Media & Public Relations BA(Hons)

You’ll start developing the skills you’ll need to succeed from the very beginning, as you immerse yourself in the contexts and practices of the current media landscape. In the first year of this Media & Public Relations degree, you’ll explore key concepts around theory, creative problem-solving and professional practice.

Writing Toolkit

You will develop essential writing skills in this module, combining seminars and workshops. Explore the art of copywriting, journalistic storytelling, and creative writing through hands-on practice and expert guidance. Build confidence in crafting compelling narratives, persuasive messages, and innovative ideas that captivate diverse audiences. 

Digital Cultures: The Information Age 

This module will support you to study and debate the key trends shaping the contemporary media landscape. Alongside this, you’ll get a working knowledge of key laws and regulations which journalists and communications professionals must work within.  

Introduction to Media Industries 

Guided by the question: ‘how is media content created, distributed, and consumed in today's interconnected world?’, you will learn about the fast-moving media industries. Explore the structures, key players, and evolving trends in TV, digital media, and journalism. 

Introduction to Public Relations 

This module introduces the foundations of public relations, blending theory with practical skills. You will learn about PR’s role in shaping public conversation and perceptions, crafting impactful messages, and managing communication strategies. Through real-world case studies, creative projects, and hands-on activities, discover how PR drives media narratives and connects brands with audiences. 

Marketing Communications

Building on what you learnt in year one, this module aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills required to prepare and plan marketing communications that are also sensitive to important issues such as sustainability and diversity. 

Strategy & Planning 

You’ll consider strategy within the creative process and the thinking that underpins all choices made within communications campaigns. This in turn will enable you to create effective campaigns that deliver on a brand’s needs.  

You can choose to take an optional professional placement after your second year on a three-year programme, or after your third year if you’re studying for a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year. 

You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the Employability team. 

Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying. 

How you’ll study during your professional placement

You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks. 

You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation. 

Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth. 

You can choose to take an optional professional placement after your second year on a three-year programme, or after your third year if you’re studying for a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year. 

You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the Employability team. 

Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying. 

How you’ll study during your professional placement

You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks. 

You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation. 

Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth. 

This creative media degree mirrors life in a creative agency or newsroom. You’ll learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, technical workshops, studio sessions, industry projects, and independent study. You will develop practical skills through challenge-based creative projects, creative exploration, critical reflection, and authentic hands-on learning. You may also benefit from guest lectures or take advantage of optional study trips. 

You'll share specialist first-year modules with other School of Communication courses. 

At Falmouth, we use a 'digitally enhanced learning & teaching' approach. Your experience will always be predominantly in-person, including seminars, tutorials and studio teaching, with some, more targeted elements, being online either live (synchronous) or pre-recorded (asynchronous). You can read more here. 

100% of your assessment will be coursework.   

Assessment methods 

Practice-based modules will be assessed on the presentation of visual work, including sketchbooks to show process. Theory-based modules will be assessed on a mix of written reports or illustrated essays. 

In your final year, you’ll be assessed on your final year project and your portfolio - culminating in an exhibition of your final-year work. 

You will receive feedback in a range of formats:   

• Discussions with tutors about work-in-progress   
• One-to-one tutorials with your module tutors   
• Informal group presentations   
• Group discussion and crits to get peer feedback on ideas   
• Academic support and feedback on written assignments are available in tutorials or with academic skills tutors   
• Asynchronous feedback offered through emails or ‘soft’ deadlines of practical work   
• Opportunities to get feedback from visiting guest speakers from industry or portfolio crits