When studying PR and communications, you’ll explore how companies connect with people and protect their brand. You’ll learn about communications strategy, promotion, digital media, and content creation, alongside the importance of building relationships with influencers, journalists, politicians, and other media practitioners. There are jobs for PR and communications graduates in many different industries, using your public relations, advertising, marketing, writing, and communication skills. You could work your way up to be public relations manager, head of communications, or social media manager. Jobs in this sector are expected to grow by 4.54% over the next eight years.
The impact you could make
- Work with your favourite social media influencer to enhance a business’s brand
- Lead your company through a crisis with effective communication and savvy media skills
- Create a digital campaign and go viral
What you could study
- Strategic communication in public relations
- Creative media platforms
- Digital essentials
- Media history
- Researching and examining political data
- PR concepts and influencer relations
- Practising campaigns
- Brands and branding
Example module
"I love the photography and social media aspect of the course. I love making content, drawing, creating logos, taking videos and creating calendars etc for different brands."
Second year fashion branding and communications student at Leeds Arts University
Example assignment
"Promotional media, taking on a real live brief to promote and market something. Digital storytelling, writing and designing articles."
Second year media and communications student at Bath Spa University
Subjects it's useful to have studied first
Some PR and communications courses or apprenticeships will have requirements for previous qualifications in certain subjects.English
Business
Media studies
Politics
Hard skills you'll develop
- Marketing
- Project management
- Content creation
- Key performance indicators (KPIs)
Soft skills you'll develop
- Communication
- Management
- Research
- Writing
Careers: Where it can take you
Find out more about your career prospects from studying PR and communications. The following information is based on a typical public relations professional role.Available jobs
58,907 vacancies in the past year
6.15% growth over next eight years
Average salary
£28,062
Up to £53,329
Career options
Journalism
Publishing
Production assistant
Publishing and marketing co-ordinator
What is a...copywriter?
You may or may not have heard of a copywriter, but they write words (copy) for business clients with the intention of selling a product or service. Copywriters can write for websites, blogs, social media posts, email marketing, and other platforms. If you enjoy writing, this career may suit you, alongside the digital, public relations, and communications knowledge you’ll have gained from your degree.
Find your ideal career
Take our careers quiz to find your ideal job matched to your personality type.Entry requirements
Find out more about what you'll need to study PR and communications at university or as an apprenticeship.
Average requirements for undergraduate degrees
Entry requirements differ between university and course, but this should give you a guide to what is usually expected from PR and communications applicants.
A Levels
BBB
Scottish Highers
ABBBB
Vocational
BTEC DDD
Other Level 3/Level 6 qualifications (e.g. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma or SQCF Level 6) may be accepted as an alternative to A Levels/Highers.
Apprenticeships
Check out our industry guide to help you decide if a sales, marketing, or procurement apprenticeship might be right for you.Other subjects you may be interested in
Considering an apprenticeship?
Applying for an apprenticeship is just like applying for a normal job. Here’s what you need to know:-
1
Deadline
Apprenticeships don't follow the same deadlines as applying to uni, the deadline is down to the employer. -
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Where to apply
You apply directly through the employer. -
3
No limits!
You're not restricted to one apprenticeship application; you can do as many as you like. -
4
Apply to university and apprenticeships
There's nothing stopping you applying to university through UCAS, while also applying for apprenticeship vacancies. -
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Find out more
Read our guide to sales, marketing, and procurement apprenticeships.
A day in the life of a Sales Apprentice
Apprenticeship vacancies
Check out live apprenticeship vacancies in marketing and sales.Explore further
Go deeper into topics around PR and communications with the following.-
1
Chartered Institute of Public Relations
Follow the CIPR on X to keep up to date with industry news, read editions of their Influence PR magazine, and find information on potential future employers. -
2
Fuse podcast
Follow the Public Relations and Communications Association’s podcast Fuse to learn about PR and hear from industry experts. -
3
PR Week
Check out the careers section of the PR Week website for advice on career development and interview tips, as well as job adverts and related news.
Application advice
Whether it's personal statement tips or what to write in a cover letter for an apprenticeship application, our application advice will help you get ahead in your PR and communications journey.Skills, experiences, and interests to mention
- What’s made you want to study these subjects? Show what you know about the industry through people you follow on social media, or content you’ve read, and that you’re media savvy.
- Your statement will show off your writing skills, but have you ever won awards for your writing, or written content for an organisation or for a school project, like newsletters or social media posts?
- Illustrate your communication skills with examples of job roles you’ve had in customer service or an office environment, or hobbies you have like presenting YouTube videos or writing a blog.
- Can you get any work experience with a local PR or marketing firm, or offer to create content for a local company?
- What hobbies do you have that show you’re good at building and maintaining relationships? That could be sports, running a club at school, or Scouts.
