BA (Hons) Marketing Communications with Public Relations (Foundation)

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Bournemouth University

Program Overview

If you enjoy storytelling, branding, social media, and understanding how organisations shape public opinion, this course is designed for you. It blends marketing communications with public relations to help you learn how brands build trust, manage their reputation, and communicate powerfully in a fast-moving world. You can study this programme as a 4-year degree with a foundation year, including an optional 4-week placement, or as a 5-year degree with a foundation year plus a 30-week placement, giving you a strong head start in your career.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Building Your Foundation
Your first year gives you a solid base in communication and business skills. You will explore modules like Principles of Marketing Communications, Digital Essentials, Integrated Marketing Communications, and Contemporary Debates in Marketing Communications. These units teach you how campaigns work, how audiences behave, and how to research and communicate professionally.

Year 2 – Becoming a PR Professional
In your second year, you dive deeper into practical PR skills. You will study Principles of Public Relations, Content Creation, PR Events, Brands & Digital Branding, and Public Relations Campaigns in Practice. This is the year where you build real campaigns, work on live briefs, and start developing a strong portfolio.

Final Year – Strategic Thinking & Leadership
Your final year focuses on advanced, strategic communication. Key modules include Strategic Management for PR and Reputation Management & Crisis Communication. You will also complete a Dissertation and choose from specialist options such as Behavioural Psychology, Persuasion and Influence, Corporate Sponsorship, or Social Media Management. This year helps you graduate with clarity, confidence, and industry-ready skills.

Focus Areas:

Public relations, digital branding, influencer and stakeholder communication, crisis management, event-based campaigns, marketing strategy.

Learning Outcomes:

You will learn to design PR and marketing strategies, create impactful content, manage brand reputation, apply research effectively, and communicate clearly across digital and traditional platforms.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) through the Graduate Gateway and recognised by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).

Reputation (Employability Ranking):

Strong student satisfaction and career outcomes, with many graduates earning around £26,500 within 15 months of completing the degree.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

One of the biggest strengths of this course is how practical it is. You are not just learning how PR and marketing work — you’re actually doing it. From your first year onwards, you get to work on real briefs, use professional-level media and communication facilities, and collaborate with classmates the way real agency teams do. Bournemouth University strongly focuses on hands-on, industry-aligned learning, which means you graduate with confidence, experience, and a portfolio you can proudly show employers.

And because the programme offers both a 4-year route with a short placement and a 5-year sandwich route with a 30-week placement, you have plenty of opportunities to gain real-world experience before you even graduate.

Here’s what experiential learning looks like on this programme:

You will work on live client briefs and campaign challenges in modules like Public Relations Campaigns in Practice and Brands & Digital Branding, giving you the chance to produce real solutions for real communication problems.
Industry professionals regularly contribute through guest talks and employer networks, helping you understand how PR and marketing operate today.
You can choose between a 4-week placement or a 30-week placement, depending on your course route—both designed to help you build strong contacts and apply what you’ve learned in a real workplace.
The university offers a strong library, digital tools, and IT support, which students consistently rate highly for this programme.
You’ll take part in group projects, including a Collaborative Communication Project in the foundation year, helping you build teamwork and creative problem-solving skills.
As part of the Faculty of Media & Communication, you’ll have access to modern facilities, specialist spaces, and a practical learning environment built for creative communications students.

Progression & Future Opportunities

One of the best things about this degree is how well it prepares you for real careers in marketing and public relations. Bournemouth graduates step into roles like PR Executive, Digital Marketing Manager, Brand Communications Specialist, or Events & Campaign Coordinator, often within months of finishing the course. Employers value the practical experience, confidence, and portfolio you build throughout the programme — making you career-ready from day one.

And the opportunities begin early:
From placements to live briefs, every part of the course is designed to help you grow into a strong communicator who can work in agencies, corporate teams, non-profits or your own creative projects.

Here’s how Bournemouth sets you up for success:

The dedicated Careers & Employability Service supports you with CV writing, mock interviews, one-to-one guidance, and access to employer networks — helping you prepare for jobs you genuinely want.
Graduate outcomes for this field are strong, with only around 3% of graduates unemployed within 15 months — the majority find meaningful work quickly.
Salary indicators are encouraging too: graduates often earn around £25,000 within 15 months, rising to about £28,500 after 3 years and £36,000 after 5 years as they progress.
The programme benefits from industry involvement — including guest speakers, employer-set challenges, and input from professional bodies like the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Because the course is part of the respected Faculty of Media & Communication, your degree carries long-term value and opens doors across marketing, PR, branding, and digital communication.

Further Academic Progression:

If you decide to take your studies further, Bournemouth University offers excellent postgraduate pathways. Many students continue into Master’s degrees in areas like Strategic Communication, Digital Marketing, Brand Management, or Media & Communication, allowing you to specialise and position yourself for senior roles in the future.