How long is the MSc in Public Relations Management?

One year full-time, or two years part-time via online and distance routes. The MSc in Public Relations Management closes with a supervised dissertation and sponsor consulting project.

Can the MSc in Public Relations Management be studied online?

Yes. The MSc in Public Relations Management runs on-campus in London, fully online with UK/APAC cohort calls, and by distance learning.

Is the MSc in Public Relations Management recognised by UK employers?

Yes. The MSc in Public Relations Management is designed around CIPR Chartered Practitioner and PRCA senior-practitioner competencies and is recognised across UK plc and agency director hires.

What are the entry requirements for the MSc in Public Relations Management?

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or equivalent), or three years of PR or corporate-affairs experience on portfolio route, IELTS 6.5, and a senior campaign case study for the MSc in Public Relations Management.

What does the MSc in Public Relations Management cost?

Fees vary by mode and instalment plan. Contact LSIBM admissions for the current schedule and employer-sponsored places on the MSc in Public Relations Management.

MSc in Public Relations Management | LSIBM London | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MSc in Public Relations Management at the London School of International Business and Management (LSIBM) is a one-year UK master's for senior PR practitioners moving into director-track roles — a PR director at a London agency, a head of corporate affairs at a UK plc, or a chief communications officer at a scale-up. Sitting in the Marketing, Media & Digital Business faculty, the course combines reputation strategy with financial PR, public affairs, integrated corporate affairs and applied research on live UK plc situations.

The MSc runs one year full-time (two years part-time via online or distance routes). Students complete a substantial dissertation supervised by a working PR director, run a sponsor consulting project with a UK organisation, and defend a plc-scale reputation strategy in front of a working chief communications officer. Delivery is on-campus in central London, fully online with cohort calls scheduled across UK and APAC time zones, and by distance learning.

Key Features

Curriculum reviewed against CIPR Chartered Practitioner competency framework and PRCA senior-practitioner standards.
Three study modes — central London campus, fully online with UK/APAC cohort calls, or distance learning.
Sponsor consulting project with a UK organisation.
Practitioner-led seminars from CIPR Fellows, PRCA agency-head partners and heads of investor relations.
Dissertation supervised by a working PR director.
Structured executive-application coaching in the final term.

What You Will Learn

The MSc organises PR leadership around the working questions a UK PR director actually owns: which narrative, which stakeholder, which regulatory disclosure, which crisis playbook, and which measurement stands up in front of a CFO.

Reputation strategy at plc scale — narrative architecture, licence to operate.
Financial PR — IPO comms, results-day rhythm, RNS discipline, analyst engagement.
Public affairs — Whitehall engagement, APPG dynamics, Select Committee prep.
Integrated corporate affairs — earned, owned, shared, paid at plc scale.
Global corporate affairs — multi-market campaigns run from London HQ.
Crisis communications leadership — pre-empt, hold, respond, recover rhythms.
Investor relations engagement and CMD (Capital Markets Day) design.
Applied research — reputation audits, sentiment analytics, employee voice.
Measurement leadership — AMEC framework, Barcelona Principles, CFO-ready ROI.
Ethics under CIPR, PRCA, Ofcom and IPSO at director level.

Who This Course Is For

Senior PR practitioners moving into director-track seats.
Heads of PR and corporate affairs formalising director-level credentials.
Financial PR advisers preparing for chief communications officer roles.
Consulting partners specialising in reputation and crisis-comms advisory.
International PR leaders converting to UK plc and corporate-affairs practice.

Career Pathways

Graduates typically progress into PR-director and chief-communications-officer roles across UK plcs, financial services, regulated sectors and agencies. The MSc supports applications but does not by itself guarantee job offers or visa outcomes.

PR Director
Head of Corporate Affairs
Director of Communications
Financial PR Director
Chief Communications Officer (junior)
Head of Investor Communications

The MSc is a strong signal for CIPR Chartered Practitioner application, PRCA senior-practitioner recognition and IoD director development.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent international qualification. Applicants with three years of substantive PR or corporate-affairs experience may apply on a portfolio route.
GCSE English Language at grade 5/C (or equivalent) for domestic applicants; international applicants meet the language rule below.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
A short statement of intent (600 words) explaining research or applied interests, plus two references (one academic, one workplace or professional-body); a portfolio including a senior campaign case study is encouraged.

Why Study at LSIBM

The London School of International Business and Management (LSIBM) is a specialist business-education provider based in central London and part of Harold International College. Postgraduate cohorts run in small tutor-visible groups, are shaped by working senior practitioners (partner-level at a Big Four firm, Fellow-level at CIM or CIPD, CFA charter-holders in investment routes) and close with a substantial dissertation, sponsor consulting project or applied capstone defended in front of a working panel.

London puts the City, Canary Wharf, Whitehall, Companies House, the FCA, the Bank of England, the West End and the major consulting, banking and multinational headquarters within a short tube ride of every classroom. LSIBM postgraduates attend a fortnightly senior-practitioner clinic and a structured executive-application coaching programme in the final term.

Apply for the MSc in Public Relations Management

Step into the senior track with the MSc in Public Relations Management. Click Enrol Now and admissions will reply within one working day with intake dates, dissertation supervisor allocation guidance and the current fee schedule. LSIBM postgraduates are supported by dedicated executive-application coaching in the final term.