Public Relations and Communications BA Hons Greenwich Campus gre.ac.uk/business
Why study this programme? The public relations (PR) industry has expanded rapidly in the last two decades. It is increasingly credible at a strategic level and there is a high demand for effective and efficient public relations professionals. Standards, expectations and competition are high. London is at the heart of the global PR and communications industry. With the lecturing team s strong industry links and the university s location, the BA Hons Public Relations and Communications degree benefits from the support of practitioners delivering cutting-edge PR programmes. The degree is accredited by the CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations), the industry s professional body, and is a partner university of the PRCA (Public Relations Consultants Association). This programme will prepare you for a career in PR and communications. It aims to develop students into confident, knowledgeable and skilled communicators who can ably devise and implement PR strategies. Recent graduates have secured jobs in organisations including Gucci, Bell Pottinger and The Good Agency. You will benefit from innovative teaching methods provided by a range of specialist tutors. Senior practitioners from leading PR consultancies including Bell Pottinger and FTI Consulting and organisations such as Marks & Spencer and the Metropolitan Police deliver guest lectures. In addition, there are field trips to high-profile, Londonbased companies. The degree will help you to develop a range of communication skills, and there is a strong emphasis on social media and media relations. You will be taught how PR fits strategically within organisations and reflect on contemporary issues in practice, professionalism and ethics. You will also develop your critical thinking ability. Previously, a student from this programme won an international award for the best undergraduate PR dissertation in Europe. Employers want graduates to have distinctive, relevant experience. Our Greenwich Employability Passport scheme is designed to recognise and reward extra-curricular activities such as part-time work, volunteering, society membership, or attending our special guest lectures, to help give you a competitive edge in the job market. To benefit most from your student experience, you will have the opportunity to join one of our student societies. The PR Fraternity in particular, will offer you a space where you can share and discuss ideas about current PR practices, campaigns and ethics whilst creating an invaluable chance of networking. Our programmes are rated highly in national surveys. Marketing ( including Public Relations and Communications) at the University of Greenwich was ranked third in London in the Complete University Guide 2015. The programme gives you insights, not only to the more traditional things within PR, such as sort of general media relations, but also how the industry is progressing and current issues within the industry. Katie Swain Public Relations, BA Hons Graduate
Why study with us? The Business School is renowned for high standards of teaching. Our staff combine a wealth of international business knowledge and industry experience with a commitment to support the learning of every student. The Department of Marketing, Events & Tourism has been running specialist marketing degree programmes for more than 20 years. We were the first UK university to offer a specialist degree in marketing communications, and we continue to offer quality undergraduate and postgraduate marketing degrees, as well as public relations (PR), events management, hospitality and tourism management programmes. New communication channels continue to revolutionise the industry and move these disciplines beyond their roots in consumer business. We work closely with all relevant professional bodies to ensure that our programmes are continually updated to reflect changing requirements and our students graduate ready for the workplace. Our PR programmes have Chartered Institute of Public Relations accreditation and our marketing programmes are recognised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Our students are able to gain exemptions towards qualifications from these professional bodies. Students who already hold professional qualifications benefit from the ability to join some of our programmes with advanced standing. Our teaching staff are experienced professionals who have worked as marketers and analysts within companies such as BT, Konica, Philips Electronics, Honda and the BBC. Our staff are active in research and maintain excellent professional contacts. The Greenwich Campus is based on a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the banks of the River Thames. The university s largest campus, it is centred on three baroque buildings designed by Sir Christopher Wren at the end of the 17th century. The surrounding town is a bustling mix of shops, restaurants and pubs, as well as some of the most famous tourist attractions in the country. The business districts of Canary Wharf and the City are a short journey away on the Docklands Light Railway. There are also direct rail links into central London. What will you study? Year 1 Communicating for PR This course looks at the full range of techniques available and the role of media relations. It also looks at the need for effective writing and tailoring material so that it delivers communication messages in the most appropriate way. Personal Professionalism This course will provide you with the skills you need to become an effective and reflective PR professional and manager. It will equip you with a range of soft skills, professional experiences and perspectives that support your academic and vocational studies. Financial Aspects of Marketing 15 credits) This course provides you with an understanding of the financial aspects of marketing. It describes the specific roles of finance and marketing and their relationship to each other.
Introduction to Advertising (15 credits) This introductory course will help you to understand and appreciate how advertising works, the interrelations between different media, the role advertising has within the marketing mix, and the strengths and weaknesses of different media when applied to different objectives. PR Theory and Professional Practice This course develops a knowledge base of the main theories and concepts relevant to the PR discipline and demonstrates how these can be applied in practice. Year 2 Understanding Stakeholders (15 credits) This course provides a critical appraisal of the theories and practice pertaining to understanding stakeholders within public relations. It focuses upon change and constancy in individual and group beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviour. This understanding is essential to the work of communications professionals. Business Research Tools (15 credits) This course introduces a variety of research methodologies in marketing and business. The taught phases develop awareness of techniques in data collection that may be used to explore a given research topic in the marketing area. Applied Professional PR Practice This course will provide you with an insight into how to deliver PR effectively for an array of organisations, and how sector considerations impact on practice. It looks at some of the situations that PR practitioners are often called upon to manage. Media Relations and Social Media This course will provide you with a firm understanding of how relationships with the media can be fostered. It builds on the introduction to media relations examined in the Year 1 Communicating for PR course. PR Planning and Research This course builds on the learning gained in the degree so far to provide you with a structure around which you can create and implement successful PR strategies and campaigns. Overseas Exchange Programme We would encourage you to apply to participate in the European Union student exchange programme, Erasmus. This can provide a grant towards the cost of studying part of this degree in a European partner institution during your second year. Benefits of becoming an Erasmus student include: Employability you can demonstrate qualities that employers are looking for, such as an ability to take on and adapt to new challenges and environments New experiences you can have lots of fun, meet interesting people and gain new skills Increased language proficiency you can learn or master another language Maturity you can build your confidence and independence by managing life in a different culture.
Optional Sandwich Year You can undertake a work placement in your third year. This will help you further increase your career prospects and earning potential by giving you practical experience and industry insight. The Business School Employability Office can help you find suitable placement opportunities, as well as giving practical advice on writing CVs and preparing you for assessment centres and interviews. In previous years, our students have undertaken their work placements in companies such as Ford and PwC. Final Year Contemporary Issues in PR Practice This course provides an understanding of the current issues that face public relations professionals in PR practice. Face-to-face teaching is combined with discussions, debates and a culminating conference. Delivering Professional PR Practice This course brings together learning from the previous two years and gets you to actually deliver PR on the ground. Working as a consultancy, students are expected to work to live briefs devising and implementing PR programmes that add real value to clients. Option courses Two 15-credit options from: Corporate Communications with Public Affairs; Third Sector PR; Tech/Consumer and Celebrity PR. Career opportunities The public relations industry has grown rapidly. It has become increasingly sophisticated and specialised. Young, aspiring PR professionals need to equip themselves with the necessary practical skills and industry insights to enter and thrive in it. Opportunities exist to work in many different areas both in-house and in consultancy, including in social media, media relations, consumer PR, corporate PR and third sector PR. Communication skills are necessary for many different types of careers and so the degree also prepares students for other areas of work such as management, marketing or teaching roles. Teaching and assessment The programme is delivered by a teaching team who have worked, or still work, in public relations. Teaching includes lectures, tutor-led tutorials, workshops, student and tutor-led seminar events, self-directed learning, online delivery, case analysis, discussions, debates and business simulations. Visiting lecturers from industry will contribute to the teaching and learning experience. You will play a very active role in your learning experience and will be assessed through assignments, portfolios, examinations and presentations. Financial information For information on tuition fees and financial help, please visit gre.ac.uk/finance.
Key facts UCAS code: P210 G BA/PR Attendance: 3 years full-time, 4 years sandwich, 6 years part-time Entry requirements: You should have: 280 UCAS points FROM a minimum of two A-levels or equivalent PLUS GCSEs at grade C or above in English and mathematics or equivalent qualifications. If you were educated in a language other than English and/or in a country where English speakers are in a minority, you should have a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 in each skill) or an equivalent rating in another Secure English Language Test. If you have an overall IELTS score of 5.0 or 5.5, you can undertake one of our five- or nine-week pre-sessional English programmes designed to help you improve your academic English before starting your degree studies. Applicants with four or more years of fulltime work experience are considered on an individual basis. Direct entry into the second or third year is available for suitably qualified students. How to apply: Full-time students Home and EU students must apply through UCAS. Please carefully consider the programmes available and apply as early as possible. For further information and UCAS deadlines, please visit www.ucas.com. International students should apply online at gre.ac.uk/apply. For further information, e-mail international@gre.ac.uk. Part-time students Part-time students must apply online at gre.ac.uk/apply.
Your next step University Open Days are held several times a year. They include a programme of talks and offer you the opportunity to speak to staff and students. You may also be given a tour of the campus. Dates can be found at gre.ac.uk/opendays, or contact the Enquiry Unit or International Office for further information. Why not sign up as a Greenwich VIP and create your own Greenwich web page, personalised to your choice of programme and interests? Becoming a Greenwich VIP is a fast route to ordering our publications, booking a place on an Open Day and finding out more about the university. You can also receive text and e-mail alerts, and enter our online competitions. Please sign up at gre.ac.uk/study. Department of Marketing, Events & Tourism University of Greenwich Greenwich Campus Old Royal Naval College Park Row London SE10 9LS For further information To find out more about studying at the University of Greenwich, please visit greenwich.ac.uk. UK students Enquiry Unit Telephone: 020 8331 9000 Fax: 020 8331 8145 E-mail: courseinfo@gre.ac.uk International/EU students International Office Telephone: +44 20 8331 8136 Fax: +44 20 8331 8625 E-mail: international@gre.ac.uk This document is available in other formats on request University of Greenwich, a charity and company limited by guarantee, registered in England (reg. no. 986729). Registered office: Old Royal Naval College, Park Row, Greenwich, London SE10 9LS The university reserves the right to discontinue any class or programme, to alter any programme or to amend without notice any other information detailed here. D11273-14 November 14