Install Findmino as an app for the best experience!
Business & Economics
Duration
4 years
Level
Bachelor
Outlook
Growing
A BA (Hons) in Public Relations and Communications prepares you to manage how organisations communicate with their audiences across media, digital platforms, and public life. You will study strategic communication, media relations, crisis communications, social media management, and content creation. Practical work is central to the programme: you typically complete a structured work placement with a PR agency, corporate communications team, or public-sector body, and some programmes offer Erasmus+ exchange opportunities in Europe. A typical week combines lectures and seminars with live client briefs, press release writing workshops, and media monitoring exercises. Graduates are eligible for membership of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII), the industry's professional body.
Entry is through the CAO and typically requires a minimum of six subjects in the Leaving Certificate, including English, which is essential given the writing and communication demands of the course. Higher Level English is strongly recommended and often required, while a language subject or business subject is frequently an advantage. CAO points for these programmes are generally moderate to moderately high and tend to be competitive in Dublin-based institutions. QQI FET Level 5 or 6 awards in Media, Communications, Journalism, or Marketing offer a recognised progression route for applicants without Leaving Certificate qualifications. Mature applicants aged 23 or over may apply directly through the CAO mature-student category, and HEAR and DARE access schemes are available to eligible applicants from socioeconomically disadvantaged or disability backgrounds.
Demand for communications professionals in Ireland remains solid, particularly as organisations place greater emphasis on reputation management and digital content. Entry-level salaries for PR executives in Irish agencies typically range from around €28,000 to €35,000 gross per annum, rising significantly with experience and specialism. Dublin hosts a large concentration of multinational and agency employers, but opportunities also exist in regional cities and public-sector bodies nationwide. Graduates with strong digital skills and campaign management experience tend to progress quickly into senior roles.
AI tools are already reshaping how communications professionals draft content, monitor media coverage, and analyse audience sentiment, and familiarity with these tools is becoming an expectation rather than an advantage. Automated media monitoring platforms and AI-generated content drafts can accelerate workflow, but strategic judgement, relationship management, and ethical reasoning remain distinctly human skills. PR programmes are beginning to incorporate AI literacy and responsible use of generative tools into their curricula. The core value of a communications graduate — the ability to craft authentic narratives and manage complex stakeholder relationships — is unlikely to be displaced by automation.
2 CAO courses lead to this qualification. Points shown are last year's Round 1 score.
Providers and indicative points are curated with AI support. Always double-check with the institution itself.
CAO points (indicative): 280-460 (2024)
* Indicative only: CAO points change every year. Always check the current points on cao.ie and with the institution.
How to apply
Most full-time honours bachelor programmes in Public Relations and Communications are accessed through the CAO (www.cao.ie), with applications typically opening in November and closing in February each year. Private colleges such as Griffith College and Dublin Business School accept direct applications and have their own entry requirements and fee structures outside the CAO system.
An accounting degree gives you a thorough grounding in financial reporting, management accounting, taxation, auditing, and business law. You will...
4 years
BachelorActuarial and Financial Studies combines advanced mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to assess and manage risk in areas such as insurance,...
4 years
Other studies, careers, ideas and blogs you might not know yet.
We use functional cookies and — with your consent — cookies for preferences, statistics and marketing.