The standard of teaching was impeccable and every tutor was invested in ensuring each student reached their full potential
Damian Shepherd
European Real Estate Reporter, Bloomberg News
Journalism MA alumnus
2020
After graduating from our Journalism MA in 2020, Damian Shepherd has won several journalism awards for his deep investigative stories. He regularly appears on Bloomberg TV, Bloomberg Radio and podcasts.
After starting working for London business newspaper City AM in January 2021., Damian secured a position as an intern in Bloomberg's London newsroom in June 2021, where he reported on finance and business news. Damian was offered a full-time role with Bloomberg at the conclusion of the internship, and has been reporting on the European property market ever since.
Tell us about your journey - what led you to the Journalism MA course and where has it taken you?
I was awarded a scholarship to study MA Journalism at the University of Sheffield. This allowed me to get to the position I am today, particularly with the course being accredited by the NCTJ - meaning I secured the industry-standard diploma alongside my postgraduate degree
Many of our assignments involved heading out into the community and finding stories. The course shaped my news judgement and gave me the legal and ethical knowledge required to be a successful journalist.
And, I still use the shorthand skills learned on my course every day!
What were the highlights of your student experience?
Sheffield is somewhere I'll consider a second home for the rest of my life. The city will always have a place in my heart. The standard of teaching was impeccable and every tutor was invested in ensuring each student reached their full potential. There was a big emphasis on careers discussions throughout the course, which I found to be very beneficial.
I was a member of the meditation society. Developing my meditation skills was a great way to ease stress and promote mindfulness throughout my studies, and getting to know other students after the session was a great way to make friends with those with similar interests.
Do you have any advice for future students making decisions about their studies?
If you're pursuing a career in print journalism, be sure to choose a course that's NCTJ-accredited, like the one at the University of Sheffield. The NCTJ diploma is industry-standard, and securing a job in journalism is far more difficult without it. Completing mine alongside my degree at the University of Sheffield proved to be a great decision.
International postgraduate taught scholarships
We're offering scholarships worth up to £3,000 to international students joining the University to study a taught masters programme in September 2026.