Professional Diploma in Marketing course

The new Diploma syllabus is now even better aimed at marketing and sales managers, and those with an eye on management.

Although it is rightly based around sound marketing theory, it is all about the 'how to' aspects of managing a marketing function, with a focus on practical skills and specialities.

Who is it for?

This qualification is for you if you are responsible for managing a marketing function or if you have a few years' experience in marketing and are looking to move into a management role.

It would also be of considerable benefit to people in mid-level sales roles. It is of course also the natural next step for anyone who has attained the Professional Certificate in Marketing.

The typical profiles of people who might take this qualification include:

• Marketing executives.
• Business development managers.
• Departmental managers.
• Product/ brand managers.
• Marketing managers.

• Account managers.

Course content and assessment

Our Diploma course is run over two half-year semesters, with study breaks in each semester. Each semester covers two units, which are assessed by a blend of written and online exams, written assignments and research-based projects.

We arrange our Diploma course to cover the qualification's four units like this:

The Marketing Planning Process provides a detailed understanding of marketing planning. In particular, it looks at the role that marketing planning can play in assessing the complex nature of the marketing environment and its impact on developing marketing plans to achieve successful outcomes. This unit also includes a detailed look at segmentation, targeting and positioning - and how these activities can help you develop sophisticated approaches to winning and retaining customers. Assessment is by a work-based assignment including the development of a marketing plan.

Delivering Customer Value through Marketing helps to equip you with new insights to develop marketing activities to achieve customer satisfaction and meet organisational objectives. This includes addressing branding issues, the development of the product portfolio and managing marketing channels, the communications mix and the service expectations of customers. Assessment is by a written examination based on a pre-published case study.

Managing Marketing develops your ability to develop and manage marketing teams, including coordinating the human, financial and physical resources within the team effectively. The development of effective quality systems and various approaches to measuring and monitoring marketing activities is also covered. This unit also looks at what you need to consider in order to ensure the financial performance of the marketing function. Assessment is by a work-based assignment.

Project Management in Marketing focuses on the development, implementation and control of marketing projects. It includes content on the use of research and information, and how marketing project proposals can be evaluated and prioritised in line with market conditions, organisational capacity, competitor activity and strategic management. Running through the unit is consideration of how risks can be assessed and managed. Assessment is by a work-based project.

Entry requirements

The CIM's entry requirements for this course are that you should meet one or more of these criteria:

• Hold the CIM Professional Certificate in Marketing.
• Hold a business or marketing Bachelors or Masters Degree (or an equivalent qualification) where a minimum of one third of the credits come from marketing (ie 120 credits in Bachelors degrees or 60 credits with Masters Degrees).
• Have experience in a marketing management role that has provided potential students with ability to evidence that they can meet the learning outcomes of the CIM Professional Certificate in Marketing if required to do so and is sufficient to pass the Entry Test to Level 6.

Enrolment

Our next year-long Diploma course starts in September 2010. We are are also able to help you if you still need to complete modules from the previous Diploma syllabus in order to gain the qualification. Please contact us to discuss your options.

Fees

Here are our fees for the course, along with details of other costs for students or their employers:

 NOTES:

1. Payment by instalments is available to students who are paying for their own studies (ie if their employer isn't paying).
2. Payment per module is also possible if you wish to take selected modules rather than the whole course. There is a small surcharge of £25 per module to cover our administration costs.

Please contact us for information about paying by instalments or taking selected modules.