This Level 7 Journalist Apprenticeship gives you the chance to join BBC News and Current Affairs, working with our World Service teams. We’re looking for individuals with an interest and passion for daily news and journalism. You’ll spend time with some of our biggest BBC News brands, where you’ll learn how we produce our globally recognised content. This includes teams across the BBC World Service and our UK focused teams.
We are looking for individuals with a strong proficiency, written and spoken, in any of the following languages: Arabic, Farsi, French, Russian or Spanish. In your application, please specify which language(s) and your level of proficiency. If selected for the video assessment stage, you will potentially need to complete a translation exercise and a writing exercise.
An apprenticeship at the BBC gives you the opportunity to kick-start your career in a job you'll love. We’re the industry leaders in early careers and are committed to your skills and talent development. As one of the world’s most creative and technologically advanced organisations for the last 100 years, an apprenticeship at the BBC means the opportunity to learn from the most respected and experienced professionals in the business.
The L7 Journalist Apprenticeship offers top-tier training for those with demonstrated potential, helping you develop advanced journalism skills. You'll gain hands-on experience while working towards a Level 7 Apprenticeship and the industry-recognized NCTJ National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ), all while studying and learning on the job.
Main responsibilities
What will you be doing on the apprenticeship? As a Journalist Apprentice you will:
- Gain hands-on experience creating quality news and sports content for BBC TV, audio, online and digital platforms.
- Develop journalistic skills, researching, writing, and broadcasting news stories and features across topics including current affairs, business, politics, sport and culture.
- Learn from and work with experts in the field at the largest public service broadcaster in the world.
What will you be studying?
The Level 7 Apprenticeship combines academic training with practical on-the-job experience.
You'll follow the Senior Journalist Apprenticeship Standard (curriculum) and work towards an industry recognised qualification, the National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ). This is assessed through exams and an E-logbook of work. Areas of study in the apprenticeship include:
- Advanced Reporting Skills
- Media Law and Ethics
- Teamwork
- Leadership and Communication
- Broadcast Journalism
- Data Journalism
- Multi-media Storytelling
- Digital, Social and Mobile Journalism
To complete the apprenticeship there is also an End Point Assessment (EPA). This begins once you have completed your NQJ.
The EPA has two elements: firstly, a journalism project and presentation; and secondly, a professional discussion based on a portfolio of evidence.
Where could the role take you?
On successful completion of your apprenticeship, you will be able to apply for Journalist job opportunities inside or outside the BBC.
This scheme starts in September 2025 and you will be on a fixed-term contract, which means your contract is for the duration of the apprenticeship only. The duration of this scheme is 24 months.
Are you the right candidate?
We’re looking for people in the early stages of their journalistic career who can demonstrate their journalism and storytelling skills in a variety of ways. You might be writing articles for a local or student newspaper or website, working at a radio station with news content, blogging, vlogging or creating social media content. You might also have the NCTJ Diploma or another Journalism qualification such as the Junior Journalist or Journalist Apprenticeship.
We’re interested in your passion for working at the BBC and your enthusiasm for delivering world-class content and operational excellence to our audiences. We look for positive people who live our values and ensure our culture remains inclusive and full of opportunities. We’re not focused on your qualifications; instead, we look for potential and offer you the opportunity to apply your transferable strengths and experience to work in different ways.
Throughout the selection process, we’ll be looking for evidence of how you demonstrate each of the BBC’s values and behaviours. Our values guide everything we do. They define what you can expect from the BBC and what the BBC expects from you. Great Level 7 Journalist Apprentices are those who can demonstrate they:
- Already possess journalistic skills
- Are open and curious about people and what’s going on in the world
- Have original and creative ideas for ways to reach new audiences
- Regularly read, watch and listen to news (including BBC) across all platforms
- Are flexible, motivated and have an adaptable approach to the pace of work
To be eligible for an apprenticeship at the BBC, you must
- Be aged 18 or over when the apprenticeship starts in September 2025.
- By the start of the apprenticeship in September 2025, have lived in the UK or European Economic Area (EEA) for a minimum of 3 years.
- Be eligible to work in the UK full time for the duration of the apprenticeship contract.
- Not currently taking part in an apprenticeship scheme supported by the BBC or another organisation.
To apply for this scheme, you must also
- Have a strong proficiency, written and spoken, in any of the following languages: Arabic, Farsi, French, Russian or Spanish.
- Not have completed or hold qualifications in the apprenticeship subject at the same or higher level (for example, the NQJ).
- Have achieved Maths and English GCSE at Grade 4/C or above; or National 5 (Scotland) at C or Functional Skills Level 2; or equivalent qualification to complete the apprenticeship. If you have not achieved these qualifications by the start of your apprenticeship, you will be required to achieve Functional Skills Level 2 before the end of your apprenticeship when you take your end-point assessment.
What you get
During your apprenticeship
- A starting salary of £25,500 (+ £5,318 London Living Allowance)
- Industry-leading training through the BBC Academy and our learning providers (this may involve travel to locations across the UK)
- A dedicated Team Manager and Scheme Specialist to help with your development
- Training by industry professionals
- A 35-hour working week, 25 days of annual leave and a defined pension scheme. Plus discounted dental, health care, gym and much more.
Towards the end of your apprenticeship
- An industry recognised Level 7 Journalism Apprenticeship and a Level 6 NCTJ National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ).
- Lots of experience to help you seek out new challenges and work opportunities within the BBC and wider industry.
- Employability training and support to help you secure your next role.
Next steps
Don’t leave yourself thinking ‘what if?’ — this is your chance to be part of something special. Think you’re the right candidate? Click on ‘Apply Now’!
Once you’ve set up your candidate profile, you just need to complete the questions in the job specific information section on the application. We don’t require you to upload a CV or Cover Letter. We are looking for your potential to bring difference to the BBC.
If you’re eligible for the scheme, you will receive more information about the stages of the process and what to expect. A general overview of the application process can be found here.
This advert is for roles in London based office locations. Please note that you must live a commutable distance from the BBC location to which you are applying for this apprenticeship. This scheme (JOA25) is also being offered in other locations, please see the corresponding adverts if you wish to apply for these locations. Please only apply to one location.
Apprentices starting at BBC from September 2025 will be placed on a ‘Fixed-term’ contract. This means your contract is for the duration of your apprenticeship only. The BBC is committed to investing in new talent and as you approach the end of your apprenticeship, we will work with you to support you and offer you employability and networking training to help you secure your next role – this might be a job here at the BBC, or somewhere in the wider media industry.
Applications for this role/scheme are due to close on 28/11/2024.
About The BBC
Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.
We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.
We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.
Support with your application
Our ambition is that the BBC is for everyone and should include everyone. We are proud to be a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer and committed to removing disability-related barriers.
We take inclusivity seriously and want to ensure all candidates who are disabled or have long-term health conditions receive the support and adjustments they need. If you require reasonable adjustments for the application process or have access needs, you’d like to let us know about, please contact us here and we’d be happy to have a conversation in confidence to discuss how we can support you through the process. The job requisition ID for this role is 19537.
