BA (Hons) Public Relations and Communication (Full Time)

The course offers an ideal mix of practical and theoretical skills that gives graduates a competitive edge when they enter the industry.

Course overview

PR at Solent is taught by staff with direct commercial experience in the industry, across the globe. The course teaches a range of skills – from media relations to international strategic communication strategies – taught within a corporate communications and PR context.

As the PR industry is highly competitive, the work experience provided throughout the course is essential. Two different two-week placements in between years two and three provide a platform to practice the skills learnt at Solent in the workplace. You will also work on numerous live client-based projects across all your years to produce a portfolio of work that clearly demonstrates your employability.

The course is accredited by the CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations), the national body responsible for professional standards in PR across the UK. Strong relationships with local employers in the region keep the course up to date and in touch with industry developments. A higher than average graduate employment rate is the result, and the course receives one of the highest student satisfaction ratings in the university.

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Industrial focus

The combination of work-placement and the course's vocational focus prepares students for employment, demonstrating their potential to enter directly into this dynamic and growing sector. Employability skills and career development sessions take place in second and third years to help guide students in their approach to the profession. Assessments include a wide range of PR, marketing communication and social media outputs that demonstrate their capacity to work in a modern professional manner.

Course content

The course has just been re-validated and refreshed to bring it up to date. The content has been commended for its innovation approach, its emphasis on employability and its development of skills across the three year programme.

Year 1

Five core units and one option:

• Introduction to PR
• Interpersonal Communication
• Communications in Organisations
• Visual and Digital Communications
• Marketing Fundamentals.

Options:

• One from PR in the Community Project
• Communications in Action Project.

Year 2

Six core units and one option:

• Corporate Communication
• Management Communications
• Work Placement and Employability Skills
• Research and Evaluation in PR
• Digital PR - the Internet and Social Media
• PR and Communications in a Digital World.

Options:

• Marketing Communications
• Advertising Creativity Analysis and Evaluation.

Year 3

Five core units and two options:

• Dissertation
• Ethics, Issues and Crisis Management
• Work Placement and Career Development
• Persuasive Communications
• PR Strategy and Campaign Planning.

Options:

•  Media Communication Project
• Managing the Creative Brief
• Internal Communications/In-house Simulation
• International and Global PR
• Language Pathway
• Curriculum Plus.

Why choose this course?

• Accredited by the CIPR and supported by Five by Five; with strong connections to local employers.
• A friendly and supportive study environment.
• An annual programme of events where students can network with local PR and communication professionals.
• Strong emphasis on building your skills to meet employer needs.
• Opportunity to take part in international study. 

Assessment

Practical projects, reports, essays, individual and group presentations, portfolio development, dissertation and examinations.

Key career skills

Creative thinking, problem-solving, writing for multiple media platforms, communication skills, presentation, teamwork.

Projects/work experience

Recent work experience has included placements at the BBC, COI, Ketchum Pleon, Nelsons, Remarkable Group, Headstream, Lee Peck Group, and a county council. Each year students undertake a number of collaborative ‘live’ projects with local employers.

Graduate profile

Vicky Lekatompessy

“The academic system really appealed to me. Southampton Solent is a great university with a perfect mix of theories and practical studies. Every department sets clear objectives and designs the courses to prepare students for the industry. I’ve experienced a better university system and academic scheme at Southampton Solent, which allows me to develop the key skills necessary for my career.

"The best bit of my BA (Hons) Public Relations and Communication course is that it allows me to experience real projects. We work with a lot of large organisations, such as Hampshire Fire Service, British Red Cross and EbookWorld. We look at the company’s present status and formulate public relations campaign plans, which demonstrate how they can improve their reputations and generate more public awareness. After graduation, I would like to work for a non-profit organisation, working to promote their campaigns via event management, such as fundraising events, auctions and activities that raise awareness of what the organisations are doing.”