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Introduction

As a (future) communicator, would you like to develop appropriate and effective communication strategies based on a professional and creative command of digital technology? Then this master's degree is for you!

The master's degree [120] in communication strategy and digital culture (evening programme) (abbreviated to 'communication strategy') is designed to provide communicators with a strategical and critical understanding of communication. It
allows students to develop skills for analysing and creating communication projects for companies, organisations, associations, etc., while optimally integrating the interactive, collaborative and participatory qualities of digital culture. Digital culture is constantly evolving, and communications professions must evolve with it. This is why our master's programme sees it as a central element requiring specific instruction.

This high-level programme is offered jointly (joint programme and qualification) by the Institut Supérieur de Formation Sociale et de Communication de la Haute Ecole ICHEC - ECAM - ISFSC and UCLouvain Saint-Louis - Bruxelles, the latter being the supervisory institution. The programme combines university teaching based on scientific research with a solid grounding in the realities of the professional world, through internships and courses taught by communications professionals.

The courses are held three evenings a week as well as on Saturdays (half day or full day). They take place in Brussels, for the most part at the UCLouvain Saint-Louis - Bruxelles campus (43 Boulevard du Jardin botanique, 1000 Brussels).

Your profile

The master's degree in communication strategy and digital culture is designed for anyone who wishes to develop or strengthen their skills in internal and external communication management, with a more strategic and digital approach. The master's programme is aimed in particular at:

• people in the workforce who wish to reorientate their career or deepen their knowledge of digital communication;
• students with a bachelor's degree from a university or a higher education institution who wish to further their education at master's level in the field of communications.

The applicable admission requirements according to the student's background are explained on the admission requirements page. Applications for admission are submitted to UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles.

The programme entitles private-sector employees to paid educational leave.

Your future job

The master's degree in communication strategy teaches project or content managers to analyse and develop a communication strategy which integrates the various aspects of digital technology in an organisation. Graduates will be able to exercise decision-making and supervisory functions within a public institution, a company or a non-profit association, either in a middle management position or as a consultant.

The master's degree can lead to openings in the following areas: social media management, social media strategy, content management, content strategy, conversation and community management, content marketing, digital communication, digital strategy, etc.

However, the openings are not limited to these examples, as some of the professions which the master's degree leads to do not exist yet. It is one of our objectives to go beyond the unknown: the global approach proposed by the master's programme teaches graduates to adapt, anticipate and integrate change, and even to take the initiative in new communication professions.

Your programme

A 120-credit evening programme

The master's degree in communication strategy and digital culture is made up of 120 credits and is offered as an evening programme. It offers a global approach to digital communication, covering social, economic, technical, psychological,
anthropological, political, strategic, legal and ethical aspects. This allows us to approach digital communication in all its complexity, with rigour and professionalism.

Depending on the student's educational background, it is not uncommon for courses to be added to the standard 120-credit programme. A maximum of 45 credits may be added from UCLouvain Saint-Louis - Bruxelles bachelor's degree programmes, either during the day or in the evening. Additional courses enable students to further their knowledge of communication theories and/or academic methodologies. If the additional courses amount to more than 30 credits, they must be spread over three years. You will find all of the information you need on the 'Admission requirements' page.

Internship

The master's programme includes an eight-week placement (13 credits) in an organisation of the student's choice: company, non-profit organisation, public administration, consultancy, social mobilisation movements, etc.
It is an opportunity for students to become actively involved in the work of their host organisation, to compare their theoretical knowledge with professional practice, and to reflect on the skills they have acquired.

The practical seminar covers the search for a placement, its practical organisation (as specified in the internship agreement), progress monitoring and the drafting of an internship report.
The internship can be linked to the final assignment and can be carried out in the workplace under certain conditions. It can also be carried out in a research centre, provided that the research activities are directly related to issues covered in the master's programme.

Final paper

Students are also required to write a final paper in which they discuss topics covered during the master's programme.

The final paper demonstrates the student's ability to make use of highly specialised knowledge at the interface of different fields, and to carry out personal and original research leading to new knowledge, new procedures and new practices. Through their final paper, students show that they are able to develop their own expertise, contributing to new knowledge, professional practices and strategies in different fields (see level 7 of the Cadre Francophone des Certifications).

The final paper and the support seminar account for a large part of the programme, corresponding to a total of 23 credits spread over two years.