MSc Strategic Communication and Public Relations

In today’s complex, crowded, digitally interconnected and global world, those in communication and public relations (PR) roles need not only highly developed technical abilities but also strategic knowledge and competence. This course provides that balance.

Students can tailor their learning to their career aspirations and can choose to undertake an industry placement.

While students develop the specialist skills needed to communicate effectively across a range of media and digital platforms, they do this within a framework that emphasises strategic thinking and a critical stance, enabling them to make an effective, ethical and responsible contribution to their organisation.

The course is suitable for those who:

• want to start a career in communication and PR – you can do an industry placement (optional) and we’ll support you in developing industry relevant knowledge and skills, help you to produce a professional portfolio, and provide you with opportunities to meet, work alongside and network with current practitioners; or

• already work in a communication or PR role and want professional development - you can study part-time and tailor your learning to your own development needs; or

• aim to progress to a research career in communication or PR - members of QMU’s teaching team author key texts and regularly present at conferences all over the world.

Standard: Students will normally possess an honours degree or equivalent from a relevant subject area (eg Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences). Students without a traditional honours degree may be admitted (subject to interview) to the programme if they have other relevant qualification and appropriate work experience.

International: Where your honours degree has not been studied in English, you will be required to provide evidence of English language competence at no less than IELTS 6.5 and no individual component score below 6.0.

This course has a proven track-record in supporting students to achieve their career aspirations. Graduates have gone on to gain employment in communication and public relations in a wide range of organisations across the globe. The course has also provided professional development for those already working in consultancy and in-house roles and is a pathway to an academic career in the subject area.

•QMU offers an unparalleled balance in UK postgraduate courses of teaching in internal and external communication, as well as strategic communication, for the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
•We are recognised by the UK’s professional bodies - the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA).
•Our teaching focusses on developing your skills as well as critical knowledge enabling you to feel confident that you are well prepared for a successful career.
•You have flexibility to tailor your learning to your career aspirations selecting optional modules in areas of interest and choosing the focus for your final Dissertation/Project
•You can gain practical experience through engaging with real life projects and choosing an industry placement.
•Students with no practical experience learn alongside communication and public relations practitioner students in many modules. This enhances professional network building and develops a deep understanding of the application and relevance of theory to practice
•We’ll support you in producing a portfolio to support your job searching
•You can study part time as well as full time
•Many of our teaching staff also work in industry and bring their experience to bear in their teaching
•Many staff are also actively involved in ground-breaking research projects, present papers at international conferences, author key texts and regularly publish in academic journals.
•We regularly involve guest speakers from industry in our teaching.
•QMU delivers a suite of undergraduate, postgraduate and professional communication and public relations courses. This provides strength and depth to your learning experience with us and bring you into a wide community of learners.