Canada is a popular academic destination as it hosts nearly half a million international students every year. Factors like world-class institutions, academic excellence, post-study work opportunities, and a safe environment encourage aspirants to pursue master’s degree programs such as Public Relations in Canada. So, if you are interested in pursuing this popular course, here is everything you must know.

Key Highlights

• Public Relations in Canada: A course overview
• Masters of Public Relations: Popular specialisation
• Top Canadian universities offering Public Relations courses
• Public Relations course in Canada: Eligibility criteria
• Jobs after PR masters programs
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Public Relations in Canada: A course overview

Public Relations (PR) deals with building and maintaining an organisation’s reputation among the public, customers, investors, stakeholders, and clients through strategic communication. As PR professionals, students need to shoulder several responsibilities, such as presenting information to clients, communicating with the media through press conferences, etc., and with the public. Therefore, these PR courses aim to strengthen the domain knowledge and communication skills required to work in all types and sizes of organisations. These courses enable students to understand:

• How to communicate strategically by using both contemporary and traditional media channels?
• How to change public opinion ethically?
• How to speak in public?
• How to handle issues that are tarnishing the reputation of an organisation?

As per interests and career goals, students can pursue PR diploma, certificate, master’s, and PhD courses in Canada. They can study these courses either full-time or in part-time mode. Assignments, case studies, and in-class discussions form an important part of these programs.

Masters of Public Relations: Popular specialisations

• Digital Media
• Media studies
• Corporate Communication
• Media Relations and Brand Journalism
• Communication and New Media
• Public Engagement and Relations
• Event Management

Top Canadian universities offering Public Relations courses

Here is the list of popular Canadian universities that offer PR masters programs, diploma and certification courses:

• University of Toronto
• McGill University
• University of British Columbia
• University of Alberta
• University of Waterloo
• Western University
• University of Montreal
• University of Calgary
• McMaster University
• University of Ottawa
• Concordia University
• Simon Fraser University

Public Relations courses in Canada: Eligibility criteria

International students need to meet certain eligibility criteria for pursuing Public Relations master’s degrees in Canada, which are as follows:

• A bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Public Relations, or a related field from a recognised university
• Academic transcripts (degrees and certificates)
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score
• Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or Graduate Record Admission Test (GMAT)
• Letters of Recommendations (LOR)
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Work Experience (not mandatory)
• Resume

The requirements of a Public Relations course may vary from one university to another. Therefore, it is advised to verify the course and the university-specific requirements before applying.

Jobs after PR masters programs

PR graduates are in demand in the public and private sectors. Canada is projected to witness ∼73,700 new job openings in PR, marketing, and advertising between 2022 and 2031. Students can choose to work with a media house or other leading businesses. Some of the top recruiters of PR professionals are Swerve PR, Penguin Random House, Rogers Publishing Ltd., Bell Canada, etc.

The popular job profiles that students can bag after completing their masters of Public Relations, certificate and other courses are as follows:

• Public Relations Manager
• Marketing Manager
• Communications Director
• Event Coordinator
• Social Media Manager
• Corporate Communication Specialist

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the average annual salary of PR professionals in Canada?

Ans. The average annual salary offered to PR professionals in Canada varies from ∼CAD 40,000 to ∼CAD 1,18,000 (∼INR 25,20,000 to ∼INR 74,34,000).

Q2. Which are the highest-paying industries for various PR positions in Canada?

Ans. Financial Services, Airlines, and Technology are the highest-paying industries for PR job profiles, followed by consulting firms.

So, if you are planning to pursue higher studies in PR from a top-ranked Canadian university and are facing financial hiccups, there is no need to give up your academic aspirations. Instead, apply for an education loan for studying abroad and finance your higher education independently. At Avanse Financial Services, we offer hyper-personalised education loans with benefits like 100% finance, quick loan sanctions, and multiple repayment options. To know about the process of how to apply for a student loan in India, get in touch with us today!