Bachelor of Business (Public Relations)

Name: Bachelor of Business (Public Relations)
Author: Queensland University of Technology

Real-world ready

'QUT was always my first choice, I liked how the degrees were focused on gaining the practical skills and work experience needed to succeed. I specialised in PR and communications but the degree also introduced me to all of the business majors, meaning I was exposed to areas such as accounting and statistics. This meant I graduated with knowledge of all the different business requirements in companies large and small.'

Lauren Roe
Founder and Creative Director of I Love Linen, Bachelor of Business graduate

Read about Lauren's career journey

Follow your dream

'I chose PR because I dreamed of working for high-profile, global brands. During my degree, my lecturers provided real-world insights and connections. I was also part of QUT’s International Case Competition team, which helped me land a dream graduate role in marketing at the L’Oréal Group. The L’Oréal Group has allowed me to work internationally. I have worked at their Tokyo and Melbourne offices and plan to soon relocate to their New York City office to join the global marketing team for Maybelline, the World’s #1 beauty brand.'

Angus Mitchell

Create a brighter future

I chose to study a Bachelor of Business with a major in public relations and a minor in Indigenous knowledges because I am passionate about creating a brighter future for young Indigenous Australians. As part of my degree, I have undertaken four internships with NAB, Inala Youth Service Communications and Queensland Government. Studying this degree has provided me with the knowledge, experience and skills I need to succeed in the industry.

Melita Hegarty

Real-world ready

Lauren Roe
Founder and Creative Director of I Love Linen, Bachelor of Business graduate

Read about Lauren's career journey

Follow your dream

Angus Mitchell

Create a brighter future

Melita Hegarty

Real graduate

‘As publicity manager at Queensland Performing Arts Centre, I work on a variety of shows from dance and theatre, to orchestral and festivals. At QUT, I really enjoyed working on real-world projects and relating what I had learned in the classroom to the real business world. I was also able to tailor my business degree, choosing elective units that helped to prepare me for my chosen career path.’

Inga Tracey

Highlights

Learn how to manage communication around issues and crises, engage with stakeholders, communicate effectively with different audiences, counter misinformation, address distrust, improve reputation, and drive positive social impact.
Gain skills in conducting meaningful research to help inform the recommendations you make and the decisions you reach.
Develop digital competencies and in-demand transferable skills in analytical thinking, decision-making, communication and problem-solving.
Master the art of communication and learn how to write and share well-crafted and compelling messages.
Work with real-world clients to develop a portfolio of work to show potential employers.
Gain practical experience working with consultancies, government, corporate settings, and/or community groups through QUT's Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program.
Graduate with an accreditation from the Public Relations Institute of Australia and receive free student membership while you study at QUT.

Highlights

Learn how to manage communication around issues and crises, engage with stakeholders, communicate effectively with different audiences, counter misinformation, address distrust, improve reputation, and drive positive social impact.
Gain skills in conducting meaningful research to help inform the recommendations you make and the decisions you reach.
Develop digital competencies and in-demand transferable skills in analytical thinking, decision-making, communication and problem-solving.
Master the art of communication and learn how to write and share well-crafted and compelling messages.
Work with real-world clients to develop a portfolio of work to show potential employers.
Gain practical experience working with consultancies, government, corporate settings, and/or community groups through QUT's Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program.
Graduate with an accreditation from the Public Relations Institute of Australia and receive free student membership while you study at QUT.

Explore this course

What to expect

Public relations has evolved substantially over the past few years, but its main objective has remained the same: to foster good relations with key organisational stakeholders and protect, repair, and maintain organisational reputations.

If you're looking to become a public relations expert with industry-ready skills and the experience that employers are looking for, consider studying QUT's public relations major.

What makes QUT's public relations major different is our close relationship with industry. Throughout this course, you will not only be taught by leading, internationally renowned public relations academics and researchers; but you will also work with industry clients to solve real-world problems; and gain valuable practical experience with consultancies, government, corporate settings, and/or community groups.

Our public relations course is co-designed with national and international industry experts to ensure you learn industry-relevant and up-to-date information and practices.

This course will teach you traditional PR skills such as crisis communication management and stakeholder engagement, as well as in-demand skills for the modern PR practitioner including knowing how to counter misinformation and address distrust.

Excellent and effective communication is vital in public relations, and with the help of our world-class academics and industry experts, you will graduate with strong skills in communication, as well as analytical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving.

Technology has rapidly transformed the global communication landscape, and in today's world, there are more channels than ever before to communicate and engage on. As part of this course, you will learn how to monitor your client's operating environment, use social media platforms to gather information, reach different audiences, and write well-crafted messages tailored to each channel’s nuances.

Finally, our public relations course prepares you for the real world, and at the end of this course, you will graduate with accreditation from the Public Relations Institute of Australia and a portfolio of work to demonstrate your skills and potential to employers.

Careers and outcomes

Public relations practitioners play a vital role in developing and implementing the communication that supports an organisation’s reputation and its relationships with stakeholders. The relevance of QUT’s public relations course to real world needs means our graduates are in continuous high demand both nationally and internationally.

Graduates of this course will enter a profession with an established network of QUT graduates working around the world in community relations, stakeholder engagement, government relations, corporate communication, media and communications, digital media, financial and investor relations, fundraising, and media and publicity.

Professional recognition

This course meets current industry standards and is accredited by the industry’s peak professional body, the Public Relations Institute of Australia. QUT maintains strong links with this body and several staff members have held executive positions.

Possible careers

Brand communication coordinator
Digital experience coordinator
Marketing communications specialist
Media adviser
Press secretary
Public affairs manager
Public relations officer/consultant
Publicist
Stakeholder engagement adviser
Stakeholder engagement manager

Details and units

Requirements

ATAR/selection rank threshold: 70.00

These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2025.

Don't have a ATAR/selection rank?

Find out other ways you can apply

Course code: BS05

QTAC code: 413021

CRICOS code: 003491G

Delivery

Online
Gardens Point

Delivery

Gardens Point

Duration: 3 years full-time; 6 years part-time

Duration: 3 years full-time

Entry: February and July

Entry: February, July and November

Deferment: You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.

Assumed knowledge

Before you start this course, we assume you have sound knowledge of the subject/s listed below. If you don't have the subject knowledge, you can still apply for the course but we strongly encourage you to undertake bridging studies to gain the knowledge:

English, or Literature, or English and Literature Extension, or English as an Additional Language (Units 3 & 4, C)

More about assumed knowledge

Year 12 early offer scheme

If you're a current Queensland Year 12 student, you may be eligible to receive an offer for this course on the last day of Queensland Year 12, before receiving your ATAR or selection rank.

Find out more about the QUT Year 12 Early Offer Scheme

Helping you to get into your course

If you don't think your ATAR or selection rank is high enough to get into this course, you can guarantee your entry with guaranteed advanced standing by upgrading through one the following programs which you can select as one of your QTAC preferences:

QUT College Diplomas

As a QUT College Diploma in Business, Entrepreneurship (business pathway), or Esports (business pathway) graduate you will automatically receive an offer to start the Bachelor of Business within one week after completion of the diploma. You will also automatically receive up to 1.0 year (96 credit points) credit transfer and be able to complete the degree in 2 years as a full-time student (or equivalent part-time).

Find out more about the QUT College Diploma in Business

Find out more about the QUT College Diploma in Entrepreneurship

Find out more about the QUT College Diploma in Esports

Offer guarantee

If you achieve an ATAR or selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.

VET guarantee

If you have completed an AQF certificate IV, diploma or higher, and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.

Advanced standing

If you have prior studies or work experience, you may be eligible for advanced standing (credit). You can apply for advanced standing once you've been accepted to QUT. If you're in your first semester of study, you must apply for advanced standing within 10 days of receiving your offer.

More about advanced standing

Deferment

You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.

More about deferring your offer

Adjustments to your ATAR/selection rank

Any adjustments you receive to your ATAR or selection rank will be applied to this course.

Find out if you’re eligible for an adjustment to your ATAR or selection rank

Offers we made to school leavers in Semester 1, 2024

The figures listed in the tables below reflect the offers that were made to recent ATAR students. The entry thresholds box at the top of this page shows the lowest adjusted ATAR/selection rank required to receive an offer for all applicants for the most recent January QTAC offer round.

	Excluding adjustments	Including adjustments
Highest ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer	Selection rank 98.40	Selection rank 99.95
Median ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer	Selection rank 81.05	Selection rank 82.95
Lowest ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer	Selection rank 63.30	Selection rank 70.05

You can find out more about your fellow students’ backgrounds with this course’s student profile.

Other admission options

If you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you may be eligible for admission through our Centralised Assessment Selection Process (CASP).

Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this course.

If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.

I completed secondary school in Australia

ATAR/selection rank: 70.00

Offer guarantee

If you completed secondary school in Australia and achieve an ATAR/selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.

VET guarantee

If you have completed an AQF certificate IV, diploma or higher, and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.

Minimum English language requirements

Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.

Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.

If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.

We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests undertaken in a secure test centre. Tests must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement.

English Test
IELTS Academic / One Skill Retake
Overall	6.5
Listening	6
Reading	6
Writing	6
Speaking	6
Cambridge English Score You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website.
Overall	176
Listening	169
Reading	169
Writing	169
Speaking	169
PTE Academic
Overall	58
Listening	50
Reading	50
Writing	50
Speaking	50
TOEFL iBT
Overall	79
Listening	16
Reading	16
Writing	21
Speaking	18

English Test	Overall	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
IELTS Academic / One Skill Retake	6.5	6	6	6	6
Cambridge English Score You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website.	176	169	169	169	169
PTE Academic	58	50	50	50	50
TOEFL iBT	79	16	16	21	18

Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!

We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.

When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.

Applying for this course

Applicants with recent secondary education

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Applicants with higher education study

Applicants with work and life experience

Find out more if you are an international applicant

Applying for this course

Applicants with recent secondary education

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Applicants with higher education study

Applicants with work and life experience

Find out more if you are an international applicant

Fees

Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.

2026 fees

2026: Fee available from October

2026 fees

2026: Fee available from July

2025 fees

2025: CSP $17,300 per year full-time (96 credit points)

2025 fees

2025: $36,400 per year full-time (96 credit points)

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Find out more about undergraduate course fees

HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees

You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.

Find out more about government loans

Scholarships

You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.

Browse all scholarships

QUT Excellence Scholarship (Academic)

QUT's premier offering for students with outstanding academic achievement.

Scholarship eligibility: Academic performance

Faculty of Business and Law Excellence Scholarship

A scholarship for future undergraduate students who want to study business, property economics or law.

Scholarship eligibility: Academic performance

Laurie Cowled Indigenous Scholarship for Business Students

A scholarship for future and current Indigenous female students enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate studies in business.

Scholarship eligibility: Indigenous Australian; Struggling financially; Women

Applications

Equity scholarships scheme

A scholarship for low-income students studying in any faculty.

Scholarship eligibility: Struggling financially

QUT Elite Sport Scholarship

QUT's premier offering for students with outstanding sporting achievement.

Scholarship eligibility: Sporting excellence

Applications

International Merit Scholarship

A high achievement scholarship for future international undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Scholarship eligibility: Academic performance

QUT Budding Entrepreneur Scholarship

A scholarship for innovative individuals who are engaged in their passion for entrepreneurial action.

Scholarship eligibility

Applications

QUT Real World International Scholarship

A scholarship to cover tuition fees, with eligibility based on your prior academic achievements.

Scholarship eligibility: Academic performance

You may also be eligible for

Centrelink payments

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