Is the BA Public Communication a PR degree?

No. The BA Public Communication is built around public-sector, NHS and third-sector communications rather than commercial PR. Many graduates do work in press-office and campaign roles, but the discipline taught is public communication and community engagement, not commercial public relations.

Does the BA Public Communication include social research methods?

Yes. A full social research methods strand runs across the three years, covering survey design, interviewing, focus groups, ethnographic observation and basic statistics. The final-year research project is a piece of applied social research in a public-facing setting.

Can I take the BA Public Communication online or by distance learning?

Yes. The online route runs live seminars and tutor-marked practical exercises on the same syllabus as on-campus. Distance learning is structured around fortnightly deadlines with weekly tutor contact and remote engagement-fieldwork support.

What kind of jobs do BA Public Communication graduates take?

Community development, public engagement, social research, charity programme work and public-sector press office roles are the most common destinations. Some graduates continue to a Master's in Public Communication or related discipline at LSJHML or elsewhere.

Is the BA Public Communication recognised by UK public-sector employers?

Yes. The BA Public Communication is a UK honours degree mapped to Social Research Association and Community Development Foundation standards. Local authorities, NHS trusts, charities and regulators recognise the credential alongside your portfolio and research project.

BA Public Communication in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BA Public Communication at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a three-year UK honours degree for students who want to work where communications meet communities — in local government, the NHS, the third sector and public bodies that have to talk with people, not at them. You will train in social research methods, communications planning, community engagement and public-interest editorial work, and graduate with a portfolio that combines a campaign, a research project and a community-facing piece of communication.

This BA treats communication as a public discipline rather than a marketing one. The BA Public Communication trains graduates who can run a consultation, write a clear public-information piece, and design an engagement programme that includes people who are usually excluded from it.

Key Features

UK honours degree in public-facing communications — three years full-time, with online and distance routes.
Social research methods strand — survey design, interviewing, focus groups, ethnographic observation.
Community engagement module built with practitioner input from Community Development Foundation networks.
Plain-English public information practice — accessible writing, easy-read formats, multilingual considerations.
Final-year portfolio — a campaign, a research project and a community-facing communication piece.
Industry-aligned outcomes mapped to Social Research Association and Community Development Foundation standards.

What You Will Learn

The BA Public Communication is structured around the working life of a public-sector or third-sector communicator. You graduate able to plan a public-facing campaign, design and run a small piece of social research, write accessible public information, and engage with communities in ways that survive scrutiny by the people in them.

Foundations of public communication — the relationship between government, public bodies and citizens.
Communications planning — OASIS, GCS standards, audience-led campaign design.
Social research methods — survey, interview, focus group, ethnographic observation.
Community engagement — co-design, deliberative methods, hard-to-reach group inclusion.
Plain-English writing and easy-read formats — clarity, accessibility, multilingual considerations.
Digital communication for public bodies — Gov.UK design patterns, social channels, accessibility law.
Crisis and risk communication — outbreak, incident and recovery messaging.
Evaluation — measurement frameworks, behaviour-change metrics, public satisfaction.

Who This Course Is For

School leavers interested in communications work in the public, NHS and third sectors rather than commercial marketing.
International students seeking a UK degree in public-facing communication taught in central London.
Career-changers from civic, community or campaigning backgrounds moving into structured communications roles.
Working press officers and community workers wanting an undergraduate credential to match their day-to-day responsibility.

Career Pathways

The BA Public Communication positions graduates for roles where communications and community work meet. Typical first roles include:

Community Development Officer (local authority, charity, housing association)
Social Researcher (research agency, public body, NGO)
Local Authority Officer (communications, engagement, policy)
Charity Programme Manager (after early-career programme officer roles)
Public Engagement Lead (museum, NHS trust, regulator)
Press Officer (NHS trust, charity, local authority)

Graduates progress to an MA in Public Communication, Community Development or a related discipline at LSJHML or a partner university.

Entry Requirements

Three A-Levels at BBC or above (or international equivalent — IB 28 points, BTEC DMM, or accepted national qualification).
GCSE English Language at grade 5 or equivalent English proficiency test.
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
A short personal statement; volunteer or community work experience is welcome.
Mature applicants (21+) without standard qualifications may apply with a portfolio and short interview.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.