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Public Relations Major - Bachelor of Communication Studies

Study public relations at AUT and embark on an exciting career where every day promises to be different. Get real PR experience and make industry connections during your studies.

A PR career could be organising top-level celebrities to promote an exotic resort, working with an international health organisation to communicate disease prevention in a developing country, briefing business leaders on a company merger, or lobbying the government to change regulations on behalf of a charity.

You'll learn from lecturers who have industry and academic expertise with a national and global outlook. Their strong industry connections mean that as a public relations student you have the opportunity to go on industry field trips and gain paid PR experience during your degree.

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This is part of the Bachelor of Communication Studies.

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You’ll explore topics like reputation management, relationship management, strategic communication, communication in a business environment, sponsorship and promotion, internal communication, persuasion and negotiation, social media strategies and moral philosophy.

Year 1

This year you take eight core courses that give you an overview of the media world and communication theories:

Year 2

This year you take four courses related to public relations, covering topics like reputation management, relationship management, strategic messaging, communication in business and political environments and the power of persuasion.

You study the following courses:

You also take courses from your second major, your minor(s) or elective courses.

Year 3

Our students can plan and execute PR strategies through Outside the Square (OTS), our student-run public relations consultancy. You work in teams to interpret a brief from a real client, develop a communication strategy and implement the plan on time and on budget. Recent clients included Hockey New Zealand, Surf Life Saving, Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand, The NZ Music Foundation and Starship Foundation.

Outside the Square website

Other courses this year focus on the role of multimedia in public relation campaigns, political and election campaigns, and developing a strategic communication plan.

You study the following courses:

You also continue to take courses from your second major, your minor(s) or elective courses.

Build your degree

Use our online tool to build your own degree and see what your three years of study could look like.

Build your degreeBuild your degreehttps://www.aut.ac.nz/study/study-options/communication-studies/courses/bachelor-of-communication-studies/public-relations-major

Graduate internships

The lecturers have developed graduate internships with organisations like:

  • Fonterra
  • Auckland Council
  • Ports of Auckland
  • PR consultancies like Porter Novelli, Acumen, Botica Butler Raudon, Baldwin Boyle, Undertow Media and Drum

PRINZ networking events

We have a longstanding relationship with the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) and we encourage students to attend PRINZ industry networking events.

Majoring in public relations will prepare you for a wide range of roles, including:

  • Corporate communications executive
  • Public relations consultant
  • Marketing communications executive
  • Government communicator
  • Internal communications advisor
  • Community relations manager
  • Cultural mediator
  • Media relations manager
  • Influencer campaign manager
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Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.

Public Relations Careers

Key features
  • Supported by the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) and leading PR consultancies
  • Participate in live campaigns and industry field trips
  • Work for a real client in AUT’s student-run PR consultancy, Outside the Square
See yourself as
  • A collaborative colleague
  • A strategic thinker
  • A builder of reputations and relationships
  • A good writer, speaker and organiser
Taylor Evans
Scott Telfer
Samantha Smith
Katy McMillan
Jzayla Hughey
Taylor Evans
Great graduatesTaylor EvansDelivery Manager, Bank of New ZealandBachelor of Communication StudiesThe people are what she loves most about her career, says communication studies alumna Taylor Evans who is now a delivery manager for the Bank of New Zealand.The people are what she loves most about her career, says communication studies alumna Taylor Evans who is now a delivery manager for the Bank of New Zealand. She joined BNZ at the start of 2021, after seven years at Westpac New Zealand Ltd. For Taylor, her journey into the world of PR started when she came to AUT to enrol in a communications degree.
Read full story
Scott Telfer
Great graduatesScott TelferMarketing Associate, Waddell+Associates
Player, Taranaki Steelformers MountainairsBachelor of Business
Bachelor of Communication StudiesFor Scott Telfer, life has been rather busy – not only does he have a promising basketball career, but he also uses his marketing skills to secure sport funding.For Scott Telfer, life has been rather busy – not only does he have a promising basketball career, but he also gets to use his marketing skills to help secure sport funding and support communities. Scott says he knew pretty quickly that AUT was the right university for him as he liked the atmosphere at AUT and felt like this would be the best environment for him to spend the next four years.
Read full story
Samantha Smith
Great graduatesSamantha SmithSocial Media Executive, Hearts & ScienceBachelor of Business
Bachelor of Communication StudiesAs a marketer you can be a world innovator, says Samantha Smith who studied both marketing and public relations, and now works at Hearts & Science.As a marketer you can be a world innovator, says Samantha Smith who studied both marketing and public relations, and now works at Hearts & Science.
Read full story
Katy McMillan
Great graduatesKaty McMillanDirector, Global Sustainability Corporate Affairs, AstraZeneca, LondonBachelor of Communication StudiesWhat she loves most about her role is its strong sense of purpose, says Katy McMillan who works for pharmaceutical and biotechnology giant AstraZeneca.What she loves most about her role is its strong sense of purpose, says Katy McMillan who works for pharmaceutical and biotechnology giant AstraZeneca.
Read full story
Jzayla Hughey
Great graduatesJzayla HugheyBachelor of Communication StudiesShe has always had a strong interest in the film and creative arts industry, says Jzayla Hughey who is currently completing a Bachelor of Communication Studies.She has always had a strong interest in the film and creative arts industry, says Jzayla Hughey who is currently completing a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Public Relations with a minor in Screen Production. Jzayla says she was drawn to AUTs communications degree because of its strong connections to the film industry and the broader career paths it opens up.
Read full story
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The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.

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