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 10-12 months.

Distance Learning

£1,250+VAT
  • Virtual Classes £1350.00 +VAT
  • Not Including CIPR Fees
Course Enquiry

After completing the CIPR Diploma, you will be well equipped to move into senior PR positions which include Senior PR Manager, Public Relations Director, Senior PR Account Manager and Communications Manager.

This level 7 qualification, taught at Masters level, can be studied through online distance learning, virtual classes, or blended face to face classes and takes between 10 and 12 months to complete.

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

Apply Online

Assessment

The CIPR Specialist Diploma in Crisis Communications is assessed through two elements:

  • 3,000-word executive report

  • 2,000-word summary analysis of secondary research

Course Details

Entry Requirements

The CIPR Specialist Diploma in Crisis Communications is aimed at experienced PR professionals.

Delegates should have one of the following:

  • have completed a CIM Level 6 Diploma
  • have completed the CAM Diploma in Marketing Communications
  • have completed the CIPR Advanced Certificate and have one year’s experience in a PR environment
  • hold a business / marketing degree, in addition to one year’s work experience
  • hold a non business / marketing degree, in addition to two years’ experience in PR
  • have four years’ relevant full-time employment in PR, in addition to five GCSE’s (or equivalent), one of which must be in English Language

If you are unsure if you are eligible, please do get in touch to discuss.

Course Start Dates

The CIPR Specialist Diploma in Crisis Communications can be started at various times throughout the year depending on how you wish to study.

Pricing

The price of the CIPR Specialist Diploma in Crisis Communications starts from £1,250 + VAT for pure distance-learning, £1,350 + VAT for virtual-learning and £1,450 + VAT for face-to-face classroom.

There is an additional cost of £405 for CIPR registration and assessment.

Study Options

The CIPR Diploma can be studied via pure distance-learning or via virtual classes. With pure distance-learning, delegates can get started on the course at any time and are free to work through the online materials at their own pace at any time. Virtual-learning classes are delivered by expert PR tutors over Zoom and all delegates have full access to the online learning system.

CIPR Specialist Diploma (Crisis Communications) Timetable

Study Centres

  • Oxford – Oxford Brookes’ Headington and Gypsy Lane Campus Oxford OX3 0BP
  • London – Baden-Powell House, 65-67 Queen’s Gate, Kensington, London SW7 5JS
  • Reading – The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6UR
  • Brighton – Mithras House, University of Brighton, Lewis Road, Brighton BN2 4AT
  • Gatwick – Arora Hotel, Southgate Ave, Crawley RH10 6LW
  • Milton Keynes – Hilton Hotel. Timbold Drive, Kents Hill Park, Milton Keynes, MK7 6HL
  • Bristol – Aztec Hotel and Spa Almondsbury Bristol BS32 4TS
  • Liverpool – Liverpool Hope University, Hope Park, Liverpool, L16 9JD
  • Birmingham – Midlands Art Centre, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH
  • Sheffield – Jurys Inn, 119 Eyre St, Sheffield S1 4QW
  • Manchester – Manchester Conference Centre, Sackville Street, Manchester M1 3BB
  • Bournemouth – Executive Business Centre, Bournemouth University, Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth. BH8 8EB

CIPR Specialist Diploma Crisis Communication Syllabus

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