Public Relations – BA (Honours)

The best and most creative public relations (PR) campaigns make a positive difference to people's lives. They can improve issues such as health awareness and public safety and be a persuasive force for the public good. More and more organisations, from charities to government and business, now use PR to get their messages across.

Every day, many of the big stories that shape the national and international news headlines are influenced by the work of skilled PR practitioners. From the car maker forced to issue a global safety recall to disgraced celebrities – they all turn to PR to help build and repair their reputations.

It is not about spin but about great writing and verbal skills, critical and creative thinking and understanding how the media works.

This course is delivered by a team which includes national award-winning PR industry specialists, with experience across TV, health, charity, public and private sectors.

If you want a career in a fast changing, exciting and expanding sector, this course equips you with the essential practical skills and knowledge you need as well as giving you a critical perspective on the role of PR in society.

Graduate careers in PR include • media relations • campaigns director • events management • international communications • lobbying • public affairs.

The course focuses on building your understanding of how PR works, from its history and development to the latest PR tools such as social media. You learn how to research, plan, implement and manage a successful PR campaign.

You gain skills including • writing for different media audiences • crisis management • event management • giving presentations • campaign planning • ethics.

You examine and evaluate different theories of PR and engage with current debates including the impact of PR on society and the media. You also study professional issues including ethics and corporate social responsibility, freedom of information and industry codes of conduct.

We have strong personal and professional links with PR practitioners from a range of organisations. You experience working for real clients to produce a portfolio of work to show prospective employers.

In your final year you can apply your learning to an external project or complete a dissertation. We also offer placement opportunities for you to gain further industry experience.

During the course you build a portfolio of work which includes • press releases • press cuttings • campaign plans, leaflets and wider professional writing • photo calls. This records your development and improves your employability.

There is also a full-time version of this course.