Public and Corporate Communication (COM)

To this end, the study plan includes courses in public and corporate communication, as well as courses encompassing the domains of sociology, IT and languages, up to a maximum of 69 university credits (CFU/ECTS credits). A maximum of 18 credits will be provided for completion of supplementary courses, and 39 credits for other activities, 21 of which are reserved for the final exam. The programme is divided into three curricula, each one with specific focuses: corporate communication; communication and marketing; social and cultural changes in advanced digital societies, with a focus in data analysis.
Therefore, the Master's degree programme provides the following competencies:
- English proficiency (entry requirement);
- advanced theoretical and methodological knowledge of the various fields of communication and information, with particular reference to the analysis of the media ecosystem used in the communication of companies, public bodies and non-profit organisations;
- knowledge of the main methods of academic and market research in corporate communication and organisational culture, as well as in management dynamics and the characteristics and behavioural styles of different target audiences;
- specialist knowledge and methods of audience analysis, public opinion research, market surveys and data analysis. Students will also be equipped with methodological and technical skills to collect, measure and process opinion and market research data, including large-scale digital data. They will learn how communication works (including the technologies used, the internal and external dynamics of companies, social advertising, and regulations for public entities and non-governmental organisations) and acquire a comprehensive theoretical and practical knowledge of the multidisciplinary methods and techniques related to the various fields of social communication. The programme also comprises activities aimed at developing an advanced knowledge of communication theory, consumer protection, social research and marketing.
Lastly, the programme includes workshops and/or internships at public bodies, companies and non-profit organisations, as well as mobility programmes at other Italian universities.
After obtaining their final degree, graduates can apply for PhD programmes in the fields of communication and methodology of social research.
- leadership roles relating to the design, management and assessment of corporate communication plans, marketing strategies and advertising plans, and to the management of external relations;
- leadership roles relating to the design, management and assessment of social communication plans, social marketing and political and electoral marketing, as well as to the management of external relations and political and public affairs consultancy;
- leadership and advisory roles in the management of communication and marketing departments of enterprises, public entities, quaternary sector companies, market research institutes, voluntary associations, political parties and opinion research institutes;
- roles relating to the planning of corporate social responsibility initiatives. Managerial positions in research centres, opinion research institutes, voluntary associations, non-governmental organisations;
- coordination of advanced digital communication activities.
In particular, the Master's degree programme provides the skills associated with the following professional profiles:
Corporate communication and marketing expert
Job function:
- design, management and assessment of corporate communication plans, marketing strategies and advertising plans, and management of external relations;
- leadership and advisory roles in the management of communication and marketing departments of enterprises, quaternary sector companies, market research institutes, voluntary associations, political parties and opinion research institutes; coordination of advanced digital communication activities.
Professional skills:
- advanced interdisciplinary training in the field of communication and business studies, with a special focus on the main theories in sociological, economic and management studies;
- advanced knowledge of strategic planning and event organisation. Advanced knowledge of marketing techniques. Ability to conduct surveys, qualitative interviews, focus groups, analyses of data and consumer practices, as well as analyses of the functioning of complex organisations.
Employment opportunities:
Companies, marketing offices, advertising agencies, market and opinion research institutes, external relations offices, public relations agencies.
Social and political communication expert
Job function:
- design, management and assessment of social communication plans, social marketing and political and electoral marketing; management of external relations; political and public affairs consultancy;
- leadership and advisory roles in the management of communication and marketing departments of enterprises, public entities, voluntary associations, political parties and opinion research institutes;
- planning of corporate social responsibility initiatives; management tasks in research centres, opinion research institutes, voluntary associations, non-governmental organisations.
Professional skills:
- advanced interdisciplinary training in the field of communication and business studies, with a special focus on the main theories in social, communication, economic and management studies;
- advanced knowledge of strategic planning and techniques used in lobbying, including international lobbying; advanced knowledge of marketing and data analysis techniques;
- ability to conduct opinion polls, qualitative interviews and focus groups for the analysis of public opinion, social phenomena, technology, political participation and the functioning of complex organisations.
Employment opportunities:
Public administrations and private companies, marketing offices, opinion research institutes, private consultancy services, advocacy groups, external relations offices, academic career.
Students can attend a semester in the faculties and graduate courses specified in the agreements, and have their exams recognized, as in the Erasmus program. An excellent knowledge of the English language, properly certified, is required to participate. Special calls establish other conditions to enter the selection. These exchanges do not enjoy any financial support from the University of Milano.
Admission is also open to applicants holding a degree that does not belong to one of the classes listed above, provided that they earned at least 50 credits (CFU/ECTS credits) in the following scientific-disciplinary sectors:
- M-FIL/05 Philosophy and theory of language
- L-LIN/01 Glottology and linguistic
- L-FIL-LET/12 Italian linguistics
- M-STO/04 Contemporary history
- M-STO/05 Modern history
- INF/01 Informatics or ING-INF/05 Information processing systems
- SPS/08 Sociology of culture and communication
- SPS/07 General sociology
- SPS/04 Political science
- SPS/11 Political sociology
- SPS/09 Economic sociology and sociology of work and organisations
- SPS/10 Urban and environmental sociology
- L-LIN/12 Language and translation - English
- L-ART/03 History of contemporary art
- L-ART/05 Performing arts
- L-ART/06 Cinema, photography and television
- L-FIL-LET/10 Italian literature
- L-FIL-LET/11 Contemporary Italian literature
- SECS-P/01 Economics
- SECS-P/02 Economic policy
- SECS-P/06 Applied economics
- SECS-P/07 Business administration and management
- SECS-P/08 Management
- SECS-P/10 Organisation studies
- SECS-S /01 Statistics
- SECS-S /05 Social statistics
- IUS/01 Private law
- IUS/04 Business law
- IUS/10 Administrative law
- IUS/08 Constitutional law
- IUS/09 Public law
- IUS/13 International law
- IUS/14 European Union law
- M-PSI/01 General psychology
- M-PSI/05 Social psychology
- M-PSI/06 Work and organisational psychology.
Proficiency in English at a B2 level or higher under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is required for admission.
The B2-level requirement will be ascertained by the University Language Centre (SLAM) during the admission process, as follows:
- language certificate at or above B2, obtained no more than three years earlier. For the list of language certificates recognised by the University, see https://www.unimi.it/en/node/39322. In this case, applicants must upload the certificate when completing their application for admission;
- English level achieved during a University of Milan degree programme and certified by the University Language Centre (SLAM) no more than four years before the date of the admission application, including levels based on language certificates submitted by applicants during their Bachelor's degree at the University of Milan. In this case the process is automatic, the applicant does not have to attach any certificates to the application;
- entry test administrated by the University Language Centre (SLAM) according to the calendar published on the website: https://www.unimi.it/en/node/39267. Those who fail to submit a valid certificate or do not meet the required proficiency level will be instructed, during the admission procedure, to take the entry test.
Applicants who do not take or pass the entry test will be required to obtain a language proficiency certificate recognised by the University (see https://www.unimi.it/en/node/39322) and deliver it to the SLAM via the InformaStudenti service by the deadline fixed for the Master's programme (https://www.unimi.it/en/node/39267/).
Applicants who do not meet the requirement by said deadline will not be admitted to the Master's degree programme and may not sit any further tests.
For admission, students must take a test aimed at assessing their expertise in the fields of IT, marketing, statistics, current affairs and communication theories.
For non-EU applicants applying for a visa, admission is subject to an assessment of their foreign qualification, in lieu of the admission test. The assessment is entrusted to an Admission Board made up of three lecturers from the degree programme.
Places available: 200 + 30 reserved for non-EU citizens + 3 reserved for students in the Marco Polo project
Call for applications
Please refer to the call for admission test dates and contents, and how to register.
Application for admission: from 13/03/2025 to 25/08/2025
Application for matriculation: from 08/09/2025 to 15/09/2025
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Communication and Digital Culture | 9 | 60 | Italian | SPS/08 |
Optional | ||||
Communication Methods and Techniques | 9 | 60 | Italian | SPS/08 |
Data Analysis | 9 | 60 | Italian | SPS/07 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Cross-Media Communication | 9 | 60 | Italian | SPS/08 |
Marketing (advanced) | 9 | 60 | Italian | SECS-P/08 |
Optional | ||||
Sociology of Consumption | 9 | 60 | Italian | SPS/08 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Advertising and Integrated Communication | 9 | 60 | Italian | SPS/08 |
Information, Rights and Digital Markets | 9 | 60 | Italian | IUS/05 IUS/10 |
Optional | ||||
Social and Institutional Communication | 9 | 60 | Italian | SPS/08 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Final Exam | 21 | 0 | Italian |
It is mandatory to attend the module 'Data Analysis' for students who did not attend an exam with similar quantitative methodological content of at least 6 CFU in their Bachelor studies.
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Communication Methods and Techniques | 9 | 60 | Italian | First trimester | SPS/08 |
Data Analysis | 9 | 60 | Italian | First trimester | SPS/07 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Social and Institutional Communication | 9 | 60 | Italian | Third trimester | SPS/08 |
Sociology of Consumption | 9 | 60 | Italian | Second trimester | SPS/08 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Optional | ||||
Consumer and Shopping Behaviour | 9 | 60 | Italian | SECS-P/08 |
Corporate Communication and Public Relations | 9 | 60 | Italian | SPS/08 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Datafied Society | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/08 |
Optional | ||||
Neuro Marketing Research | 9 | 60 | Italian | SECS-P/08 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Consumer and Shopping Behaviour | 9 | 60 | Italian | First trimester | SECS-P/08 |
Corporate Communication and Public Relations | 9 | 60 | Italian | First trimester | SPS/08 |
Neuro Marketing Research | 9 | 60 | Italian | Open sessions | SECS-P/08 |
Among optional activities, students can choose also Lab: Advanced Digital Methods, Lab: Generative Artificial Intelligence Literacy and Lab: Influencer Marketing.Students who do not have an Italian qualification can choose to obtain 3 CFU in Additional language skills: Italian (for more details see the section Language test / computer literacy test)
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Italian | Open sessions | |
Lab: Advanced Digital Methods | 3 | 20 | English | Open sessions | SPS/08 |
Lab: Generative Artificial Intelligence Literacy | 3 | 20 | English | Third trimester | INF/01 |
Lab: Influencer Marketing | 3 | 20 | Italian | Open sessions | SPS/08 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Optional | ||||
Lab: Generative Artificial Intelligence Literacy | 3 | 20 | English | INF/01 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Optional | ||||
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Italian | |
Lab: Advanced Digital Methods | 3 | 20 | English | SPS/08 |
Lab: Influencer Marketing | 3 | 20 | Italian | SPS/08 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Web Communication | 9 | 60 | English | INF/01 |
Optional | ||||
Digital Society | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/08 |
Economics of Communication | 9 | 60 | English | SECS-P/06 |
Research Design | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/07 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Consumer Culture | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/08 |
Visual communication | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/08 |
Optional | ||||
Digital Politics and Public Opinion Research | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/11 |
Human Resources Management | 9 | 60 | English | SECS-P/10 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Marketing (advanced) | 9 | 60 | English | SECS-P/08 |
Social Media and Platform Cultures | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/08 |
Optional | ||||
Data Analysis | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/07 |
Market Regulation and Business Practices | 9 | 60 | English | IUS/05 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Economics of Communication | 9 | 60 | English | First trimester | SECS-P/06 |
Human Resources Management | 9 | 60 | English | Second trimester | SECS-P/10 |
It is mandatory to attend the module 'Data Analysis' for students who did not attend an exam with similar quantitative methodological content of at least 6 CFU in their Bachelor studies.
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Data Analysis | 9 | 60 | English | Third trimester | SPS/07 |
Research Design | 9 | 60 | English | First trimester | SPS/07 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Digital Politics and Public Opinion Research | 9 | 60 | English | Second trimester | SPS/11 |
Digital Society | 9 | 60 | English | First trimester | SPS/08 |
Market Regulation and Business Practices | 9 | 60 | English | Third trimester | IUS/05 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Corporate Communication | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/08 |
Among optional activities, students can choose also Lab: Advanced Digital Methods, Lab: Generative Artificial Intelligence Literacy and Lab: Advertising Communication.Students who do not have an Italian qualification can choose to obtain 3 CFU in Additional language skills: Italian (for more details see the section Language test / computer literacy test)
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Italian | Open sessions | |
Lab: Advanced Digital Methods | 3 | 20 | English | Open sessions | SPS/08 |
Lab: Advertising Communication | 3 | 20 | English | Open sessions | SPS/08 |
Lab: Generative Artificial Intelligence Literacy | 3 | 20 | English | Third trimester | INF/01 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Optional | ||||
Lab: Generative Artificial Intelligence Literacy | 3 | 20 | English | INF/01 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Optional | ||||
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Italian | |
Lab: Advanced Digital Methods | 3 | 20 | English | SPS/08 |
Lab: Advertising Communication | 3 | 20 | English | SPS/08 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Final Exam | 21 | 0 | English |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Coding for Computational Social Science | 6 | 40 | English | INF/01 |
Digital Society | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/08 |
Research Design | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/07 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Digital Politics and Public Opinion Research | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/11 |
Optional | ||||
Consumer Culture | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/08 |
Visual communication | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/08 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Ai & Data Cultures | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/08 |
Data Analysis | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/07 |
Social Media and Platform Cultures | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/08 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Consumer Culture | 9 | 60 | English | Second trimester | SPS/08 |
Visual communication | 9 | 60 | English | Second trimester | SPS/08 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Journalism, Media and Politics | 9 | 60 | English | SPS/08 |
Value Change and Global Societies | 6 | 40 | English | SPS/07 |
Among optional activities, students can choose also Lab: Advanced Digital Methods and Lab: Generative Artificial Intelligence Literacy.Students who do not have an Italian qualification can choose to obtain 3 CFU in Additional language skills: Italian (for more details see the section Language test / computer literacy test)
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | Lesson period | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Italian | Open sessions | |
Lab: Advanced Digital Methods | 3 | 20 | English | Open sessions | SPS/08 |
Lab: Generative Artificial Intelligence Literacy | 3 | 20 | English | Third trimester | INF/01 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Optional | ||||
Lab: Generative Artificial Intelligence Literacy | 3 | 20 | English | INF/01 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Optional | ||||
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) | 3 | 0 | Italian | |
Lab: Advanced Digital Methods | 3 | 20 | English | SPS/08 |
Courses or activities | Max ECTS | Total hours | Language | SSD |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compulsory | ||||
Final Exam | 21 | 0 | English |
- Tutor for International students:
Luca Giuffrè - Tutor for Academic guidance:
Alessandra Giulietti - Information on services for students with disabilities can be found here:
https://www.unimi.it/it/studiare/servizi-gli-studenti/servizi-studenti-con-disabilita - For any information please contact:
[email protected] - Information on services for students with SLD can be found here:
https://www.unimi.it/it/studiare/servizi-gli-studenti/servizi-studenti-con-dsa - Student Registrar
Via S. Sofia 9/1, 20122 Milano (MI) - Italia
The tuition fees for students enrolled in Bachelor's, Master's and single-cycle degree programmes are divided into two instalments with different calculation methods and payment schedules:
- The amount of the first instalment is the same for all students
- The amount of the second instalment varies according to the ISEE University value, the degree programme and the student status (on track / off track for one year or off track for more than a year)
- An additional fee is due for online programmes
The University also offers:
- Concessions for students meeting high merit requirements
- Diversified tuition fees according to the student's home country for international students with assets/income abroad
- Concessions for international students with refugee status
Scholarships and benefits
The University provides a range of financial benefits to students meeting special requirements (merit, financial or personal conditions, international students).
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