Overview
Immerse yourself in a variety of cultures while you study on this interdisciplinary, advanced postgraduate course in Strategic Communication and Public Relations delivered jointly by the University of Stirling and Universitat Pompeu Fabra. You will benefit from an international perspective and experience, having the opportunity to study in both Stirling and Barcelona.
Taught entirely in English, the course offers a hands-on approach, while at the same time providing you with the critical theoretical foundations you need to practise public relations and strategic communication at a managerial level and understand the role of public relations in society.
You’ll obtain a joint Masters degree from the University of Stirling and Pompeu Fabra University. You spend Semester 1 at the University of Stirling and then move to Pompeu Fabra University for Semester 2. You may then decide if you would like to have your dissertation supervised by staff at Stirling or Pompeu Fabra.
Our PR graduates have been nominated and won EUPRERA Master Thesis Awards for Excellence in 2019, 2021 and 2022.
Learn more about the course by visiting the Pompeu Fabra University website.
Top reasons to study with us
Course objectives
On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- develop an advanced and critical understanding of complex communication phenomena and theories underpinning them;
- develop, execute and evaluate strategic communications plans and campaigns;
- communicate effectively to a wide range of publics, using appropriate communications tactics, technologies and terminology;
- advise on appropriate channels and messaging to meet strategic communications objectives;
- integrate theory, research findings and awareness of communications technologies into strategic communication planning;
- recognise and respond appropriately to the ethical challenges associated with strategic communication and public relations;
- set objectives and design and implement public relations activities and tactics to meet those objectives;
- conduct research and evaluation appropriate to public relations and strategic communications activities.
Professional accreditation
Awarded CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) Recognition.
Awarded with a CEI label (International Campus of Excellence) by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Pompeu Fabra is a modern university with prestigious international rankings.
We're also members of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), EUPRERA (European Public Relations Education and Research Association) and ECREA (European Communication Research and Education Association)
Study abroad
You will spend at least one semester at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain.
Research overview
Communications, Media and Culture at the University of Stirling was ranked 2nd in Scotland overall in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), with 100% of our research environment and 88% of our overall research classed as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Pompeu Fabra staff are also research active and publish internationally.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
A minimum of a second class honours degree (2.1 preferred) or equivalent in a relevant subject.
As this is a joint degree with Barcelona, you must additionally be eligible to meet the PFU entrance
Applications for the next intake of this course should be submitted by the end of June 2024.
International entry requirements
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 80 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
The course covers a range of modules, including: public relations and public communications theories; strategic public relations planning; media relations and production; public diplomacy and strategic communication; public relations and digital media; public affairs and advocacy; and research methods.
The taught elements of the course are carried out across two semesters, which run from September until mid-December in Stirling and from January until the end of March in Barcelona. Masters students are then expected to spend the summer carrying out a research project and submit a 12,000-word dissertation, which they can choose to complete either at the University of Stirling or Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
Semester dates for 2024/25
- Autumn semester (University of Stirling): Monday 23 September - Friday 6 December 2024
- Spring semester (Universitat Pompeu Fabra): Monday 7 January – Friday 21 March 2025
- Dissertation period (University of Stirling and Universitat Pompeu Fabra): April – September 2025
Modules
Course Details
Teaching
You’ll be taught by lectures, seminars, workshops, case studies, small group tutorials, field trips and visiting speaker presentations.
Guest lectures from public relations practitioners provide networking opportunities and introduce students to current practice in the industry. We work closely with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), and you can attend CIPR events, allowing you to meet practitioners working in the field and to extend your network of contacts.
Fieldwork
You’ll have the opportunity to attend a public affairs seminar series in Brussels, which includes visits to the European Parliament, the European Commission and specialist industry seminars with leading public affairs and communication experts in Brussels.
Assessment
Methods of assessment include:
- essays;
- academic and practice-based papers;
- timed assignments;
- public relations and communication campaigns, strategic communication plans and reports;
- a media relations portfolio which includes organisation of media conferences, digital media production and designing media packs;
- case studies;
- research designs and projects;
- in-class contributions and presentations.
You will also complete a 12,000-word dissertation.
For some of the more practical modules, you’re required to produce a portfolio of work – which you can present to potential employers at job interviews.
Classroom hours
During the semesters, you can expect to spend around two to four hours in synchronous in-class and asynchronous sessions (e.g. lectures, seminars, webinars, workshops and discussions) per week for each of your modules. These will be combined with around 32 hours (full-time study) of your independent study. There may also be dedicated fieldtrips and online guest lectures as part of the teaching on particular modules.
During the dissertation period, you will have regular meetings with your dissertation supervisor and dissertation seminars.
Course director
Key staff
University of Stirling
Dr Alenka Jelen is Course Director and teaches public relations theories; public affairs and advocacy; media relations and production and research methods. Her current research focuses on public relations as an academic discipline; gender in public relations and media; relationships between media and politics; and health communication.
Dr William Dinan teaches and researches promotional culture, communication and power. Interests include spin; propaganda; political communication; lobbying and civil society advocacy; freedom of information; transparency and governance.
Grant Thoms teaches and has research interests in public relations practice, media relations, public affairs and lobbying. He is a chartered public relations practitioner with a varied client base.
Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Professor Jordi Xifra is Programme Co-Director of the MSc Strategic Communication and Public Relations (Joint Degree) at Universitat Pompeu Fabra. His research focuses on the intellectual history of public relations, and the role of film in building public relations discourses. He has published more than 15 books on public relations and public affairs in Spain, and his articles have been accepted for publication in Public Relations Review, Journal of Public Relations Research, and American Behavioral Scientist, among others. He founded Public Relations Inquiry (Sage), a key critical journal in the field of public relations.
Dr Lluís Mas specialises in the relationship between branding and political communication in social media; sound branding; body image and advertising; and PR strategies. He teaches Public Affairs and Advocacy.
Ask an expert
Dr Katherine Champion, a specialist in Media and Communications, explains how studying at Stirling can enhance your career prospects.
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
| 2025/26 | |
|---|---|
| Students from the UK, Republic of Ireland and EU | £9,500 |
| International (excluding EU) students | £20,600 |
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Scholarships and funding
Funding
Eligible international students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
Our Masters in Strategic Communication and Public Relations prepares you for an international career in public relations, strategic communication or related areas in consultancies, private sector companies (in-house positions), NGOs and international organisations, including the EU and the UN.
Our graduates typically occupy positions such as:
- Communications Officer/Manager
- Public Relations Officer/Manager
- Digital Media Officer
- Social Media Officer/Manager
- Internal Communications Officer/Manager
- Corporate Affairs Officer/Manager
- Public Affairs Officer/Manager
Some graduates have started their own companies or work as project managers. Others stay in academia, going on to gain PhDs and then work as lecturers, teaching and researching public relations in universities.
Testimonial quotes
My time at Stirling was enjoyable, very worthwhile and I found it to be enriching and challenging, with a real international feel to the campus.
Julian Lohaus, Germany
Employability skills
We offer a comprehensive employability and skills programme to help you maximise your time at both universities and develop the attributes that employers look for. First-hand international experience you will gain during your studies has been consistently emphasised as one of the key skills of future communication professionals.
In the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Stirling we have a dedicated Employability and Skills Officer. The University of Stirling’s Careers Service works in partnership with academic staff to ensure you get the most out of your University experience, and are ready for the employment market. Similar programmes are in place at Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
Companies we work with
Companies and organisations we work with include the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, the Scottish Government, the European Commission, the European Parliament, Scotland Europa, Weber Shandwick, CONCORD Europe, United Technologies Corporation, Creative Stirling, FC Barcelona, DIPLOCAT (Public Diplomacy Council for Catalonia) and several local organisations and small businesses in Scotland and Catalonia.
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