How long is the Advanced Diploma in Public Relations Management?

The Advanced Diploma in Public Relations Management runs for 12 to 15 months. Full-time and part-time cohorts share the same 12-month corporate-affairs strategy defence.

Can the Advanced Diploma in Public Relations Management be studied online?

Yes. The Advanced Diploma in Public Relations Management runs on-campus in central London, fully online with cohort calls, and by distance learning.

Is the Advanced Diploma in Public Relations Management recognised by UK employers?

Yes. The Advanced Diploma in Public Relations Management is designed around CIPR Diploma and Chartered Practitioner content and is recognised across UK PR agencies and corporate-affairs functions.

What are the entry requirements for the Advanced Diploma in Public Relations Management?

A relevant Level 4 Diploma or two years of PR or corporate-affairs experience, GCSE English and Maths at grade 4, IELTS 6.0 for international applicants on the Advanced Diploma in Public Relations Management.

Advanced Diploma in PR Management | LSIBM London | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Advanced Diploma in Public Relations Management at the London School of International Business and Management (LSIBM) is a senior-track Level 5 qualification for PR practitioners moving from account manager to head-of-function — an associate director at a London PR agency, a head of communications at a UK plc, or a senior director of corporate affairs in a regulated sector. Sitting inside the Marketing, Media & Digital Business faculty, it covers integrated PR strategy, agency leadership, stakeholder programme management, financial PR and measurement at director level.

The Advanced Diploma runs over 12 to 15 months and is available on-campus in central London, fully online, or by distance learning. Tutors are practising senior PR practitioners drawn from CIPR Chartered and PRCA agency-head ranks, and the closing assessment is a 12-month integrated corporate-affairs strategy defended in front of a working head of communications. The sections below cover modules, audience and progression.

Key Features

Curriculum reviewed against the CIPR Diploma in Public Relations and the CIPR Chartered Practitioner competency framework.
Three study modes — central London campus, fully online, or distance learning — with the same tutor cohort.
Real-world assessment: a 12-month integrated corporate-affairs strategy defended in front of a working head of communications.
Working reference to FCA disclosure obligations, London Stock Exchange listing rules, IPSO and Ofcom.
Direct articulation into the LSIBM Higher Diploma or BSc top-up in Public Relations Management.

What You Will Learn

The Advanced Diploma builds a senior PR director. You will finish able to lead an agency team or in-house function, own a corporate-affairs strategy for a full business cycle, brief a plc board on reputation, and defend measurement in front of a CFO.

Integrated PR strategy — earned, owned, shared and paid working together.
Agency leadership — pitch, retain, upsell and manage senior client relationships.
Financial PR — IPO comms, results-day rhythm, RNS discipline.
Public affairs — Whitehall engagement, APPG dynamics, Select Committee prep.
Reputation programme management — from vulnerability audit to board-level dashboard.
Measurement — AMEC framework, Barcelona Principles, ROI evidence for CFOs.
Global comms — coordinating multi-market campaigns from London.
Ethics and public trust under CIPR, PRCA and Ofcom UK codes at senior level.

Who This Course Is For

Diploma-level PR managers stepping into associate-director or head-of-PR remit.
Corporate-affairs professionals moving into director-level accountability.
Agency PRs seeking Chartered Practitioner-track credentials.
Financial PR advisers formalising senior corporate-affairs practice.
Consultants building a senior UK reputation-advisory practice.

Career Pathways

Advanced Diploma graduates step into senior PR and corporate-affairs roles across UK agencies, listed firms, financial services, regulated sectors and third sector. Outcomes remain individual.

Head of PR
Associate Director (agency)
Head of Corporate Affairs
Financial PR Adviser (senior)
Public Affairs Manager (senior)
Director of Communications (junior)

The Advanced Diploma is a direct feeder into the LSIBM Higher Diploma, BSc top-up, and CIPR Chartered Practitioner application.

Entry Requirements

A relevant Diploma (Level 4), Foundation Year, or two years of substantive PR or corporate-affairs experience — a portfolio including a senior-audience campaign case study is encouraged.
GCSE English Language at grade 4/C and Mathematics at grade 4/C (or equivalent).
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
A short statement of intent and one academic or professional reference — applicants with CIPR or PRCA membership should mention it on application.

Why Study at LSIBM

The London School of International Business and Management (LSIBM) is a specialist business-education provider based in central London and part of Harold International College. Advanced Diploma cohorts sit in small groups so tutors track progress course by course, and every route is mapped to UK professional-body competencies — ACCA, CIMA, CIM, CIPD, CMI, CIPS, IOE&IT, CFA UK — so employers recognise the credential.

London puts the City, Canary Wharf, Whitehall, Companies House, the FCA, the Bank of England and the West End within a short tube ride of every classroom. Advanced Diploma students access a fortnightly practitioner clinic, an industry-careers day each cohort and structured application coaching in the final term.

Apply for the Advanced Diploma in Public Relations Management

Step up into the senior track with the Advanced Diploma in Public Relations Management. Click Enrol Now and our admissions team will respond within one working day with intake dates, credit-transfer guidance and current fees. Advanced Diploma graduates articulate directly into LSIBM Higher Diploma or Bachelor's top-up routes.