USI Università della Svizzera italiana
Master of Science in Corporate Communication
Lugano, Switzerland
MSc
DURATION
4 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
30 Jun 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
CHF 4,000 / per semester **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* 30/04/26 for non-EU/EFTA; 30/06/26 for EU/EFTA
** applicants whose official residence was in Switzerland or Liechtenstein at the time of the final high school exam - Maturità - pay a reduced semester fee of CHF 2,000 per semester
Key Summary
In an extremely dynamic environment, where society and markets are increasingly complex and interconnected, communication is key to understanding and giving meaning to business. More than ever, management occurs in conversations and interactions. Corporations are moving fast towards platform based business models and “agile” ways of organising.
This is why today organisations require professionals with cross-cutting management and communication competences. In this context Corporate Communication professionals help organisations to cultivate and protect their reputation, by engaging with internal and external stakeholders, and by nurturing and communicating the organisations’ purpose and identity.
The programme favours a strategic and multi-stakeholder approach to corporate communication, grounded in a sound knowledge of management. In order to help develop analytical and decision making skills, lectures are integrated with more active teaching methods, consisting of discussion of case histories, role-playing, business games, individual and group projects, interaction with professionals, etc.
MCC prepares students to start a career in the corporate communication profession as well as to take communication-intensive management roles in areas such as HR, sustainability, compliance, social media, marketing, etc.
The skills acquired meet the requirements for professional careers in organisations of different kinds as well as in communication agencies and management consulting firms.
Please check out the university website and find out more about our scholarships.
Check on our website for more information: Home / Education / Master / Tuition and scholarships - Master programmes
Structure and contents
The programme stretches over two years (120 ECTS credits).
During the first year, MCC students attend core courses, while during the second year they personalise study curricula according to their individual interests and apply what they have learned.
The first semester provides a solid general management foundation, covering topics such as strategy, organisation, finance, stakeholder management, and marketing.
The second semester provides courses addressing communication relevant aspects. Their discussion is strongly linked with the concepts of general management, with the aim to highlight how communication is at the heart of organising practices and how communication management requires a deep understanding of the organisational logics. For instance, the Corporate Identity and Image course develops the understanding of how nurturing corporate identities, brands and reputations supports and informs the overall corporate strategy. Other examples of complementary courses are Organisational Behaviour and Organisational Communication or Essentials of Finance and Investor Relations. Methodological courses complete the offer of core courses, based on the strong belief that research is the bedrock of Corporate Communication, and given the increasing relevance and amount of data circulating today.
During the third semester, students can choose among a rich selection of elective courses or opt for an exchange programme with another university in Switzerland or abroad. The Master’s portfolio of electives is organised in six thematic areas:
- Corporate Social Responsibility and the Common Good
- Crossmedia, Transmedia and Multimodal Communication
- Visual and Material Culture
- Customer Experience and Value
- Organisation and Human Resource Management
- Strategy and Entrepreneurship
During the last semester, students work on their capstone (18 ECTS) and attend a set of professionalizing courses (12 ECTS). For the capstone, they can choose to work in teams on a field project, consulting client organisations, or to individually write a Master’s thesis.
Students, if they wish, can earn a specialisation by selecting 18 ECTS within the same thematic area (for more details see Study Programme).
Field project
During the fourth Semester, students carry out a consulting project for an external business entity.
They work in teams and are tutored by Faculty members who support them in managing their contacts with the company, in developing the project and in preparing the final report and the presentations to the company. During the field project, teams take part in research groups to present and discuss the intermediate results of their consulting activity with members and tutors of the other teams. The approach to these projects is evidence-based and is aimed at developing effective recommendations.
Master of Science in Corporate Communication
Career Prospects
Corporate communication profiles acquired a growing relevance in the last 15 years. They involve leadership roles regarding corporate brand, culture, reputation, social responsibility, with a multi-stakeholder approach. They also involve growing coordination with other departments such as Finance, HR, Compliance, Marketing, etc.
Graduates can pursue career options related to a specific corporate function in communication departments with a holistic approach to strategic communication planning, or a specialized communication profile in other departments where communication management expertise is needed. Examples are public affairs, investor relations, sustainability, or employee communication profiles.