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Do you have a way with words and an ability to craft compelling narratives? If so, a career in public relations (PR) could perfectly match your skill set. Take the next step in your professional development with our online PR courses.

Designed by experts in the PR industry, this course teaches you the skills you’ll need to succeed in this dynamic field.

Explore our course breakdown below or enrol now to get started.

  • Course Outline

    When you enrol on our PR courses, you will complete the following units of study:

    1Introduction to Public Relations
    • How is public relations different from advertising or marketing?
    • What is public relations
    2The Functions of Public Relations Specialist
    • Public relations roles
    • Creating a PR plan
    • Media relations
    • Developing a media list
    • Distributing
    • PR techniques
    • Press release writing
    • Media kit development
    • Feature articles
    • News conferences
    • Custom tailored events
    • Crisis communication
    • Internet public relations
    • Monitoring
    • Building a website
    • PR techniques
    3Careers in Public Relations
    • Types of employers
    • Corporate and high tech
    • Non-profit
    • Government
    • Public relations agencies
    • Preparing a portfolio
    • Advertised and unadvertised positions
    • The interview
    • What employers are looking for
    • How to make a good first impression
    • Interview questions
    • Researching the company
    4Starting Your Own Public Relations Agency or Freelancing
    • Is self-employment for you?
    • Develop a business plan
    • Create a marketing plan
    • Financial considerations
    • Setting your rates
    • Contracts and agreements
    5Client Acquisition
    • Types of clients
    • Marketing your services
    • Promoting yourself
    • Preparing proposals
    6Historical Development
    • History of public relations
    • PR and related discipline
    • Groups to communicate with
    • PR techniques
    7The Role of Public Relations
    • The four-step PR process model
    • Users of public relations
    • Roles of public relations practitioners
    • Social trends and PR
    8Functions and Techniques of Public Relations
    • Areas of work
    • Communication with identified publics
    • Functions on an internal public relations department
    • Public relations tools
    9Operation of a Public Relations Department or Consultancy
    • Comparing in house PR departments and consultancies
    • Roles and responsibilities within PR departments and consultancies
  • How Will You Benefit?

    There are many benefits associated with studying our PR courses online. For example, you will:

    • Expedite your career in public relations
    • Study a learning programme that has been developed in consultation with senior PR professionals
    • Save time and money by learning remotely
    • Set your own timetable
    • Have a personal tutor who is available to answer questions and provide advice
    • Save 10% on your course fee by paying upfront, or opt for our interest-free weekly payment plan

    Start experiencing the benefits of our PR courses for yourself by enrolling today!

  • Career Prospects

    Working in PR, you will be responsible for helping to manage an organisation’s or individual’s public image and reputation. You’ll have the chance to showcase your abilities in an exciting, media-related career, performing a crucial role in shaping public reactions. You could work with corporations, governments, political parties, celebrities, non-profit groups and a whole range of other organisations and individuals who rely on PR specialists.

    Effective PR is essential in helping organisations to flourish. Regardless of how good a business’ products or services are, if they fail to send the right message to consumers, they will struggle to succeed. The fact is, negative public opinion can destroy an organisation. And with the internet giving everyone a platform on which to share their opinions with a global audience, reputation management is now more important than ever before. The skills of PR experts are therefore in high demand.

    A wide range of opportunities

    With the right credentials, you could become a:

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    • PR consultant
    • PR officer
    • Publicist
    • Communications consultant
    • Product manager
    • Marketing analyst
    • Journalist

    You may decide to work for an organisation, or if you want the autonomy that comes with being your own boss, you could go it alone and work on a freelance basis or set up your own consultancy.

  • Course Levels Explained

    Diploma

    Our PR course leads to the awarding of a Diploma. This qualification recognises the graduate’s capacity for initiative and judgement across a broad range of technical and management functions. Diploma holders typically have personal responsibility and autonomy (semi-independence) in performing technical operations or organizing others in the workplace.

  • Prerequisites

    There are NO previous work or education requirements for entry into our PR course.

    So if you want to expand your knowledge and skills in this dynamic and growing industry, simply enrol today.

  • Course Length

    Students typically complete their studies within 24 weeks.

    With ICI, you get to decide how long it takes to complete your PR learning programme. If you want to graduate quickly, you can fast track your studies and finish within a matter of months. If on the other hand you would prefer to take your time, you have up to three years to complete the course.

  • Study Mode: Online Learning

    Our PR course is carried out exclusively online, meaning you don’t have to travel to attend lessons in person. Distance learning, also sometimes called correspondence learning, puts you in control. You dictate your timetable, studying whenever and wherever you wish, from anywhere in the world. This makes it much easier to fit your learning around existing commitments, including work and family life.

    All of our events, media and PR courses are designed to be highly engaging, making it easy to stay focused and motivated throughout your learning programme. And if you have any questions or need guidance at any point, your personal tutor will be on hand to help.

  • Recognition & Accreditation


    This course is recognised and accredited by the International Association of Private Career Colleges (IAPCC).

    Like all ICI learning programmes, it has been developed to take you far beyond theory. It teaches you essential practical skills that will help you to gain a competitive advantage in the PR profession.

  • Already in the Profession or Industry?

    Already working in PR or a related field? This is the course for you. It provides you with a way to consolidate and expand on your existing knowledge and skills, helping you to thrive in this profession. Whether you want to gain a promotion or simply enhance your skill set, completing our PR course is one of the most practical steps you can take in terms of furthering your professional development.

    Course fees can be claimed as a tax deduction providing the learning programme is sufficiently connected to your work activities.

  • What Do I Get?

    All the materials you need to complete our online PR course are included in the course fee. Once you enrol, you will receive:

    • All required study materials and course notes
    • Assignment projects with constructive tutor feedback
    • A tutor who will answer all of your course and career questions and provide guidance

    Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive:
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    • A graduation certificate officially recognizing your successful completion of studies and qualifications as a public relations specialist
    • Transcripts indicating the units completed
    • A letter of recommendation and validation for current and future employers
    • Post-nominal letters placed after your name which indicate that you hold the relevant qualification (For example: John Smith, DipPR)
    • Job search assistance: discover more about our Graduate Career Services Programme
  • Cut Off Date

    Friday, 29th September 2023 is the next enrolment cut off date. Places are limited, in demand and entry into the course is on a first come first served basis.

    Your enrolment is processed and acknowledged within 24 hours of the Institute receiving your application. You can expect to receive your course within days of enrolling. When you start your ICI course it’s at your own pace and you determine when you finish.

    Don’t miss out. Enrol today!

Course Investment & Payment Plans

SAVE 10%
MOST POPULAR
One off payment
€823
Course Level
DIPLOMA
ENROL NOW
Weekly Instalment Plan
€28 x 32 weeks
Interest Free
€915
Course Level
DIPLOMA
ENROL NOW

How do I get started?

Click on one of the Enrol Now buttons above and you could be working on your first lesson – and towards a new career in public relations – in a matter of days!

How Does Online Studying Work?

As an ICI student, you’ll be able to train at home in your spare time, learning in the easiest possible way. There are no classes or lectures to attend, and no need to leave your job or change your schedule.

How does it work?
Enrol, Study at Home, and Graduate

ICI is committed to the successful completion of your course. The typical ICI student experience goes like this:

  1. The Enrolment Process
  2. Begin Your Studies
  3. Getting Help When You Need It
  4. Getting Assessed
  5. Graduation
1The Enrolment Process

Select the course that interests you. The International Career Institute website offers course overviews, course outlines, course fees, student testimonials, and information on career services for graduates.

When you are ready to enrol in a program, simply complete the online enrolment form, or call our toll-free number to speak with an enrolment adviser.

2Begin Your Studies

On enrolment students receive a welcome email and letter with instructions on how to login into your course and access your course and tutorial support. You will not be required to purchase any further materials. Courses are divided into modules with assessments located at the end of these modules. Assessments (written assignments) are based on what you have been learning about. No exams are involved.

Study at your own pace

One of the many great benefits of our courses is their modular format creates an easier and more effective way for you to learn. And with no need to follow a fixed timetable, you get to study and submit assignment for each module at your own pace.

3Getting Help When You Need It

Your courses are designed so that you can study independently. However, if you have a question about anything in your course, just contact one of our industry based tutors. Contact details are provided in your welcome email and letter. Your tutors are industry professionals who are ready to answer any questions about the course, assessments and industry for which you are training for.

4Get Assessed

At the end of modules you are asked to complete assignments. With no fixed assessment dates ICI students can submit their assessments at any time. This allows students to progress through the course at a pace that suits their needs. Assignments can be submitted via the student portal or email directly to the tutor.

Your assignments and projects will be graded on the following scale:

Grading scale
Lesson Grade (%)Letter EquivalentRating
100 - 80AOutstanding level of achievement
79 - 60BHigh level of achievement
59 - 50CSatisfactory level of achievement
49 - 40DMarginal level of achievement
0 - 39FFailed to complete course requirements

You must pass all modules and achieve a minimum of a C or higher in all studies to graduate. Should you not pass an assignment you are able to retake assessments as many times as you need (free of charge) in order to improve your results. Full tutorial support is available to guide you towards successfully completing your course.

5Graduation

Graduates of the Institute are eligible for assistance under the Graduate Career Services Program which includes assistance in job searches (by career and region), preparing cover letters, tips on interviewing, and much more. As part of your graduation package, we offer a Certified Professional Resume Writer free of charge to help you compose your resume. All graduates receive a certificate of completion at the relevant level (Certificate, Diploma or Advanced Diploma / Executive Diploma), transcripts and a letter of recommendation.