Course summary

Our Public Relations and Strategic Communication course gives you the chance to develop a critical appreciation of the role of public relations in contemporary societies, as well as key analytical, management and communication skills you'll need for a successful career in communications and public relations. You’ll gain a solid understanding of the theory behind public relations and strategic communications, and have many opportunities to apply this theory to everyday communications and public relations practice. By the end of your studies, you’ll have the necessary skills to work at managerial level in public relations. You’ll be able to analyse environments, issues, organisational cultures and relationships – as well as set objectives, and design and implement public relations and communication strategies. We’re continually updating this well-established course in line with new advances in theory and practice, including how communication campaigns may successfully integrate digital media. Field trips and guest lectures offer opportunities to discuss strategic communication issues with leading practitioners and scholars. These also give you networking opportunities and an understanding of current best practice. This course was established in 1988 and was the first degree in public relations in the UK and one of the first in Europe. Several prominent public relations academics and practitioners have completed their education at Stirling. Our PR graduates have been nominated and won EUPRERA Master Thesis Awards for Excellence in 2019, 2021 and 2022.