The CIPR Specialist Diploma (Crisis Communications) is designed for senior PR professionals wishing to learn the knowledge and tools to contribute effectively to an organisation’s risk assessment and crisis preparation.

Upon completing this qualification, learners will be able to:

  • Analyse the causes and assess the likelihood of circumstances requiring crisis communication

  • Contribute to the organisation’s risk assessment and crisis preparations

  • Manage public relations during a crisis

  • Understand ethical issues in complex situations

The CIPR Specialist Diploma in Crisis Communications is a level 7 qualification, similar to a Masters level degree and typically can be completed in around 6 months.

Distance Learning

£1,25000+VAT
  • Virtual Classes £1350 +VAT
  • Face-to-face Learning £1450 +VAT
  • Not Including CIPR Fees
Course Enquiry

Free Access to All Specialist Diplomas

For delegates who sign up to any of our Specialist Diplomas, we are offering reading access to not only their selected qualification, but all four of our Level 7 Specialist Diplomas (Sustainability Communications, Crisis Communications, Digital Communications and Internal Communications).

Delegates who then wish to gain an additional Level 7 qualification through completion of an additional assessment, will be offered 50% off our course fees to do so.

Free Project Management Qualification

All delegates who choose to undertake their CIM or CIPR qualifications with us, will have the option of studying a free project management qualification as well. Delegates can choose between either the APM Project Fundamentals Qualification* (PFQ), the AgilePM Foundation or the PRINCE2 Foundation.

These courses provide a great introduction to project management skills, which tie in nicely to wider public relations roles. If you would like to gain the full project management qualification, you will just need to pay the assessment and/or book fees associated with your chosen course.

*Please note this offer is not open to ELCAS funded learners.

Course Structure

This qualification consists of three elements, and after completion, candidates will be able to:

Apply key concepts in crisis response:

  • The societal, economic and media crisis context

  • Relevant public relations theories and concepts

  • The roots of reputation

  • The risks to, and the role and value of, reputation in a crisis

  • Winning trust and the withdrawal of society’s permission to operate

  • The difference between emergency communications and a crisis

  • The crisis and issues lifecycle

  • Identifying and managing key stakeholders in a crisis

  • The influence of social media, groupthink and the active citizen

Apply best practice models including:

  • Assessing public risk (particularly for public bodies including the precautionary principle)

  • Analysing and defining types of crisis

  • Analysing trends in management practice, organisations and their working environments to predict when a crisis might arise

  • The role of the professional practitioner in crisis management and their place in the crisis management team

  • Researching and producing analysis of a crisis communication-related issue or development

  • Managing media and social media in a crisis

Prepare and critically evaluate crisis response, including:

  • Establishing a crisis-ready organisation

  • Testing methods and scenarios for crisis plans

  • Strategic and tactical messaging in a crisis

  • Learning from the crisis, and post-crisis reputation repair