United School for Liberal Studies
Graduate Certificate in Communication StudiesDURATION
24 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest start date
TUITION FEES
CHF 8,400 *
STUDY FORMAT
Blended, On-Campus
* price may be different based on location
Key Summary
Introduction
Program duration: 9 up to 12 months full-time
Program format: Part-time, On-campus, Online, Hybrid
Program language: English
Degree awarded: Graduate Certificate in Communication Studies
Deadline: no deadline to apply
Locations: Amsterdam, Antwerp, Barcelona, Brussels, Geneva, Madrid, Milan, Tokyo, Zurich
Starting dates: 8
Program Duration
Part-time students can complete this Graduate Certificate program in 9 to 12 months, depending on the number of courses attempted per quarter, the course selection, and the course planning. Students are considered part-time while attempting 6 or fewer courses per quarter. Part-time studies are available only for students with a national passport or residence permit. Alternatively, part-time studies can be combined with online courses.
Kick-start your studies up to 8 times per year
Students can choose between multiple starting dates in the fall, winter, spring, and summer of each academic year. Our modular course design and program structure allow for optimal further education planning.
Because of the program's flexible structure and modular design, multiple starting dates are available throughout the academic year in October, November, January, February, April, May, July, or August. All campuses follow the same academic calendar.
Study Destinations
Students can transfer between campuses on a quarterly basis with guaranteed program compatibility. Our quarter-based academic calendar allows for a continuous study-abroad experience across Europe and Asia.
Our 9 global campus locations are based in:
Our campuses are all located in the city center of several exciting destinations. Students are encouraged to transfer between campuses for one or more quarters, but may also choose a single campus as their destination of choice. Students who prefer shorter periods abroad can join our seminar courses taught by visiting professors at several of our campuses throughout the academic year.
Accreditation
Upon successful completion of the study program, students receive an international private Graduate Certificate in Communication Studies degree awarded by the school's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, based on the recommendation of the faculty of the local campuses where credits were earned.
Curriculum
Teaching Schedule
Courses are available in various formats, including:
- Daytime courses between 8:30 and 18:30
- Seminar courses with visiting professors on consecutive days
- Online courses available 24/7
- Evening courses from 19:00 to 22:00 at certain campuses
- Weekend courses on Saturdays
- A combination of these in a blended format
Courses are typically scheduled in sessions of 3 hours each.
Connect with an admissions advisor, or refer to the course planning once enrolled to find out more about course availability in specific formats throughout the academic year.
Program requirements
| Courses | European Credits (EC) | |
| Courses from the Communication Studies cluster | 6 | 12 |
| Total | 6 | 12 |
Courses from the Communication Studies cluster
- COM5002 - Communication Policies (2)
- COM5003 - Communication Theory and Research (2)
- COM5101 - Comprehensive Cases in Business Communication (2)
- COM5102 - Comprehensive Cases in Communication Studies (2)
- COM5004 - Digital Communication (2)
- COM5005 - Effective Public Relations (2)
- COM5007 - Political Communication (2)
- COM5008 - Professional Journalism (2)
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarships are limitedly available, in the form of a fee reduction of the total program fees. Students can apply for a scholarship based on previous academic merit (minimum average grade of 80% or more). Scholarships are only available for full-time, on-campus students.
Graduate/Master Webinar July 11 at 13:00
To sign up for the event, make sure to fill out the form to receive the joining link.
Rankings
UIBS/USLS has earned prestigious rankings in the 2025 global business education landscape:
- QS MBA Ranking 2025: Global Top 200 and European Top 60
- CEO Magazine Global MBA Ranking 2025: Tier One program
- CEO Magazine Global EMBA Ranking 2025: 31st worldwide
- CEO Magazine Global Online MBA Ranking 2025: 17th worldwide
Program Outcome
Degree Awarded
Upon successful completion of the study program, students receive a Graduate Certificate in Communication Studies degree, awarded by the school's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, based on the recommendation of the faculty of the local campuses where credits were earned.
Career Opportunities
Career Preparation and Job Placement
Our Careers Department supports our students in planning their career paths by:
- Organizing several career seminars
- Offering the possibility of meeting with business professionals interested in recruiting
- Maintaining job and internship listings on our Careers Portal
Our study programs are designed to meet the demands of a broad range of business professions. Students are also assisted with finding attractive internships and jobs with local as well as multinational companies and organizations. In addition, we also review our students' CVs and provide useful tips for job interviews.
Dedicated Career Services
With the help from our dedicated career services and our online career center, students and alumni get the career support they need to help their professional careers take off.
Our dedicated career department organizes relevant career seminars and guest speaker events on a quarterly basis. Our online career center provides 24/7 access to the latest job offers and internship opportunities and to a wide range of videos and articles with helpful tips and advice.
Professional Career Perspectives
Our professional study programs prepare students for a wide range of professions across a wide range of industries.
Important to note is that our programs do not aim for access to regulated professions or government employment. While access to government employment may be limited because of the private nature of our degrees, several alumni do work for government authorities in a number of positions.
Facilities
Student Testimonials
Program delivery
Program duration
Part-time students can complete this Graduate Certificate program in 9 to 12 months, depending on the number of courses attempted per quarter, the course selection, and the course planning. Students are considered part-time while attempting 6 or fewer courses per quarter. Part-time studies are available only for students with a national passport or residence permit. Alternatively, part-time studies can be combined with online courses.