CIPR Professional PR Diploma

Level 7 | Masters | 11SQA
Step into a strategic leadership role

Deepen your expertise in reputation management, issues and crisis communication, and strategic planning. This qualification equips you to advise senior leaders, align communications with organisational goals, and navigate complex challenges with ethical and critical insight.

Achieve a respected CIPR qualification and gain the confidence to lead at the highest level—shaping strategy, building trust, and driving meaningful change.

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Accredited qualification

Digital Marketing Institute
Format
Live online
Start anytime
Live cohort start dates
October 2025
January, April, June 2026
Duration
10 months
Course tutors
Anne-Marie Lacey, Deb Sharratt
Course fee

£1,349 +VAT
Plus Institutional fees
CIPR Fees
Membership £160
Registration £81
Assessment £1,065
*Team discounts and payment options available

Get a recognised qualification

Join a 300,000 strong digital marketing community!

Over 75,000

Learners

5.0 (62 reviews) 

Why learn with nesma ?

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Unique offers for this programme: 

We provide a unique range of offers to support your learning experience when completing this qualification:
  • Flexible dual award options to enhance your qualification portfolio
  • Earn nesma credits for smoother progression to other programmes.
  • Dedicated expert support available throughout your learning journey.

Course description

Advance your strategic influence with the CIPR Professional PR Diploma.
Build high-level expertise in reputation management, crisis response, and organisational communication strategy.

With nesma, you’ll benefit from expert tutor guidance, applied learning, and the credibility of a respected industry qualification.
Perfect for experienced PR professionals ready to step up, advise senior leaders, and lead communications that shape organisational success.
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What you'll learn

This qualification is made up of three units that give you the strategic insight, critical thinking, and leadership skills to drive PR success at a senior level. You’ll explore the principles and models behind effective communication, content, and campaign management—underpinned by professional, ethical, and commercial awareness.  By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
  • Develop and lead strategic PR plans grounded in research, aligned with organisational goals, and designed to deliver meaningful outcomes.
  • Create and manage content and engagement strategies that reflect audience needs, organisational context, and ethical communication principles.
  • Oversee and evaluate complex PR projects—applying advanced measurement techniques, managing teams and stakeholders, and contributing to organisational leadership.

Your course includes

  • 35 hours of expert-led live online classroom sessions
  • Curated resources and case studies to support your learning.
  • 121 sessions with tutor to support with assignment 
  • Live online learning with lifetime access 
  • Qualification Certificate

Step up to strategic leadership in PR

This course is ideal for experienced practitioners ready to take a more strategic role—whether you're leading campaigns, advising senior stakeholders, or stepping up to influence organisational direction.

Learn how to shape PR strategy with insight, manage complex communications, lead teams and suppliers, and evaluate results with credibility—while embedding ethical and professional standards into your practice.

By the end, you’ll be ready to operate confidently at a senior level and earn a prestigious CIPR qualification that strengthens your voice at the top table.

With nesma, you’ll qualify faster and receive expert support every step of the way—better than any other study centre.

All of our learners gain access to the nesma learning hub via your own homepage.

From here you can access all of your courses, materials and activities, see your progress and work with other students. 

The platform provides broader benefits including skills passport, activity badges, and access to skills intelligence, offers and news!

Aims

You’ll build high-level strategic insight and critical thinking skills to lead PR planning, content, and evaluation with confidence and impact.

In short, you’ll become a CERTIFIED PR leader, ready to shape communications at a senior level, manage complex challenges, and align public relations with organisational strategy and success.

Assessment 

To complete the course, you’ll submitthree assignments:


  • Strategy Report – A 2,000-word executive report and a 2,000-word situation analysis that demonstrate your ability to plan strategic PR activity based on insight and organisational goals.
  • Thought Leadership Article – A professional article (1,000–2,000 words) supported by a 2,000-word reflective statement exploring your communication approach and engagement strategy.
  • Management Proposal – A 2,000-word proposal outlining recommendations for improving PR performance, plus a 2,000-word review evaluating your strategy and the case for change.

You’ll get clear guidance and support to help you succeed.

CIPR Membership  & Assessment Fees

We handle all the admin – you focus on learning
We’ll arrange your membership, registration, and assessment  fees,  and help you prepare with practice tests and revision sessions.
Plus, as a CIPR member, you’ll gain access to expert resources, practical toolkits, on-demand webinars, and exclusive networking opportunities. You’ll also benefit from ongoing career support and become part of a vibrant community of PR and communications professionals committed to ethical, high-impact practice.
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Who is it for?

This course is designed for experienced PR and communications professionals who are ready to lead at a strategic level and influence decision-making within their organisation.

It’s ideal for senior practitioners, consultants, team leaders, and in-house or agency professionals who want to deepen their expertise, strengthen their strategic thinking, and gain a respected qualification that supports career progression into leadership roles.  If your not sure talk to us  

Entry requirements

You’re eligible if you’ve completed the CIPR Certificate, hold a UK degree (or equivalent), or have relevant PR or communications experience. Other qualifications or at least 4 years’ relevant experience may also qualify you.

If English is not your first language, you will need to demonstrate you’ve achieved an equivalent qualification.  If your not sure talk to us  

Your course tutors

Anne-Marie Lacey

PR Expert 

Anne-Marie Lacey is a senior tutor at nesma and founder of Filament PR, a virtual agency providing consultancy and coaching to leading brands. As a Fellow of the CIPR and Chartered Practitioner, she brings extensive experience in crisis management, international trade fairs, and communications strategy. Anne-Marie combines practical industry knowledge with a passion for teaching, helping students develop the skills and confidence to succeed in their CIPR qualifications and professional careers.

Deb Sharratt

PR Expert

Deb is a Chartered PR Practitioner and award-winning communications consultant with over a decade of independent experience. She delivers CIPR qualifications and bespoke Influencer Marketing training with nesma, alongside teaching at university level.

With a strong track record across the public, private and third sectors, Deb brings strategic insight and hands-on expertise to every project. She is an active CIPR Council Member and co-chairs the Influencer Relations panel. A published blogger and passionate communicator, Deb enjoys helping professionals grow their confidence, skills and impact through creative, practical learning.

Learning outcomes


Course structure

Unit 1: PR Strategy and Planning

This unit introduces PR within a strategic framework, focusing on how it supports organisational goals. You’ll learn to conduct research, analyse stakeholders, and set clear, measurable objectives. Through case studies and practical tasks, you’ll develop skills to create evidence-based PR plans aligned with business strategy.
What you’ll learn & be able to do:
  • Understand the role of PR in managing reputation and brand
  • Analyse how PR works with other business functions
  • Use research to assess situations and identify risks
  • Map and prioritise stakeholders
  • Set SMART PR objectives
  • Produce situation analyses and executive reports

Unit 2: PR Management, Measurement and Evaluation

This unit focuses on developing creative PR strategies through content creation and audience engagement in today’s evolving media landscape. You’ll explore how digital and traditional channels impact stakeholder relationships, and learn to craft key messages, narratives, and ethical communications that build trust and reputation..
What you’ll learn and be able to do:
  • Communicate persuasively to target audiences with thought-leadership content
  • Analyse how modern media affects stakeholder engagement
  • Develop key messages and strategic storytelling techniques
  • Apply issues management principles to PR challenges
  • Use research methods like participant observation and content analysis
  • Manage agency-client relationships effectively
  • Reflect critically on your own professional practice to improve effectiveness

Unit 3: PR Management, Measurement and Evaluation

This unit focuses on managing and improving PR performance through effective measurement and evaluation. You’ll learn to apply ethical principles, manage resources, and assess campaign success to ensure PR delivers real value. Practical skills in project and team management are also developed.
What you’ll learn and be able to do:
  • Advise and coach senior managers on PR strategy
  • Evaluate integrated campaign management and project delivery
  • Apply project and resource management techniques
  • Conduct risk assessments and manage ethical considerations
  • Measure and evaluate PR outputs and outcomes using data and qualitative research
  • Manage agency-client relationships effectively
  • Produce reports with recommendations for performance improvement

What our learners say

Confident decision maker

I am more comfortable in my day-to-day decision-making, knowing that my instincts have a solid grounding.

Strategic thinker

 The qualification allowed me to think more strategically, which has allowed me to have more influence at a higher level.

Developed my leadership skills

I think my leadership skills woke up because of these studies. It gave me a boost to re-arrange my team around me. 

Empowered to lead Multi-Channel PR

I am now more confident in planning and executing multi-channel PR campaigns, making the most of interesting content and measuring PR in a more meaningful and effective way.

Confident, Credible, and Evidence-Led

I now make sure evaluation is a part of every key activity we undertake, and I use data and insight much more than I ever have. I can now explain the theory behind my decisions and cite examples that I’ve picked up during my studies.

Ready to take the next step 

I know that I’m ready to take the next step in my career, to work with a team under me that I can develop and share ideas with. The expert knowledge that I’ve gained through studying is being put into practice with success.

5% off for nesma students and alumni!

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with us before, copy/ use the promo code
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