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Master of Arts in Communication Management
Master of Arts in Communication Management
Internationally oriented and with a hands-on approach: learn the skills required to plan, develop and implement corporate and digital communication strategies.
The Master of Arts in Communication Management provides the tools and the skills required to plan, develop and implement communication strategies adapted to different cultural and socio-political environments. You will learn the fundamental concepts, theories, and methods related to communication, while gaining knowledge about new trends and forms of corporate and digital communication so as to be ready to work in a complex and ever-evolving environment.
You will plan and implement communication strategies recognizing the nature, operation and management of modern corporations, using both written and oral skills to articulate key communication theories. You will also be able to approach communication issues by developing a correct data-gathering methodology, interpreting the data and making appropriate problem-solving decisions. You will also assess and measure effects of communication strategies and be able to adapt and modify them based on experience over time.
The MA in Communication Management benefits from the outstanding, hand-selected faculty of the UPF's world-famous Department of Communication. UPF is among the world's 100 best universities in linguistics and communications. Based on this distinction the program's main feature is the rigorous learning of communication management techniques along with the practical experience provided by industry professionals.
Program jointly offered with:
Why choose this program
Learn from the best
You will learn from the faculty of the UPF's Department of Communication, which is comprised of a unique selection of experienced communication and branding professionals.
A hands on approach to Communication Management
The program subjects combine theory and practice providing you with a global vision of communication and branding. You will work on real case studies and develop a Master's Final Project focused on a practical approach or on research of an original topic.
Customization
The program allows you to fit the contents according to your needs by selecting different elective courses, offering you the possibility to specialize in Corporate Communication or in Social Media Strategies.
Connection with the professional world
The Master includes the option to undertake a curricular or extracurricular internship, providing you with relevant work experience.
International environment
You will study with students coming from diverse backgrounds and different countries from all over the world.
Who is it for?
The Master of Arts in Communication Management is aimed at recent graduates and junior professionals from diverse backgrounds who are especially interested in the areas of corporate communications and social media strategies.
Accreditations
This is an official master and has the academic recognition of the Ministry of Education of the Government of Spain. The Quality Agency of the University System of Catalonia (AQU Catalunya) has institutionally accredited the UPF-BSM. This accreditation certifies all the official university master's degrees that we teach and recognizes the quality of our educational model in accordance with the criteria of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
Curriculum
The Master of Arts in Communication Management is organized over three terms.
During the first term, all students attend all the core courses related to Fundamentals of Communication Management.
In the second and third term students must take seven elective courses among all the courses offered (students can validate one internship for two elective courses, in which case, the student must take five elective courses). If the student takes three courses inside a specific concentration, they will receive a specialized mention (Corporate Communications or Social Media Strategies).
All students must complete the Master’s Final Project, which is spread over the three terms.
Core Courses
Elective Courses
Master's Project
Professional internships (optional)
Complementary activities
Additional Off-Program Activities
Further to the course's regular classes, students have the possibility of attending free complementary training parallel to the running of their studies. The following activities are optional and are included in the program's tuition fees:
- Training complements: Initial preparation course for participants who have the need to take them depending on their previous training. This is carried out prior to joining the program.
- Spanish Course: free of charge during the first term. 3 hours/week course at the UPF's language school (Idiomes UPF).
- Career Development Program: career sessions and workshops where students obtain specific training on how to improve their professional profile, approach potential employers and develop professional soft skills.
Qualification obtained
Once students have completed the course they will obtain the Máster Universitario en Gestión de la Comunicación / Master of Arts in Communication Management official Master's Degree, issued by the Pompeu Fabra University.
Issuance of official Master's Degrees: The amount stipulated in the DOGC (Official Gazette of the Government of Catalonia) must be paid for the rights to issue the title. This rate varies annually and the rate in force at the time of application for the degree will be applied.
The information contained in these pages is for information purposes only and may be subject to change when adapting each academic year. The definitive guide will be available to students enrolled in the virtual space before the start of each subject. Elective courses will take place if minimum enrolment is met.
Faculty
The Master of Arts in Communication Management benefits from the outstanding, hand-selected faculty of the UPF's world-famous Department of Communication and the practical experience provided by experienced professionals in the communication industry.
Academic directors
Associate Professor UPF
Associate Professor UPF
Faculty
Associate Professor UPF
Associate Professor UPF
Associate Professor UPF
Associate UPF
- Elisenda Estanyol Casals
Lecturer at the Information and Communication Studies of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
Before joining the university, she has worked for more than 10 years in public relations consultancies (Llorente & Cuenca, Hill + Knowlton Strategies) and in-house communication departments (CAATEEB, DiR). She also teaches at the Department of Communication of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), at the BSM (BSM-UPF), at the University Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and at the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED). She has been a visiting scholar at the Leeds Beckett University (UK) and at the University of Huddersfield (UK). a Public Relations Review, Emerald, Peter Lang, Sphera Publica, Revista International de Relaciones Públicas, El Profesional de la Información i Trípodos, entre d'altres. Her research interests are focused basically on public relations, creativity, social media and gamification with articles published in Public Relations Review, Emerald, Peter Lang, Sphera Publica, Revista Internacional de Relaciones Públicas, El Profesional de la Información, and Trípodos, among others. - Blanca Fullana Fernández
Adjunct lecturer at the Department of Communication of Pompeu Fabra University
PhD in Social Communication from Pompeu Fabra University. She is the Communications Manager at EINA. She was also General Manager for Spain at Edelman. - María del Mar Guerrero Pico
Research assistant at Pompeu Fabra University
PhD in Social Communication from Pompeu Fabra University. She also holds a MA in Communication and Creative Industries (Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 2010) and a BA in Journalism (Universidad de Navarra, 2007). Her thesis titled 'Historias más allá de lo filmado: fan fiction y narrativa transmedia en series de televisión' explores fans’ textual production in television-based transmedia storytelling. Her articles have been published in peer-review journals such as International Journal of Communication, Communication & Society, Signo y Pensamiento, Comunicación y Sociedad (Mexico), Palabra Clave, and Cuadernos.info. Her research interests include fan culture, transmedia storytelling, television shows, social media and media education. - Frederic Guerrero Solé
Lecturer at the Department of Communication of Pompeu Fabra University
PhD in Public Communication from Pompeu Fabra University. He also holds a degree in Theoretical Physics and Slavic Philology from the University of Barcelona. He teaches sociology of communication, intercultural communication and quantitative methods in the Faculty of Communication. His main lines of research are: sociology of communication, effects of the media and social networks, and he is in charge of the design and coordination of the digital communication itinerary. - Raquel Herrera Ferrer
Professor at the Open University of Catalonia, the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the Toulouse Business School
Bachelor Degree in Audiovisual Communication and PhD in Social Communication from Pompeu Fabra University. Specialist in teaching and researcher of communication and digital marketing, particularly of social networks in its cultural aspects (politics, fashion, entertainment, gastronomy, tourism). She is the author of the works on digital culture Tempus Fugit El relato interactivo (2004) and Érase unas veces: filiaciones narrativas en el arte digital (2015). She is also a professional in literary translation - and member of ACE Traductores - for publishers such as RBA or 62, and an academic translator for revised journals such as Artnodes or Hypertext. - Olatz Larrea Estefanía
Visiting lecturer at the Department of Communication of Pompeu Fabra University
Phd in in Social Communication from Pompeu Fabra University. She also holds a degree in Journalism from Navarra University. Her teaching and research focuses on radio broadcasting, the study of voice and public speaking. - Lluís Mas Manchón
Lecturer at the Department of Communication at Pompeu Fabra University
PhD in Audiovisual Communication and Advertising with honours from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. He is the coordinator of the Communication, Advertising and Society (CAS) research group at the UPF. His main research interests are branding, digital media, political communication, advertising, and physicophysiological measures. He recently gained a scholarship to be a visiting scholar at Texas Tech University. - María Pérez Ramos
Adjunct Lecturer at the Department of Communication of Pompeu Fabra University
Digital marketing consultant, specialised in multinational SEO and omnichannel strategies (Analytics, PPC, CRO and Social Media). She developed her professional career in the UK, where she worked for a wide range of brands operating in Europe, America and Asia. Her expertise covers both B2B and B2C campaigns for an extended range of markets: software, high-fashion, jewellery, beauty, food, beverages and travel, among others. - Arnau Roig Mora
Adjunct Professor at the departments of Translation and Interpreting and Advertising at Pompeu Fabra University
PhD in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He works for the English department of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and for the Film School ESCAC. He has degrees in Audiovisual Communication (UPF) and Translation (UAB), Masters in English Studies and Gender Studies (UB). He teaches PR and Internal Communication, Film Studies, Gender Studies and English. He has worked as a Higher Technician in Communication at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. - Carlos Alberto Scolari
Tenured lecturer at the Department of Communication of Pompeu Fabra University
PhD in Applied Linguistics and Communication Languages from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Milan, Italy). He also coordinates the PhD Program of Communication at UPF. His researches have focused on transmedia storytelling and media ecology/evolution of media and interfaces. He’s been visiting researcher at University of Toronto and NYU. Between 2015-18 he coordinated the H2020 Transmedia Literacy research project. - Juan Rafael Ventura Álvarez
Lecturer and Researcher at the Department of Communication of Pompeu Fabra University
He has a degree in Advertising Communication and a Master's in International Peace, Conflict and Development Studies from the Jaume I University. He is currently finishing a PhD in Communication at UPF. He teaches communication theory, media industries and audience trends and has published in the areas of gender and communication, LGBT/Queer media studies, communication theory and communication for social change. - Sara Vinyals Mirabet
PhD in Communication from Pompeu Fabra University
Researcher and a DAAD research fellow at the Department of Communication, Johannes Gutenberg University. She is part of the research group Communication, Advertising, and Society (CAS) and the research project ITOURIST, funded by the Spanish government. She also teaches fundamentals of advertising, branding, and place branding courses. She has published in the areas of online communication practices and their contribution to building brand image and personality.
Methodology
The MA in Communication Management takes place in a full-time and on-campus format. One of the key elements of the master is the individual Master's Project, structured in various milestones and supervised by a mentor. In addition, students will develop skills necessary for their professional development.
Interactive learning methodology
A combination of different teaching methodologies such as seminars and lectures, practical cases, group-based activities and simulations will take place to create an interactive and hands-on learning experience, complemented with articles, videos, written analysis and examinations.
The Master's Project
The Master of Arts in Communication Management includes an individual project which the student must define at the beginning of the course and will work on throughout the year. It can be original research carried out by the candidate or a practical approach related to a real situation. It can deal with any problem, opportunity or initiative of interest to the student.
The Mentor
As a central part of its teaching model, the program has a central figure: the mentor. They will be assigned by the Academic Directors based on the characteristics of the student's project. The mentor will act as a guide and will challenge the student’s thinking and ideas, helping the student to identify teachers, projects, businesses and activities that can be used to support and enrich the project.
Professional Development Skills
Alongside the inherent contents of each technical speciality, the ability to communicate effectively will be particularly enhanced during the development of the program. To achieve this, the following skills will be worked on in a transverse and integrated manner: interpersonal communication, written communication, high-impact presentations, negotiation, digital identity, and methodology.
Evaluation
The assessment will be based on written exams and multiple-choice tests, oral presentations, individual essays, group projects and class participation and debates.
Tools
Project-oriented learning and the combination of lectures and active methodologies such as case studies, flipped learning, solving real problems and professional simulations allow the student to connect theory and practice, acquire advanced skills and achieve learning which is transferable to work.
You will have:
- Master's or postgraduate work to learn by doing
- A personal mentor to monitor your Master's Final Project (TFM) or Postgraduate Final Project (TFP)
- Digital resources to achieve transversal skills
- Interdisciplinary activities and workshops
Professional Future
The Master of Arts in Communication Management is aimed at recent graduates and junior professionals from diverse backgrounds who are especially interested in the areas of corporate communications and social media strategies.
Once graduated, students have the opportunity to work in communication and marketing departments of any sector, communication agencies, public and international institutions, foundations, associations and non-profit organizations, among others.
Student profile
Every year the program welcomes students from all over the world, coming from different backgrounds, who want to study Communication Management in Barcelona: a vibrant, dynamic and international city. The multicultural and international environment of the class forms a great opportunity to communicate, work and develop communication strategies with a global vision.
Career opportunities
The Master of Arts in Communication Management provides students with the opportunity to undertake a curricular internship, if desired. Resources and assistance will be provided by UPF-BSM Careers Service to support students in their search for internships and job positions.
The MA in Communication Management prepares students to work as professionals in different industries and areas, in positions such as:
- Communication and Brand Specialist
- Communication and Marketing Specialist
- Consultant (brand, strategy, and communications)
- Press Officer
- Advertising Specialist
- Public Relations and Institutional Relations Officer
- Market Researcher
- Management and leadership positions in a private company or public organization
Examples of recruiters:
- Communication agencies
- Communication and marketing departments in corporations, middle and small businesses, family businesses, start-ups
- Human Resources and Institutional Relations departments of all industries
- Non-profit organizations, Foundations, Associations
- Governments and public organizations
- International organizations
Admission and enrolment
Our admission process consists of a rigorous evaluation of each application to preserve the quality of the group as well as the training, experience, and work capacity of all students.
Who can apply?
Bachelor degree
Applicants must have finished or be in the last year of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university. Applicants who are currently studying the last year of their Bachelor's Degrees will need to have finished their university studies and obtained their final diploma before the beginning of the program. Candidates should hold a university degree, preferably in the field of the social sciences.
Proficiency in English
Applicants must submit an official English Certificate with the following minimum scores:
- TOEFL CBT: > 235
- TOEFL PBT: > 575
- TOEFL IBT: > 100
- Cambridge: C1 Advanced (CAE)
- IELTS: > 6.5
- Duolingo: > 115 (accepted during the academic years 2020–21 and 2021–22)
Applicants whose mother tongue is English do not need to submit the aforementioned certificate.
Applicants who have completed their full Bachelor's Degree at an English-speaking university must submit written evidence that the language of instruction of their studies was English.
Knowledge of Spanish is desirable but not required for this program.
How to apply?
To apply for admission to this program, students must read and accept the Terms and Conditions of Contract once they start the application for admission through its form.
Application for admission
Complete your application within the next admission rounds:
| Round | Application deadline | Resolution deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11/11/2020 | 26/11/2020 |
| 2 | 3/12/2020 | 18/12/2020 |
| 3 | 17/12/2020 | 31/12/2020 |
| 4 | 12/01/2021 | 28/01/2021 |
| 5 | 02/02/2021 | 17/02/2021 |
| 6 | 23/02/2021 | 10/03/2021 |
| 7 | 16/03/2021 | 31/03/2021 |
| 8 | 08/04/2021 | 23/04/2021 |
| 9 | 27/04/2021 | 12/05/2021 |
| 10 | 13/05/2021 | 28/05/2021 |
| 11 | 27/05/2021 | 11/06/2021 |
| 12 | 08/06/2021 | 23/06/2021 |
| 13 | 22/06/2021 | 07/07/2021 |
| 14 | 06/07/2021 | 21/07/2021 |
| 15 | 20/07/2021 | 30/07/2021 |
Applications for admission will be evaluated when you complete the following steps:
- Complete the online admission form.
- Pay the €120 admission fee. This amount will be returned if you are not admitted.
- Send the following documents through the online platform e-registrar:
- Presentation letter or video
- CV
- 2 academic recommendation letters (mandatory) and 1 professional (optional)
- Scanned copy of university degree (if you are in the last year of your degree, you can provide your academic records)
- Scanned copy of Transcript of Records. Make sure that it includes your GPA (Grade Point Average)
- Scanned copy of ID Card or Passport
- Passport-size photo (jpg format)
Additional documents may be requested in certain cases.
Applications are subject to the number of places available on the program.
Admission
- The Admissions Committee will select the candidates on the basis of a personal or CV-based interview.
- You will be notified of the admission decision in writing.
Enrolment
- Resgistration must be paid within a 15 days after the admission.
- Once the letter of acceptance to the program has been received, you will need to submit the following original documents before the course begins:
- Stamped and/or authenticated photocopy of your university degree.
- Stamped and/or authenticated photocopy of your transcript of records.
- If you have a foreign degree you may need to submit additional documents.
- Paying the reservation fee (25% of the program's tuition fees) is essential in order to reserve your place
- If you pay the tuition fees by bank transfer you will be required to introduce the program code. The program code for this course is 1560.
- The remaining tuition fees must be paid 2 weeks before the start of the course.
Language: English
Price: 14500€