Sutton College is set to launch a brand new fast-track journalism diploma accredited by the leading national body for journalism training.

Launching in February next year, the course will see aspiring journalists undertake an 18-week fast-track training course in all the key areas of modern-day journalism and earn their National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) qualification. 

Taught by senior media professionals, the students will cover live location reporting, filming and editing, and learn the latest digital and social media skills.  

Sutton College said the course is designed to give graduates of any discipline the skills to get a job and start a career within journalism. 

The cost of the course will be the lowest in London and is eligible for an Advanced Learning Loan which means the fee can be covered by a long-term loan or added to an existing student loan.

NCTJ accreditation is widely seen as the hallmark of industry-standard journalism training and is recognised and often required by news editors nationwide. 

The NCTJ’s chief executive, Joanne Butcher, said: “Sutton College has a fantastic leadership team and there are promising plans in place to make this course a great success.

“It covers all the performance standards we insist on: quality journalism training, close industry links and practical up-to-date journalism teaching, a strong commitment to diversity, innovation and employability – and very importantly, professional delivery of the Diploma in Journalism.”

The diploma will be run by the college’s head of journalism, Roy Lee, previously the head of creative arts and media at Lambeth College, and Victoria Scott, who has more than 18 years' experience as a journalist working for Al Jazeera, BBC and The Telegraph.

Based at the Sutton College Wallington site, a second cohort will start in September 2020.