Bachelor/Master of Arts in Medical Journalism and Public Relations (BA/MA)

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Danube Private University

Program Overview

The Bachelor/Master of Arts in Medical Journalism and Public Relations (BA/MA) at Danube Private University (DPU) is a practice-oriented program that blends journalism, public relations, and a strong medical foundation, preparing you to become a skilled mediator and critical observer in healthcare communication. It's ideal for those passionate about health topics who want to work as journalists, PR specialists, or consultants in medical fields, with hands-on internships and renowned lecturers ensuring you're ready for real-world roles in companies, media, or institutions.

Curriculum Structure
Years 1-3 (Bachelor's Phase, 6 Semesters Total):
In the early years of the Bachelor's program, you'll build a solid base by diving into 80 ECTS credits each in Medicine and Journalism/Public Relations, starting with essential medical sciences and journalistic fundamentals to grasp complex health issues ethically. You'll tackle practical skills through modules focused on media theory, PR strategies, and health reporting, all while completing internships in editorial offices or healthcare PR departments as a prerequisite and ongoing requirement. This phase culminates in a 10 ECTS Bachelor's thesis and additional internship assessments, totaling 180 ECTS, so by graduation, you're equipped to handle socio-medical stories responsibly.

Years 4-5 (Master's Phase, 4 Semesters Total):
Advancing to the Master's, you'll engage in six specialized modules in Journalism and Public Relations (100 ECTS total), deepening your expertise in advanced medical communication, ethical reporting, and strategic PR for healthcare. Key modules emphasize professional methods, media influences, and organizational aspects of medical journalism, supervised by academics and practitioners, alongside a mandatory two-month professional internship. The program wraps with a 20 ECTS Master's thesis based on an academic project, honing your ability to produce high-level work for health media or corporate communications.

Focus Areas:
- Medical and health journalism, public relations in healthcare
- Ethical mediation of scientific and socio-practical issues
- Journalistic competencies combined with PR theory and practice

Learning Outcomes:
Graduates emerge as qualified professionals who can critically analyze medical content, communicate reliably in digital media landscapes, and apply knowledge in roles like medical journalists, communications managers, or PR consultants—especially powerful if paired with a medicine or dentistry background.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):
The BA/MA program is fully state-recognized and AQ Austria accredited as part of DPU's evaluated degree offerings, ensuring EU-wide validity and compliance with professional standards in medical communication.

Reputation (Employability):
DPU's healthcare-focused programs, including this BA/MA, serve around 3,000 students from 66 nations, with graduates thriving in journalism, PR, and health sector roles—backed by practical training from expert lecturers and official accreditation confirming top-tier preparation.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Danube Private University (DPU), the Bachelor/Master of Arts in Medical Journalism and Public Relations (BA/MA) stands out for its hands-on approach, where you'll build real-world skills in communicating complex medical topics through access to cutting-edge facilities shared across our medical and dental programs. You'll work in modern spaces that blend tradition with tech, like seminar rooms equipped with state-of-the-art presentation tools, giving you the perfect setup to craft compelling stories, press releases, and multimedia content right from day one. This practical edge comes from DPU's excellent infrastructure for teaching, science, and research, designed to immerse you in the medical world you'll be reporting on.

Here's how you'll gain experiential learning tailored to medical journalism and PR: leveraging these facilities to simulate real media scenarios, collaborate on projects, and connect with healthcare pros:

- State-of-the-art seminar rooms and auditorium with advanced presentation technology for practicing pitches, media simulations, and public speaking on medical topics.
- Library with IT workstations and literature databases for in-depth research on health stories, accessing thousands of publications to build accurate, impactful journalism.
- Medical Simulation Centre for hands-on exposure to emergency training scenarios, inspiring authentic reporting on clinical innovations and patient care.
- Collaborations with university hospitals (Wiener Neustadt, Neunkirchen, Hochegg) for potential internships and bedside observations, letting you shadow real medical environments and network for PR placements.
- Athenäum venue for symposia, congresses, and events blending medicine, art, and culture—ideal for group projects covering live scientific exchanges with global experts.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor/Master of Arts in Medical Journalism and Public Relations (BA/MA) programme at Danube Private University offers a uniquely integrated learning environment where students develop practical skills within a state-of-the-art institutional setting. As a student in this programme, you'll benefit from studying at a university deeply committed to bridging technical excellence with humanistic values—a foundation that directly strengthens your ability to communicate complex medical topics with both accuracy and empathy. Your education extends far beyond the classroom, drawing on DPU's exceptional infrastructure and collaborative network:

- Modern Campus Facilities: Access to lecture halls and seminar rooms equipped with state-of-the-art presentation technology, allowing you to develop communication skills in professional environments

- Library and Digital Resources: Comprehensive library with IT workstations and access to extensive literature databases, essential for researching and contextualizing medical stories and public health narratives

- University Hospital Network: DPU maintains active collaborations with university hospitals in Wiener Neustadt, Neunkirchen, and Hochegg, providing direct access to clinical settings where you can observe, document, and understand healthcare in practice

- Dental Clinic Krems: Hands-on exposure to a fully operational university dental clinic with around 50 ultra-modern treatment units and cutting-edge facilities, offering real-world content opportunities and insight into patient care communication

- Research Partnerships: Involvement in DPU's EU and state-funded research initiatives, including the PI-SENS project on personalized medicine, providing opportunities to develop stories around innovative healthcare technologies

- Humanistic Education Framework: Seminars in ethics, integrity, and mindfulness that directly inform how you approach medical journalism—understanding the human dimension behind health stories

- Corporate Social Responsibility Integration: Access to DPU's CSR department projects and humanitarian initiatives, offering experiential opportunities to cover and participate in real-world health and community engagement work

- Interdisciplinary Learning Environment: Study alongside future doctors and dentists, gaining insider perspective on medical education and healthcare professionals' perspectives