MA Mass Communication - Advertising and Public Relations

The MA Mass Communication (Advertising & Public Relations) at UPES is a two-year postgraduate program built for the digital-first media and brand communication landscape. Students begin with a shared foundation covering communication ecosystems, advertising, public relations, audio-visual production, media ethics and AI tools for multimedia, creating a strong conceptual base before progressing into advanced, practice-led learning. Training is studio-led using professional facilities including a PCR (Production Control Room) and specialised labs, where students work on campaigns, multimedia content and data-driven storytelling projects. Mandatory internships and industry assignments ensure real-world exposure, while the final semester follows a flexible, project-based model (dissertation/capstone/paid internship/production research/fellowship) enabling students to graduate with a strong professional portfolio.

The Advertising & Public Relations specialisation blends creativity with strategy and analytics, preparing students for modern communication roles across agencies, brands and consultancies. The curriculum covers media planning and buying, digital branding, crisis and reputation management, influencer marketing, and CSR/ESG communication, while emphasising strategic thinking, audience insights and integrated campaign execution aligned with evolving industry practices.

• Multidisciplinary curriculum integrating advertising, PR and digital media within one framework
• Studio-led learning through campaigns, brand storytelling and multimedia production
• Exposure to IMC, media planning & buying, digital branding, and content analytics
• Strong industry interface through internships, masterclasses and live projects
• Portfolio-focused final semester to strengthen employability and leadership readiness

As brands shift to always-on, measurable communication, roles are increasingly shaped by media convergence, audience analytics, AI-assisted content creation, influencer ecosystems, and a heightened focus on trust, transparency and ESG. This specialisation prepares graduates to plan and execute integrated, cross-platform campaigns, manage reputation in real time, and build consistent brand narratives across paid, owned and earned media.

Career pathways include advertising agencies, PR consultancies, corporate communications teams, digital marketing firms, media and content companies, NGOs and policy-led organisations, as well as freelance and entrepreneurial routes in the creator economy. Typical roles include brand strategist, advertising copywriter, account planner, PR/communications executive or manager, media planner/buyer, digital campaign manager, social media strategist, influencer marketing professional, and corporate communication specialist.

UPES graduates have secured opportunities across advertising, PR, content and digital communication, supported by internships, live projects and strong industry connect. Recruiters have included agencies and networks such as Ogilvy, Dentsu, Wunderman Thompson, Lowe Lintas and McCann Erickson, and PR/corporate communication firms such as Edelman, Weber Shandwick, Genesis BCW, FleishmanHillard and Perfect Relations.

Click here for detailed Fee Structure.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Minimum 50% marks in X, XII, and graduation in any stream of undergraduate program.

The selection criteria for students interested in pursuing an MA Mass Communication - Advertising and Public Relations  depends on the individual's performance in the Personal Interview.