Corporate Communications and Public Affairs - PgCert/PgDip/MSc (Full Time - January 2020)

Course Overview

This CIPR accredited course provides you with the practical skills and relevant academic knowledge to ensure you will be capable of operating in a strategic communication role on graduation. 

The course has been designed in close collaboration with leading practitioners and professional bodies to ensure it is relevant for today’s employers and industry. With a highly practical focus, you will have the opportunity to undertake four-weeks of professional industry experience in a real organisation, attend industry events, hear from professionals, take part in interactive workshops and visit media and communication organisations. This will ensure you will have both the theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to have a successful career in the industry.

You will have the opportunity to undertake a four-week period of professional industry experience in a communication, media or marketing environment, which will enable you to put into practice the knowledge and skills developed throughout the course and observe the overall running of the company.

You will have access to our Placement Office, who will support you remotely in sourcing and validating a suitable position.

Previous students have worked with blue-chip corporation, global communications consultancies, global broadcasting companies, newspaper corporations, leading arts and heritage organisations, oil and gas companies, marketing agencies and charities.

On successful completion of this course, you will be provided with a wide range of career opportunities within the wider Corporate Communication industry. Example fields include corporate communication, media relations, public relations, public affairs and role within internal communication and crisis management consultancies.

Previous graduates have gone on to work as PR and Marketing Executives, Communications Coordinators and Marketing Executives.

What you will Study:

SEMESTER 1

You will develop an understanding of the legal, ethical, political, economic and institutional frameworks you will operate in. Evaluating and apply theories of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs is a key part of this stage.

SEMESTER 2

You will continue to develop your specialist skills, in-depth knowledge, and practical experience. You will present a written research proposal for submission, which will normally form the basis for the master's dissertation or project. A four week period of professional industry experience is undertaken at the end of the taught modules.

SEMESTER 3

The Project/Dissertation can take the form of a practical project as an alternative to the traditional academic dissertation of 15,000 words. You will work independently but under tutorial supervision, to undertake the research and prepare the project/dissertation.