Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Public Relations

Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their public. With the influence of social media, companies are now facing constant responses from their customers through comments or postings on social media. 

This could go viral within seconds which might disrupt the reputation of the organization. Increasingly, the corporate world in Malaysia is well aware of the need for professionally trained public relations personnel in this complex corporate communication era. 

This is why graduates of public relation courses in Malaysia have highly sought after. The communication talent in this field will help corporates handle the new challenges posed by the clients as well as the industry.

What will you study in a Public Relations Degree?

A public relations degree will give you the skills and knowledge needed in effective communication. Subjects a PR degree may cover include:

• Communication theory
• Media writing
• Crisis management
• Media relations
• Principles of public relations
• Media and communication laws

You may also be required to undergo industrial training or an internship as part of the course. This will help you gain experience in the sector as well as provide you a chance to apply the theories that you have learned in class.

Who should study Public Relations? 

If you’re wondering if public relations is for you, here are some traits that would make you suitable for this field

• You like people – You like meeting new people and you like being around people. You are friendly and sociable and good at building relationships to add to your network of people. You look forward to attending events such as product launches. 

• You are on top of the current trends – Being in the loop about the latest trends is important as you will need to advise clients on product launches and advertising.

• You are good at writing – In addition to being able to communicate orally, you will also have to communicate well in the written form. A finely crafted press release can work wonders in this industry!

Besides this, you will also need to be able to work under pressure. There will be times when you will have to troubleshoot problems effectively on the spot. Problem solving is very much a part of public relations. As such, you will need to be able to identify and address issues that crop up during a project to ensure success. 

Don’t worry if you are not an expert in the abovementioned skills. A public relations degree will help you to develop and sharpen them so that you are well prepared to work in this industry when you graduate. 

Public Relations jobs and career options

Students who graduate with a public relations degree will be able to seek employment opportunities in the communications, media and consultancy industries. Some common careers for public relations graduates are:

• Media relations officer
• Publicist
• Social media executive
• Public relations executive 
• Corporate communications executive 

Why study Communication and Public Relations at UOW Malaysia KDU?

UOW Malaysia KDU Penang University College’s Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Public Relations provides students with in-depth knowledge on communication skills and public relations through industrial-based curriculum design. The public relation course in Malaysia is a common one. 

However, our program specifically emphasizes practical and hands-on exposure to equip students to a real world working environment. Students will be actively involved and exposed to the industry experiences through event planning, talks, real world tasks for clients, academic conferences and guest lecture sessions conducted by industry professionals. 

Moreover, students will embark on internships with public listed companies, multinational companies, as well as local SME firms to gain a deeper understanding of public relations jobs.

The program will be validated by the reputable University of Lincoln in UK with a dual award arrangement.

This degree program provides a pathway to:

• Postgraduate Study: This program prepares you with a solid foundation in communication and public relations to enable you to pursue a Master’s degree in communication studies.
• Career opportunities: Public Relations Strategist, Social Media Campaign Strategist/ Specialist, Campaign Director, Communications Specialist, Corporate Communication Manager, Event Manager, Public Relations Manager, Publicist or Branding Strategist

Dual Award title:

UOW Malaysia KDU Penang University College Award:

• BA (Hons) in Communication and Public Relations

University of Lincoln Award:

• BA (Hons) Public Relations (Dual Award)

*Graduates will receive an award and transcript from both institutions

Graduates of a dual award degree program receive a degree award from both UOW Malaysia KDU Penang University College and our partner university. A dual award degree program constitutes the completion of a single program of study and is differentiated from a double–degree.