MSc Strategic Communication and Public Relations (Joint Degree UPF Barcelona)

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• develop an advanced and critical understanding of complex communication phenomena and theories underpinning them;  
• develop, execute and evaluate strategic communications plans and campaigns;
• communicate effectively to a wide range of publics, using appropriate communications tactics, technologies and terminology;
• advise on appropriate channels and messaging to meet strategic communications objectives;
• integrate theory, research findings and awareness of communications technologies into strategic communication planning;
• recognise and respond appropriately to the ethical challenges associated with strategic communication and public relations;
• set objectives and design and implement public relations activities and tactics to meet those objectives;
• conduct research and evaluation appropriate to public relations and strategic communications activities.

Awarded CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) Recognition.

Awarded with a CEI label (International Campus of Excellence) by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Pompeu Fabra is a modern university with prestigious international rankings.

We're also members of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), EUPRERA (European Public Relations Education and Research Association) and ECREA (European Communication Research and Education Association)

You will spend at least one semester at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain.

Communications, Media and Culture at the University of Stirling was ranked 2nd in Scotland overall in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), with 100% of our research environment and 88% of our overall research classed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Pompeu Fabra staff are also research active and publish internationally.

You’ll be taught by lectures, seminars, workshops, case studies, small group tutorials, field trips and visiting speaker presentations.

Guest lectures from public relations practitioners provide networking opportunities and introduce students to current practice in the industry. We work closely with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), and you can attend CIPR events, allowing you to meet practitioners working in the field and to extend your network of contacts. 

You’ll have the opportunity to attend a public affairs seminar series in Brussels, which includes visits to the European Parliament, the European Commission and specialist industry seminars with leading public affairs and communication experts in Brussels.

Methods of assessment include:

• essays;
• academic and practice-based papers;
• timed assignments;
• public relations and communication campaigns, strategic communication plans and reports;
• a media relations portfolio which includes organisation of media conferences, digital media production and designing media packs;
• case studies;
• research designs and projects;
• in-class contributions and presentations.

You will also complete a 12,000-word dissertation.

For some of the more practical modules, you’re required to produce a portfolio of work – which you can present to potential employers at job interviews. 

During the semesters, you can expect to spend around two to four hours in synchronous in-class and asynchronous sessions (e.g. lectures, seminars, webinars, workshops and discussions) per week for each of your modules. These will be combined with around 32 hours (full-time study) of your independent study. There may also be dedicated fieldtrips and online guest lectures as part of the teaching on particular modules. 

During the dissertation period, you will have regular meetings with your dissertation supervisor and dissertation seminars. 

Dr Alenka Jelen

+44 (0) 1786 466225

[email protected]

University of Stirling

Dr Alenka Jelen is Course Director and teaches public relations theories; public affairs and advocacy; media relations and production and research methods. Her current research focuses on public relations as an academic discipline; gender in public relations and media; relationships between media and politics; and health communication.

Dr William Dinan teaches and researches promotional culture, communication and power. Interests include spin; propaganda; political communication; lobbying and civil society advocacy; freedom of information; transparency and governance.

Grant Thoms teaches and has research interests in public relations practice, media relations, public affairs and lobbying. He is a chartered public relations practitioner with a varied client base.

Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Professor Jordi Xifra is Programme Co-Director of the MSc Strategic Communication and Public Relations (Joint Degree) at Universitat Pompeu Fabra. His research focuses on the intellectual history of public relations, and the role of film in building public relations discourses. He has published more than 15 books on public relations and public affairs in Spain, and his articles have been accepted for publication in Public Relations Review, Journal of Public Relations Research, and American Behavioral Scientist, among others. He founded Public Relations Inquiry (Sage), a key critical journal in the field of public relations.

Dr Lluís Mas specialises in the relationship between branding and political communication in social media; sound branding; body image and advertising; and PR strategies. He teaches Public Affairs and Advocacy.

If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.

International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling

We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay

My time at Stirling was enjoyable, very worthwhile and I found it to be enriching and challenging, with a real international feel to the campus.

Julian Lohaus, Germany 

We offer a comprehensive employability and skills programme to help you maximise your time at both universities and develop the attributes that employers look for. First-hand international experience you will gain during your studies has been consistently emphasised as one of the key skills of future communication professionals.  

In the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Stirling we have a dedicated Employability and Skills Officer. The University of Stirling’s Careers Service works in partnership with academic staff to ensure you get the most out of your University experience, and are ready for the employment market. Similar programmes are in place at Universitat Pompeu Fabra.

Companies and organisations we work with include the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, the Scottish Government, the European Commission, the European Parliament, Scotland Europa, Weber Shandwick, CONCORD Europe, United Technologies Corporation, Creative Stirling, FC Barcelona, DIPLOCAT (Public Diplomacy Council for Catalonia) and several local organisations and small businesses in Scotland and Catalonia.