The MA can be studied full-time over one year, or part-time over two years. A full range of dynamic teaching techniques will be used.

What you will study

Students put together a wall of milestones in the history of PR

All students will study the following core modules:

• Understanding public relations
• Public relations and the media
• Planning a public relations campaign
• Contemporary theory and issues in PR
• Dissertation research skills.

You will also choose two optional modules:

These are reviewed annually to reflect industry changes and student demand. At present, students can choose from:

• Corporate PR
• Consumer PR
• Fashion PR
• Marketing principles
• NGO and charity campaigns and PR
• New media and PR
• Political communications
• Public affairs.

Finally, you will complete a dissertation of 15,000 words based on independent research.

See what current students are reading and thinking about on their blogs.

Your route through the course

The course combines both practical and theoretical elements. While half the core modules are broadly theoretical and half are mostly practical, each module combines the two to allow for reflection on how theory informs practice and vice versa.

Classes are taught over two semesters and run from late September to mid-December, and from mid-January to early April. You generally attend classes on two days a week, depending on which modules you choose. Core modules are often held on a Wednesday or Friday. Some are half-day and some are full-day classes.

Part-time students need to attend classes two days a week during their first year, and one day a week during their second year. There are also some occasional extra classes. We recommend that part-time students negotiate two days a week day-release from their work.