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- Experience corporate communications in developing media campaigns, resolving issues, and dealing with the media.
- Complete a portfolio of work to demonstrate your skills.
- Opportunities for work placement in consultancies, government, corporate settings and community groups.
- Graduate accredited by the Public Relations Institute of Australia.
- Prepares you for a career as a public relations officer/consultant, communications professional, corporate relations professional, publishing professional, media adviser or journalist
- You can also study this major as part of QUT's new Bachelor of Business - International degree, which includes one year of compulsory overseas studies.
Highlights
- Experience corporate communications in developing media campaigns, resolving issues, and dealing with the media.
- Complete a portfolio of work to demonstrate your skills.
- Opportunities for work placement in consultancies, government, corporate settings and community groups.
- Graduate accredited by the Public Relations Institute of Australia.
- Prepares you for a career as a public relations officer/consultant, communications professional, corporate relations professional, publishing professional, media adviser or journalist
- You can also study this major as part of QUT's new Bachelor of Business - International degree, which includes one year of compulsory overseas studies.
Why choose this course?
Your public relations course brings the real world into the classroom. You’ll learn how to build organisational relationships, write for, and liaise with, the media, and make public relations decisions across the corporate, government, agency and not-for-profit sectors.
What’s distinctive about public relations at QUT is that the course builds two career paths: public relations in-house practitioner and public relations consultant. In the in-house practitioner path your final year at QUT develops your skills to become a public relations manager, and to be able to manage issues, respond to public opinion and work to protect reputations for real-world organisations. In the public relations consultant path, your final year at QUT involves a project where you pitch an idea to a real-world client and prepare a campaign to address their needs.
You will graduate with a portfolio of work to demonstrate your skills and potential to employers.
Real-world learning
Following an overview of public relations theory and practice you will gain writing and planning skills necessary for practice.
Third-level units provide a broad view of the strategic application of public relations, including public relations within organisations, global examples of public relations, and public relations management.
Work placement opportunities in consultancies, government, corporate settings and community groups are available. You’ll also have access to events run by professional bodies such as the Public Relations Institute of Australia, and opportunities to create your own career networks.
In the capstone unit, public relations campaigns, you'll have the chance to integrate earlier learning by designing a campaign for a real world client.
Explore this course
What to expect
No two days are the same in the exciting and challenging world of public relations. A public relations career can take you from publicising a new movie, to launching a social media campaign, to improving relationships with customers, to developing a government safety campaign. Public relations is critical to success in business as it helps organisations build and protect their reputation and relationships with the community, employees and other stakeholders.
Career outcomes
Career outcomes
QUT’s public relations course is well recognised in educating industry professionals. Our graduates hold positions in Brisbane, Sydney, New York, London and Norway, among other local and international destinations.This means you will enter an industry which has an established network of QUT graduates currently working in positions around the world, including:
- public relations consultant/manager
- communications adviser
- corporate relations executive
- media adviser or press secretary
- media and communications officer or manager
- stakeholder relations adviser or manager
- publicist
- community relations officer
- corporate affairs manager.
Professional recognition
This course is accredited by the industry’s peak professional body, the Public Relations Institute of Australia, which provides access to professional education and career opportunities. QUT maintains strong links with this body and a number of our teaching staff hold executive positions.
Research pathways
Bachelor of Business (Honours) option
High-achieving students who wish to take further studies may enrol in BS63 Bachelor of Business (Honours).
Possible careers
- Corporate Relations Manager
- Media Industry Specialist
- Media or Communications Adviser
- Policy Officer
- Public Affairs Manager
- Public Relations Officer/Consultant
- Public relations manager
- Publicist
- Stakeholder Relations Specialist
Details and units
Your degree at a glance
Year 1
You will build a base of broad business knowledge through the core units, covering all areas of business from accounting and economics through to management, marketing and global business. With generic skills in all areas, you will gain an understanding of how businesses operate within the commercial and social environment. You will begin your studies in public relations in the second semester, with an introduction to founding principles, an overview of the profession, and an insight into the future of public relations practice in contemporary organisations.
Year 2
You will build knowledge and skills in public relations techniques, learning how to write and prepare public relations tactics and tools such as media releases, social media programs, and events for real-world clients. In doing so, you will develop a portfolio of public relations materials to show potential employers. You will also build skills in public relations planning, allowing you to identify the best practices of public relations by analysing successful public relations campaigns from Australia and around the world. You will also have the opportunity to personalise your degree with the selection of a second study area.
Year 3
Acting as an internal adviser, you will explore corporate communication issues for organisations and track contemporary issues through case studies. You will also take the role of a public relations consultant, advising a real-world client on their problem or opportunity. Working in partnership with other students to form a consulting team, you will prepare a campaign plan to present to your client. Your writing skills will be further developed through your campaign portfolio. Work placements are also available to match your interests in consultancies, government, corporate settings and community groups.
Public relations major units
- Public relations techniques
- Public relations planning
- Issues, stakeholders and reputation
- Global public relations cases
- Internal Communication and Change
- Public relations campaigns
- Introduction to public relations
- Marketing and audience research
Recommended complementary study areas
Second major and minor options
- Advertising
- Marketing
- Integrated marketing communication
- Management
- Human resource management
- Language
Additional minor option
- Tourism and entertainment marketing
Public Relations major units
- Public relations techniques
- Public relations planning
- Issues, stakeholders and reputation
- Global public relations cases
- Internal Communication and Change
- Public relations campaigns
- Introduction to public relations
- Marketing and audience research
Recommended complementary study areas
Second major and minor options
- Advertising
- Marketing
- Integrated marketing communication
- Management
- Human resource management
- Language
Additional minor option
- Tourism and entertainment marketing
Requirements
These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2019.
Don't have an OP or rank?
Starting uni in 2021?
There are some changes to subjects and the qualifications we’ll consider for entry to QUT from 2021 and beyond. Make sure you’re prepared to apply.
- Course code
- BS05
- QTAC code
- 413021
- CRICOS code
- 003491G
-
- Gardens Point
-
- Gardens Point
- 3 years full-time
- 6 years part-time
- 3 years full-time
- February and July
- February, July and November
- Conditions apply for International students wishing to commence study in November. Contact bus@qut.edu.au for more information.
- OP Guarantee
- Yes
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course we assume you have sound knowledge in these areas:
- English
We assume that you have knowledge equivalent to four semesters at high school level (Years 11 and 12) with sound achievement (4, SA).
Guaranteed entry
If you receive an adjusted OP 1-5 (or equivalent selection rank), you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
Advanced standing
If you have prior studies or work experience, you may be eligible for advanced standing (credit). You can apply for advanced standing once you've been accepted to QUT. If you're in your first semester of study, you must apply for advanced standing within 10 days of receiving your offer.
Deferment
You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.
More about deferring your offer
Adjustments to your selection rank
Any adjustments you receive to your selection rank (or OP equivalent) will be applied to this course.
Find out if you’re eligible for an adjustment to your selection rank
Offers we made to school leavers in Semester 1, 2018
The scores listed in the tables below reflect the offers that were made to recent school leavers. If you are not a school leaver, take a look at the entry thresholds box at the top of this page to see the lowest adjusted scores required overall to receive an offer.
| Excluding adjustments | Including adjustments | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OP | Selection rank | OP | Selection rank | |
| Highest OP/selection rank to receive an offer |
OP
1
|
Selection rank
99
|
OP
1
|
Selection rank
99
|
| Median OP/selection rank to receive an offer |
OP
8
|
Selection rank
84
|
OP
7
|
Selection rank
86
|
| Lowest OP/selection rank to receive an offer |
OP
12
|
Selection rank
73
|
OP
9
|
Selection rank
81
|
You can find out more about your fellow students’ backgrounds with this course’s student profile.
Other admission options
If you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you may be eligible for admission through our Centralised Assessment Selection Process (CASP).
Minimum academic requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this course.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
I completed secondary school in Australia
Guide to entry thresholds
These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2019.
- OP
- 9
- Rank
- 82
Did you get an OP 1-5?
If you completed secondary school in Australia and received an OP 1-5 or equivalent, and you meet the course prerequisites, you are guaranteed an offer for this course in the January offer round
Minimum English language requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.
Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, United States of America and Wales.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests.
| English Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cambridge Advanced English Score
Test must be taken within 2 years of commencement at QUT. You must provide your Cambridge English Candidate ID and Candidate Secret Number, these are printed on your Cambridge English Confirmation of Entry. |
176 | 169 | 169 | 169 | 169 |
|
IELTS Academic
Test must be taken within 2 years of commencement at QUT. |
6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
|
Pearson PTE (Academic)
Test must be taken within 2 years of commencement at QUT. Please assign your test to QUT in your Pearson profile. |
58 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
|
TOEFL iBT
Test must be taken within 2 years of commencement at QUT. |
79 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 18 |
Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!
We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.
When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.
Haven't completed an English language test? We can help!
If you have not completed an English language test, you can sit the IELTS test at our IELTS test centre
Fees
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2020 fees
2020 CSP $11,200 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2020 fees
2020: $31,100 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2019 fees
2019: CSP $11,000 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2019 fees
2019: $29,900 per year full-time (96 credit points)
Student services and amenities fees
You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.
Find out more about undergraduate course fees
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
Scholarships
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
Corporate Partners in Excellence (CPIE) Scholarship - commencing students
A scholarship for future undergraduate students who want to study a Bachelor of Business.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
QUT Excellence Scholarship (Academic)
A scholarship for future undergraduate students who want to study in any faculty.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
Business Academic Excellence Scholarship
A scholarship for future undergraduate students who want to study business.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
Laurie Cowled Indigenous Scholarships for Business Students
A scholarship for current undergraduate Indigenous female students studying business.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent; Struggling financially; Women
Triple Crown Scholarship
A scholarship for future international students who want to study business.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
Equity scholarships scheme
A scholarship for low-income students studying in any faculty.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Struggling financially
QUT Sport Scholarship (Elite Athlete)
A scholarship for future and current undergraduate students who want to study in any faculty.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Sporting excellence
Follow your dream
'I chose PR because I dreamed of working for high-profile, global brands. During my degree my lecturers provided real-world insights and connections. I was also part of QUT’s International Case Competition team, which helped me land a dream graduate role in marketing at L’Oréal Group. I’ve since moved to the Tokyo office for a six month secondment to work on global strategy and product development for Maybelline, the World’s #1 beauty brand.'
Real graduate
‘As publicity manager at Queensland Performing Arts Centre, I work on a variety of shows from dance and theatre, to orchestral and festivals. At QUT, I really enjoyed working on real-world projects and relating what I had learned in the classroom to the real business world. I was also able to tailor my business degree, choosing elective units that helped to prepare me for my chosen career path.’
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