Our Strategic Public Relations and Communication Management course gives you the chance to design, implement and evaluate public relations campaigns, helping you to develop the practical and analytical skills you'll need for a successful career in communications and public relations.

You'll develop a critical appreciation of the role of public relations in society, as well as key analytical and professional skills. You’ll also gain a solid understanding of the theory behind PR, and have many opportunities to put this theory into 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 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. 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. 

Placements/ Study abroad

You can choose Strategic Communications Research Placement module, which has been designed to provide you with applied research experience. You will undertake, in partnership with a non-academic organisation, a semester-long research-led ‘virtual’ or real placement. 

Career

Our Masters in Strategic Communication and Public Relations is for those who want managerial careers in PR, organisational communication, corporate communications, strategic communication or related areas.

Graduates of our Masters degree have successfully established careers in the PR field, working for a wide range of organisations spanning public, private and voluntary sectors all around the world.

Our graduates typically occupy positions such as:

• Communications Officer/Manager
• Public Relations Officer/Manager
• Media Officer
• Social Media Officer/Manager
• Internal Communications Officer/Manager
• Corporate Affairs Officer/Manager 

Organisations our graduates work for include:

• Pfizer
• Nike
• UK Government
• Office Depot
• Police Scotland
• The National Museum of Wales

Others have stayed in academia, going on to gain PhDs and then work as lecturers, teaching and researching in universities.