MA Public Relations and Digital Communications

Introduction

In a nutshell

This course offers a hands-on practical approach to this exciting discipline, underpinned by a strong academic foundation. You will gain a solid grounding in the theory and practice of public relations and digital communications, preparing you for a career in this constantly changing and evolving industry.

A key element of the course will focus on content creation, which is an emerging area within public relations and digital communication. You will benefit from a multimedia approach, learning how to use different techniques which include social media, video and content management, that will support you to optimise the effectiveness of communicating in a digital age.

As well as exploring the history of PR and how its relationship with journalism has developed and evolved over the years, you will examine the ethical issues surrounding PR and the ways PR can contribute to the management and protection of an organisation or individual’s reputation.

You will learn from lecturers with strong, relevant professional backgrounds and have the chance to undertake placements in the industry.

This programme offers you the opportunity to focus on digital communications strategies as well as more traditional public relations practice.

You will:

study at our state-of-the-art MediaCityUK campus, adjacent to the BBC and ITV, in the heart of the region’s growing media hub.
learn from lecturers with strong, relevant professional backgrounds and undertake placements in the industry.
learn the latest digital skills and knowledge that are highly sought-after in today’s global digital workplace.

Find out more by signing up to our upcoming Open Day, or if you have any generic questions please contact course enquiries.

You can also find helpful FAQs, learn more about student life at Salford or explore all our Journalism courses. Continue reading to understand more about this MA/PgDip Public Relations and Digital Communications course.

Placement

options available

International

students accepted

This is for you if...

1.

you are considering a career in public relations and digital communication related industries.

2.

you have already worked in public relations.

Course details

All about the course

This 12 month postgraduate course aims to produce highly-skilled graduates who are able to operate professionally in today’s PR and digital communication-related industries.

You will develop cutting-edge knowledge and understanding of the role and influence of PR and digital communication within contemporary society, and the demands on and opportunities for PR and digital communication professionals.

This course will involve developing a professional level of practical skills and understanding in the devising and implementation of PR campaign strategies To develop systematic and advanced research techniques for the evaluation and analysis of critical texts and aspects of current research and scholarship at the forefront of the field of public relations and digital communications.

In the first trimester, you will study Public Relations and Journalism and Content Creation modules, which will provide a solid basis on which to develop your skills.

The modules you will study in the second trimester are Understanding PR Campaigns, which looks at case studies and strategies, and Professional PR Practice, which incorporates an industry work placement.

In the third trimester, you will work on a Major Project or a Dissertation.

Core modules

PR and Journalism

In the PR and Journalism module, you will look at the origins and history of PR, the legal and ethical implications and popular genres, such as political PR, celebrity PR, crisis PR and reputation management. The relationship between journalism and public relations will also be explored.

Content Creation

Content Creation will provide and develop technical and editorial online skills, preparing you for the demands of the modern multi-skilled digital communications environment. As well as equipping you with a range of storytelling methods and encouraging you to reflect on the impact of new media within the fields of PR and Digital Communication, it will also give you the chance to develop a portfolio to showcase your work and enhance your employability.

Understanding PR Campaigns

The Understanding PR Campaigns module will involve analysing PR campaign case studies, examining examples of good and bad practice. It will also help you to develop a critical appreciation of the roles and responsibilities of a PR officer. The module will look at the principles and practice behind the creation and implementation of PR publicity campaigns.

Professional PR Practice

Professional PR Practice incorporates an industry work placement, which will give you a chance to develop your professional skills.

Major Project or Dissertation

The Major Project or Dissertation module will give you the chance to focus on an aspect of PR and digital communication that you wish to explore further.

Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.

What will I be doing?

Delivery will include lectures and presentations, seminars and workshops, aimed at development of students’ understanding of the theory and practice of PR and digital communications.

Workshops and seminars will explore and develop students’ understanding of PR as an evolving industry with visiting speakers from within the industry and related sectors.

Student-led independent research, independent study and project work, such as analysing and devising PR campaigns, will support programme aims and learning outcomes.

Group work will feature strongly during this programme, with students having the opportunity to work together on real projects as well as evaluating and analysing existing case studies

SALFORD SCHOOL OF ARTS, MEDIA AND CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY

All our Journalism courses are delivered by the Salford School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology.

Our School and University have strong and long-lasting relationships with local and national industry.

Once you graduate with us, you’ll join a thriving alumni community in Greater Manchester and beyond.

Facilities

You will be based at a unique digital learning, teaching and research space at MediaCityUK. We will be located at the heart of national BBC departments and hundreds of creative, digital and media organisations. Specialist facilities include high spec radio and television studios and a multi-platform newsroom.

Employment and stats

What about after uni?

Public relations is one of the fastest growing professions in the UK, employing 62,000 people in 2015.

The importance of the digital economy, and the opportunities and challenges it presents, has been noted by a Lords Select Committee. Its report, entitled Make or Break: The UK’s Digital Future, emphasises the urgent need, at HE level, for industry input, so that graduates are learning job-relevant digital skills. This illustrates the employability value of a postgraduate programme in Public Relations and Digital Communications.

The programme would prepare graduates for work within PR and digital communication related industries and feeds into this skills gap in the PR and communications industries. However, it will also provide key transferable skills that are increasingly sought after in today’s job market.

Graduates may go on to secure jobs in the PR and digital communication sectors and also undertake roles in content creation – for example, copywriting, SEO and analytics.

Career Links

As a student on this course, you will be encouraged to take advantage of work placement opportunities which will also be available as part of the programme and there will also be a focus on working with industry partners.

We have links with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) as well as a number of organisations (NHS, BBC, ITV, Salford Red Devils, Sale Sharks Rugby Union Club, Manchester United and Manchester City Football Clubs, plus independent PR and comms agencies), which could be developed further to incorporate more PR, social media and digital communications roles.

Requirements

What you need to know

This course is based at our MediaCityUK campus
Overseas study available
Work placement opportunity
International students can apply

You will be a well-organised, strongly motivated individual with a keen interest in journalism from an international perspective and in the ways mobile communication technology has impacted on journalism, the production and distribution of news, and on the audiences’ ability to access it.

You will have excellent communication skills, be determined and focused, and be keen to acquire the high level journalistic research skills, organisational expertise and subject knowledge to take your personal and career development forward.

You will have excellent general knowledge of events happening in the world today, and a keen interest in the differing political, cultural and social perspectives in societies around the globe.

You will either have a strong academic background in a journalistic field, demonstrated through the attainment of a good undergraduate degree, or you will be experienced at working in a field related to public relations.

Standard entry requirements

To join this MA you should have a second class honours degree, 2:2 or above.

International applicants will be required to show a proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 7.0, with a written element of 8.0 and no element below 6.0, is proof of this.

Alternative entry requirements

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)

We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.

The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.

Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).

How much?

Type of study	Year	Fees
Full-time home	2020/21	£7,920per year
Full-time international	2020/21	£14,670per year
Full-time home	2021/22	£8,100per year
Full-time international	2021/22	£15030per year

Additional costs

You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.

Scholarships for international students

If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships.

We have a range of scholarships available for students applying for courses in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. Our Global Gold Excellence Scholarship is worth £3,500 and our Global Silver Excellence Scholarship is worth £3,000 - both are available for students studying in our 2021/22 intakes.

We also offer the Salford International Excellence Scholarship which offers up to £5,000 discount on tuition fees. As this is a prestigious award we have a limited number of these scholarships available.

See the full range of our International Scholarships.

Apply now

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Enrolment dates

September 2021

September 2022

How to apply