Strategic Public Relations and Communication Management at University of Stirling

About

Our Public Relations and Strategic Communication course gives you the chance to develop a critical appreciation of the role of public relations in contemporary societies, as well as key analytical, management and communication skills you'll need for a successful career in communications and public relations. You'll gain a solid understanding of the theory behind public relations and strategic communications, and have many opportunities to apply this theory to everyday communications and public relations practice.

By the end of your studies, you'll have the necessary skills to work at managerial level in public relations. You'll be able to analyse environments, issues, organisational cultures and relationships - as well as set objectives, and design and implement public relations and communication strategies.

We're continually updating this well-established course in line with new advances in theory and practice, including how communication campaigns may successfully integrate digital media. Field trips and guest lectures offer opportunities to discuss strategic communication issues with leading practitioners and scholars. These also give you networking opportunities and an understanding of current best practice.

This course was established in 1988 and was the first degree in public relations in the UK and one of the first in Europe. Several prominent public relations academics and practitioners have completed their education at Stirling.

2nd in Scotland, top 10 in the UK for Communications and Media (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022)

90% overall student satisfaction for Communications, Media and Culture - Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2021

There's an excellent guest speaker programme, field-trips and research placements, and an opportunity to work for clients

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

develop advanced and critical understanding of complex communication phenomena and theories underpinning them;
develop, execute and evaluate strategic communications plans and campaigns;
communicate effectively to a wide range of audiences, using appropriate communications tactics, technologies and terminology;
advise on appropriate channels and messaging to meet strategic communications objectives;
integrate theory, research findings and awareness of communications technologies into campaign planning;
recognise and respond appropriately to the ethical challenges associated with strategic communication and public relations;
set objectives and design and implement public relations activities and tactics to meet those objectives;
carry out research and evaluation appropriate to public relations and strategic communications activities.

The course has been awarded CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) Recognition. We're also members of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), EUPRERA (European Public Relations Education and Research Association) and ECREA (European Communication Research and Education Association)

You can choose Strategic Communications Research Placement module, which has been designed to provide you with applied research experience. You will undertake, in partnership with a non-academic organisation, a semester-long research-led â€˜virtual' or real placement.

Find out more about our Strategic Public Relations (Online) course

If you're interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.

Communications, Media and Culture at the University of Stirling was ranked 2nd in Scotland overall in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), with 100% of our research environment and 88% of our overall research classed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Gain a thorough understanding of the role of public relations and strategic communication in contemporary societies while developing key critical, analytical, management and communication skills.

How to Apply

If you are liable to pay tuition fees at the overseas rate you can apply via the following routes:

Full-time study - all students can apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). If you only want to apply to the University of Stirling, then you can apply to us directly for a full-time course.

January entry for full-time study - we have an option to start your degree in January on some of our courses. Applications for January entry must be made directly to the University and not through UCAS. See what courses are available and apply.

Common Application for full-time study - if you’re from the USA and you’re liable to pay tuition fees at the overseas rate and you’re not applying via UCAS or direct to us, then you can apply via the Common Application.

Part-time study - this is an option on some undergraduate courses. Part-time study is not available for those who require a visa. For part-time study starting in September or January you need to apply to us directly.

EU applicants - if you have pre-settled or settled status living in Scotland or the UK, you may be eligible for “Home/Scottish” or “Rest of UK” (RUK) fee status. Fee status can be checked with Admissions once an offer on a course has been made. For EU students who have a “Home/Scottish” fee status, all applications must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

Strategic Public Relations and Communication Management

University of Stirling

United Kingdom,

Stirling

Strategic Public Relations and Communication Management

University of Stirling

University of Stirling

Key Facts

Start & Deadlines