Course overview
Journalism facilities
See the facilities you use when you study journalism at Teesside University
In today's fast-paced world, building and managing reputations strategically is crucial. Our course in public relations equips you with the advanced skills, understanding, and knowledge needed to thrive in a dynamic PR landscape, addressing a growing jobs market and skills gap:
- Strategic and creative skills: learn to act both strategically and creatively through industry-standard projects. Build a portfolio that showcases your expertise in devising strategies and producing exciting content for local, national, and global audiences.
- Hands-on experience: engage in project-based learning that mirrors real-world challenges in public relations, ensuring you gain practical, industry-relevant experience.
- Research and innovation: embrace research-engaged, life-long learning. Transform professional environments and communities by offering creative, ethical solutions to regional, national, and global challenges.
You’ll gain advanced PR skills, a professional portfolio of work and a global perspective.
Picture yourself in traditional PR roles such as a PR manager, communications specialist, media relations specialist, corporate communications manager or press secretary. Or consider roles in digital multimedia roles such as social media manager, digital content creator, influencer relations specialist, multimedia journalist and digital marketing manager.
There’s more: how about strategic and analytical roles like campaign manager, brand strategist, crisis communications specialist, public affairs consultant or market research analyst? There are more options in the creative and production space such as content strategist, video producer, events coordinator and copywriter, plus specialised roles of internal communications manager, corporate social responsibility (CSR or ESG) manager and PR consultant.
Top reasons to study this course at Teesside University:
- Get creative: our course and campus are powered by Adobe and Apple. We’re Europe’s first Adobe Creative Campus and the only Apple-accredited University, equipping you with the digital tools and resources to hone your creative skills.
- Collaborative modules: our MA courses include interdisciplinary modules where you’ll be able to interact with people from other MA subject areas, widening your perspectives and network. Modules are also delivered in a condensed way to help you balance your other commitments.
- Industry-standard facilities: develop your skills using the latest technology including specialist technical demonstrations as part of the learning journey and access to a wide range of industry-standard kit, freely and 24 hours a day.
- Expert faculty / subject experts: learn from experienced professionals and academics with current global industry connections. Explore interactive technology, live broadcast platforms, broadcast studios, the latest software, video editing and podcasting technology.
- Industry affiliations: connect with a wide association of professionals during modules, with live projects and win the chance of work placement opportunities as you widen your digital communications network.
- Future-focused employability: prepare for future challenges by exploring alternate scenarios and emerging technologies, equipping yourself as a versatile and forward-thinking professional in a rapidly growing regional, national, and global job market.
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Course details
Course structure
Core modules
Content Production for Digital Platforms
Content Production for Digital Platforms is a student-led exercise in digital creativity. Develop your digital communication skills by creating multimedia content on a subject of your choice. Produce and optimise content for broadcast and social media platforms. Focus on user experience and design whilst you push the boundaries of creative innovation.
Global Public Relations: Theory and Practice
Explore the dynamic world of global public relations through three central themes: industry, text, and audiences. Discover how promotional and digital communication industries operate across consumer, economic, and political contexts worldwide. Dive into discourse analysis, representation, ideology, bias, and the role of multimedia in promotional culture. Examine the interplay between digital communication consumers and the socio-economic and cultural impacts of promotional culture.
Offering a global perspective, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to navigate and excel in the diverse field of public relations this module helps you to understand and shape the future of global PR.
Unleash your vision as you dive into a major, in-depth, individual study tailored to your discipline and career aspirations. Whether you're interested in commercial, industrial, creative, or research fields, this project is your canvas.
Take full ownership of your project, from idea to execution. Create artefacts, exhibitions, publications, campaigns, and digital works either from scratch or significantly developing your own previous work.
Integrate all your learning into a substantial body of work that showcases your vision as a creative practitioner. This is your chance to shine your brightest.
Public Relations: Campaigns and Creativity
Step into the world of innovative communications and enterprise as you tackle industry-led or industry-standard briefs through creative professional practice and strategic development. Hone your written and verbal skills to become a confident communicator, ready to thrive in the fast-paced world of modern public relations.
Work with cutting-edge multimedia technologies to craft compelling campaigns and learn how to leverage the unpredictable power of social media to reach and engage large audiences.
Elevate your creative research skills, a cornerstone of all creative disciplines, fuelling both academic and creative work. Learn engaging research practices and critical thinking to tackle real-world issues, policies, and audiences. Join a vibrant postgraduate community, exchanging ideas and perspectives across various creative fields. Benefit from lectures and online tutors delivering key knowledge on current debates, issues, and research approaches in the arts and creative industries. Participate in seminars and studio sessions for active debate and practical application of research.
Advanced practice (2 year full-time MA only)
The internship options are:
Vocational: spend one semester working full-time in industry or on placement in the University. We have close links with a range of national and international companies who could offer you the chance to develop your knowledge and professional skills in the workplace through an internship. Although we cannot guarantee internships, we will provide you with practical support and advice on how to find and secure your own internship position. A vocational internship is a great way to gain work experience and give your CV a competitive edge.
Research: develop your research and academic skills by undertaking a research internship within the University. Experience working as part of a research team in an academic setting. Ideal for those who are interested in a career in research or academia.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
Traditional lectures and seminars are employed, particularly around those subjects requiring a detailed, factual knowledge base. We see it as an essential component of the programme that you engage in reflective practice which informs your future personal development.
How you are assessed
Our assessment methods range from practical production tasks to traditional essay assignments. You produce a professional-level multimedia public relations campaign addressing a range of styles, genres, platforms and audiences. You produce an essay on a topic related to public relations theory.
You write an academic essay, which helps provide a broader context for the practical work undertaken for your Final Project.
For your Final Project, you research, analyse and implement a promotional multimedia campaign for a real-life business client or undertake a self-conceived piece of independent research and produce an extended essay under the guidance of a nominated supervisor.
Entry requirements
You are evaluated on an individual basis and the level of your achievement, experience and suitability for the degree is properly assessed. Normally a first degree (2.2 minimum), relevant experience or equivalent qualifications.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
Employability
Career opportunities
A qualification and experience in public relations opens up a vast range of opportunities in all areas of the media and communications industries.
Graduates have gone on to forge successful careers in public relations, social media optimisation and events management for a range of local and national companies.
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
Select your country:
Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.
MA Multimedia Public Relations
MA Journalism
MA Journalism
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