Education, training and coaching for communication professionals

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Diploma in public relations

This is a Masters level qualification taught over ten months – the flagship qualification from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations that fast tracks you to Accredited Practitioner status.  Courses are available face to face and online.

Studying for the diploma gives you a great breadth of knowledge – both in theory and practice. Learn more about the theories of communication, persuasion and how it all works in a digital world.  We look at ethics too and take a really critical look at what PR actually is.  You will come away equipped to put the theory into practice through advanced PR planning skills that ensure your campaigns always have maximum impact and wow your clients or your board. The course completes with a personal research project where you get to grips with a topic that has interested you and come up with original insights into our profession.

Taking you through the course will be a mix of academics and senior practitioners. We’ll ensure you hear the latest on social media, crisis management and other key topics.

The diploma can transform you from practitioner to a top flight strategic thinker that really puts you ahead in your PR career.

We hope that we’ve convinced you!

Syllabus

The course comprises three units and three assessments.

Show syllabus »

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)

The diploma is right for you if…

You are an experienced PR professional without an industry specific qualification

You have studied at certificate level

You are working in any field of public relations, for example media relations, internal communications, public affairs

You want to learn about the strategic roles and functions of the public relations practitioner

Enrol

Check that you meet the enrolment criteria and enrol via the CIPR at www.cipr.co.uk

Study options:

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