Diploma in Public Relations

PR Academy course

Start date: Autumn 2013

Duration: 10 months

Level: Taught at Masters level

Take your career to the next level. Become a truly strategic thinker with an advanced understanding of communication.

Taught in central London and online, see 'study options' for details.

Course
introduction

Course
syllabus

Right
for you?

Course
dates

Course critera
& enrolment

Course
price

Course
tutors

Venue and
options

Course introduction

Studying for the CIPR Diploma in Public Relations – the CIPR's flagship qualification – will enable you to operate more strategically with confidence. It will do this by equipping you with the advanced knowledge you need to design effective PR strategies.

Learn more about how communication works, behaviour and influence, and how to apply them in a digital world. Examine the role of PR and ethics. Come away knowing how to put the theory into practice through advanced PR planning, equipped to deliver campaigns with impact that will wow clients and colleagues.

You can choose to study for the Diploma in Public Relations face to face or online.

The course includes:

  • Access to PR Academy’s e-learning site with discussion forums and other resources such as podcasts
  • Two key texts (format depends on study option): Exploring Public Relations by Tench and Yeoman, plus Public Relations a Managerial Perspective by Moss and DeSanto
  • Access to Questia – the world’s largest online library
  • Marked mock assignment.

Watch a short webinar about the course.

Other things to know

PR Academy offers bursaries for the CIPR face-to-face courses. Find out more.

On successful completion of the CIPR Diploma in Public Relations you can fast-track to become a CIPR Accredited Practitioner. You will also be eligible to become a full member (MCIPR) of the CIPR if you aren't already. What's more, a growing number of universities recognise this qualification in respect of their Masters programmes.

Next steps in your career

BPP's MSc in Professional Marketing (Strategic Public Relations) provides a broad strategic marketing perspective for PR professionals and is therefore an ideal next step for those who have studied for the CIPR Diploma in Public Relations.

Course syllabus

The course comprises three units and three assessments:

Unit 2.1: PR theory and practice (Professional knowledge), including:

  • Introduction to public relation practice and study
  • Public relations theory – an overview
  • Public relations in society – the wider context

Assessment: Critical Reasoning Test (essays/reports – 5,000 – 6,000 words).

Unit 2.2: PR planning and management (Vocational skills), including:

  • Introduction to public relations planning in theory and practice
  • Strategic PR planning and organisational objectives
  • Strategic publics
  • Strategic media planning
  • Research and evaluation

Assessment: Planning assignment based on fictional case study (5,000 words).

Unit 2.3: Reflective practice (Personal development), including:

  • Project design
  • Research tools
  • Personal reflection

Assessment: Personal project agreed with tutor (6,000 words).

Right for you?

The CIPR Diploma in Public Relations is right for you if…

  • You have completed the CIPR Advanced Certificate in Public Relations
  • You are an experienced PR professional without an industry specific qualification
  • You are working in any field of public relations (e.g. media relations, internal communications or public affairs)
  • You want to learn about the strategic roles and functions of the public relations practitioner.

Course dates

Autumn 13 - Face-to-Face Start date: 5th October 2013

  • Module 1: Sat 5 Oct 2013, Sat 19 Oct 2013, Sat 9 Nov 2013, Sat 16 Nov 2013 (optional half-day seminar on academic writing), Sat 30 Nov 2013
  • Module 2: Sat 8 Feb 2014, Sat 8 Mar 2014
  • Module 3: Sat 19 Apr 2014
  • Tutorials: Sat 17 May 2014

Autumn 13 - Online Start date: 4th October 2013

  • Workshop 1: Thursday 7 November 2013
  • Saturday 16 November 2013 (optional half day seminar on academic writing),
  • Workshop 2: Thursday 6 March 2014

Winter 14 - Face-to-Face Start date: 18th January 2014

  • Module 1: Sat 18 Jan 2014, Sat 8 Feb 2014, Sat 1 Mar 2014, Sat 8 Mar 2014 (optional half-day seminar on academic writing), Sat 15 Mar 2014
  • Module 2: Sat 17 May 2014, Sat 14 Jun 2014
  • Module 3: Sat 9 Aug 2014
  • Tutorials:Sat 6 Sep 2014

Winter 14 - Online Start date: 17th January 2014

  • Workshop 1: Wednesday 5 March 2014
  • Saturday 8 March 2014 (optional half-day seminar on academic writing)
  • Workshop 2: Thursday 12 June 2014

Venue:  Central London, St Mary Axe, The City

Course criteria & enrolment

Enrolment criteria

You will qualify for the CIPR Diploma in Public Relations if you have any one of the following:

  • The CIPR Advanced Certificate in Public Relations
  • The CIPR Internal Communication Certificate, plus one year's full-time employment in public relations*
  • A post-graduate professional qualification in a related discipline (e.g. CIM diploma), plus one year's full-time employment (or equivalent part-time employment) in public relations*
  • A degree in business/marketing/management/communication studies, plus one year's full-time employment in public relations*
  • Any other UK degree, plus two years’ full-time employment in public relations*
  • NCTJ Diploma, plus either five years' journalism experience or three years' full-time employment in public relations*
  • Two years' full-time employment in public relations* and the CAM Advanced Diploma in Marketing Communication
  • LCCIEB 5 3rd Level subjects including PR, Marketing, Advertising, Principles & Practice of Management, plus two years' experience in public relations*
  • Four years' full-time employment in public relations* and five GCSE passes, one of which must be in English Language.

In addition, those whose first language is not English must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the language – spoken and written – to an International Language Testing System (IELTS) band score of 7.0 or above or equivalent.

Please note: if you are currently studying full time or working whilst studying part time towards another course, your application might not be accepted.

*Eligibility of PR employment will be determined by the CIPR qualifications department and will need to be deemed to be of a sufficiently senior level.

If you are unsure about your eligibility, please email the CIPR professional development team.

Enrol via the CIPR website www.cipr.co.uk

Please note: you will need to become a member of the CIPR if you aren’t already in order to study for a CIPR qualification.

Course price

Tuition fees for CIPR Diploma in Public Relations- £1750 plus VAT

Please note that there will be an awarding body fees - £950 (VAT exempt) paid directly to CIPR.

You will need to be a member of CIPR for this course and if you are not yet a member, please contact CIPR for more info.

 

Please note that there will be £50 plus VAT for administration fees if you choose to pay by instalment.

Tuition fees instalment payment plan for Diploma as below - £2160 (incl. Admin fee and VAT):

Autumn 13: Online and Face to Face

First payment of £864 to be paid within the 14 days term from date of invoice unless course start date is within 14 days then immediate payment is required.

Second payment of £648 must be paid before 1st March 2014.

Final payment of £648 must be paid before 1st  May 2014.

Winter 14: Online and Face to Face

First payment of £864 to be paid within the 14 days term from date of invoice unless course start date is within 14 days then immediate payment is required.

Second payment of £648 must be paid before 1st May 2014.

Final payment of £648 must be paid before 1st  August 2014.

There will be an extra charges on delivery for hard copy books for online courses

Course tutors

This isn’t an exhaustive list and tutors are subject to change. We also bring in guest lecturers from time to time on specialist areas.

Study options

Face to face in London
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The CIPR Diploma in Public Relations face-to-face course is taught in the heart of London right by the Gherkin in the City.You will receive:

  • Seven days' tuition, plus an additional half-day seminar to help you prepare for your assignment (critical writing) and a one-to-one tutorial session
  • All course materials
  • The text books (subject to change)
    Exploring Public Relations by Tench and Yeomans
    Public Relations a Managerial Perspective by Moss and DeSanto
  • Access to Questia – the world’s largest online library
  • Access to PR Academy’s e-learning site with discussion forums and other resources such as podcasts
  • Personal tutor to help with your final project.

Venue location details. NOTE: not for correspondence.

Online from anywhere in the world
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The CIPR Diploma in Public Relations online course uses the latest e-learning technology. It's really easy to use, so you don’t need any special computer skills. The syllabus, assessments and resulting qualification are just the same as if you were studying using traditional methods.Unlike many online courses, we provide a high level of tutor support as well as ‘live’ activities and discussions.You will also receive:

  • The text books Exploring Public Relations by Tench and Yeoman, plus Public Relations a Managerial Perspective by Moss and DeSanto. You can chose to have an electronic copy or a hard copy sent to you (carriage charges apply)
  • Access to Questia – the world’s largest online library
  • Two full-day workshops (not compulsory, but highly recommended)
  • Opportunity to attend a half-day seminar to help prepare for your assignment (critical writing)
  • Marked mock assignment
  • Access to PR Academy’s e-learning site, including forums, podcasts, case studies written specifically for the course by handpicked subject experts, extracts from other texts, example reports and plans, and an assignment submitting and pickup facility.

Please note: call charges for conference calls/webinars, and any travel and overnight accommodation costs must be met by the student.

Studying online is right for you if you…

  • Want the flexibility to study when and where you want
  • Like the idea of being able to work at your own pace
  • Want to combine the flexibility of studying online with being able to learn from and interact with others
  • Find that work commitments mean you struggle to get to regular lectures.

What you need to get started

  • Access to a computer with internet access and Microsoft Office applications (Word and PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat Reader. A headset and microphone for your PC for taking part in webinars using Adobe Connect
  • An email address
  • Around 10 hours available each week/over the time of the course for your study.

Face to face in the Channel Islands (according to demand)

Contact us to register your interest and for information.