Communication & Public Relations

For students interested in a career as a professional communicator in a range of potential roles within the communications industry, including public relations and internal and external communications, this course offers a blend of academic and professional learning, drawing on the expertise of researchers in the school and an extensive network of industry experts.

A unique aspect of study in the School of Communication and Media at Ulster is the integration of theory and practice through the use of our bespoke Communication Skills Training Labs, which allow us to combine high-quality professional training with academic rigour through an active learning format. The programme offers core modules that examine the latest trends in contemporary theory and current professional practice in areas such as strategic communication, public relations, advertising, and strategic marketing.

Proceed to a range of career options upon graduation across the public, private and non-profit sectors, in strategic communication, public relations, advertising, marketing, and internal communication. Further PhD research study is also an option

For further course details please see "Course Web Page" below.

Year one
Public Relations and Society: Theoretical Perspectives
Employing insights from a range of academic disciplines, this module provides students with an opportunity to critically engage with the key debates surrounding public relations and its role in contemporary society. These theoretical insights are then applied to a range of areas of public relations practice to give students the tools to critically analyse them.

Strategic Communication
A leader within a modern complex organisation faces a number of demands on their communication skills. These skills are seldom formally presented and usually a manger is expected to develop communication skills spontaneously. This module addresses these issues by presenting the key areas in management communication competence from both a conceptual and practical perspective. These skills are contextualised within organisational settings and contexts.

Public Relations Practice
This module provides students with a professional grounding in key debates surrounding public relations and its role in contemporary society and an insight into specialized areas of public relations practice. Emphasis will be placed on the development of critical and strategic thinking. It helps to prepare students for their role as the key co-ordinator of communication with in the broad field of Public Relations, and gives students the opportunity to analyse and assess the role of the communication professionals in a range of sectors in which they may eventually practice.

Dissertation
The Communication dissertation aims to enable students to design and carry out an independent piece of research. It is intended that this will strengthen their ability to interpret and apply research data to a work environment. The research will focus in depth on one area of communication.

Research Methods
This module aims to provide information that will enable students to make appropriate and considered research decisions. It is designed to develop students' understanding of the nature of research, key research traditions, the research process and the range of methods available to the researcher, including qualitative and quantitative approaches. It also aims to help students acquire a critical understanding of the issues and methods in the generation and analysis of data and in the communication and evaluation of research findings.

Advertising
This module is optional
This module explores the role of advertising in marketing, the main creative approaches to advertising and the main media available to advertising, as well as providing a fundamental understanding of the structure and regulatory system of the advertising industry. It further explores the key issues facing advertising practitioners and advertising academics and equips students with knowledge and skills to challenge academic research and to undertake practical advertising activities.

Leadership and Management in Healthcare Communication
This module is optional

This module examines leadership and management within healthcare communications. This module will provide students with the opportunity to explore and critically appraise leadership and management styles and issues to enable them to effectively work with personnel at all levels, within and across organisations. Students will gain an understanding of the leadership and management of communications in healthcare, and the critical awareness of the theories, policies, skills and issues in leadership and Management in Healthcare Communication contexts.

Public Health Communication
This module is optional
This module provides an overview of the current issues within public health communication. Students will have the opportunity to explore the challenges and opportunities of communicating to a range of audiences/stakeholders within healthcare. They will gain a detailed understanding of communication skills, theories and concepts related to the complexities of communicating in healthcare. The module will enable them to evaluate a range of health transactions and contexts including managing stakeholders, partnership working, risk communication and crisis management. Students will be aware of risk communication and acquire knowledge of managing a health crisis. Current communication issues in healthcare will be discussed. Lecture material will be supported by practical work in the Communication labs, applying the theory to practice within interviews and group discussions. Students will have experience working on a work-based project in a communication department within a health setting, which can be either be in public, private or voluntary sectors, thus transferring the theory to application and practice. During the module, students will have developed and presented a communication plan for an issue within healthcare.

Marketing Principles
This module is optional
Overall, this communication and marketing module, aims to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the field of Strategic Marketing and Communication in an international business context. It will develop students' knowledge and understanding of the significant role of Communication and Strategic Marketing practice.

Strategic Marketing
This module is optional
Overall, this interdisciplinary and internationally focussed module, aims to provide students with a contemporary and challenging introduction to the field of Strategic Marketing. It will develop students' critical and reflexive knowledge and understanding of the value (co)creating nature and impact of Strategic Marketing activity and practice.

To apply to our postgraduate taught programmes, you must meet the University's General Entrance Requirements and any course-specific requirements.

These vary depending on the course and are detailed online.

This programme is suitable for graduates in any academic discipline as well as those already in employment who wish to enhance their existing skills. Applicants must have gained at least a 2:2 classification (Hons) in any subject from a recognized institution or an equivalent qualification. In exceptional circumstances, where an individual has experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.

English Language Requirements
If English is not your first language this course requires
a minimum English level of IELTS (academic) 6.0 with no band
score less than 5.5, or equivalent.

Visit ulster.ac.uk/englishrequirements for more details on English language requirements.

This course is open to international (non-EU) students (full-time only).

For full entry requirements please see "Course Web Page" below.

Your Application
Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink" below).

Career options
Due to the breadth of the course, you have a range of options upon graduation across the public, private and non-profit sectors, in communication, public relations, advertising, marketing, political lobbying and internal communication. While some previous graduates choose to specialise in a particular area, our students are equipped to be communication 'all-rounders' able to incorporate an integrated approach to communication management. Further PhD research study is also an option.