Master of Journalism — Business and Finance Concentration (MJ-BFC)

Covering business and finance can be a lucrative career path for journalists and media professionals, but it requires a specialised set of skills and knowledge. To meet rising demand in this area, the JMSC is collaborating with HKU Business School to launch a new Business and Finance concentration.​

The MJ-BFC is a new certificate programme introduced for the 2025-2026 academic within the existing Master of Journalism degree curriculum, now open for applications.

The MJ-BFC provides students with the practical training needed to launch or accelerate careers in media roles that require foundational knowledge, skills and a global understanding of business, companies, economics, finance and financial markets.

Alongside the mandatory course requirements of the MJ degree, students aiming to attain their BFC certificate will need to complete 3-5 courses focused on business and finance topics, including an option to take up to 2 electives from the HKU Business School’s postgraduate degree programmes in Economics or Finance.

*MJ-BFC is part of the Master of Journalism curriculum. Students may declare the Business and Finance concentration upon accepting the 25-26 admission offer.

MJ-BFC students will

  • Complete 3-5 courses focused on business and finance topics
  • Take up to 2 elective courses from HKU Business School
  • Work with specialist BFC programme advisors on their Capstone projects
  • Receive an ​MJ degree and an additional BFC certificate upon graduation
  • NOTE — for 2025-2026 MJ degree candidates, there is no additional cost for the BFC certificate programme

MJ-BFC students will

  • Complete 3-5 courses focused on business and finance topics
  • Take up to 2 elective courses from HKU Business School
  • Work with specialist BFC programme advisors on their Capstone projects
  • Receive an ​MJ degree and an additional BFC certificate upon graduation
  • NOTE — for 2025-2026 MJ degree candidates, there is no additional cost for the BFC certificate programme

Sample Schedule for MJ-BFC students

Fall 2025

  • JMSC 6001 Reporting and writing
  • JMSC 6093 Video news production
  • JMSC 6140 A.I. and media innovation
  • JMSC 7010* Economics and financial analysis for journalists ​
  • Elective (JMSC or HKU Business**) ​

Spring 2026

  • JMSC 6109 Media law and ethics
  • JMSC 6044 Capstone w/ BFC advisor
  • JMSC 7007 Seminar topics in business journalism
  • JMSC 7008* Business news writing ​
  • Elective (JMSC or HKU Business**)
  •  

NOTE: There are no prerequisites for any courses in the MJ-BFC program, but ECON6021 & ECON6022 are best suited for students with a stronger background in math.

*JMSC 7010 is a new course pending approval; it may be waived for BFC candidates who take 2 designated Business School electives​

**Students may take a maximum of 2 Business School courses from the following 5 choices: MFIN7001 Financial statement analysis and business ethical standards, MFIN7007 Economics for financial analysis, MFIN7005 Corporate finance and asset valuation, ECON6021 Microeconomic Analysis, ECON6022​ Macroeconomic Analysis.

For more information about the MJ-BFC

Please check out our information session recording or contact us at jmscmj@hku.hk.