Pioneering students are celebrating becoming the first bunch from Brunel University London to earn their National Council for the Training of Journalists Certificate in Foundation Journalism.
Thirteen politics and history students gained the NCTJ qualification, which Brunel is the only UK centre to offer.
“I am delighted with the success of this initiative," said Professor Justin Fisher, Head of Department for Social and Political Sciences. "It provides our students with real added value and means that they are developing additional skills and abilities.”
After its success this year, 43 new students are signed up for next year's course with plans to make it a permanent addition.
Joanne Butcher, Chief Executive of the NCTJ, said the certificate is “a great first step for those considering a career in journalism”.
“It’s wonderful to hear how well the students at Brunel University have done," she added. "Their new skills will put them at a great advantage should they continue towards becoming fully-trained journalists, and we hope their successes will inspire more to follow in their footsteps.”
History student Sadie Balmain, 19, is one of the first few to take the course. “I found it exciting to study a whole industry that I’d never considered before," she said. "Journalism plays a huge role in our consumption of the news and I’d recommend any student interested in politics to give it a go.”