Program Overview

BA (Hons) Mass Communications, Advertising and Public Relations

Overview

Prepare for a career in mass communications, advertising, and public relations with this professionally accredited course. Recognised by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), this course will prepare you for employment or postgraduate study in a range of disciplines.

Mode of Study

• Full-time

Duration

• 4 years

Start date

• September

UCAS code

• W123

Course details

Our Mass Communications programme offers two distinct career degree routes: Advertising and Public Relations, and Mass Communications. This structure allows you to develop understanding and principles and then specialise in a specific field.

The course provides students with the knowledge and skills for postgraduate study in related areas. The programme will:

• Develop your transferable skills to prepare you for graduate employment
• Develop your appreciation for academic, philosophical, and professional debates, concepts, and theories related to communication
• Prepare you for postgraduate study or employment in mass communications and the professional and creative communication industries
• Enhance your personal and professional growth and develop your interpersonal and networking skills
• Link you with industry partners through live project briefs, guest talks, and placement opportunities

How you'll be taught

Students will participate in a variety of learning and teaching methods, including lectures, tutorials, team work, class discussions, one-to-one supervision, independent study, practical projects, and workshops.

Assessments

Assessments are designed to reflect the academic and/or professional focus of a module. Students will write essays, develop research portfolios, undertake individual and team presentations, develop research projects, and create advertising, PR, and branding strategies and creative solutions to set briefs and established professional standards.

Work placement

There is an optional placement module in the 3rd year of the Mass Communications, Advertising & Public Relations programme. In addition, a number of 3rd & 4th year modules have Live Projects with small student teams working with external organisations.

Facilities

Our Merchiston campus, situated in the heart of Edinburgh, is home to creative industries students along with engineering and computing. This mix of disciplines helps create an inspiring, innovative, and collaborative atmosphere.

Popular modules

Year 1

• Communication and Practice
• Global Current Affairs
• Being Digital

Year 2

• Popular Culture
• Social Media and Analytics Project
• Being Digital

Year 3

• Communication Management
• Advertising Theory & Practice
• Public Relations Theory & Practice
• Branding
• Visual Communication
• Online Communication

Year 4

• Dissertation
• Professional Project in Advertising Management
• Professional Project in Public Relations Management
• International & Intercultural Communication
• Professional Communication Production Module

Entry requirements

Year 1

• SQA Higher: Standard Entry Requirement: BBCC including Grade C in English or other literary subject
• A Level: CCD including English or other literary subject
• Irish Leaving Certificate: H3, H3, H3, H3 at HL including English or other literary subject
• BTEC (QCF) Extended Diploma Level 3: Minimum grades MMM (Merit, Merit, Merit) in a related subject
• BTEC (QCF) National Diploma Level 3: Minimum grades DD (Distinction, Distinction) in a related subject
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: Award of Diploma with 26 points overall with three HL subjects at grades 5, 5, 5 including English other literary subject
• T Level: Grade Pass

Year 2

• HNC: Pass HNC with grade B at SCQF level 8 in all graded units
• Accepted HNCs: Advertising and PR, Media and Communication, Events Management, Marketing

Year 3

• HND: Pass HND with grade B at SCQF level 8 in all graded units
• Accepted HNDs: Advertising and PR, Media and Communication, Events Management, Marketing, Fashion Business

English language

• If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test
• The English Language requirements for this programme are IELTS (Academic) with 6.0 overall and no element below 5.5

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2024/25

• Students from Scotland: £1,820
• Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £9,250
• Overseas and EU students: £16,680

Careers

This programme will help you to step into the dynamic world of strategic communication and explore the interconnected fields of mass communications, advertising, and public relations. You'll graduate with the relevant skills to enter the main communication industries, including:

• Creative industries
• Advertising
• Corporate communications
• Marketing communications
• Public relations
• Public affairs
• Corporate & news media
• Branding
• Brand and reputation management

After graduating from this course, you'll emerge as a versatile and strategic communicator, ready to pursue a variety of roles in advertising agencies, public relations firms, media organizations, or corporate communication departments.