MA in Advertising and Public Relations

The MA in Advertising and Public Relations prepares students to kickstart an exciting creative career in the advertising and PR industry. The programme is taught in Kensington – the vibrant and prestigious borough of Central London. The city is a hub, at the forefront of digital innovation, disruptive tech and home for some major advertising companies such as the WPP Group, Ogilvy & Mather, Saatchi & Saatchi, that offers bright students immediate work opportunities or internships after completing their degree.

This US-accredited Master’s programme brings together practical skills and extensive theoretical knowledge to equip the student with the necessary skill set to perform well in their first employment and seek career progression within the industry. The MA is taught at the Kensington Campus in central London, allowing better networking opportunities and convenient proximity to Soho, Holborn, Fitzrovia where most of these agencies are based.

Richmond University is a partner of The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) – Europe’s largest and most influential PR and communications membership body entitling our students to membership.

Practical Content

The MA helps gain practical skills in both advertising and PR from the outset, with students developing and presenting their creative projects. The practical aspect of the course will culminate in an optional accredited internship and mandatory research project, including PR working experience and a critical approach which will require students to relate their work to wider thinking about these industries. The programme also provides in-depth academic insights of the advertising and PR industries, their digital transformation and the role they play for consumers worldwide and social media audiences.

Explore

Students examine the industries’ digital edge and explore different approaches of both advertising and PR. Students also benefit from a range of elective courses in the second semester, which enables them to gather knowledge and skills in specific areas of interest.

Optional Accredited Internship

The Internship Programme 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 in 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. By ensuring they act as critical and reflective practitioners, it prepares them for challenging leadership roles in a world of diversity and rapidly changing opportunities.

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 the main area of interest from leading academics that consult for advertising agencies worldwide.

Entry requirements

A first degree in any discipline with a minimum classification of 2.2 (Lower Second Class Honours) or its international equivalent.

English Language Requirements (Non-Native English Speakers)

• IELTS 6.5 with 5.5 in each Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing

• TOEFL (IBT) 87 overall with Listening 21, Reading 22, Writing 21, Speaking 23

• Pearsons Academic Test of English (PTE) 62

• Cambridge English: Proficiency – Level C2 or Level C1

An Education of the Highest Calibre

Richmond is an American International University, established in 1972 and based in West London with two campuses in Richmond Hill and close to Kensington High Street. Since 1981, the university has been awarding US Degrees accredited by The Middle States Commission on Higher Education. One of the latest achievement that Richmond is proud to announce, is being granted the power to award students with its own UK degrees starting from August 2018, as a consequence of having been recently granted Taught Degree Awarding Powers (TDAP) by the Privy Council.

The university is the first and the only university in the UK that has been granted the power to award dual taught degrees, which mean students will receive a UK and US degree that will impact enormously our graduates while looking for employment opportunities and make them stand out from the crowd.

Since its opening in 1978, the Kensington campus buildings on St Albans Grove and Ansdell Street accommodate the third and fourth-year undergraduate students as well as all postgraduate students. In March 1988 Kensington campus saw a further expansion on Young Street and most recently, Kensington High Street.

The University is unique for its private institution academic standards, in its teaching approach that combines the American Liberal Arts system with the UK higher education standards, which empowers our graduates with a competitive edge and opens up more opportunities to find employment either in U.K. or in the U.S.

The undergraduate degrees we offer to explore a wide range of subjects and programmes allowing a broad-based education, whereas the postgraduate programmes include the option to take specific electives that will define a degree minor/major. The key benefits that this private university offers, among others, are, more academic mentorship and teaching time (15 hours per week on average) than in any other UK University, a strong focus on promoting international opportunities through a broad range of credit-based and integrated internships, and study abroad programmes in our teaching centres in Italy (Rome and Florence).

We provide teaching excellence and offer financial support with our US and UK Scholarships based on merit and academic achievement, and have recently introduced a new Chancellor’s Plus Scholarship for Fall 2018 that contributes to reducing significantly students’ tuition fee debt after the completion of their degree. Our Scholarships can be combined with other UK and US funding and grant available options, that we advise our students to apply for upon meeting the entry requirements.

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Top 5 reasons to choose Richmond

Dually-Accredited U.K. & U.S. Undergraduate and Master’s Degrees Scholarships that can reduce student debt & Funding available (including SFE +US Government loans) Flexible American Liberal Arts system, extensive contact hours and mentorship (average 15 hours per week) Integrated Internships (in the U.K. and overseas) Two London campus experiences (in Richmond & Kensington) with available on-campus accommodation, guaranteed for the first year

An International Perspective

Living and studying together, our students from over 100 countries are ready for a world where the ability to communicate effectively across national and cultural boundaries is as valuable as a traditional academic achievement. A Richmond education offers a global perspective and an interactive study environment that promotes diversity, teamwork and leadership. Being a liberal, American international university, it focuses on enriching students’ study experience within an international setting, taking into account multiple intercultural aspects. It encourages students to form their own opinions and be considerate with others while taking decisions or working on course projects, as well as developing their individual strengths and professional skills as future international team leaders.

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Two campus experiences in London

As well as the excitement of living in one of the world’s most lively and cosmopolitan cities, London obviously offers spectacular resources and opportunities for learning outside the classroom. However, Richmond courses also bring the life of the city – its people, institutions, politics, problems and history into lectures and course projects. Add to all this a supportive international faculty, flexible curriculum allowing you to explore topics outside your main specialisation, small classes and campuses in two of London’s most beautiful neighbourhoods and you’ll find Richmond a great place to earn a dual undergraduate or a master’s degree recognised in the U.K and U.S.

Richmond Hill Campus

First and second-year students attend our Richmond Hill campus. The campus is set in a splendid six-acre site at the top of Richmond Hill, one of London’s most sought-after areas. An impressive neo-Gothic building constructed in 1843 and a modern five-level library, house classrooms, computer and science laboratories, art and photography studios and an auditorium.

The campus also accommodates student residences, a dining hall, student common room, and faculty and administrative offices. There is also a multipurpose sports court of tennis, volleyball, basketball and mini-soccer (football). After completing two years at our Richmond Hill campus, students move to our campus in the London borough of Kensington for their last two years of study.

Kensington Campus

Third-year, fourth-year and postgraduate students attend our Central London campus in Kensington, one of London’s most beautiful residential areas. Its several buildings within 2 minutes’ walk from the main Atlantic House on St Albans Street have all necessary facilities from house classrooms, pc labs, library, a dining hall and University offices.

The Kensington campus also hosts a number of visiting students from the United States and other countries who spend a semester or a year in London. Students may choose to live in University buildings or in the off-campus housing of their choice. Within easy walking distance are the Royal Albert Hall, famous for its concerts, the Royal Colleges of Music and Art, Imperial College of Science and Technology, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Geological Museum and many cinemas, the iconic Hyde Park and a buzzling high Street with plenty of cafes, restaurants, clubs and department stores.

District and Piccadilly underground links Richmond or Kensington with the rest of the city. Frequent rail service into Victoria, Paddington and Waterloo stations connects you to the rest of the UK and to Europe. Both Heathrow and Gatwick Airports are easily accessible.