Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Public Relations and Digital Communications

Program Overview

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Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Public Relations and Digital Communications

Overview

Develop your creativity and media industry skills to specialise in digital communications and public relations.

This course is aimed at individuals who wish to take up employment as communications professionals, specifically within the public relations and communications industries. Designed and delivered by PR and journalism professionals and full-time academics, the course trains learners for public relations work with clients in the corporate, political and public affairs space.

Why Study Journalism and Public Relations at Griffith College?

• You will gain a theoretical understanding of workings of the media industry including Sociology of the Media, Communications and Audience Theories and Research Methods.
• You will develop specific skills in journalism production through the Writing & Editing, Radio and MoJo modules, participating in Newsdays and delivering print, radio and mobile video news reports.
• You will create high-quality media content and develop effective public relations strategies.
• Progress on to the dissertation stage of the MA in Journalism and Public Relations after completing 9 mandatory modules.
• You are assured of excellent teaching practices, using industry standard techniques and technologies.

Course Highlights

• One of seven courses accredited by the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII)
• NUJ (National Union of Journalists) Press Pass for the duration of your study
• Build your own professional portfolio
• Study full-time, part-time or through blended learning
• Produce real-life public relations strategies
• Connect with industry leaders

Intake Dates

• Dublin - Part-Time - September 2025
• Dublin - Full-Time - September 2025

Related Courses

• Masters of Arts in Journalism & Digital Communications
• MA in Digital Communications: Podcasting and Video
• Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism and Digital Communications
• Master of Arts in Public Relations and Digital Communications

Course Details

The Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism and Public Relations is designed to be delivered on a full-time basis over one calendar year and on a part-time (flexible learning) basis over 2 years. The Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism & Public Relations consists of 11 mandatory modules and does not include a dissertation.

Core Modules

Communications and Audience Theories

This module enables learners to understand how audiences relate to media content and develops an ability to critically discuss the major paradigms and theories that have shaped the field of communications, including their historical development and current trends.

Corporate Communications

The module aims to assist learners in developing core competencies required by the public relations industry, including, problem-solving, critical thinking and business acumen.

Mobile Video Production

This module aims to develop learners’ overall creative and technical production abilities by equipping them with the practical skills to approach the production of factual visual programming on mobile devices for multiplatform distribution.

Multiplatform Writing and Editing

This module aims to enable learners to attain the practical skills required to identify, plan, research, write and edit publishable news reports, feature articles and commercial content for identified audiences on multiple platforms and for different formats.

Podcasting and Radio Production

This module aims to instil in learner’s the knowledge of how to create broadcast quality radio and podcast content including news and current affairs coverage.

Political Communications and Public Affairs

This module aims to enable learners to develop the skills needed to adapt their journalism and other public relations skills to political and public settings.

Public Relations Theory and Practice

This module aims to facilitate a critical and practical understanding of the theory and principles of public relations where learners develop the skills and knowledge needed to become well-rounded communications professionals.

Research: Methods and Skills

This module aims to deepen learners’ research skills about their module-related assignments and prepares them for conducting major research projects.

Social/Digital Content Creation

This module enables learners to be able to play a lead role in production teams which produce and repurpose content for new and different online audiences.

Elective Modules

International Political Economy

The module aims to enable learners to work as journalists and/or researchers covering issues that deal with the relationship between politics and economics, both at a national and international level.

Media Product Design and Professional Development

This module aims for learners to gain the necessary skills required to initiate, research and produce a design product such as a new online/offline magazine, from concept to completion.

Photojournalism

This module aims to provide learners with a solid foundation in the practical, aesthetic, and ethical aspects of photojournalism and documentary photography.

Sports Journalism

This module aims to give students the necessary tools to become a sports journalist, including sports writing, broadcast experience, interview skills and a taste of practical, in-the-field work.

The Business of Media

This Module aims to provide learners with an overview of the contemporary media business environment and the most significant trends that have emerged in the media sector over the last three decades.

Video Storytelling

This module aims to equip learners with foundation skills in video in the key areas of research, concept and story development; visual storytelling technique (image and sound), approach, and visual sequencing; and editing (technical skill and basic craft).

Course Contact

Barry Finnegan

Journalism & Media Communications Programme Director

Journalism & Media Communications Senior Lecturer

Timetables

Full-Time / Part-Time & Blended Delivery

The programme runs full-time over one year with two semesters and an August dissertation submission. It is also run part-time over four semesters in two years with eight of the modules delivered through ‘blended learning’ where learners view lectures and related reading online at their convenience.

How to Apply

Entry Requirements

A primary degree (2.2) in any discipline and interview

Griffith College is accepting the online Duolingo English Test (DET) as valid proof of English proficiency.

Fees

Tuition Fees

Irish/EU citizens, living in Ireland

• Study Mode: Full-Time - EUR 6,750.00
• Study Mode: Part-Time - EUR 6,750.00

An Academic Administration Fee of EUR 250 is payable each September at the start of term. For students starting in the January/February term, EUR 125 is payable in February, and then EUR 250 will be payable each September from then onwards.

Irish/EU citizens, living abroad

• Study Mode: Full-Time - EUR 8,000

International

• Study Mode: Full-Time - EUR 9,000

Progression

Academic Progression

Graduates of this course have the option to continue their studies in Griffith College with progression onto:

• The Dissertation stage of the MA in Journalism and Public Relations

Career Progression

Through the Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism and Public Relation, you will have gained valuable professional experience, built a strong portfolio and covered a diverse range of media. Graduates of this programme are regularly employed as PR practitioners and media content creators in public relations firms and in the press and communications departments of companies and NGOs. Graduates also work as journalists, news researchers and broadcast production managers across web, radio, TV, video and print media. A sample of recent graduates’ job titles include:

• PR Account Executive
• Broadcast Journalist
• Content and Community Manager
• Communications Consultant
• Digital Engagement Officer
• Junior PR Consultant
• Marketing Manager
• News Research Assistant

Program Outline

• The program appears to be divided into two semesters, with the first semester focusing on Journalism and the second focusing on Public Relations specializations.

• The program mentions the following modules:
• Communications and Audience Theories
• Corporate Communications
• Media Law and Ethics
• MoJo: Mobile Video Journalism
• Online Media: Creation, Curation
• Political Communications and Public Affairs
• Public Relations Theory and Practice
• Radio Production
• Research Methods
• Sociology of the Media
• The program is designed and delivered by PR and journalism professionals and full-time academics.

• The program utilizes industry-standard techniques and technologies.
• Graduates are regularly employed as PR practitioners and media content creators across various sectors.

• Some potential job titles for graduates include:
• PR Account Executive
• Broadcast Journalist
• Content and Community Manager
• Communications Consultant
• Digital Engagement Officer
• Junior PR Consultant
• Marketing Manager
• News Research Assistant

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Other:

• The program is recognized by the NUJ and Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII).

• The program offers a full-time and part-time option.

• Part-time students complete the program in four semesters, with eight modules delivered through 'blended learning'.

• The program has two intakes: September and February.

• September intake courses run for one year full-time or two years part-time.

• February intake courses run for 1.5 years full-time and 2.5 years part-time.

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For purposes of fee calculation, residence is counted from the time of application. Tuition Fees Irish/EU citizens, living in Ireland Irish/EU citizens, living in Ireland Study Mode: Full-Time Dublin EUR 6,600.00 Study Mode: Part-Time Dublin EUR 6,600.00 Irish/EU citizens, living abroad Irish/EU citizens, living abroad Study Mode: Full-Time EUR 8,000. International International Study Mode: Full-Time Dublin Non-EU Living in Ireland or abroad: Please refer to our Non-EU Tuition Fees section. Study Mode: Part-Time Dublin Non-EU Living in Ireland: EUR 9,000.00 Non-EU students: a Student Services and Administration fee of EUR200 is payable each academic year in addition to the fees quoted below. An Academic Administration Fee of EUR250.00 and a 2% Learner Protection Charge is applicable each academic year in addition to the fees quoted below. The fees below relate to Year 1 fees only. Flexible payment options Sponsorship Post: Student Fees, Griffith College Dublin, South Circular Road, Dublin 8 Email: accounts@griffith.ie 2% Learner Protection Charge All QQI accredited programmes of education and training of 3 months or longer duration are covered by arrangements under section 65 (4) of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 whereby, in the event of the provider ceasing to provide the programme for any reason, enrolled learners may transfer to a similar programme at another provider, or, in the event that this is not practicable, the fees most recently paid will be refunded. QQI Award Fee Please note that a QQI Award Fee applies in the final year of all QQI courses.