Business Communication and Digital Media — Specialisation in CIS

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Local:$ 2.06 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 15.2 k / Year(s)  
201–250 place StudyQA ranking:7063 Duration:12 months

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In the English-taught Master's specialization in Business Communication & Digital Media, you will focus on communication issues in the area of business communications. You will research how people communicate with one another using a variety of means, and how they process information through language, pictures, sound and computers. For example, you will acquire knowledge about pitfalls and misunderstandings when exchanging information, negotiating or managing conflicts in business settings, and the principles of marketing communications. The emphasis lies on the effects of digital communication on our society and culture. The programme in Business Communication and Digital Media enables you to study the consequences/implications of media selection for effective communication transaction.

Internal communication

One of the most important issues within organizations is internal communication.

  • How do teams communicate and make decisions?
  • How do people deal with conflicts within their organization?
  • How do managers use advanced business communication to motivate their employees?

These questions are all part of the internal business communication that you will deal with during your studies. You will focus on important aspects of interpersonal and group communication.

External communication

In this context, external communication is more than marketing and promoting the products on offer, it concerns the image of the organization.

  • How do organizations manage a crisis situation?
  • How do they communicate with media?
  • How do organizations improve their image through communication?

These questions will be answered during this programme. You will study various theories that explain how people make observations and form their opinions and you will learn about how organizations reach customers and convince them.

Digital Media

Over the past decade, the internet and new media have developed rapidly. The increasing importance of the internet and new media has a major impact on business communication. There are several issues that organizations are facing in this particular field of communication, such as announcing news by email, the most convenient way of communication with customers, the quality and user-friendliness of their website. Another part of this study is the social media aspect and how organizations deal with it.

The courses in this one-year programme are taught in English and start the end of August each year. The programme consists of six courses of 6 ECTS, two research skills modules of 3 ECTS, and a Master thesis of 18 ECTS. From a list of elective courses, you will select each block two elective courses of 6 ECTS each. Next to these, in the first blocks an elective research skills module of 3 ECTS each has to be chosen. In the fourth and last block you will write your Master thesis.

Unit 1

1. Choose 2 courses from these options (6 ECTS per course):

Cognition & Process (CD)

Multimodality & Communication (CD) (BDM) (DJ)

Social Media at Work & Play (BDM) (DJ)

Natural Language Processing (HAIT)

Social Signal Processing (HAIT) (BDM) (DJ)

Language, Culture & Identity (IC)

Journalistic Data Mining (BDM) (CD) (DJ)

Intercultural Communication for Professionals (CD) (IC)

2. Choose 1 Research Skills Module (3 ECTS):

Research Skills: Laboratory Research

Research Skills: Data Processing: Advanced

Research Skills: Data Processing: Use

Research Skills: Research Interview

Research Skills: Methodology & Statistics (6 ECTS only as deficiency course)

Unit 2

1. Choose 2 courses from these options (6 ECTS per course):

Negotiation strategies (BDM)

Online Marketing (BDM) (CD) (DJ)

Information Search, Retrieval & Recommendation (HAIT) (DJ)

Data Mining & Knowledge Discovery (HAIT) (DJ)

Digital Storytelling (BDM) (CD) (DJ)

Evolution of Language (IC) (CD)

Culture, Communication and Computers (IC) (CD) (BDM)

2. Choose 1 Research Skills Module (3 ECTS):

Research Skills: Analysis of Variance

Research Skills: Data Processing: Development

Research Skills: Ethnographic Research

Unit 3

1. Choose 1 course from these options (6 ECTS):

Advertising & Persuasion (CD) (BDM) (DJ)

Digital collaboration (BDM)

Evolution of the Internet (HAIT) (BDM) (DJ)

Knowledge Management (HAIT)

Computer Games (HAIT)

Non-verbal Communication (CD) (IC)

Language Policy (IC) (CD)

Models of Language Learning (BDM) (HAIT) (IC) (DJ)

Precision Journalism (BDM) (CD) (DJ)

Interactive Journalism (BDM) (CD) (DJ)

Elective course: Internal or External

2. Optional extra Research Skills Modules (3 ECTS per module):

Research Skills: Research Interview

Research Skills: Laboratory Research

Research Skills: Data Processing: Advanced

Research Skills: Data Processing: Use

Unit 4

1. Masterthesis

2. Choose 1 course from these options (6 ECTS):

Miscommunication & Emotion (BDM) (CD)

Culture & Technology (HAIT) (BDM) (DJ)

Organizational Decision Making and Cooperation (HAIT) (BDM)

Understanding Cooperation in Communication (BDM) (IC) (CD)

Evolution of Language (IC) (CD)

Ethnographic Approaches to Social Media (IC) (BDM) (DJ)

Usage Based Approaches to Knowledge (IC) (CD)

Data Journalism Practice (DJ)

Language & Globalization (IC) (BDM) (DJ)

3. Optional extra Research Skills Modules (3 ECTS per module):

Research Skills: Ethnographic Research

Research skills: Analysis of variance

Research Skills: Data Processing: Development

Audience

Students are participants. We believe strongly that our students are participants when it comes to the exchange of knowledge that occurs every day at Tilburg University!

Imagine exchanging ideas and developing solutions with the most talented and motivated students from a range of international schools. This international Master's program offers courses to students both from the Netherlands and with international backgrounds. With their different cultural backgrounds and strong academic records, they have chosen Tilburg School of Humanities as a place to start their international career in the field of Communication and Information Sciences.

Many of the courses are taught in small groups, meaning that there is intensive contact with fellow-students and lecturers. Students also get all the supervision they need while writing their Master's thesis.

Before applying, please make sure that you meet the following requirements:You have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, such as general Communication Studies, Linguistics, or a modern language. Students with a Bachelor's degree in a different subject are most welcome to apply, but we strongly recommend that you consult us in advance for advice.An adequate knowledge of English is required. Please send us a certified copy of ONE of the following English proficiency tests: Academic IELTS (min. 6.5 overall/6.0 on parts), TOEFL (min. paper-based: 577, computer-based: 233, internet-based: 90; the TOEFL Institutional Code for Tilburg University is 9860) or Cambridge Proficiency Examination. The English proficiency tests must be less than two years old at the time of application.You are exempt from an English test:A) If you are a native English speaker, i.e. if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America.B) If you completed all your secondary education in English. This only applies to scholars from the following countries: Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America.C) If you completed all your university education in English. This only applies to scholars from the following countries: Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America.D) If you have an International Baccalaureate (IB) or European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma with English as the language of instruction.E) If you completed a 4-years Bachelor’s program (of at least 240 ECTS credits) fully in English in an accredited University of Applied Sciences (HBO) in the Netherlands.F) If you completed a 3-years Academic Bachelor’s program (of at least 180 ECTS credits) fully in English in an accredited Research University the Netherlands.G) If you completed a 1 or 2-years Academic Master’s program (of at least 60 or 120 ECTS credits respectively) fully in English in an accredited Research University the Netherlands.In all other cases, please send us a certified copy of ONE of the following English proficiency tests:Academic IELTS (min. 6.5 overall/6.0 on parts)TOEFL (min. paper-based: 577, computer-based: 233, internet-based: 90; the TOEFL Institutional Code for Tilburg University is 9860)Cambridge Proficiency Examination English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 577 TOEFL iBT® test: 90 Work Experience No work experience is required. Not required Technological Requirements n.a.

Tilburg University offers scholarships for both prospective and current students. At Tilburg University we are committed in supporting financially talented and motivated students to study in our graduate programs. Below you will find a short description and a link to various types of scholarships which can help you finance your study at Tilburg University.

Please note that the number of scholarships are limited and mainly targeted at students with excellent study results. We therefore recommend you to carefully read the requirements and deadlines.

Scholarships sponsored by Tilburg University

  • Tilburg University Scholarship for Academic Excellence
    Scholarship and tuition waiver for excellent non-EU/EEA students enrolling in a Master's degree program at Tilburg University.
  • TSH - Scholarship for Academic Excellence
    Scholarship for excellent EU/EEA students enrolling in a Master's degree program at Tilburg School of Humanities.
  • Tilburg - Orange Tulip Scholarship China
    Tuition waiver for outstanding Chinese students enrolling in a Master's degree program at Tilburg University.
  • Tilburg - Orange Tulip Scholarship Indonesia
    Tuition waiver for outstanding Indonesian students enrolling in a Master's degree program at Tilburg University.
  • Tilburg - Orange Tulip Scholarship Korea
    Tuition waiver for outstanding Korean students enrolling in a Master's degree program at Tilburg University.
  • Tilburg - Orange Tulip Scholarship Mexico
    Tuition waiver for outstanding Mexican students enrolling in a Master's degree program at Tilburg University.

Scholarships and Loan Programs in cooperation with Tilburg University

  • NFP Scholarship
    The Netherlands Fellowship Program is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and offers a scholarship to students from more than 60 different countries. The NFP Scholarship is designed to promote capacity building, and is applicable to PhD programs or to one of the following Master study programs at Tilburg University:
    • MA in Communication and Information Sciences
    • MA in Management of Cultural Diversity
    • Research Master in Language and Communication
    • Research Master in Philosophy
  • StuNed Scholarship
    Scholarship available for Indonesian professionals with at least two years of work experience in a development-related organization.
  • Conicyt Scholarship
    Scholarship available for Master and PhD candidates from Chile. Tilburg University offers an additional tuition waiver.
  • COLFUTURO Scholarship
    Loan-scholarship available for Master and PhD candidates from Colombia. Tilburg University offers an additional tuition waiver.
  • UAF Scholarship
    Scholarship available for refugees and asylum seekers who would like to pursue their study program at a Dutch University.
  • Sino-Dutch Bilateral Exchange Scholarship
    Joint Scholarship Program for Chinese Master and PhD students, who will take a Master program or full PhD study or period of PhD dissertation research at Tilburg University.
  • FIDERH Scholarship
    Scholarship available for Mexican citizens, with a bachelor's degree, that have an unconditional offer for a Master or PhD.
  • EUROSA + Scholarship
    Part of the Erasmus Mundus program, scholarships for students and researchers from South Africa who want to spend (part of) their studies at Tilburg University. The scholarship is available for a wide range of study fields.
  • PENTA Scholarship Part of the Erasmus Mundus program, scholarship for students and researchers from Western Balkan countries, who want to spend (part of) their studies at Tilburg University. The scholarship is available for a wide range of study fields.
  • Jean Monnet Scholarship Programme
    Scholarship program for Turkish students who want to to follow a Master's programs at Tilburg University. Minimum stay of 3 months required, maximum stay of 12 months, scholarship covers approximately all expenses. The scholarship is available for the following Masters::
    • Communication and Information Studies
    • Management of Cultural Diversity

Other scholarships

More information on grants can be found at Grantfinder

Excellence Scholarship for TiU students

Excellent students with a Bachelor degree of Tilburg University, can apply for an Excellence Scholarship. The scholarship must be used for a Master's abroad or a Research Master at Tilburg University.

Accreditation

On April 3, 2013, the NVAO (Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders) decided to award Tilburg University the education quality assurance label. This label "expresses that the internal quality care and the efforts of an institution for higher education to improve its performance in relation to the quality of its programs has been positively assessed by the accreditation organization."
The NVAO assessment panel has tested Tilburg University's policy on five standards: quality vision, education policy, results, improvement policy, and organization and decision structure. In addition, the panel explored three "critical themes" :

  • the assessment policy in the Bachelor's degree program of Liberal Arts and Sciences;
  • responsible citizenship in the Bachelor's program of Business Economics and the Master's program of Marketing Management, and
  • internationalization in the Bachelor's and Master's programs in Law.
  • The assessment panel concluded that Tilburg University is home to a vibrant and stimulating quality culture and has a relevant and widely supported vision on educational quality. The panel expressed its appreciation for the consistency of Tilburg University's quality policy, for example, in the development of research-based learning at the Tilburg School of Economics and Management.
    The result of the Institutional Quality Assurance Assessment remains valid for six years. This label means that individual programs will be subject to a much lighter accreditation regime than if the university had not passed the assessment.

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