CIPR Specialist Diploma (Digital Communications)

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

If you’re a public relations professional looking to advance your skills, knowledge and career, our CIPR diplomas could be an ideal next step. They are taught in blocks, giving you flexibility to fit your studies around your current work commitments.

Earn a qualification that will get you noticed - CIPR qualifications are recognised as the benchmark for professional practice in public relations by employers in the private and public sectors.

Why QMU?

• You will join our community of communications academics and practitioners and as a matriculated QMU student can access the University’s resources, including our extensive library and online teaching Hub.
• The block face-to-face teaching approach and online materials will help you combine studying with working.
• Our PR academics are recognised nationally and internationally for their excellence in research practice.

Course overview

Everyone enrolled on our CIPR Diplomas is a matriculated student and has access to all of the University’s resources, including our extensive library and online teaching Hub. We very much believe that students gain real benefits from face-to-face teaching, but we also recognise that this can sometimes be difficult for professionals - so we organise our workshops over four or five Saturdays per module and always post material online.

You will join our community of communications academics and practitioners, and will learn alongside out MSc students. Should you wish to continue studying with us after completing a diploma, you will have already earned 20 credits per CIPR Diploma module towards our MSc Digital Campaigning and Content Creation or MSc Strategic Communication and Public Relations.

Get ready to gain an advanced understanding of professional practice, including PR strategy and planning, content management, media and engagement, measurement and evaluation, and PR leadership, all underpinned by reference to ethics and the code of conduct. You’ll also put your learning into practice, evaluating a wide range of PR concepts and techniques and applying them practically to your own work and sector.

Exit awards

Specialist Diploma (Digital Communications) plus 20 credits towards QMU’s MSc Strategic Communication and Public Relations.

Teaching, learning and assessment

You will be taught by our PR academics who are recognised nationally and internationally for their excellence in research.

Your teaching will comprise a variety of approaches including lectures, workshops, group work and input from senior practitioners and QMU academics.