Crisis Communication Diploma
CIPR Specialist Diploma: Crisis Communication
About this course
Learn about the different levels and impacts of crises, the building and maintaining of effective plans and the purpose and importance of crisis communication training. Discover how to use influencing strategies to avoid or avert a crisis. Join an online crisis workshop by your course leader Chris Tucker. As a former PR director in a global organisation, Chris is a veteran of many crisis situations.
Our course includes live online sessions, tutorials and individual feedback on assignment topics, plus CIPR Professional Student Membership.
NOTE: From 1 June CIPR ‘Professional Student’ membership is mandatory, the cost of £80 will be added at enrolment. For more information see FAQs at the bottom of this page.
Course detail
Study Support Package
Live interactive online workshops
One to one tutorials
Individual feedback on your assignment idea
Online library with all the books you need
Study Hub: our bespoke online learning centre
Networking via our LinkedIn group
Easy tutor contact
Pay monthly
Initial fee: £295.80 (incl. VAT)
8 monthly instalments: £230 (incl. VAT)
A one-off initial fee is taken when you enrol. Instalments are collected monthly from the date you enrolled.
How we calculate your fee
PR Academy tuition : £1,349 (+ VAT)
CIPR fees: £517 (no VAT)
Total: £1,866 (+ VAT)
VAT is calculated upon enrolment and is dependent on your location and situation.
VAT inclusive fee is £2,135.80
Who is this course for?
PR and communication practitioners. You are an experienced public relations practitioner who wants to develop your expertise in the area of response and crisis communication management. You want to prove your skill in the area of crisis communication management through certification.
Add a new skill. You may already hold the CIPR PR diploma or an undergraduate degree in PR or communication but feel that gaining a specialism such as crisis communication management will enhance your CV and help you to fulfil your role.
Prepare or repair. You want to help your organisation to avoid a crisis or repair its reputation after one has happened.
Master’s level. This is a Master’s level crisis communication course, so make sure you are ready to study and be assessed at this level.
CIPR Specialist Diploma: Crisis Communication Syllabus
- Gain the knowledge and tools to contribute effectively to an organisation’s risk assessment, crisis preparations and management, while meeting what is expected of an ethical practitioner in complex situations.
- Research and develop ethical crisis response strategies and plans that assist organisations to avoid or reduce the impact of crisis situations.
- What to do at each stage. How to establish a crisis-ready organisation. Test methods and scenarios for crisis plans. Develop messaging in a crisis and learn from the crisis to deliver post-crisis reputation repair.
Apply what you learn. Be assessed on real-life or work-related projects which is great for employers, showing the practical relevance of the course.
Download the full syllabus and brochure below.
Download our course brochure for all the course details including:
- Full syllabus
- Assignment details
- Reasons to study
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Reviews from our graduates
Discover how our courses work
Ann Pilkington, co-founder of PR Academy explains how our courses work, demonstrates our Study Hub and explains the resources and support you will receive. Also hear from members of the PR Academy alumni.
Meet your course leader Chris Tucker
Chris was formerly PR Director for the global Barclays Group. Since leaving Barclays Chris works in consultancy providing media and crisis communications training, lecturing and mentoring. She is also our course leader for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations PR Diploma.
Hear from others
Discover what it’s like to study the crisis communication diploma with us.
Your questions answered
From 1 June 2025 you will need to be a member of the CIPR if doing one of their qualifications. This will be included in the cost of the course and applied at the time of enrolling.
The grade of membership is "Professional Student" at the time of writing this had not been added to the CIPR website but it is equivalent to Affiliate Membership - you can see the benefits on the CIPR website here.
The costs from 1 June are:
- £160 for a 2-year course (PR Diploma and PR Certificate)
- £80 for a 1-year course (Specialist Diplomas and Certificate)
- £38 for the Foundation course
We asked the CIPR and the answer is yes, this is what they said:
We recognise that some candidates may already hold an individual membership with the CIPR (and that this will not be at Professional Student Membership grade) at the time of registration. To ensure fairness and avoid duplication of charges, we propose the following:
- Membership Extension Offered Where a candidate has already paid for their own membership which overlaps with the qualification period, that existing membership will not be refunded. Instead, the individual will receive a free extension of their current membership by one or two years, in line with the length of their course. The same applies to Corporate Affiliate membership.
- Membership Grade During Qualification If you are an existing member you will remain on your existing membership grade throughout the course in order to retain any professional accreditations that you already hold e.g. Accredited PR Practitioner, Chartered PR Practitioner. You will continue to receive communications and services appropriate to your existing grade.
The CIPR Specialist Diploma (Crisis Communication) will be of interest to practitioners who have experience or responsibility for crisis planning, in consultancy or in-house, or in a related discipline within the strategic management framework. This qualification will equip the candidate with the knowledge and tools to contribute effectively to the organisation’s risk assessment, crisis preparations and management, while meeting what is expected of an ethical practitioner in complex situations. Candidates will research and develop ethical crisis response strategies and plans that assist organisations to avoid or reduce the impact of crisis situations.
The assignment is an executive report and summary situation analysis on a case study of your choice. It includes discussion and substantiation of the key findings and outcome of the research and analysis which advise the need for response, or an evaluation of a past crisis communication response. Identification and explanation of crisis communication objectives (derived from the research and analysis) or conclusions and recommendations based on the examination of the past issue that led to the need for crisis communication. An example topic is "Hacking of a consumer records database (ransom)."
It definitely can. Many of our students are studying in order to increase their confidence and boost their CV and report a new role or promotion as a result of their qualification. In PR Academy’s 2023 research into PR education, respondents were asked - if they hold a professional qualification - has it led to career progression/promotion. This is a question that PR Academy has tracked since 2013. There is a consistent report of between 74 and 85 percent that a professional qualification has led to a career progression combined with confidence that it will.
Some organisations ask for qualifications when advertising PR jobs. While a PR qualification isn't essential it improves your CV and also shows your personal commitment to the profession and continuous learning. Check out our ‘Comprehensive Guide to CIPR Qualifications’ for more information.
If you are looking for a qualification in PR, then a professional qualification is a good option because you can study while you work. The syllabi for CIPR qualifications is very practical while still underpinned by theory so you can apply what you learn straight away.
Yes they are. We have practitioners from all over the world studying with us. The CIPR is the only chartered body for public relations which adds to the recognition of the qualification around the world.
There are CIPR qualifications at all levels. If you are just starting out the Foundation in PR is for you. If you are a few years into your career the Professional PR Certificate or internal communication certificate are designed for you. For more experienced practitioners there are diploma qualifications at approximately Master's level. If you aren't sure check out our Complete Guide to CIPR Qualifications or simply get in touch for a chat.
Our CIPR, PRCA and AMEC qualifications are designed for practitioners who want to advance their career with a stronger understanding of theory leading to more strategic campaigns. Many of our students say it boosts their confidence and they go on to better jobs or promotion.
Yes, we regularly speak to practitioners who are using a qualification as a way to refresh their knowledge, get up to date with latest practice and boost their CV. A qualification can be a great reminder of how much you already know boosting your confidence to get back into the PR job market. In our 2023 research into PR education, 84% of respondents said they were doing it to increase their skills.
