A university’s journalism department is celebrating after three of its students scooped places on an exclusive BBC training scheme.

University of Salford postgraduates Amber Haque, Rebekah Dewhurst and Emilia Mincheva, were among 14 chosen to take part in this year’s scheme.

The trio were among thousands of people to apply and underwent a series of tests and interviews before being chosen.

They will now spend 11 months working in different departments at the corporation with a view to securing a permanent job.

(From left) University of Salford students Emilia Mincheva, Rebekah Dewhurst and Amber Haque

Previous graduated of the scheme graduates include newsreader Huw Edwards, Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine and The Office co-creator Stephen Merchant.

The university’s journalism department is based at MediaCityUK, from which the BBC produces its sport and breakfast content, as well as Radio 5Live and children’s channel Cbeebies.

Emilia, 22, a native of Bulgaria, has just achieved a first class honours bachelor’s degree, while Rebekah, 22, from Widnes, and Amber, 23, from Manchester, are postgraduates.

Paul Broster, the university’s director of journalism, said: “For our students to win almost a quarter of the places available on the BBC training scheme this year is remarkable. For many, these are journalism’s golden tickets.

“We are enormously proud of the achievements of all our students who have gone on to secure jobs in a wide range of prestigious media organisations.

“It underlines how the University of Salford is providing the sort of training that media businesses like the BBC really value.”