Postgraduate Taught

CIPR Specialist Diploma (Public Affairs)

If you’re a public relations professional looking to advance your skills, knowledge and career then 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.

This course offering is unique to QMU – we are the only CIPR-accredited UK institution to offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses and to teach CIPR diplomas.

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.

You will find case studies on students and graduates of this course at the foot of this page.

Why QMU?

QMU is the only CIPR-accredited UK institution to offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses and teach the CIPR Professional Public Relations Diploma, CIPR Diploma in Internal Communications Practice and CIPR Diploma in Public Affairs Practice.
The block face-to-face teaching approach will help you combine studying with working.
Our PR academics are recognised nationally and internationally for their excellence in research.

Course overview

CIPR diplomas are for experience professionals who are looking to develop their knowledge and skills and look towards career progression. CIPR qualifications are recognised as the benchmark for professional practice in public relations by employers in the private and public sectors.

The aim of the CIPR Specialist Diploma (Public Affairs) is to enable candidates to develop specialist knowledge and expertise in the contexts, concepts and practical tools of public affairs. This qualification put this experience into the wider context of the role of public affairs in organisations and society, how public affairs contributes to an organisation’s success, and what is expected of an ethical practitioner in the complex political environment.

For more information, visit the CIPR website.

The content and title of these diplomas mac change since posting here (September 2018) so please check the CIPR website.

Exit awards

CIPR Specialist Diploma (Public Affairs)

Teaching, learning and assessment

Teaching is delivered by QMU’s PR academics who are recognised nationally and internationally for their excellence in research.

Teaching comprises a variety of approaches including lectures, workshops, group work and input from senior practitioners and QMU academics.

Work is set at the on campus teaching blocks and contact maintained between blocks through online discussions.

You will learn alongside people who are working in a similar role to you in a variety of businesses and organisations. This will enable you to share experiences and learning from one another and enriches the student experience.

Teaching hours and attendance

On campus teaching for all three diplomas is delivered in short blocks at QMU.

For the CIPR Specialist Diploma (Public Affairs) you will likely attend QMU in one or two day blocks three or four times a year.

Here are the teaching dates for the CIPR Public Affairs Diploma: 9.16-16.15:

24 January 2020

14 February 2020

22 February 2020

28 February 2020

13 March 2020

Links with industry/ professional bodies

QMU is an accredited teaching centre of the UK’s professional body, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and a partner institution of the UK’s Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA).