Mount Royal journalism admission requirements: Bachelor of Communication, Journalism and Digital Media

MRU admits high school students straight into the Bachelor of Communication, Journalism and Digital Media. There is no second application after first year on the pages we checked. MRU teaches research, reporting and producing stories in audio, video, print and digital formats, using its own digital publishing and podcasting studios.

This is a separate program from MRU's nursing degree and its other communication majors. You apply to the journalism major by name.

MRU asks high school applicants for five Grade 12 courses. Two are named for journalism: English Language Arts 30-1 at 60%, and Social Studies 30-1 or Aboriginal Studies 30 at 50%. The other three can come from MRU's Group A, B or C lists.

If you study in Ontario, MRU's equivalents chart accepts ENG4U, EAE4U or ETS4U for English. For social studies it accepts CHI4U, CHY4U or CGW4U. For Aboriginal Studies 30 it accepts NDW4M or NDG4M. There is no math requirement. Use our course planner to check your Grade 12 plan.

MRU uses two averages. The competitive average is your two highest Group A courses. For journalism, the chart shows a competitive range of 65% to 70%. MRU says this range is based on the previous year and is a guideline only. Students with higher grades are considered first.

The minimum final average is 65%, worked out on the five Grade 12 courses used for admission. MRU does not publish an acceptance rate. Track your marks with our Top 6 average calculator, but remember MRU's competitive average uses only your top two Group A courses.

If you are in Grade 12 now, you report your in progress and planned courses with an expected grade on the application. MRU uses these to work out your competitive average and make a conditional offer. For courses you haven't started, MRU tells you to base the expected grade on your current mark or the previous level course.

Timing matters. MRU says that to be considered in early admission, only grades received in that period are used. Grades that arrive later won't count toward the competitive average. Averages are cut, not rounded, to two decimal places, so 64.99% is not 65%.

An offer stays conditional until MRU has your final transcripts and you meet every condition in the letter. To accept, you pay a non refundable tuition deposit by the date in your offer.

MRU says a limited number of programs need extra criteria such as an interview or portfolio. The journalism page lists none. Its program specific requirements are just the two courses above, plus English language proficiency if English is not your first language.

That makes your grades the whole application. Strong English and social studies marks matter most.

Early admission for Fall 2027 runs October 1, 2026 to February 1, 2027. MRU treats every early application as if it arrived at the same time, and fills many programs from this period. Documents for programs that closed February 1 are due February 16, 2027. After that, MRU keeps taking applications from February 2, 2027 until the program is full.

High school courses used for admission must be finished by June 30, 2027. Final transcripts are due August 1, 2027, and classes start September 9, 2027. Compare dates on our Canadian deadlines page.

MRU says you will learn reporting, interviewing, writing, editing and digital design. The program page's year one snapshot lists foundations of journalism and digital storytelling. Later years include podcasting, visual journalism, investigative techniques, digital news reporting and media entrepreneurship.

You also get ongoing feedback through peer critiques and mentoring on ethics and storytelling. You finish with a portfolio of published work. MRU lists careers such as journalist, content creator, podcaster and communications professional.

The program page describes a supervised work placement, not a co-op program. You complete a placement of at least 12 weeks with a media organization. MRU says it builds skills, confidence and career contacts.

MRU's 2026-27 fee schedule lists a separate fee of $673.77 per course for non credit work experience and co-operative education. Ask the School of Communication Studies whether it applies to the journalism placement.

Journalism is not listed as a program with its own rate, so the general rate applies. For 2026-27, MRU charges domestic students $704.37 per full course. A full course is worth 2 to 5 credits.

Our estimate: ten full courses in a year comes to $7,043.70 in tuition. That is our math, not an MRU figure. MRU's mandatory general fees for full time students total $865.75, and student association fees total $350.59 on the same schedule. Residence and living costs are extra. Broadcast Media Studies has a higher program rate of $925.18 per full course.

To be considered for MRU entrance awards, you must apply for admission during early admission by February 1 and enrol full time, which means at least 9 credits in the fall. Award applications are open November 1 to March 1.

Most MRU scholarships need a high school average of at least 80%, unless the award says otherwise. That is above the journalism competitive range, so strong marks can pay off even if you are already admissible.

MRU offers four Bachelor of Communication majors. Journalism and Digital Media, Broadcast Media Studies and Public Relations all ask for English and a social studies course, with a 65% to 70% competitive range. Information Design asks only for English, but its competitive range is higher, at 70% to 80%.

Choose journalism if you want to report and publish news. Choose broadcast if you lean to video and audio production, and public relations if you want to write for organizations. Compare a larger journalism school on our Carleton journalism page.

This is one of MRU's more open degrees, with a 65% to 70% competitive range and no portfolio. The real test comes later, in the placement and the portfolio your child builds.

Apply before February 1 so your child is in early admission and eligible for entrance awards. Read our Mount Royal guide for residence and campus details.