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 Child Cancer Foundation, Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust, Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ), House of Science West Auckland, The Y North Shore, Kaipātiki Project, Citizens Advice Bureau Auckland Central, Oke Charity and Duffy Books in Homes.

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

Strong industry partnerships

The lecturers are well-connected with the industry as active members of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ).

We have good relationships with organisations like:

  • Acumen
  • Botica Butler Raudon
  • One Plus One Communications
  • Porter Novelli
  • Senate SHJ
  • Undertow Media
  • Wright Communications
  • Various non-profit, corporate and public sector organisations

Opportunities for you to meet industry contacts

We regularly organise:

  • Industry guest lectures and panels
  • Mentorships
  • Paid internship
  • Scholarship opportunities

We also encourage you to go on field trips and 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
  • Option to include subjects from across AUT in your degree
See yourself as
  • A collaborative colleague
  • A strategic thinker
  • A builder of reputations and relationships
  • A good writer, speaker and organiser
Katy McMillan
Jorja Parmentier
Samantha Mills
Gyllian Falute Taei
Grace Ulu
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
Jorja Parmentier
Great graduatesJorja ParmentierBachelor of Communication Studies
Diploma in ArtsAs someone who has always enjoyed managing events and PR, Jorja Parmentier loved being able to combine both of these passions as part of her degree.As someone who has always enjoyed managing events and PR, Jorja Parmentier loved being able to combine both of these passions as part of her degree.
Read full story
Samantha Mills
Great graduatesSamantha MillsBachelor of Communication StudiesA lot of problems could be helped with better communication, says Samantha Mills who is studying PR, brand and advertising creativity and health promotion.A lot of problems could be helped with better communication, says Samantha Mills who is studying PR, brand and advertising creativity and health promotion.
Read full story
Gyllian Falute Taei
Great graduatesGyllian Falute TaeiCo-Founder, Sue Taei Ocean FellowshipBachelor of Communication StudiesShe loves the community her work helps to create, says communication studies alumna Gyllian Falute Taei who is one founders of the Sue Taei Ocean Fellowship.She loves the community her work helps to create, says communication studies alumna Gyllian Falute Taei who is one founders of the Sue Taei Ocean Fellowship.
Read full story
Grace Ulu
Great graduatesGrace UluSenior Account Executive, One Plus One CommunicationsBachelor of Communication StudiesShe genuinely loved her communication studies degree, says Grace Ulu, who came to AUT to study a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Public Relations.She genuinely loved her communication studies degree, says Grace Ulu, who came to AUT to study a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Public Relations.
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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