While the rest of the world’s journalism students are flocking to expensive, high-profile media colleges in Europe and the US, a savvy few are looking for advancement opportunities in Asia’s burgeoning market. For ambitious students with the drive to carve out a career in one of the fastest growing consumer markets on earth, a degree in journalism from Hong Kong Baptist University is an outstanding option.

Hong Kong Baptist University Department of Journalism, under the School of Communication, launched in the 1960s and it quickly became the most successful program on offer here. The department continues to provide Hong Kong and China with some of the region’s most prominent journalists.

All of the journalism coursework at HKBU is offered through the School of Communication. Journalism is the headliner here, but shares the marquee with film and communications studies. This is a small environment, with 500 undergraduates and half as many postgraduates.

You’ll marvel at the small class sizes at HKBU. The department heads are avid believers that meaningful learning is only possible if students enjoy first-hand access to their instructors, and this is made possible by limiting class sizes.

Pic: HKBU.

But despite its relatively small enrolment, HKBU is amassing a hefty network of graduates in greater China. For those about to graduate, these high-profile professionals become a direct resource for career opportunities. Alumni flock together, especially when they come from such a small institute.

As with everything in Hong Kong, there’s a strong sense of internationalism at the school. Students have the opportunity to travel overseas to study in places like the UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore and the US. There are also opportunities for regional placements in mainland China and Taiwan.

Academics
The Department of Communication opened at Hong Kong Baptist University in 1968 and changed its name to the School of Communication in 1993, and Journalism was the first course that went on offer. Journalistic studies are still what HKBU is known for, and many of the school’s graduates have gone on to take prominent positions in the Hong Kong news scene.

For students eager to capitalize on Hong Kong’s financial successes and the growth trends in China, there has never been a better time to join the ranks of journalists in Hong Kong. Those who secure positions now are in an excellent position to rise to the top of the industry in the next few years.

As an undergraduate, you’ll also be placed in a small tutorial group and assigned a tutor. This allows an extra layer of access to resources on campus and ensures that no one is left behind. This group remains intact until you graduate.

Pic: HKBU.

There are two major divisions of coursework at HKBU:

Undergraduate
The undergraduate coursework at HKBU caters to both Chinese and international students. In general, the university emphasizes written Mandarin and Cantonese along with written and spoken English. However, the focus is on English proficiency within the international program.

International Journalism: this program has a particularly high profile at HKBU, and it focuses on establishing communication between Hong Kong and the rest of the world. Students are trained in news flows, international comparisons and broadcast and online news.

Chinese Journalism: crafted for students from Hong Kong and mainland China, this course is one of the leading options for students wishing to establish a career in Chinese-language print and broadcast journalism.

Broadcast Journalism: students in this vein of study specialize in electronic media, both as it pertains to collecting and disseminating information. The foundation is in shared journalism principles, with an emphasis on using technology for broadcasting on television, radio and the Web.

Postgraduate
HKBU’s Department of Journalism offers two master of arts degree programs, both of which cater to the international, English-speaking community.

International Journalism: international news crosses national borders, and achieves a broad, global effect. Escalations in global conflicts and economic crises have boosted interest in international news in Hong Kong and China, which in turn channels greater funding to international journalism studies.

Business and Financial Journalism: this was added to the HKBU lineup in 2008, and it has gained considerable attention. Students are trained to cover events and developments related to finance and business, with a specific eye to their international ramifications.

Communication students A group of 13 students from the Department of Communication Studies of HKBU recently won at the International Advertising Association (IAA) Dentsu InterAd XI global student advertising competition. They scooped the second place award in the South Pacific Region, and were the only winning group from Hong Kong and Asia. Pic: HKBU.

Integrating theory, practice and experience
As a student of journalism at HKBU, you will benefit from an even mix of instruction in theory and practical applications. Students have the opportunity to take leadership positions and participate in workshops, filling out their CVs with valuable work-related experience before they have even set foot off campus.

One of the most valuable projects that students in the international journalism program collaborate on is the experimental English-language newspaper, which gives students a chance to put the tactics they’ve learned in class to work in a real-world setup. There’s also a website-based component of this news service. Students of broadcast journalism create productions to be broadcast on campus and in the community.

Furthermore, all students are required to head out into the real world of journalism for an internship during their second year of study. Nothing prepares you for a career in this sector like real-time work experience – where deadlines and a desire to get ahead of the competition have a dramatic effect on the workplace atmosphere.

But there’s another avenue to real-world exposure for HKBU students. Professionals from the Hong Kong journalism scene are regularly invited in as guest lecturers. Furthermore, you may have the opportunity to strike out on reporting missions on the mainland or even overseas to cover major events.

Campus life
Students have the option to live on campus at HKBU. A total of four residence halls on Baptist University Road comprise the backbone of the on-campus social scene.

Of course, the real action for students – whether they hail from China or overseas – is the booming commercial scene in Hong Kong. The scope of entertainment, facilities and events on tap here is staggering, and it would take more than a few years at university to take it all in. For many international students, the mere opportunity to live and study in Hong Kong is reason enough to seek a degree here.

You can connect with Hong Kong Baptist University on Facebook and YouTube.