Business Communication 

Master - 90 ETCS

Step into a world where communication fuels innovation and growth. The MA in Business Communication at the University of Fribourg immerses you in the latest theories and digital trends shaping modern organizations.

Gain practical expertise in digital platforms, social networks, and artificial intelligence, while building the business insight you need to excel in tomorrow’s career landscape. Join us and shape the future of business communication.

• To know more on program description

  Prepare for the future of business with our Master in Business Communication. Learn how to navigate social media, digital networks, and AI-driven platforms while mastering the fast-changing business world and the fast-paced evolution of communication styles and formats. Go beyond messaging: discover how to engage, interact, and build lasting relationships with all stakeholders.

  Customize your studies by combining essential communication skills with specializations in business management, political economy, ethics, or management IT. Plus, boost your career prospects with courses offered in French, German, and English—earn a bilingual or trilingual diploma!

  Take your communication skills to the next level—join us and shape tomorrow’s business landscape!

• Presentation video (in French)
• Objectives of the Master

  The objective of Module 1 (mandatory) is to deepen three aspects of communication within the framework of a curriculum oriented towards the businesses. The three aspects in question are: strategic communication, digitalization and uses of media, and communication in a digital and media context.

  The objective of Module 2 (optional) is to acquire multidisciplinary skills relating, for example, to human resources, financial management, ethics in development and global changes, or social computing, etc.

   At the end of the Master in Business Communication, you will be able to

  • know the main challenges (digital, or omnichannel) faced by organizations,
  • understand the strategic  value of reputation and image of an organization
  • master many types of corporate communications (product, corporate, social, crisis, etc.),
  • master communication tools.

  You will then be able to take on challenges of large multinational companies as well as small and medium-sized companies or non profit organizations.

• Study bilingual and apply theory to practice

  In the multilingual and multicultural context of the University of Fribourg, you will be able to complete a personalized training course in French, bilingual or trilingual by combining courses offered in French, German and English. To do so, you must obtain at least 40% of ECTS credits in the second language of study (bilingual) or obtain at least 18 ECTS credits in each of the three languages of study (trilingual). If you would like more information on this subject, please refer to the faculty regulations. 

  During your Master in Business Communication studies, you will also have the opportunity to put your knowledge into practice by learning how to manage web media (sites, blogs, etc.), to manage team projects and scientific research or to create links with companies, especially during your final master thesis.

  Thanks to our advanced teaching methods, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of work through challenges, case studies and multimedia simulations carried out in class. This will allow you to apply the theoretical knowledge they have acquired during your studies.

Master's modules

The curriculum is customised, combining:

• a core module in communication (Module I - 60 ECTS),
• with a choice of modules in management, economic, ethics and economics, or business informatics (Module II - 30 ECTS).

• Module I: Communication (60 ECTS)

  The courses in the Communication module (Module I) focus on three aspects of communication, within the framework of a study programme geared towards companies and organisations:

  • Strategic Communication;
  • Digitalisation and Media Use;
  • Messaging strategies in Digital and Media context.

   

  Courses
  Five mandatory courses to be split as follows: 15 ECTS   Pick all Strategic Communication and Business Corporate identity, Reputation and Digital communication Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Impact   Pick one from: Communication, organisation et transformation digitale New media, media and users   Pick one from: Persuasion and Digital Mobilisation Journalisme numérique et corporate storytelling
  Seminar + seminar work, both mandatory: 3+6 ECTS   Pick ONE seminar from: Strategic Digital Communication Digitalisation et communication Communication en contexte politique Communication in a Digital Context Project Seminars MA in Digital media and communication for social impact Seminar work (Written and/or Multimedia)
  Electives pick 2 from following programs (see detailled courses below): 6 ECTS Pick from MBC mandatory list (not chosen before) Pick from courses of MA in Digital Society Pick from courses MA in Digital media and communication for social impact Pick from courses* at BA level, including practical courses Find one internship
  MA thesis & Colloquium: 27+3 ECTS Thesis Colloquium

   

  * Only if not already validated in a BA programme

• Module II: Elective module (30 ECTS)

  Management, Economics, Ethics and Economics or Business Informatics

  During their registration to the Master of Arts in Business Communication, students must chose the respective option and take the corresponding 30 ECTS Module II in either Management, Economics, Ethics and Economics, or Business Informatics. Each Option (specialisation) is composed of mandatory or elective courses defined by the respective departments. The requirements for each option corresponds to the respective 30 ECTS Minor and is available on the Faculty’s “Minors” webpage.

Electives courses: pick 2 from following programs

• Pick from MBC mandatory list (not chosen before)

  Communication, organisation et transformation digitale New media, media and users Persuasion and Digital Mobilisation Journalisme numérique et corporate storytelling

• Pick from MA in Digital Society

  Methods in Studies of the Digital Society; Digital Methods Governing digital society: resistance and protest

  Link to the courses of MA in Digial Society

• Pick from MA in Digital media and communication for social impact

  Strategic communication Democracy, Media and Technology; Media and Platform Governance Media Use and Effects; Digital Journalism and Content Creation Research Designs & Data Collection Data Analytics & Visualization Project management & Leadership

   Link to the courses of MA in Digital media and communication for social impact

• Pick from Practical courses at BA level (not chosen before)

  French-speaking practical courses Laboratoire de communication appliquée Event Management Communication et gestion de microentreprise Vidéo et Reportage Conception web Communication écrite Communication orale Écriture web Practical courses of the BA in Kommunikationswissenschaft und Medienforschung   German-speaking practical courses Radio Press Film und Fernsehen Onlinejournalismus Videojournalismus Public Relations Kommunikationstrategien Innovation im Journalismus

  Courses list - BA Level in Communication (F/D)

• Pick from courses at BA level (not chosen before)

  Courses BA Sciences de la communication Courses of the BA in Kommunikationswissenschaft und Medienforschung

• Teaching method: theory and practice at DCM
  1. Mandatory or optional courses: Theoretical courses with discussion of practical implications. In these courses, teachers present the main theories and conceptual frameworks that are relevant to the various fields of communication.  The objective is to understand the theoretical foundations of the field, to analyze them and to unlock them in concrete ways. The practical aspect of these courses is ensured through the use of one or more of the following teaching methodologies, among others: team work on a concrete business case (students use and apply a conceptual framework to create recommendations for a real or fictitious company); discussion with guest speakers sharing a concrete experience related to their work; individual practical work of choice; presentation and analysis of practical examples in class.

  
  

   2. Practical courses: Courses taught by lecturers from the professional world. Practitioners working in various fields of communication and business teach the entire course and offer students an immersive approach to the daily practice of a profession or function. A complete list of current practical courses is available in this webpage. These courses are open to students in the main Bachelor's program (90 ECTS), and on request to the Dean's Office for students in the Master's program in Business Communication (see precise procedure in the study plan).

  
  

   3. Seminars: Discussion and analysis of current issues. Through the reading and analysis of scientific articles and their application to current issues (via empirical studies), students acquire knowledge about future challenges in the major fields of communication. Emphasis is placed on exchanges between teachers and students, who work in small groups. The objective is to develop students' critical thinking skills. The seminars are an essential preparation for the master's thesis.