School of Communication 
The medium of instruction for classroom teaching (in all forms) at HKBU is English, except for those courses that are granted exemption.
Government Funded
September 2025
HK$44,500 (local); HK$175,000 (non-local) i
128
Programme Description
All students take Major Core and Major Elective Courses dealing with the activities and responsibilities of print, broadcast and internet journalists. Each concentration requires bilingualism, but stresses the particular language and professional skills appropriate for the specialization.
The Data and Media Communication concentration, which is jointly offered with the Department of Computer Science, aims to train a new generation of digital journalists with advanced computer skills, notably in data visualization and analytics. It provides students with cutting-edge interdisciplinary knowledge and skills in data media and communication needed for the changing landscape of today’s media industry. Students study the concepts and methods of dealing with data, generating exclusive stories from big data and using multi-dimensional tools to present the results. Special emphasis is placed on the essential skills of data journalism, including news gathering, investigative reporting, data-driven storytelling and news visualisation.
All Journalism students pursue studies in three major areas: (1) professional journalism, in which students learn the principles and skills of gathering, presenting and producing news and current affairs reports; (2) theoretical foundations of the profession, in which students develop a conceptual understanding of the profession and its role in society through legal, ethical, political, historical, economic and media communication theory courses; and (3) complementary studies of the relationship between journalism and society as well as the way politics, government, business and law operate in both local and international communities. In all these areas, emphasis is on Hong Kong and mainland China with due attention to the international context in which both communities operate.
Subject to resource and quota constraints, DMC students have the option of adopting a secondary stream in Financial Journalism (FJ). At the end of the programme, every student has to produce a final-year project that integrates their conceptual and practical journalism knowledge.
Unique Features
An essential component of journalism education is developing students’ ability to write and edit, and to produce quality print, broadcast and multimedia news stories. Practice for all journalism students is provided by different workshops in different formats, including San Po Yan (in Chinese), Broadcast News Network (in Chinese), The Young Reporter (in English), The Young Financial Post (in Chinese and English) and DataStory (in English). While necessary supervision is provided, students are allowed a high degree of autonomy in deciding which stories to pursue.
Every year, many students broaden their horizons by going on exchange to universities in Europe, North America and Asia as well as the mainland and Taiwan. A considerable number of foreign students also come to study alongside local students at the Department, giving it a multicultural atmosphere. The Department regularly organises overseas reporting trips to let students explore journalism across borders and cultures. In recent years, our students have visited Spain, Germany, Taiwan and Rwanda.
Student Learning Experiences
Internship is not required for students in the Data and Media Communication Concentration, but will be arranged for them if they wish, subject to the availability of such positions. Students work as interns in a variety of media organizations all over the world. They are also encouraged to go on exchange study at one of the many universities we partner with around the world.
Career Opportunities
Many graduates of Journalism and Digital Media Major become reporters, editors, correspondents and producers in print, electronic and online media. Others move into related fields such as public relations, marketing, business and commerce, government service and education. Some pursue further studies in Hong Kong or overseas. We have a good number of graduates who are winners of prestigious local and regional media awards and scholarships for postgraduate studies abroad.
Remark:
We adopt a holistic approach in selecting applicants on individual merits. Applicants are required to meet the University entrance requirements, English Language requirements and Programme entrance requirements (if any).
Associate Degree/ Higher Diploma Students/ Holders
Local final year students or graduates of an Associate Degree/ Higher Diploma programme at an institution recognised by the University are eligible for publicly-funded senior year places.
Transfer Students
Transfer students who are currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree or higher degree programmes at a local or non-local university may apply.
Please note that according to the guidelines of the University Grants Committee (UGC) on inter-institutional transfer of students, repeating of UGC-funded undergraduate study across institutions, irrespective of whether there is a change of programme or discipline, is generally discouraged unless under very exceptional circumstances.