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CIPR Professional PR Diploma

  • Level: 7
  • Duration: 12 months
  • Study options: Online learning
  • Locations: Online

 

View the CIPR's full syllabus.

 

The CIPR Professional PR Diploma is based on professional public relations/communications practice underpinned by core PR principles, models and concepts. 

The CIPR Professional PR Diploma will enable you to: 

  • deepen your knowledge and understanding of professional PR practice, tactics and strategy in a range of contexts and for a range of audiences and purposes;
  • develop a framework for strategic and critical thinking that will enable you to make an effective, ethical and responsible contribution to your organisation;
  • draw upon PR principles, models and concepts to create, implement and evaluate effective communication and management strategies;
  • critically analyse current issues relevant to the field of public relations to produce insightful contributions to debate. 

Study package 

Find out what our students receive in their study package as part of this course.

Additional support

There are lots of free resources available within our student community to ensure you gain the best learning experience possible!

  • Learning styles support and practical toolkits to help with your studies
  • Fortnightly personal development and career webinars
  • Two podcasts; one follows the opinions of our experts and the other welcomes guests from the industry
  • The ‘Marketer’s Sustainability Toolkit’ shows you what you need to action in your organisation

Online learning

Finance option available
Start any time and set your own pace! £1,275 +VAT ENROL

Fees and payment

Course fees are subject to VAT in the United Kingdom.

You can pay the course fees by debit/credit card or provide us with a Purchase Order number to invoice your company.

* An additional amount of £1,149 for CIPR registration and assessment to be paid at checkout.

Spread the cost of your course*

Take advantage and make an initial payment of £370 by credit/debit card, then spread the remaining amount over 10 equal monthly instalments as follows:

  • Online learning £237.90/month

Entry criteria and support

In order to take this course, you need to have:

  • hold the CIPR Certificate (OR relevant postgraduate professional qualification), PLUS one year’s full-time employment in a public relations or relevant environment;
  • OR, hold a degree in business/marketing/management/communication studies, PLUS one year’s relevant full time employment;
  • OR, hold any other UK degree, PLUS two years’ experience in PR;
  • OR, have four years’ relevant full-time employment in PR, PLUS five GCSE passes, one of which must be in English Language

Level finder

Do you know which qualification is right for you?

The College will provide you with 12 months support.

As part of this course, you will also receive the full study package and there are lots of free resources available within our student community to ensure you gain the best learning experience possible — This includes:

  • Learning styles support and practical toolkits to help with your studies.
  • The ‘Marketer’s Sustainability Toolkit’ shows you what you need to action in your organisation.
  • Fortnightly personal development and career webinars.
  • Informal Friday Drop-ins which follows a current topic for students to discuss and generate ideas.
  • Two podcasts; one follows the opinions of our experts and the other welcomes guests from the industry.

Course modules

Study hours:
20 hours

Unit 1 PR Strategy and Planning is focused on the PR strategy and planning process, with an emphasis on research that establishes robust communication objectives, related to the organisation's goals.
 
This Unit situates public relations within a strategic management framework, enabling critical and ethical examination of the role and responsibilities of the function, and senior practitioners, within a contemporary context. It considers practical challenges and conceptual underpinnings relating to public relations strategy and planning in a variety of situations and types of organisation. The importance of organisational and functional objectives is emphasised with a focus on research and analysis to support problem identification, stakeholder mapping and objective setting. An analytical perspective is applied to encourage a reflective approach in examining candidates' own experience alongside case studies of organisations and scenarios.
 
  • Executive report (work-based assignment)

Study hours:
20 hours

Unit 2 PR Content, Communications and Engagement is focused on communication and engagement, with an emphasis on content, which reflects employers' views that management of content across the organisation is an essential competence. This Unit focuses on PR strategies involving content, communications and engagement. It investigates the contemporary media landscape (including digital and ICT developments) and helps students to develop creative solutions, create and curate multimedia content and apply communications concepts to a variety of situations facing a range of organisations. 
 
A professional approach emphasises the importance of ethical practice, maintaining trust, reputation management, and informed judgement. Students are encouraged to draw on their own experience alongside case study examples of campaigns and strategic practice. 
 
  • Thought leadership article (work-based assignment)

Study hours:
20 hours

Unit 3 PR Management, Measurement and Evaluation is focused on leadership of PR activities, with an emphasis on management of projects, campaigns and resources; internal stakeholders, the PR team and key suppliers; and on measurement and evaluation. This Unit concentrates on performance improvement in respect of the management, measurement and evaluation of professional PR practice. It offers critical examination of the effectiveness of public relations strategies, campaigns and programmes. 
 
Principles relating to accountability, socio-cultural considerations, ethical practice and continuous professional development will be applied. Students will be able to examine their own processes and practices alongside case study examples. 
 
  • Management proposal (work-based assignment)