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We were one of the first UK universities to offer a course tailored to the needs of the public relations industry, and as such we have finely tuned the programme to give our students the most practical benefits. The many hands-on elements of the course and our deep-seated links to real PR agencies will ensure that you have several opportunities to work on genuine projects, get work placements and even secure full-time work.
This Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) approved course includes core business subjects modelled around real-life activities and is taught in our new facilities, the Business Pods, which emulate a modern office. You will learn how to run press conferences, handle interviews, perfect your presentation skills and pitch to industry clients. In your final year, you will actually be involved on a real brief and present your work to senior management in a PR agency.
By putting you in direct contact with industry professionals, we will help you to make the transition from a student into the working world. The skills you learn will be applied to genuine client briefs and you will have the opportunity to get your talent recognised by key employers even as you study.
This highly enjoyable course, with its commercial emphasis, is the ideal preparation for a career in Public Relations. Our award-winning staff have extensive industry experience and our curriculum is CIPR approved. Plus, with our industry connections, you will have the best possible access to career opportunities as an account executive with a PR agency or as a PR specialist in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Graduates have gone on to work in large organisations including TUI.
During the course you will:
Areas of study you may cover on this course include:
Right from day one of induction students will have access to the full range of support facilities offered by the university. As this degree shares the common business core students will be split into relatively small cohorts from their first session at the University. This small cohort-based approach, together with having two members of staff responsible for facilitating the majority of student learning, provides an intrinsically supportive learning environment.
The Business School has dedicated student advisors who are available for drop in advice three days per week. They provide academic support but are also can provide advice on other personal issues and if not able to help will direct individuals to the specialists available.
The role of having a course leader rather than just a field chair should not be underestimated in the detail of support that can be provided and orchestrated.
This course has recruited from countries where English is not the first language, including some partner institutions overseas. Whilst all students on the course are required to have IELTS 6 or equivalent, care will nonetheless be taken to ensure that these students are in no way disadvantaged as a result of their language skills. Where language weaknesses are seen to unfairly compromise performance, students will be counselled and appropriate courses of remedial action recommended.
Team working is fundamental to a career in Public Relations and hence the course seeks to develop excellent team working skills. You will work and produce a diversity of output extensively in teams.
Successful team working will be essential to your personal development and your performance on the programme. You will have the opportunity for team work in most units, and are able to develop skills in self and peer assessment.
Teams will encounter difficulties at times and in the later years of the course and you are encouraged to resolve difficulties yourselves with minimal staff intervention as this is part of the learning experience. In higher level units students will be expected to reflect on their group working and critically evaluate their teams performance.
Career:
Public Relations in its many forms, including corporate communications, media relations, investor relations, crisis management, public affairs, lobbying etc, whether practised in a consultancy or in-house.
Further study:
Masters courses in public relations, marketing communications or other areas of business, including MBA studies. Doctoral study in public relations and professional qualifications leading to, for example, MCIPR. Continuous professional development for those established in the public relations industry.
Additional:
GCSE English grade B or above.
A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.
Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.
Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.
We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
The general requirement is one of the following:
As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.
We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.
(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)
We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.
Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.
Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section
APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.
Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `
The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.
We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.
Return your completed application to:
University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk
Communication
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Information Literacy
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Research and Evaluation
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Creativity and Critical Thinking
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The BA (Hons) Public Relations course aims to provide a basis for career entry and development in a highly competitive sector which makes great demands on employees. In the real world there are standards of behaviour, attitude and performance for which the degree is the training. Consequently, relevant professional standards will be made explicit, re-iterated and applied at all times. The Chartered Institute of Public Relations, the public relations professional industry body that approves this course provides explicit guidelines on professional standards and provides the basis upon which this course is founded. On the lecturer side such standards would concern for example support in the form of structure, relevance and up to dateness of curriculum and through guidance, stimuli and feedback.
For the student professional standards imply that study is a priority and that this is measurable in attendance, punctuality, preparation, positive classroom contribution, honesty in academic work and a sense of responsibility towards and understanding of fellow students. These standards are generic and apply in all units and in all three years of the programme. In particular:
At induction the above-mentioned professional standards non-negotiabillity will be made explicit. Poor attendance and attitude in the first six weeks of the programme will mean termination of study.
In subsequent units reparation for classes will be expected to be writting and posted in BREO before the class. Non-Preparation will mean exclusion from the class.
Poor group working will be dealt with by disiplinary discussion with the offending students.