Junior Journalist Apprenticeship Level 5

COULD A BBC APPRENTICESHIP BE THE NEXT ROLE FOR YOU

Join us as an apprentice at the BBC to give yourself the opportunity to kick‑start your career in a job you’ll love. We’re committed to your skills and talent development. You’ll learn on‑the‑job developing your knowledge and skills in an area that interests you while working towards your apprenticeship qualification with one of our learning providers.

The Junior Journalist Apprenticeship is ideal for curious individuals passionate about telling stories. If you’re a recent school leaver or are about to finish school and university isn’t for you this program offers gold‑standard journalism training with the world’s biggest public service broadcaster.

You’ll gain hands on experience while working towards both the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism and a Level 5 apprenticeship qualification setting you up for a future in the industry.

To find out more about the schemes we offer you can register to join one of our webinars here.

As a Junior Journalist Apprentice this is a brilliant opportunity to learn, grow and contribute. You will:

• Work alongside news and current affairs teams to develop your journalistic skills, creating and delivering quality content for the BBC.
• Get involved with all newsroom activities such as sourcing and securing compelling contributors or guests, writing briefs for your team, or shooting and editing films.
• Find and create stories for diverse audiences – including coming up with new ideas, carrying out in‑depth research and assisting with interviews.
• Learn from and work with experts in the field at the largest public service broadcaster in the world.

You’ll study for an industry‑recognised apprenticeship qualification learning both on and off the job. As an apprentice (JRA
26) you will follow the Level 5 Journalist Apprenticeship standard (curriculum) and work towards an industry‑recognised qualification – the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism. This is assessed through exams and coursework.

For more information on this apprenticeship standard please visit this link. More information about the NCTJ Diploma can be found via this link.

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’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.

If you can bring some of these skills and experiences along with transferable strengths we’d love to hear from you and encourage you to apply:

• Intensely curious about people and what is going on in the world.
• Brimming with creative ideas and imaginative ways to tell stories.
• Passionate about producing content in news and current affairs across TV, audio, online and social media.
• Excited by writing.
• Flexible, motivated and have an adaptable approach to the fast pace of a newsroom.

This scheme is aimed at non‑graduates. If you have a degree or the NCTJ diploma in Journalism and want to train as a Journalist at the BBC we recommend you apply to the Level 6 Journalist Apprenticeship instead.

• Be 18 years old or over by the time the apprenticeship begins in September 2026.
• Have lived in the UK continuously for the last 3 years prior to the start of the apprenticeship.
• Be legally eligible to work full‑time in the UK for the entire duration of the apprenticeship.
• Not currently be enrolled in another apprenticeship programme, whether with the BBC or another organisation.

• Not have completed or be studying for the NCTJ diploma or a journalism qualification at the same level or higher.
• Have achieved English GCSE at Grade 4/C or above; or National 5 (Scotland) at C or Functional Skills Level 2; or equivalent qualification.

For candidates under the age of 19 years at 8th September 2026: to complete the apprenticeship you must 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. If…