Programme Overview

Our MA in Advertising and Public Relations is London’s first postgraduate degree bringing together both of these exciting disciplines. US and UK accredited, it is taught in Kensington – a vibrant and prestigious area in central London, close to the hub of these industries.

The programme is taught by experienced practitioners and emphasises professional skills and practical training, preparing students to kick-start exciting and creative careers by taking up internships or immediate work opportunities after completing their degree.

The MA exploits London’s role as a global communications centre, at the forefront of digital innovation, and an unparalleled hub for media, entertainment, celebrity, fashion, sports and where the world’s top advertising and PR professionals work on the world’s most famous brands. Not only can you study in Kensington, a highly desirable location in the heart of London, but many of our students choose to live in our accommodation there.

You’ll have a distinct advantage, being able to study one programme and gain two degrees, from the US and the UK, paving the way for careers on both sides of the Atlantic and internationally. This Master’s programme in Advertising and Public Relations blends practical skills and theoretical knowledge to fast forward your career progression within these industries.

From the word ‘go’, the emphasis is on the practical as you’ll develop and present your creative project. You’ll be able to live and breathe advertising and PR with an optional accredited internship and mandatory research project at the end of the programme, developing your critical thinking skills and gaining invaluable working experience.

The programme also provides in-depth academic insights of the advertising and PR industries, their digital transformation and how they affect consumers and social media audiences worldwide.

Guest speakers, who are leading figures in the advertising and PR world, are invited to share their knowledge and experience with our MA students, ensuring you’ll be aware of emerging industry trends. You could have the opportunity to do some inspiring site visits to some of London’s top communications agencies.

Perfect your digital media skills and learn how advertising and PR fit into the global marketing communications mix. In the second semester, you’ll be able to gain knowledge and skills by choosing electives from a captivating choice of topics, including Celebrities, Marketing and the Media; Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management and Political Communication.

Through our partnership with them, you’ll also have membership of The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) – Europe’s largest and most influential PR and communications membership body –enabling you to attend free networking events and participate in additional online learning.

Are you interested but not sure if you are eligible? We welcome applications from people with all kinds of academic backgrounds and qualifications (usually a first degree in any discipline with a minimum classification of 2.2, Lower Second Class Honours, or its international equivalent) and will also consider people who have relevant work experience. We are always happy to arrange visits, answer questions or talk about the programme. If you’d like more information, please submit our Enquiry Form. Scholarships are available, see our website for more details as well as finance options.

Optional Accredited Internship
The Internship Programme at Richmond integrates industry knowledge with real working experience. Students will be challenged to relate course projects to the workplace, make contacts which may prove valuable to their future employment prospects, and gain confidence in their capabilities, creativity and communication skills. Internships are designed to be both demanding and rewarding. The internship will provide an opportunity to better understand the marketplace, using the skills learned on courses in a real-world setting, as students produce an assessed record of their experiences.

A broad education of this kind equips graduates for a wide range of careers internationally, while enabling them to develop specialist expertise in areas of particular interest.

Top 5 reasons to study Advertising & PR

• Acquire detailed knowledge of advertising, PR, communications and digital media trends in a one year programme based in central London
• Develop a global and critical perspective on the thriving, rapidly evolving and competitive global industries of Advertising and PR
• Increase your employment opportunities in Advertising and PR, either with an optional internship or research project that implies a PR work experience within best companies
• Learn in a small class setting and benefit from a diverse, multicultural environment as well as from the PRCA membership
• Specialise in main area of interest from leading academics that consult for advertising agencies worldwide

Modules breakdown