London College of Communication's BA Public Relations will prepare you for a dynamic, challenging and rewarding career.

BA Public Relations is an industry-recognised degree, taught in central London at the heart of the UK’s PR industry. Both the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) support the degree and take a close interest in its contents and its students. During your studies, you’ll meet and network with industry professionals on a weekly basis.

You can expect...

You can expect this course to focus exclusively on Public Relations and to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how it fits within the wider communications mix. You’ll learn about the essential management of reputation which is at the heart of all successful organisations and to develop an awareness of the media and communication channels available to you in delivering public relations campaigns. Furthermore, you will be taught how to make the most of your creative ideas in support of organisational goals.

Your studies will equip you with the skills required for communicating and promoting concepts, products and services to a wide range of audiences, and with the literacy and knowledge of social and political affairs required to assist your creative response to the news agenda and more. Practice in these areas is solidly underpinned by teaching across social, media and cultural theory so that you’ll be able to engage and contribute to the current  debates and issues affecting the industry and its many overlapping disciplines such as sponsorship, marketing and advertising given the new digital environment.

Public Relations is taught at LCC both as a key function within the strategic business management process and as a driving force in society.  Housed within the School of Media, the course draws on the College’s unique heritage to offer a broad perspective that is inclusive of business and culture, so that students leave prepared to deliver real ‘added value’ to their chosen organisation’s reputation.    

Tutors on this course...

Tutors on this course include Course Director, Adrian Crookes who has a wealth of experience both as a broadcaster and journalist and as a Communications Director and consultant. Adrian continues to advise commercial clients and trains PR practitioners for CIPR Diploma courses in the UK and overseas. 

Senior Lecturer, Simon Collister is also one of the UK’s leading digital communications practitioners and bloggers. Simon has worked on digital and traditional public relations campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands. His current research interests include political communications in online environments. The team is supplemented by PR professionals from different sectors and specialist areas as well as an excellent roster of guest lecturers from industry.

Alumni include...

Alumni include many successful professionals based in noted PR and creative agencies, handling accounts for clients within corporate, public and third sector organisations, or indeed managing or directing PR within an in-house communications department.

This course is taught within the School of Media.

Learning and teaching

Courses in UAL span a broad range of art, design, communication, business, media, science and communication subjects. So the ways in which you learn and how your time is used will vary according to the specific course you are studying; this may be in studios, labs, classes, involve working alone, learning from peers in pairs or groups, or with external partners. Most importantly, no matter which course you enrol on, you will learn not only about your subject but also about how you learn and how to increase your knowledge base.

Our courses will guide you to take increasing responsibility and ownership of your work and your learning. We do this so that you will be ready and able to take full advantage of the full range of opportunities offered by the creative industries in the global economy. 

Assessment

Assessment always sounds austere and foreboding, but it is not. We see assessment as a very real part of learning, rather than just a means of looking back at past work and measuring achievement; we believe that assessment helps you plan future work and develop new ideas.

Your work will be assessed through projects or portfolios, with written papers or research journals, and, on some courses, examinations. You will be graded according to a set of marking criteria that relate to such things as research, subject knowledge, methodology, and your capacity to analyse and reflect on your achievements. So don’t be afraid of assessment - it is the way to progress.

Year 1

Introduction to Study in Higher Education: PR Professionalism 1
Understanding Organisations and Organisational Behaviour
Foundations of PR Theory and Practice
Media and Cultural Landscapes 1

Year 2

PR Professionalism 2: Work-Based Learning
Research, Planning and Applied PR
Media Relations and Social Media
Collaborative Project
Media and Cultural Landscapes 2

Year 3

PR Professionalism 3
Reputation Management
Persuasive Communications, Campaigning and Public Opinion
Dissertation [Includes Research Methodologies]

Graduates from the BA (Hons) in Public Relations have a number of options open to them on completion of the course. A small percentage will opt to progress onto one of our MA degree programmes. Others will secure associate and account management roles in the PR and marketing industries. Some, for example, will move into agencies on account handling, whilst others will move into client-side roles or even completely new industries as a result of their skills development and career mapping over the two years. Other graduate destinations include further study for teaching certificates, starting own businesses, consultancy and work within local government.

Enterprise and employability at UAL

We know what it takes to be successful in your chosen field. Your tutors are professionals in their own right and understand what you need to help you establish your career. Staff in our Centre for Student Enterprise and Employability (SEE) are dedicated to helping you build up work-relevant skills, knowledge, experience and networks throughout your time here. You will also benefit from our many relationships with industry, which give our students exclusive opportunities and access to networks and funding.

Artists and designers tell us they value UAL's informed engagement with their career and professional practice development and our ability to offer them practical advice, guidance and opportunities across the wide spectrum of possible professional pathways - as entrepreneurs and employees. Staff value the resources and skills UAL makes available to help them deliver effective professional and career development through the curriculum.

Find out more

ArtsTemps (SEE) is the UAL in-house recruitment agency placing students and graduates in paid temping roles within the University. 

Creative Opportunities (SEE) is the UAL job vacancy and work placement website for students and graduates and advertises hundreds of creative job and placement opportunities each month.

Get more information and advice on employment and creative careers for all UAL students and graduates.

Recruitment and admissions

The BA Public Relations Course Team recognise applicants come from a broad spectrum of backgrounds from across the world. The course in the main attracts students who apply direct from A level or other equivalent qualifications but it also welcomes students from Foundation Diploma in Art and Design and other related art courses as well as mature students who may have worked in industry.

Entry requirements (Home/International/EU)

For admission to the BA Public Relations course applicants normally need:

• 280 UCAS tariff points (gained at GCE Advanced level) will be considered supported by passes in five other GCSE subjects one of which should be English, Grade C or above. 
• Alternatively, you will be considered if you have achieved 1 subject at GCE Advanced level and Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, supported by passes in three other subjects at GCSE Grade C or above (including English). In addition, the University of the Arts London Awarding Body Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design will be considered. 
• We also accept people with the equivalent qualifications obtained through a National Diploma, Access, NVQ and a variety of other pre-University level qualifications including International and European Baccalaureate. Other qualifications, including overseas, may be considered.
• We also accept those with relevant professional and vocational qualifications.
• The subjects the Course Team will be looking for in your application are wide ranging: your A levels (or equivalents) would ideally be achieved at grade C or above and may include Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Business Studies.

Other entry routes

We also welcome applicants such as mature students who do not have formal qualifications but may have relevant experience. Students applying to this course will be expected to demonstrate a specific interest in this area of study and should have a commitment to engaging with Public Relations Theory and practice. In such cases students applying on the basis of their previous experience or who wish to enter the course with through Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes should apply via UCAS and will be guided by the admissions staff on the AP(E)L processes.

Language requirements (International/EU)

• International and EU students: In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required.
• If your first language is not English you should check you have achieved the correct IELTS level in English. Further information is available on our International Applications page.
• International applicants, please visit our International Applications page for further details regarding International Admissions.

Study Abroad applicants

International undergraduate students can apply to join this BA course for a period of up to three terms as a Study Abroad student. Please visit the Study Abroad website for details on how to apply or contact the Study Abroad office:

T: +44 (0)20 7514 2249
E: studyabroad@arts.ac.uk

Deferred entry

For Home/EU applicants, the Course Leader will determine whether deferred places are available for the course. If you wish to defer your place, it is advisable to indicate this on your application form and/or discuss this with the admissions team and course leader before/after applying at the earliest opportunity. In all cases, deferred places will only be held for one year.

International applicants are normally permitted to defer entry to any programme of study for one year only, after which they will be asked to re-apply.

Admission procedures

The selection procedures for the course adhere to the Equal Opportunities policy of the University of the Arts London.

Applications are normally made through UCAS. Applications for this course are assessed on the basis of qualifications and the personal statement.

If more information is required, a member of the course team may contact the applicant and in some cases, may request the candidate to attend an interview and bring an example of written work.

Student Selection Criteria / what do we look for?

All applications will be considered by the course team and offers will be made based upon the following selection criteria.

The team will consider three key elements when making a decision on your suitability to join the course:

1. Firstly they will look at your qualifications (or projected results).
2. Secondly, they will review your academic or personal reference.
3. Then they will scrutinise your personal statement.

The personal statement is a very important part of your application and should demonstrate to the team that you are interested in public relations and that you have thought very carefully about why you want to study on this course.

You should take great care when writing your personal statement to ensure that it is well written, clear and free of any spelling mistakes. It is your biggest chance to impress the team by demonstrating your appreciation of what the course can offer you and how you feel it might help you in the future. It is also an opportunity for you to state what you feel you would bring to the course. Through their personal statement, applicants should show a strong interest in Public Relations. This can be demonstrated through work experience, studying and personal experience and their ambitions for personal development as a student at the LCC.

Portfolio advice

There is no requirement for a portfolio for entry onto this programme.

Interview advice

Occasionally an applicant will be invited for interview who has either requested to discuss their application with the course director or who the course director feels would benefit from discussing their application prior to final consideration. In This case the Applicant should bring an example of written work.

If you are invited for interview you can prepare yourself in advance by thinking of questions that you may have for the course director and also re-familiarising yourself with your UCAS personal statement- from which the course director’s questions will probably arise. The interview will be relatively informal and will take place, normally, at the LCC.

Students are admitted to the course having fulfilled the necessary entry requirements and on the basis of their potential to benefit from the programme.

Minimum UAL entry requirements

Find out more about the University's Regulations on Admissions.

UK/EU Applicants

You will need to apply through the UCAS online application system.

You can find London College of Communication (LCC) courses listed under University of the Arts London on the UCAS website. All LCC UCAS course codes can be found on the course ‘Facts’ tab (at the bottom) or on the UCAS website.

Our University code is U65

There is no 'Campus Code' for London College of Communication

If you are a UK or EU student and you have an admissions enquiry please use the Online Course Enquiry Form selecting LCC as the College you are interested in. For additional enquiries please use the contact information as below:

T: +44(0)20 7514 6599

International Applicant Enquiries

If you are a non-EU international student admission enquiries should be made through the International Office. For additional enquiries please use the contact information as below:

T: +44 (0)20 7514 8138
E: international@lcc.arts.ac.uk

Study Abroad Applicants

International undergraduate students can apply to join this BA course for a period of up to three terms as a Study Abroad student. Please visit the Study Abroad web page for details on how to apply or contact the Study Abroad office on the details below:

T: +44 (0) 207 514 2249
E: studyabroad@arts.ac.uk