Overview
Advance your marketing career with a recognised qualification designed to develop your strategic marketing knowledge, commercial understanding and management capability.
Developed through employer-led research, the Level 6 Diploma supports progression from CIM Level 4 qualifications and is designed for marketers looking to operate at Marketing Manager level. You’ll build the knowledge and skills needed to plan strategically, make informed decisions, respond to organisational priorities and deliver marketing activity that supports business objectives.
This qualification is designed for marketers who are ready to move from operational delivery into a more strategic marketing role.
It may be right for you if you:
- Are a marketing manager or aspiring marketing manager
- Have experience working in an operational marketing role
- Have completed a CIM Level 4 qualification or equivalent
- Want to strengthen your strategic planning and management skills
- Are looking to progress towards senior marketing roles or Level 7 study
Successful completion establishes the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to perform within a Marketing Manager role and supports progression from Level 4 CIM qualifications.
You’ll need at least one of the following:
- A CIM Level 4 qualification, or a relevant equivalent
- A Level 4 apprenticeship, such as Marketing Executive, or equivalent
- A Level 6 apprenticeship, such as Marketing Manager, or equivalent
- A bachelor’s or master’s degree, with at least one-third of credits from marketing content
- Professional practice, typically two years of marketing experience in an operational role, plus diagnostic assessment
If English is not your first language, you’ll usually need an IELTS Academic score of 6.5, with at least 6.0 in each component, a Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English at grade B or above, or an accepted equivalent achieved within the previous two years.
The total cost of your qualification is made up of:
- Tuition fees, paid to your chosen Accredited Study Centre
- CIM membership, which starts from £65 per year
- CIM assessment fees
The current assessment fees for the Level 6 Diploma are £660 at the Global Standard and Developing Markets rate, or £540 at the Emerging Markets rate. These figures are based on passing all modules at the first attempt. Resits require additional fees.
The course was one of the best I have ever attended. The course material provided was practical and the Course Director explained everything so thoroughly that it was simple to understand. More importantly, it was easy to see how what I have learnt could be implemented in my organisation! I am truly inspired.
What you'll learn
You’ll develop strategic marketing skills across planning, commercial decision-making, customer experience, brand, content and digital specialisms.
- Strategic marketing planning
- Marketing management and decision-making
- Commercial intelligence and marketing performance
- Sustainability, wellbeing and societal impact
- Customer journey optimisation
- Brand proposition, equity and reputation
- Content strategy and implementation
- AI, ecommerce, SEO, paid search and social media strategy
Available modules
| Module | What you'll learn | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandatory | Strategy and Planning | Develop advanced strategic planning skills, including how to use planning frameworks and models to create marketing plans that support organisational objectives. |  |
| Core | Commercial Intelligence | Learn how to interpret commercial and marketing data, understand key financial metrics, build strategic budgets, optimise channel performance and demonstrate ROI. | |
| Core | Societal Impact | Explore sustainability, wellbeing, stakeholder engagement and the role of marketing in helping organisations respond to social and environmental challenges. | |
| Specialist | Customer Journey Optimisation | Use data and insight to evaluate customer journey stages and create seamless, personalised journeys that support satisfaction, loyalty and advocacy. | |
| Specialist | Brand Proposition | Explore proposition development, brand management, equity, purpose, innovation and reputation in increasingly complex and competitive markets. | |
| Specialist | Content Strategy | Learn how to develop a strategic approach to content marketing that supports organisational goals, builds trust and improves conversions. | |
| Specialist | AI Marketing | Understand how AI developments affect marketing and how to create a suitable plan for responding to and implementing AI technologies. | |
| Specialist | Ecommerce | Develop knowledge and skills to create an effective ecommerce proposition and understand best practice in ecommerce strategy. | |
| Specialist | SEO & Paid Search Management | Learn how to create organic and paid search strategies, understand customer search behaviour and improve search visibility. | |
| Specialist | Social Media Management | Develop strategic insight into how social media can reach, nurture and engage audiences, and create a strategy that drives engagement. | |
To achieve the Diploma, you must complete Strategy and Planning and choose three elective modules.
There are two valid routes:
- Route One: complete Strategy and Planning, choose one module from Commercial Intelligence or Societal Impact, then choose two modules from Customer Journey Optimisation, Brand Proposition and Content Strategy.
- Route Two: complete Strategy and Planning, choose one module from Commercial Intelligence or Societal Impact, choose one module from Customer Journey Optimisation, Brand Proposition and Content Strategy, then choose one digital module from AI Marketing, Ecommerce, SEO & Paid Search Management and Social Media Management.
Each Diploma route totals 50 credits. You can achieve the Extended Diploma by completing one additional module, bringing the total to 60 credits.
Start this qualification
How it works
- Decide how you want to study.
- Find a study centre.
- Choose your modules and book with your chosen provider.
- Become a CIM member and complete your assessments.
FAQs
CIM training courses are designed for marketers at all career stages, from those developing core skills to experienced professionals looking to deepen their expertise, lead teams or stay current with emerging trends.
CIM training courses are designed for marketers at all career stages, from those developing core skills to experienced professionals looking to deepen their expertise, lead teams or stay current with emerging trends.
CIM training courses are designed for marketers at all career stages, from those developing core skills to experienced professionals looking to deepen their expertise, lead teams or stay current with emerging trends.
