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Education Master's and PhD degree programmes Communication and Information Studies Communication Studies
Header image Communication Studies

Communication Studies

Communication is everywhere. Think of commercials, Facebook and TV. Professionals carefully plan what type of information people come across. Like to learn more? Then this programme is for you.

N.B. This programme is partly taught in Dutch, but can also be followed entirely in English. International students are welcome to apply.

The programme Communication Studies is one of the programmes of the Master's programme Communication and Information Studies.

You will learn to analyze organizational, media, computer, persuasive and health communication. During the master, a lot of attention is paid to problem solving, analytical and research skills. In addition, it is a strongly interdisciplinary programme: you not only study communication science, but also language skills and information science. Within this programme you can specialize in health communication.

An internship can be part of your programme.

Facts & Figures
Degree
MA in Communication & Information Studies
Course type
Master
Duration
12 months (60 ECTS)
Croho code
66826
Language of instruction
Dutch, English
Start
February, September
Faculty
Arts
Why study this programme in Groningen?
  • Qualitative and quantitative research is being done in the field of organizational-, media-, computer-, persuasive-, and health communication.
  • Language and language-use in communicative situations stand at the core of our program.
  • Problem-solving and analytical skills receive a lot of attention.
  • An interdisciplinary program is offered; including communication sciences, language skills, and information sciences.
  • Affiliation with current themes and public debate is being sought.
Programme
Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Multimodale instructieve teksten in de gezondheidscommunicatie
Argumentation and Resistance (10 EC, optional)
Communication Skills in Medical Interaction: Analysis, Education and Advice (10 EC, optional)
Consultancy in Organizational Communication (10 EC, optional)
Design of Communication Training (10 EC, optional)
Language and Text Optimization: the case of news discourse (10 EC, optional)
Stories and Clips: Analysis of Dynamic Audiovisual Multimodal Communication (10 EC, optional)
Writing: Context, Process and Text (10 EC, optional)
Communication Technology (5 EC, optional)
Computer-Mediated Communication (5 EC, optional)
User Interface Evaluation (5 EC, optional)
Corporate Communication in the Digital Age (10 EC, optional)
Living Lab: Communication for Change (10 EC, optional)
Master's Thesis (20 EC)
Master's Work Placement (10 EC, optional)
Questionnaire Design (10 EC, optional)
The Use of Humor and Satire in Communication and Persuasion (10 EC, optional)
Programme options
Vakken mastertrack Communicatiekunde (specialization)

Het vakkenaanbod van de mastertrack Communicatiekunde is aan verandering onderhevig. Bekijk Ocasys voor de meest actuele stand van zaken.

More information about this option

Gezondheidscommunicatie (specialization)

Binnen Communicatiekunde kun je een aparte specialisatie volgen op het gebied van gezondheidscommunicatie. Zie voor de vakken Ocasys.

More information about this option

Master's placement (specialization)

During this Master's track, you can follow a placement for ECTS credit points.

It is your responsibility to find a placement yourself, but the Office for Student Affairs can offer help with this where necessary.

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is discouraged

Studeren in het buitenland is mogelijk, maar wordt sterk afgeraden vanwege studievertraging en beperkt vakkenaanbod.

Entry requirements

Transfer options

Transferring from...

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
CommunicationAll Universities of applied sciencesVia a pre-master with a maximum of 60 EC
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
CommunicationHanze University Groningen, University of Applied SciencesVia a pre-master with a maximum of 60 EC
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
CommunicationnhlstendenVia a pre-master with a maximum of 60 EC
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Communication and Information StudiesUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Dutch Language and CultureUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements with a maximum of 60 EC

More information:

With a Faculty Minor in Communication and Information Studies (30 ECTS) and/or a pre-Master's programme (30-60 ECTS)

English Language and CultureUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements with a maximum of 60 EC

More information:

With a Faculty Minor in Communication and Information Studies (30 ECTS) and/or a pre-Master's programme (30-60 ECTS)

Information ScienceUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements with a maximum of 60 EC

More information:

With a Faculty Minor in Communication and Information Studies (30 ECTS) and/or a pre-Master's programme (30-60 ECTS)

European Languages and CulturesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements with a maximum of 60 EC

More information:

With a Faculty Minor in Communication and Information Studies (30 ECTS) and/or a pre-Master's programme (30-60 ECTS)

LinguisticsUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements with a maximum of 60 EC

More information:

With a Faculty Minor in Communication and Information Studies (30 ECTS) and/or a pre-Master's programme (30-60 ECTS)

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Communication ScienceAll Research universitiesNo additional requirements

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Students with a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Information Studies or Communication Studies are directly admissible to this Master's track. Additionally, students with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Groningen in one of the following programmes:

  • Information Science
  • Dutch Language and Culture
  • English Language and Culture
  • European Languages and Cultures
  • Linguistics

are also admissible to the Master's track once they have successfully completed the Faculty Minor Communication and Information Science at the UG.

Students with a BA from a research university can, after deliberation and approval by the Admission Board, be admitted to the Master's track. The same is true for students with a BA in Communication Studies or a related field from a university of applied sciences. These students will most likely be asked to complete a pre-Master of max. 60 ECTS before they can be admitted. It is possible to start pre-Master courses during your Bachelor's.

Students with a non-Dutch qualification can follow the admission procedure, which is published on https://www.rug.nl/education/application-enrolment-tuition-fees/admission/procedures/

language test

Additional requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180.

International students will have to satisfy an additional Dutch language requirement, which can be met by passing the State Examination in Dutch as a Second Language (NT2, programme II). This examination guarantees Dutch proficiency at CEFR level B2. However, Dutch proficiency at CEFR level C1 or higher is recommended.

other admission requirements

Ben je niet rechtstreeks toelaatbaar? Dien dan een verzoek tot toelating in bij de toelatingscommissie vóór 1 augustus (om per 1 september te beginnen). Je kunt dit verzoek via e-mail indienen: sec-millc rug.nl. Vermeld je vooropleiding, voorkeur mastertrack en je adresgegevens. Wij adviseren in alle gevallen eerst contact op te nemen met de studieadviseur CIW.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students15 August 202401 September 2024
15 January 202501 February 2025
15 August 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
15 October 202401 February 2025
01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
15 October 202401 February 2025
01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Bachelor in Communication studies. If you finished a bachelor at a Dutch university or university of applied sciences in a related field, you can send in your request for admission to sec-millc rug.nl. Students with a non-Dutch qualification can follow the admission procedure via https://www.rug.nl/education/application-enrolment-tuition-fees/admission/procedures/

language test

Additional requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items).

other admission requirements

Please note: whether it is possible to start this Master's degree programme as of 1 February 2023 depends on several different factors. Please contact the study advisor (under the "Contact" button) for more information.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students15 August 202401 September 2024
15 January 202501 February 2025
15 August 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
15 October 202401 February 2025
01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
15 October 202401 February 2025
01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026
Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2023-2024€ 2314full-time
non-EU/EEA2023-2024€ 16000full-time
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 18700full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

Job prospects

Graduates of Communication Studies have a wide range of career possibilities. You could work in communication, education, PR and marketing. It is also possible to find work as a text and speech writer, web editor or journalist.

Job examples

  • Press Officer
  • Communications Officer, Manager or Advisor
  • Journalist
  • Marketing Manager
  • Public Relations Consultant
  • Text or Speech writer
  • Web editor
Research

Research in the field of Communication Science at the University of Groningen focuses on oral, written, audiovisual and digital communication in one's mother tongue or in a second or foreign language, linking the functional characteristics of the various communication media and channels to the contexts and aims of the communication. In addition to careful analyses of the communication itself, experiments are also conducted to measure its effects.

The CIW research is coordinated by the   Discourse and Communication  group, which is part of the Centre for Language and Cognition Groningen  (CLCG). This research group conducts both qualitative and quantitative research on the use of language and other semiotic systems in specific communicative contexts. Particular attention is paid to the effects of strategic (persuasive) communication in professional settings, such as organizational, media and health communication.

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Contact

"Vooraf hoopte ik dat ik binnen de vakken die ik wilde kiezen ook praktijkgerichte opdrachten zou krijgen. Deze verwachting is gelukkig waargemaakt."

In september 2017 ben ik begonnen aan de master Communicatiekunde aan de RUG. Het voordeel van deze master is voor mij dat je zowel verbredende als verdiepende vakken binnen het werkveld van communicatie kunt kiezen, zonder gelijk aan een bepaalde richting, zoals organisationele communicatie vast te zitten. Je hebt de keuze om zelf een aantal vakken te kiezen, waarmee je een eigen studiekader kiest.

Vooraf hoopte ik dat ik binnen de vakken die ik wilde kiezen, ook praktijkgerichte opdrachten zou krijgen. Deze verwachting is gelukkig waar gemaakt. Binnen het vak Ontwerp van Communicatietrainingen leer je bijvoorbeeld niet alleen de theorieën achter verschillende trainingskeuzes, maar krijg je ook de kans om zelf een training te ontwerpen en daadwerkelijk te geven. Per week ben ik in totaal ongeveer 25 tot 30 uur bezig met mijn master. Hiervan ben je ongeveer een kwart van de tijd kwijt met colleges en de rest met zelfstudie. Mocht je je kunnen vinden in alle bovenstaande aspecten, dan kan ik je deze master Communicatiekunde aan de RUG van harte aanbevelen!

Read more

University of Groningen Orange Tulip Scholarship/Talent Grant of Faculty of Arts

Are you a non-EU/EEA student from Russia, India or Indonesia, starting a Master's programme at the Faculty of Arts? If so, you could qualify for the University of Groningen OTS/Talent Grant, Faculty of Arts, a partial scholarship which helps you to finance your studies.

Read more about the OTS/Talent Grant Faculty of Arts.

Read more

Study associations

Commotie

Commotie is the study association for all communication students in Groningen.They offer their members a wide range of both educational and social activities and want their members to get the most out of their student life. In-house days, workshops, lectures and congresses give a broad insight in the workfield and career possibilities of communication.
Social activities contain an annual trip abroad, monthly socials, parties and many other fun activities. These activities give members the opportunity to make new friends and meet new people. More info? Check the website.
https://www.svcommotie.nl/home

Marug

The Marketing Association of the University of Groningen (MARUG) is the inter-departmental study association for students who are interested in marketing.
The MARUG acts as an intermediary between marketing theory and marketing practice and organises several career events and social activities during the year, such as a monthly social. At this moment, the MARUG has more than 1500 members from different fields of knowledge.
https://www.marug.nl/
Read more
Study support

If you have any questions or doubts about your studies, you can always contact the study advisor. He or she knows all the ins and outs of the program and personal planning. Study advisors are impartial and everything that is discussed is treated confidentially. They can also help you find the right institutions and student desks for your problems.