Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Public Relation is a 1 year course. This was started by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in 1981. The institution had taken this step as to deal with the rising demand for professionals for the advertising and PR industry. Many of the Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Public Relation graduates holds key positions in the ad world, commercial division and PR industry nowadays.

The Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Public Relation students are exposed into a systematically planned curriculum which helps them to gain needed skills in critical and logical thinking, public speaking, and dispute management and communication policy. The students will also get a chance to learn about the ethical and professional issues facing the public relations profession. The students will be focusing more on functions like media liaison, public affairs, campaign organization, event management or sponsorship.

Advantages or Benefits of Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Public Relation Degree

As a Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Public Relation student, one can experience a real life familiarity in devising various public relations strategies and communication tactics for organizations. Students will be taught the skills needed to influence public awareness, build media profile, in addition to that, a trained professional in conflict resolution.

Students will take on activities like professional placement, gaining industrial exposure and build a strong professional network.

The course will provide know how on the basic and emerging concepts and principles in public relation. This will help in better decision making in the field of Advertising and Public Relations.

The student will get a hands on experience in order to integrate a range of functions aligned with the organizational goals and strategies.

Eligibility Criteria for PGDAPR

In order to join the Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Public Relation course a candidates needs to have a graduation degree. Students should be Graduate in any discipline. They are eligible to apply if they have appeared for the final year degree exam. Admission is through a written test and interview. The degree must be from a recognized university. The candidates must also have more than 50% of marks in the graduation for getting admission to Post Graduate Diploma in Public Relation.

Admission procedures

The students are selected to the Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Public Relation course through an all-India entrance examination in most of the top colleges.

Top PGDAPR Colleges in India

• Aizaz Rizvi College of Journalism & Mass Communication (ARCJMC), Lucknow
• Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication
• Central India Institute of Mass Comunication (CIIMC)
• Centre for Image Management Studies Image House, Noida
• Center for Research in Art of Film and television (CRAFT)
• GRD College of Arts And Science, Bharathiar University
• Guru Jambheshwar University Hisar Haryana
• Indian Institute of Mass Communication JNU new campus, New Delhi
• Pioneer College of Management (PCM)
• Sadhna Academy For Media Studies
• PGDAPR course curriculum

The Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Public Relation course comprises the following papers:

• Advertising: PR and Marketing Research Methods
• Advertising: Creativity and Campaign Planning
• Advertising: Principles, Concepts and Management
• Communication Theory and Research
• Corporate Communication
• Marketing
• Media Planning
• Oral and Visual communication
• Production Techniques and Methods
• Public Relations: Principles, Tools and Method

• PGDAPR Course Evaluation

• Annual course and subject review
• Annual review of course’s student progression
• Audit of using student feedback
• External Examiner reports
• Individual Staff teaching evaluations
• Module evaluations at the end of each semester
• Professional Accreditation visit
• Staff/Student meetings
• Subject Revalidation

What to do after PGDAPR?

After completing the Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Public Relation (PGDAPR) students can look for jobs in a variety of companies. The job profiles will vary drastically. Some of them are:-

• Corporate publicity
• Dealings with the press
• Product publicity
• Liaison with government departments at the national, state and district levels
• Relations with share holders
• Internal corporate communication in organizations
• Preparation and publication of in-house magazines
• A Public relations officer will have to perform mainly the following activities:
• Press relations: - this involves presenting news and information about business in the mostly in a positive light.
• Product publicity:-Sponsoring a range of efforts to advertise specific products.
• Corporate communication:-Promoting understanding of the business with internal and external communications.
• Lobbying:-Dealing with legislators and government representative to endorse legislation and guideline.
• Counseling:-Advising management about community concerns and company situations and image.

Job and Career options for PGDAPR

A Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Public Relation (PGDAPR) student can get a job as a public relations officer (PRO) or as a Media Specialist in various reputed companies. He /she will be thereafter a spokesperson of that particular company or any organization. The requirement for a public relations officer is found in roughly all sectors. Prominently a PR officer is a must in companies like Advertising Corporation, government organization, election commissions, etc.

Various job spans which are available for a student of Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Public Relation (PGDAPR) includes:-

• PR Accounts Directors
• Digital PR specialists
• Public Relations Managers
• Spokespersons and Marketing Directors
• Corporate Communication Executives in the Government and Private Sector

Remuneration after PGDAPR

The job opportunities available for a PR student are immense. The areas of work section are available with the following departments.

• Advertising Agencies
• Banks
• Financial Institutions
• Government Offices
• Hotels
• Non-Governmental Organizations
• Private Companies
• Private Consultancy Firms
• Tourist Resorts

Depending on the specified job profile and organization one is associated with, the pay scales will vary drastically. In a PR department exposure and experience are necessary factors which will help one to move up in the career ladder. A fresher will receive a starting salary which is approximately around Rs. 8000 or more. In a Government departments typically there will be low-ranking and high-ranking PR officers and they are remunerated as per set rules.