Journalism students will get the chance to study in the USA as part of a university’s new exchange programme.

The University of Winchester is introducing the option for second-year students studying journalism or sports journalism.

Those participating will have the choice of studying at Eastern Illinois University or the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.

EIU is based in Charleston, Illinois, which is about three hours’ drive south of Chicago, while Eau Claire is 95 miles east of the twin cities of Minneapolis and St Paul.

Winchester’s journalism programme leader Joe Michalczuk, pictured, told the Hampshire Chronicle: “Both US universities offer quite similar practical journalism courses to ours. They have state-of-art facilities and are industry focused.

“This link will give University of Winchester graduates a real head-start in the jobs market. US journalism is innovative and widely respected.”