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 professional 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.
The Master of Arts in Communication Management is endorsed by Pompeu Fabra University, the 1st Spanish university and the 15th best university in the world (of those with less than 50 years), according to the Times Higher Education ranking. In addition, UPF Barcelona School of Management has EQUIS accreditation, the most prestigious institutional recognition for business schools globally.
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 professionals.
A hands on approach to Communication Management
The program subjects combine theory and practice providing you with a global vision of communication. 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 Digital 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.
Study at an accredited school
Study at a school accredited by EQUIS, an international distinction that guarantees the quality of our institution and makes us the 1st school of management linked to a public university with this accreditation in our country.
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
UPF Barcelona School of Management is the management school of Pompeu Fabra University, the 1st Ibero-American university and the 16th placed university in the world, among those under 50 years of age, according to the Times Higher Education ranking.
UPF Barcelona School of Management has EQUIS accreditation, the most prestigious institutional recognition for business schools globally, and places itself among the top business schools in the world.
The Master of Arts in Communication Management is an official master's degree 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) has also institutionally accredited UPF-BSM. This accreditation certifies all the official 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).
In 2022, the Master of Arts in Communication Management ranked 26th in the EdUniversal 2022's Corporate Communication category.
Curriculum
The Master of Arts in Communication Management is organized into three terms.
During the first two terms, participants combine compulsory subjects together with electives of their choice. During the third term, the remaining electives must be taken.
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 Digital Media Strategies).
All students must complete the Master’s Final Project, which is spread over the three terms.
Elective Courses
Master's Project
Students must complete a Master’s Final Project under the supervision of a faculty advisor. There will be two options: the first option involves original research carried out by the candidate, leading to the implementation of a research project. The second option involves a practical approach, whereby the candidate performs (for example) an organizational analysis or audit, writes a communication manual, undertakes a case study or constructs a consulting or communication plan.
Professional internships (optional)
The assigned tasks will be agreed between the organization or company that receives the student and the management of the master's degree, always with the aim of responding to a real need of said institution or company. The managers of the master will supervise that the assigned tasks are relevant and related to communication management. In the internships in companies, the knowledge acquired throughout the program must be put into practice.
The 8 ECTS corresponding to the professional internships are interchangeable for two optional subjects of 4 ECTS each.
There is also the possibility of recognition for professional experience.
Complementary activities
The Master of Arts in Communication Management also includes the possibility of participating in practical activities and activities for personal and professional growth such as:
- Brush-up Courses: these online preparatory courses cover business, analytic tools, economics, physical and chemical principles, and environmental subjects. They are designed for students needing a refresher before starting the program and must be completed and passed either before or during the first month of the master's program.
- Spanish Course: 80% discount during the first trimester for basic Spanish level. Three hours per week at the Language Service of UPF.
- Career Development Program: career sessions and workshops where participants obtain specific training on how to improve their professional profile, approach potential employers, and develop professional soft skills.
- International mobility: The UPF Barcelona School of Management offers you the possibility of expanding your training and international vision through the International Mobility Programme. Extend your studies extracurricularly, during the academic year following the completion of your Master's, at a top-level institution. Limited places.
- UPF-BSM Inside: is a group of interdisciplinary subjects (applied data, communication, creativity, innovation and project management, sustainability and leadership among others) that, if you take this program, you can access at no additional cost. They are 100% online and you can take them throughout the academic year at your own pace, as they have been designed as self-study subjects.
Qualification obtained
Once students have completed the course they will obtain the Màster Universitari en Gestió de la Comunicació/ Master of Arts in Communication Management - 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.
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
Faculty
Collaborating faculty
- 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. - Montserrat Lavilla
PhD in Advertising and Public Relations from the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Marketing Director of Engel & Völkers for Spain, Portugal and Andorra. She teaches Branding, Advertising and Strategic Planning at the Pompeu Fabra University, the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the Open University of Catalonia. She has a wide professional experience in different positions related to Marketing, Corporate Communication and Branding, with a special focus on real estate companies. - 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. - Leila Mohammadi
PhD in Information and Knowledge Society from the Open University of Catalunya. She also has a master's degree in Advanced Studies in Social Communication from Pompeu Fabra University, and another master’s degree in Business & Administration from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Her research interests and publications focus on online communication, marketing, advertising, personal branding and persuasive communication. - Yasmina Okan
Ramón y Cajal Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Communication at Pompeu Fabra University and Visiting Senior Research Fellow at Leeds University Business School (UK).
She holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Granada, an MSc in Cognitive and Decision Sciences from University College London, and a degree in Psychology from the Autonomous University of Madrid. Prior to joining Pompeu Fabra University, she was an Associate Professor in Behavioral Decision Making at Leeds University Business School. She has also been a visiting researcher at different international institutions including the Max Planck Institute for Human Development (Germany) and Wake Forest University (US). Her research focuses on the psychology of judgment and decision making with an emphasis on risk perception and communication, and she has published widely in these areas in leading peer-reviewed journals. - 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. - Marta Santiago Machado
Graduated in Advertising and Public Relations from Pompeu Fabra University and Master in International Relations from UPF-UB-UAB (IBEI).
She worked in communications and managed the organization of events for the Chamber of Commerce of the United States in Spain. Previously, she worked at Intermèdia Comunicació and at the Consulate of Spain in Houston (USA). She is currently the Head of Communications and Content at Cercle d’Economia and an associate professor at Pompeu Fabra University. - 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 Mirabent
PhD in Communication with honors from Pompeu Fabra University.
She is a Lecturer at the Department of Advertising, Public Relations, and Audiovisual Communication at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. She also holds a MA in Advanced Studies in Social Communication and a BA in Advertising and PR (from UPF). Her research interests are linked to the areas of persuasive and online communication, with a focus on advertising, branding, and a particular interest in place branding. She’s been awarded a DAAD postdoctoral scholarship (Germany, 2019-2020) and recently became part of the ‘Serra Húnter Programme of highly qualified faculty staff.’
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 Final Project (TFM) or Postgrad Final Project (TFP)
- A personal mentor to monitor your final project (TFM or 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.
Average age
Average number of years of previous professional experience
International students
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