR7100 Advanced News Writing and Production for Int’l Practice
JOUR7290 Media Law & Ethics for International Journalism
3
3
3
3
3
3
For Business and Financial Journalism
Course
Units
JOUR7040 Multimedia Journalism
JOUR7150 Business News Writing
JOUR7160 Principles of Economics
JOUR7170 Business and Finance
JOUR7180 Advanced Business News Writing and Production
3
3
3
3
3
Elective Courses
Course
Units
JOUR7180 Advanced Business News Writing and Production
JOUR7010 * International Relations Theory and Practice
JOUR7020 * Comparative & International News
JOUR7030 Research Methods in Media and Communication
JOUR7070 Theories of Journalism and Communication
JOUR7080 Current Issues and Case Studies in International News
JOUR7090 International News Translation
JOUR7110 Reporting International Conflict
JOUR7120 International Business and Financial Reporting
JOUR7130 Project or Dissertation
JOUR7140 Globalisation, Economics and Finance
JOUR7210 Long-form Journalism
JOUR7220 Photojournalism #
JOUR7230 Broadcast Journalism #
JOUR7240 Online and Digital Journalism #
JOUR7250 Reporting China and Hong Kong
JOUR7260 Reporting Southeast Asia
JOUR7270 Entrepreneurial Journalism
JOUR7280 Big Data Analytics for Media and Communication
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
* International Journalism concentration students are required to take either “JOUR7010 International Relations Theory and Practice” or “JOUR7020 Comparative & International News” as their core course. The course not chosen as A Core course can be taken as AN Elective.# Students can only choose from one of these 3 skills courses
Elective Courses
(Students can at most take ONE elective from courses below)
Offered By Other Programmes
Course
Units
COMM7020 Approaches & Methods in Communication Research
COMM7040 Issues in Intercultural Communication
COMM7050 Media and Communication in Chinese Societies
COMM7060 Issues in Corporation Communications
COMM7160 Organizational Communication
COMM7170 Communication Campaign Workshop
COMM7180 Media Law and Ethics
COMM7190 Issues and Cases in Mass Communication
COMM7200 New Media Workshop
COMM7220 Advertising Management
COMM7230 Writing for Multimedia in Public Relations
COMM7240 Media Markets
COMM7250 Strategic Public Relations and Crisis Management
COMM7300 Consumer Insights
COMM7310 International Advertising
COMM7510 Public Administration & the Media
COMM7550 Advertising in China
COMM7560 Political communication & Public Opinion
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Admission Requirements
The Master of Arts in International Journalism Studies (MAIJS) is a one-year full time or two-year part-time course.
Overall the MAIJS programme seeks the most promising students in terms of professional and academic distinction. We read all applications and take all factors into account. There is no cut-off point for grade point averages. No one item, such as the English scores, grade point averages, or letter of recommendation, is conclusive. The potential for academic and professional excellence can be demonstrated in many ways.
We adopt the rolling admission policy and open a window for application from 16 November to 30 June (First Round 16 November – 15 January; Second Round 16 January – 30 June). It may be to your advantage to apply as early as possible, as the window may close earlier when all spots are filled. Short-listed applicants may be notified of an interview.
You should apply online and upload all the application materials to the system. The application fee is non-refundable and will not be credited to tuition in the event of admission.
Applicants should
Hold a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university or institution; AND Be able to communicate in English at an advanced level, possessing one or more of the following qualifications if they did not study in an English-speaking institution:
A minimum score of 79 in TOEFL
A minimum score of 6.5 in IELTS
Online Application
Required documents:
one copy of all official transcripts and degree certificates;
one copy of official test scores;
two confidential recommendation forms or reference letters from people familiar with the applicant’s academic performance and/or professional work (referees must be able to speak of the applicant’s ability to undertake academic work at an advanced level); and
a 500-word personal statement in English outlining their academic interests and objectives;
a sample piece of writing in English, either journalistic or academic;
Personal particulars: a copy of a passport OR an identity document issued by the applicant's home country.
Short-listed applicants may be interviewed by a faculty panel.
Tuition Fee
HK$145,000 (per year for a one-year full-time student)
HK$60,000 (per year for a two-year part-time student) (local Hong Kong students only)
Scholarships
Merit-based scholarships will be awarded in the second semester to students with outstanding academic performance in the first semester. Awarded students receive between HK$10,000 and $20,000.
