Unitec New Zealand | Experience Real World Learning

[BC]

7, 360

Full-time for three years or part-time options available. Honours programme full-time for four years

Starts February or July

80 places

CA2171

Mt Albert campus

NZ$ 4501

International fees
Programme summary
Career opportunities
Courses and timetables
Admission requirements

Programme summary

Want to work in public relations or communications? Develop skills in public relations, news writing, organisational communication, reputation management and government communication. Apply what you have learnt in an industry internship or through an individual or group project.

Do you want an exciting role in the fast-growing field of public relations? Reputation management and stakeholder relationship management are critical to a company's success in today's very competitive environment. Public relations practitioners are playing increasingly strategic roles within organisations, influencing areas such as corporate communication, communication law, government lobbying and reputation management.

As a student on the Bachelor of Communication's Public Relations major, you learn about the relationship between organisations and the media, and find out how to get positive media coverage for a business or organisation. You'll explore the social, political and cultural contexts of public relations, and develop a range of skills in areas such as communication law, media and government communication, news writing, public relations and reputation management. You’ll acquire a broad knowledge base, giving you the flexibility to perform the wide variety of tasks expected of communication graduates.

In your first year, you gain a solid grounding in communication theory and develop your skills in professional writing and digital media. In your second and third years, you hone in on your chosen major, focusing on areas such as communication ethics, event management, media writing and public relations.

Real-world learning
In your third year, you apply your knowledge with an industry internship with an external organisation or through completion of an individual or group applied communication research project. Corban Estate Arts Centre, Fineline Entertainment, Konica Minolta NZ and Metromedia are just some of the organisations you could end up completing an internship with.

Experienced lecturers
Unitec's experienced communication lecturers come from a broad range of communication-related backgrounds and are actively engaged in a wide variety of research. You'll also have the opportunity to learn from high-profile guest lecturers from across the industry.

Flexible study options
To help you fit study around the other demands of your life, you can also study the Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) on a part-time basis.

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Career opportunities

  • Community relations manager
  • Corporate communication manager
  • Government relations manager
  • Marketing communications manager
  • Public relations consultant
  • Public relations manager

 

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Courses and timetables

To view the list of courses and timetables for this programme for 2010, please click here.

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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet the general, discretionary or special admission requirements. Applicants must also meet the English language requirements.

General admission

Applicants must:

  • Be at least 16 years of age when the programme begins (or provide a completed Early Release Exemption form, which you can obtain from your local Ministry of Education office); and 
  • Have a minimum of 42 credits at level 3 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework, including a minimum of:
    • 14 credits at level 3 or higher in each of two subjects from an approved subject list; and
    • 14 credits at level 3 or higher taken from no more than two additional domains on the National Qualifications Framework or approved subjects; and
  • Have a minimum of 14 credits at level 1 or higher in Mathematics or Pangarau on the National Qualifications Framework; and
  • Have a minimum of eight credits at level 2 or higher in English or Te Reo Māori, of which a minimum of four credits must be in Reading and four in Writing (see note), or equivalent; or
  • Have achieved at least three C passes in New Zealand University Bursaries examinations, or equivalent; or
  • Have the Unitec Certificate in Foundation Studies: Whitinga (Level 3) with a relevant endorsement, where appropriate, or equivalent.

Applicants must also provide a personal statement explaining why they want to study for this degree.

Discretionary admission (for applicants aged under 20)

Applicants who do not meet the general admission requirements and who are less than 20 years of age when the programme begins may be considered for discretionary admission if they can demonstrate aptitude for study at the required level. This may include, for example:

  • Having a minimum of 72 NCEA credits at level 2 in their best four subjects, including English; or
  • Having a maximum total of 10 in their best four New Zealand Sixth Form Certificate subjects, including English.

Special admission (for applicants aged 20 and over)

Applicants who do not meet the general admission requirements and who are at least 20 years of age when the programme begins may be considered for special admission if they can provide evidence of aptitude or appropriate work or other experience.  

English language

Applicants must:

  • Have a minimum of 12 NCEA credits in English at level 3; or
  • Have gained a pass of C or better in New Zealand University Bursaries English; or
  • Have an overall IELTS band score (Academic) of no less than 6.5 (with no band score lower than 6.0), or a TOEFL score of no less than 575, or equivalent; or
  • Have an appropriate Unitec English language qualification, such as the Diploma in English (Academic), or equivalent.

Applicants may be interviewed.

Note: New Zealand secondary school graduates who have English as an additional language (EAL) using NCEA to meet Unitec programmes general admission criteria may substitute the eight credits in English at NCEA level 2 (four in Reading and four in Writing) with an IELTS score (or equivalent). This IELTS score is the same as that required by the programme in which they wish to enrol. These students are still required to achieve a minimum of 42 NCEA credits at level 3 or higher and the Mathematics or Pangarau requirements.

 

 



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