JILeaders Year Planners
Explore the 2026 and 2027 PG Cert and MA study schedules for an overview of the programme structure and key activities across the academic year. The 2027 year planner can be found further down the page.
JILeaders Year Planner 2026
| KEY DATES FOR APPLICANTS | |
| JILEADERS APPLICANT INFORMATION SESSIONS | |
| POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE | |
| Monday, 15th September 2025 | JILeaders Applicant Information Session 1 and Q&A (PG Cert 2026) |
| Monday, 6th October 2025 | JILeaders Applicant Information Session 2 and Q&A (PG Cert 2026) |
| Monday, 20th October 2025 | JILeaders Applicant Information Session 3 and Q&A (PG Cert 2026) |
| MASTER OF ARTS | |
| Friday, 31st October 2025 | JILeaders Applicant Information Session and Q&A (MA 2026) |
| NOVEMBER | |
| Monday, 17th November 2025 | Scholarship deadline |
| Thursday, 23rd October to Tuesday, 11th November 2025 | Interviews |
| DECEMBER | |
| Friday, 12th December 2025 | Admissions deadline |
| Friday, 19th December 2025 | Deadline to submit full payment, I.D and qualifications |
| Monday, 15th December 2025 | Introduction to the PG Cert class of 2026 at 17:00 UK time (online) |
| JANUARY | |
| YEAR ONE POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE | |
| JN4530 JOURNALISM LEADERSHIP (40 credits) Weekly seminars are on Mondays from 16:30 – 18:00 UK time. | |
| Monday, 19th January 2026 | Optional drop-in re enrolment and course admin |
| Monday, 26th January 2026 | Block 1 commences online* |
| Monday, 2nd March to Friday, 6th March 2026 | Intensive Study Block 1 online (Teams) |
| Monday, 30th March 2026 | Block 1 concludes |
| SPRING BREAK | |
| Monday, 27th April 2026 | Block 2 commences |
| Monday, 8th June to Friday, 12th June 2026 | Intensive Study Block 2 (hosted from Preston, UK) |
| Monday, 6th July 2026 | WRAP – Block 2 concludes online** |
| JN4531 JOURNALISM INNOVATION (20 credits) Weekly seminars are on Mondays from 16:30 -18:00 UK time. | |
| Monday, 21st September 2026 | Block 3 commences online* |
| Monday, 2nd November to Friday, 6th November 2026 | Intensive Study Block 3 (hosted from Preston, UK) |
| Tuesday, 8th December 2026 | WRAP – Block 3 concludes online |
| SPRING BREAK | |
| Monday, 6th July to Friday, 10th July 2026** | SUMMER GRADUATION |
| *During online learning weeks, seminars are typically from 16:30 to 18:00 on Mondays. (UK time). **Over the summer, participants will be invited to meet informally monthly (online or in-person). The week of 6th July 2026 is summer graduation during which time we will host a summer celebration event to which all participants and the Board of Industry Advisors and Mentors are invited. | |
| YEAR TWO MASTER OF ARTS | |
| JN4527 RESEARCH FOR MEDIA WORK (60 credits) The weekly seminars are on Fridays from 12:00 -13:30 UK time. | |
| Friday, 23rd January 2026 | Optional drop-in re enrolment and course admin |
| Friday, 30th January 2026 | Block 4 commences online* |
| Monday, 16th March to Friday, 20th March 2026 | Intensive Study Block 4 (hosted from Preston, UK) |
| SPRING BREAK | |
| Monday, 27th April 2026 | Block 4 continues online |
| Monday, 22nd June 2026 | WRAP and transition to JN4526 |
| JN4526 EXTENDED APPLIED LEARNING PROJECT (60 credits) | |
| Week commencing Monday, 6th July 2026 | Summer graduation and optional on-campus research time |
| SUMMER SUPERVISION | |
| Monday, 2nd November to Friday, 6th November 2026 | Optional research bootcamp on campus (Preston) |
| Monday, 29th March 2027 | FINAL SUBMISSION |
| Monday, 6th July to Friday, 10th July 2026** | SUMMER GRADUATION |
| During online learning weeks, seminars are typically on Fridays from 12:00 to 13:30 UK. ** Those who have completed the PG Cert in 2025 will have the option to receive their awards at the summer graduation w/c 6th July 2026. | |
| For enquiries about our Journalism Innovation and Leadership programme | JILeaders@lancashire.ac.uk |
| For enquiries about our bespoke courses or Visiting Research Fellows Programme | FPNel@lancashire.ac.uk |
JILeaders Year Planner 2027
| KEY DATES FOR APPLICANTS | |
| JILEADERS APPLICANT INFORMATION SESSIONS Click for more details | |
| POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE | |
| Monday, 14th September 2026 | JILeaders Applicant Information Session 1 and Q&A (PG Cert 2027) |
| Monday, 5th October 2026 | JILeaders Applicant Information Session 2 and Q&A (PG Cert 2027) |
| Monday, 19th October 2026 | JILeaders Applicant Information Session 3 and Q&A (PG Cert 2027) |
| MASTER OF ARTS | |
| Friday, 30th October 2026 | JILeaders Applicant Information Session and Q&A (MA 2027) |
| NOVEMBER | |
| Monday, 16th November 2026 | Scholarship deadline |
| Thursday, 22nd October to Tuesday, 10th November 2026 | Interviews TBC |
| DECEMBER | |
| Friday, 11th December 2026 | Admissions deadline TBC |
| Friday, 18th December 2026 | Deadline to submit full payment, I.D and qualifications TBC |
| Monday, 14th December 2026 | Introduction to the PG Cert class of 2026 at 17:00 UK time (online) |
| JANUARY | |
| YEAR ONE POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE | |
| JN4530 JOURNALISM LEADERSHIP (40 credits) Weekly seminars are on Mondays from 16:30 – 18:00 UK time. | |
| Monday, 18th January 2027 | Optional drop-in re enrolment and course admin |
| Monday, 25th January 2027 | Block 1 commences online* |
| Monday, 1st March to Friday, 5th March 2027 | Intensive Study Block 1 online (Teams) |
| Monday, 22nd March 2027 | Block 1 concludes |
| SPRING BREAK | |
| Monday, 12th April 2027 | Block 2 commences |
| Monday, 17th May to Friday, 21st May 2027 | Intensive Study Block 2 (hosted from Preston, UK) |
| Monday, 28th June 2027 | WRAP – Block 2 concludes online** |
| JN4531 JOURNALISM INNOVATION (20 credits) Weekly seminars are on Mondays from 16:30 -18:00 UK time. | |
| Monday, 20th September 2027 | Block 3 commences online* |
| Monday, 1st November to Friday, 5th November 2027 | Intensive Study Block 3 (hosted from Preston, UK) |
| Tuesday, 7th December 2027 | WRAP – Block 3 concludes online |
| SUMMER GRADUATION & ENGAGEMENT | |
| Week commencing Monday, 5th July 2027** | SUMMER GRADUATION TBC |
| *During online learning weeks, seminars are typically from 16:30 to 18:00 on Mondays. (UK time). **Over the summer, participants will be invited to meet informally monthly (online or in-person). The week commencing Monday, 5th July 2027 is summer graduation during which time we will host a summer celebration event to which all participants and the Board of Industry Advisors and Mentors are invited. | |
| YEAR TWO MASTER OF ARTS | |
| JN4527 RESEARCH FOR MEDIA WORK (60 credits) The weekly seminars are on Fridays from 11:00 -12:30 UK time. | |
| Friday, 22nd January 2027 | Optional drop-in re enrolment and course admin |
| Friday, 29th January 2027 | Block 4 commences online |
| Monday, 15th March to Friday, 19th March 2027 | Intensive Study Block 4 (hosted from Preston, UK) |
| SPRING BREAK | |
| Monday, 26th April 2027 | Block 4 continues online |
| Monday, 21st June 2027 | WRAP and transition to JN4526 |
| JN4526 EXTENDED APPLIED LEARNING PROJECT (60 credits) | |
| Week commencing Monday, 5th July 2027 | Summer graduation (TBC) and optional on-campus research time |
| SUMMER SUPERVISION | |
| Monday, 1st November to Friday, 5th November 2027 | Optional research bootcamp on campus (Preston) |
| Monday, 28th March 2028 | FINAL SUBMISSION |
| Week commencing Monday, 5th July 2027** | SUMMER GRADUATION TBC |
| During online learning weeks, seminars are typically on Fridays from 11:00 to 12:30 UK. ** Those who have completed the PG Cert in 2026 will have the option to receive their awards at the summer graduation (w/c 5th July 2027). | |
| For enquiries about our Journalism Innovation and Leadership programme | JILeaders@lancashire.ac.uk |
| For enquiries about our bespoke courses or Visiting Research Fellows Programme | FPNel@lancashire.ac.uk |
Planning your studies
We recognise that professionals have considerable demands on their time. With that in mind, we suggest you consider the following when planning your studies:
- Allocate at least five hours per week to the research, reading, discussion, reflection and writing required for each module.
- Each term will include nine weekly online sessions along with an intensive study block online or on campus.
- On campus study blocks typical include study visits as well as evening events.
- Dress throughout is casual.
