Public relations is the discipline which looks after reputation, with the aim of earning understanding and support and influencing opinion and behaviour. It is the planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain goodwill and mutual understanding between an organisation and its publics. The media plays a vital role in setting the agenda in today’s society and therefore is a key stakeholder for an organisation. This course focuses on the expanding role of PR within the corporate, public and voluntary sectors, with particular emphasis on the way in which media and PR are interlinked as institutions and practices. This professionally relevant course is continually adapted to meet the changing needs of students, employers and society. This flexible, accessible and responsive approach ensures that you will benefit from the latest research, technology and industry practices. In Year One key concepts within both disciplines are covered and essential practical skills developed. You will study a range of modules which look at the history of PR as well as engaging with contemporary practice, particularly how PR works with traditional and new media. This knowledge informs the development of professional skills. Modules in Year Two extend the knowledge of professional practices in public relations and build on media production skills. Within PR, we consider how organisations communicate with their employees and external stakeholders through the media. This relationship between media and public relations is examined further in the context of the role the media play in democratic society and popular culture. Year Three offers an opportunity to develop public relations knowledge using concepts of strategy and persuasion. Research skills are strengthened and preparation begins for conducting an extensive research project such as that which is undertaken in the final year dissertation. In Year Four, you are encouraged to work more independently, develop critical skills and follow your own area of interest. This will happen by working on the dissertation research project, choosing public relations and media options. Invaluable practical experience is gained through a PR work placement.

Graduates have found employment in a wide range of corporate, public and voluntary organisations and are working as: public relations executives; press or information officers; communication managers; publicity and promotions executives; events managers; management trainees; communication consultants; and marketing assistants. Hamera Akbar BSc (Hons) Public Relations and Media I came to QMU after doing an HND in Communications and Media at college. Going straight into 3rd year took time to adapt to. Although the coursework was at the right level for me, the environment and the structure was initially quite daunting. I chose to do this course to further my learning in the subject. I had already been studying at college and also in hope to pursue a career in the media and PR industry. As I had worked in radio and events before I came onto the course, I had previous practical experience but the course gave me a much more comprehensive understanding of the industry as well as giving me the opportunity to get involved and network with those in the field and also learn from other student’s experiences. The support and encouragement from the lecturers is great. You won't get spoon fed on the course, but the lecturers are a wealth of information and put in so much effort outside of class into numerous networking parties, work placements and informing the students of other opportunities. The lecturers themselves have experienced so much of the industry and the students really have the opportunity to benefit from their advice. I really enjoyed doing my work experience at the Scottish Government at the end of my 3rd year. I was able to shadow different departments: from communications planning, media monitoring, events and marketing, as well as observing internal communications within such a vast organisation. Discussing my experiences at QMU and at the PR networking events with other industry professionals was very insightful. After I graduate I am going on to complete a Masters Certification in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and look forward to gaining employment within a PR agency to further my experience, as well as continuing to work within radio and events. I now hope that my PR study combined with the NLP will give me a competitive advantage in whichever route I choose to take in the future.