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Bricks with the names of PR courses on them.

Elevate your PR career with every skill you develop.

Just like a master bricklayer assembles a sturdy wall one brick at a time, meticulously and with precision, you too can purposefully build your public relations career to reach higher levels of success. Every skill you develop holds value and provides you with stability to build new ones on top of another.

Whether you're building a brand or crafting a message, our Diploma in Public Relations will help you gain practical skills and theory that you can immediately apply to your current job. No matter what industry you’re in, it’s important to think critically about your organization, build a positive public image and use both your existing and new skills to progress as a professional in the workplace.

Start building your knowledge and public relations future one skill at a time.

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Description

Courses and fees

Application information

Questions?

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Program at a glance

Program description

As a public relations professional, you must be able to design external and internal communication plans and integrate the new theoretical and practical models of public relations practice that have recently emerged. The Diploma in Public Relations program meets these needs and gives you the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in the public relations and communications field. Strengthening your time management, critical thinking and communication skills will help you to build strategic relationships and serve the public interest. Just as the public relations field is always evolving, it’s crucial you keep evolving to meet your professional goals.

Program features

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Online Flexibility
Offered exclusively in asynchronous delivery style, this program makes it possible to have a healthy balance between work, study and personal life. You can choose the number courses you want to take per term and complete the program at your own pace.
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Credibility
For more than 25 years, this program is offered through Continuing Studies at UVic, a respected institution consistently ranked among the top Canadian comprehensive universities.
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Industry Alignment
The program is nationally recognized through the Canadian Public Relations Society, proving that it aligns with industry needs and offers sound preparation in the field of study.
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Teaching Talent
Our supportive instructors are diverse and qualified industry professionals who bring a practical high-level of knowledge to the theoretical learning.
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Experiential Learning
The direct application from theory to practice makes this program invaluable in the job market.
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Curriculum Excellence
This program is guided by a steering committee with academic professionals and senior PR practitioners to ensure the curriculum meets theoretical and industry standards.
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Administrative Support
Our committed staff are qualified adult educators providing excellent guidance to instructors and students.

Program recognized by:

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Canadian Public Relations Society

Program outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Diploma in PR, you will:

  • create strategic methods to manage public relations and communications planning programs
  • learn about the history, evolution and theory of the public relations profession
  • develop strong critical thinking, teamwork and time and project management skills while expanding upon their work ethic
  • acquire effective writing skills
  • increase awareness of current events, the impact of global issues and their effect on organizations
  • critically analyze public relation practices using key learning strategies such as:
    • research and evaluation
    • issues management
    • crisis communication
    • communication planning
    • effective communication tools

Who is this program for?

Are you interested in becoming a stronger communicator? Do you have a passion for language and making connections? Are you looking to earn an industry-recognized credential? These are a few questions our students answer with a "yes".

The Diploma in Public Relations program is designed for professionals employed in the public relations and communication field and working in the public and private sectors. If you are entering the public relations field, or already working in it, but want to have formal education in PR, our program also provides the necessary qualifications.

Students and graduates of the program typically have several of the following characteristics, beliefs and values.

This could be the opportunity you’re looking for to elevate your PR career one skill at a time, if you…

  • are committed to the use of communication to manage relationships between an organization and its diverse publics to achieve mutual understanding, realize organizational goals and serve the public interest.
  • understand the importance of research and analysis to inform communication strategies,
  • have a passion for shaping public perception and reputation management,
  • value professional development to stay relevant in a competitive job market,
  • are driven and ambitious to achieve success in your career,
  • are curious and open-minded–enjoy learning about new ideas and concepts,
  • welcome creativity and innovation in problem-solving,
  • enjoy writing, editing, and crafting persuasive messages,
  • value work-life balance and seek flexibility in your educational pursuits,
  • believe staying up-to-date on current events and social trends helps you grow–professionally and personally,
  • don’t shy away from putting in the work to achieve your goals,
  • thrive on meeting deadlines and delivering quality work.

Career options

Some of our learners pursue careers in the following roles:
  • Public Affairs/PR Officer
  • Communication Specialist/Consultant
  • Media Relations Coordinator
  • Communication and Engagement Manager
  • Corporate Communication Director

Instructors

News and resources

Video - WATCH VIDEO: Build Your PR Career Brick by Brick

WATCH VIDEO: Build Your PR Career Brick by Brick

READ ARTICLE: Why study PR? By instructor Nigel Atkin

READ ARTICLE: Navigating a career transformation through PR

READ ARTICLE: PR student is awarded the 2023 Denis Racine Bursary

LEARN MORE: Awards, scholarships and bursaries

VIEW SCHEDULE: Upcoming PR courses

Courses and fees

You need to complete 10 courses to obtain your diploma: seven required courses and three electives.

Apply online
Apply now
= Courses open for registration

Seven (7) required courses

Plus Three (3) electives below

Program planning

A different selection of courses are offered every term. To see our upcoming offerings, please view our anticipated course schedule. To assist in your program planning, you can also view all course descriptions. 

Graduation information

Students who have completed the program should submit the following online form: Application to graduate.
A PDF version of the form is also available: Application to graduate (PDF).

Estimated fees

Description Fee
Program application fee ($125 until March 31 and $150 starting April 1) $150.00
Seven required courses ($695 early registration fee) $4,865.00
Three elective courses ($695 early registration fee) $2,085.00
Estimated Total $7,100.00*
*IMPORTANT NOTE:
Fees listed in this section are an estimate. Total program fees may vary depending on delivery format, course selections, student fees, textbooks and taxes.

Explore financial support options on the Public Relations awards and bursaries page.

Application information

Admission requirements

You'll need one of the following to be eligible for admission:

  • a university degree (or relevant professional qualifications) and three years of work experience
  • high school graduation and five years of work experience
  • any combination of equivalent education and work experience
  • relevant voluntary experience and/or a strong motivation to acquire a credential in public relations, but with no previous experience

English language requirement for international students

International students must meet the requirements above. In addition, applicants whose first language is not English must submit proof of English proficiency (TOEFL 90 on the online test or 575 on the paper-based test, with no section less than 20 or academic IELTS 6.5, with no individual component less than 6.0)

How to apply

We accept applications on an ongoing basis, but you must apply to the program before registering for courses. There is a $125 admission fee until March 31, after that date the admission fee will be $150. Use our secure online application form for credit card payment, or if you prefer to mail/fax your application, download and print off the PDF version and mail the form to:

Diploma in Public Relations
Division of Continuing Studies
University of Victoria
PO Box 1700 STN CSC
Victoria BC V8W 2Y2

Fax: 250-721-8774

Application dates

Starting in
January or September
 
Availability
  Accepting Applications
Apply by
  Ongoing
Apply online

Questions?

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RELATED TOPICS: Communication and Public Relations

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