I think it all depends on what you can afford. In my opinion if you can’t afford to go to City don’t, just do your NCTJ. If you can afford it do the City course and don’t bother with the NCTJ. Going to City opens up a lot of doors but I am proof that if you work really hard and are determined, on a normal course like Lambeth you can do just as well – I’m currently into my 3rd month of the Daily Mail trainee scheme.

There weren’t any Americans on our course I’m afraid so I couldn’t tell you. I expect there were lots at City. I suggest you get in touch with their HR department to see if you can speak to a few of them.

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

Amy

I am from the US, my mother has cautioned me about Saturn returning because I just turned 30 and if I can swing it — I’m seriously considering an NCTJ course in London this coming March. Visas do present something of an issue, but I’m working on that…

My initial plan was to apply for the International Journalism course at City University and do the NCTJ afterwards.

Have any of you met Americans on your courses? If so, how did they fit in? Could you put me in touch with them?

And thanks for the awesome website, Amy! You rock!

Does anyone also know if I can skip a few legal exams having done a law degree?

PS – 28 is new 21. I’m 28 too and a load of my peers have also changed direction after five years or so of waiting for the weekends. An american friend of mind tells me its something to do with the moon shifting around the age of 27, he is a little crazy, but I bought it!

I spoke to a Journo at the holy Beeb that told me doing an MA was a waste of time – any comments folks?

I started to look at PG dip etc on NCTJ website and was looking at Press Associates and NoSweat. I will definitely not discount Lambeth now. Has anyone any experience of the former? After hearing how intensive it is I am thinking to just attend the college that is the closest to my home/office.

I keep having nightmares about leaving my job, completing the course and not getting a job so I’m keen to hear from part timers. The Part Time MA at Kingston requires attendance 3 week days per week – not exactly what I had in mind. Any one got any advice? Or is Part T

First of all, thanks Amy for providing this forum. It is great to hear from people who have done or are doing the fast-track course.

I had my entrance exam and interview for the 20 week course at Darlington College yesterday. I find out next week if I get a place but at the minute I’m just trying to come to terms with the prospect of being a hermit for five months…

From the experience I’ve had so far I’m more Features orientated but the more I talk to writers and qualified reporters, the NCTJ newspaper course seems like the best platform to launch a career in any aspect of journalism.

Thanks
Catharine

P.S: I have booked a place on the free workshop in July too.

Found this blog by accident – I’m a Teeline shorthand teacher in the West Country and found it very interesting.

Keep going Nazrin – you have done so well and are nearly there – good luck to you all. A lot of my students have gained their jobs by doing work experience at newspapers offices

Jeannette

Thank you so much for researching and writing this, the comments from fellow students have also been very helpful.

Just wondering about student’s experiences of actually finding a job after the course – I recently read a Media Guardian article about how journalism is an industry which has been hit really hard by the recession and the future looked very bleak.

Lauren

You are then invited to sit an entrance test. This is a current affairs quiz and I had to write a short news story from a press release and quotes – basically the news exam.

There was no interview – the lecturer said you can make up any old crap about yourself that would sound good and she would have no proof it were true or not. The test is supposed to speak for itself. This no nonsense, on-the-job attitude is Lambeth’s mantra to reflect, I’m sure, what you would get in the newsroom.

The fact you have already written pieces and been invited for work experience is a plus for you (you can use non-published work in your portfolio should you need to for example), not for getting onto the Lambeth course.

I’d say go for it. What have you got to lose?

Amy

im 36(!!) and about to send off my app. to lambeth college but am a bit concerned about my pure engineering background and ‘pass’ degree (too much partying in those days!). i’m pretty up on my current affairs and political structures etc, have worked with journalists in palestine, wrote some well received articles (although not published) and have even been offered an internship on the al-jazeera english website should i get on the course, but wonder if the competition for places will be too strong for me. eg good grade history/politics students with published work.

would appreciate any info. on this!

cheers

glenn