The course combines academic grounding with up to date professional skills with frequent contributions from established profession leaders.
This course aims to provide students with a well-balanced grounding in both the theoretical and practical study of communication and public relations with opportunities to explore such application within the advertising and marketing contexts. It will enable students to develop a critical understanding and expertise in the academic and professional bases of communication and public relations. It also aims to develop students’ ability to undertake primary research within the broad field of communication, with emphasis on, but not limited to public relations and advertising issues and to equip students with both the knowledge and skills which will enhance their prospects for employment, academic progression or continuing professional development. The course offers a unique and distinctive design with a broad focus on many of the elements important to a career in the communication industries.
We know that choosing to study at university is a big decision, and you may not always be able to find the information you need online.
Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.
In this section
This programme is a linked Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) and Master's (MSc). The PGDip comprises six modules. Full-time students will take three modules per semester beginning each September and finishing the PGDip components by May the following year.
For an MSc award you will also undertake an individual dissertation (12,000-15,000 words). Each student is allocated a supervisor who will support their individual research project.
Each module is weighted with credit points indicating the amount of student effort required. Full-time students are required to complete 60 credits per semester (1 credit point equates to approximately 10 student effort hours.
Full-time students normally attend classes on 2 or 3 days per week. Part-time students normally attend classes on 1 or 2 days per week. The specific timetable will vary depending on your specialism. Classes are usually held during the day and full-time and part-time students share the same classes. Exact times vary, but each module generally involves 2-3 hours per week of class time that may be divided between lectures and seminars/workshops/practicals. Outside of this, you will also be expected to spend considerable time in independent study and you may also be involved in meetings with staff or with your fellow students on group projects.
The content for each course is summarised on the relevant course page, along with an overview of the modules that make up the course.
Each course is approved by the University and meets the expectations of:
As part of your course induction, you will be provided with details of the organisation and management of the course, including attendance and assessment requirements - usually in the form of a timetable. For full-time courses, the precise timetable for each semester is not confirmed until close to the start date and may be subject to some change in the early weeks as all courses settle into their planned patterns. For part-time courses which require attendance on particular days and times, an expectation of the days and periods of attendance will be included in the letter of offer. A course handbook is also made available.
Courses comprise modules for which the notional effort involved is indicated by its credit rating. Each credit point represents 10 hours of student effort. Undergraduate courses typically contain 10, 20, or 40 credit modules (more usually 20) and postgraduate courses typically 15 or 30 credit modules.
The normal study load expectation for an undergraduate full-time course of study in the standard academic year is 120 credit points. This amounts to around 36-42 hours of expected teaching and learning per week, inclusive of attendance requirements for lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, fieldwork or other scheduled classes, private study, and assessment. Teaching and learning activities will be in-person and/or online depending on the nature of the course. Part-time study load is the same as full-time pro-rata, with each credit point representing 10 hours of student effort.
Postgraduate Master’s courses typically comprise 180 credits, taken in three semesters when studied full-time. A Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) comprises 60 credits and can usually be completed on a part-time basis in one year. A 120-credit Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) can usually be completed on a part-time basis in two years.
Class contact times vary by course and type of module. Typically, for a module predominantly delivered through lectures you can expect at least 3 contact hours per week (lectures/seminars/tutorials). Laboratory classes often require a greater intensity of attendance in blocks. Some modules may combine lecture and laboratory. The precise model will depend on the course you apply for and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. Prospective students will be consulted about any significant changes.
Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessments. This feedback may be issued individually and/or issued to the group and you will be encouraged to act on this feedback for your own development.
Coursework can take many forms, for example: essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, design, artefacts, portfolio, journal, group work. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification, the assessment timetable and the assessment brief. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.
Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised. The module pass mark for undergraduate courses is 40%. The module pass mark for postgraduate courses is 50%.
The class of Honours awarded in Bachelor’s degrees is usually determined by calculation of an aggregate mark based on performance across the modules at Levels 5 and 6, (which correspond to the second and third year of full-time attendance).
Level 6 modules contribute 70% of the aggregate mark and Level 5 contributes 30% to the calculation of the class of the award. Classification of integrated Master’s degrees with Honours include a Level 7 component. The calculation in this case is: 50% Level 7, 30% Level 6, 20% Level 5. At least half the Level 5 modules must be studied at the University for Level 5 to be included in the calculation of the class.
All other qualifications have an overall grade determined by results in modules from the final level of study.
In Masters degrees of more than 200 credit points the final 120 points usually determine the overall grading.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 60% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.
Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (19%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (22%) or Lecturers (57%).
We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic and learning support staff (85%) are recognised as fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advance HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.
The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise. The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff. This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.
Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
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Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.
Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list.
In this section
Year: 1
Status: C
This module explores the role of advertising in marketing, the main creative approaches to advertising and the main media available to advertising, as well as providing a fundamental understanding of the structure and regulatory system of the advertising industry. It further explores the key issues facing advertising practitioners and advertising academics and equips students with knowledge and skills to challenge academic research and to undertake practical advertising activities.
Year: 1
Status: C
Employing insights from a range of academic disciplines, this module provides students with an opportunity to critically engage with the key debates surrounding public relations and its role in contemporary society. These theoretical insights are then applied to a range of areas of public relations practice to give students the tools to critically analyse them.
Year: 1
Status: C
A leader within a modern complex organisation faces a number of demands on their communication skills. These skills are seldom formally presented and usually a manger is expected to develop communication skills spontaneously. This module addresses these issues by presenting the key areas in management communication competence from both a conceptual and practical perspective. These skills are contextualised within organisational settings and contexts.
Year: 1
Status: C
This module provides students with a professional grounding in key debates surrounding public relations and its role in contemporary society and an insight into specialized areas of public relations practice. Emphasis will be placed on the development of critical and strategic thinking. It helps to prepare students for their role as the key co-ordinator of communication with in the broad field of Public Relations, and gives students the opportunity to analyse and assess the role of the communication professionals in a range of sectors in which they may eventually practice.
Year: 1
Status: C
The Communication dissertation aims to enable students to design and carry out an independent piece of research. It is intended that this will strengthen their ability to interpret and apply research data to a work environment. The research will focus in depth on one area of communication.
Year: 1
Status: C
This module aims to provide information that will enable students to make appropriate and considered research decisions. It is designed to develop students' understanding of the nature of research, key research traditions, the research process and the range of methods available to the researcher, including qualitative and quantitative approaches. It also aims to help students acquire a critical understanding of the issues and methods in the generation and analysis of data and in the communication and evaluation of research findings.
Year: 1
Status: C
Overall, this interdisciplinary and internationally focussed module, aims to provide students with a contemporary and challenging introduction to the field of Strategic Marketing. It will develop students' critical and reflexive knowledge and understanding of the value (co)creating nature and impact of Strategic Marketing activity and practice.
We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.
In this section
This programme is suitable for graduates in any academic discipline as well as those already in employment who wish to enhance their existing skills. Applicants must have gained at least a 2:2 classification (Hons) in any subject from a recognized institution or an equivalent qualification. In exceptional circumstances, where an individual has experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.
English language requirements for international applicants
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.
Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.
In this section
Due to the breadth of the course, you have a range of options upon graduation across the public, private and non-profit sectors, in communication, public relations, advertising, marketing, and internal communication. While some previous graduates choose to specialise in a particular area, our students are equipped to be communication ‘all-rounders’ able to incorporate an integrated approach to communication management. Further PhD research study is also an option.
Recognised by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).
Postgraduate fees are subject to annual review, 2025/26 fees will be announced in due course.
See our tuition fees page for the current fees for 2024/25 entry.
It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.
Where a course has additional mandatory expenses (in addition to tuition fees) we make every effort to highlight them above. We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free Wi-Fi are also available on each of the campuses.
There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as a part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs, as well as tuition fees.
See the tuition fees on our student guide for most up to date costs.
We know that choosing to study at university is a big decision, and you may not always be able to find the information you need online.
Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Ulster continues to develop and support sustainability initiatives with our staff, students, and external partners across various aspects of teaching, research, professional services operations, and governance.
At Ulster every person, course, research project, and professional service area on every campus either does or can contribute in some way towards the global sustainability and climate change agenda.
We are guided by both our University Strategy People, Place and Partnerships: Delivering Sustainable Futures for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Our work in this area is already being recognised globally. Most recently by the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact rating where we were recognised as Joint 5th Globally for Outreach Activities and Joint Top 20 Globally for Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals.
Visit our Sustainability at Ulster destination to learn more about how the University strategy and the activities of Ulster University support each of the Sustainable Development Goals.
