MA Internal Communication Management

The Masters in Internal Communication Management is a part-time course designed to fit around busy working lives. It is a thirteen-month programme starting in November and ending the following December.

The course includes four highly interactive two-day workshops, virtual follow-up sessions, guest speakers, online discussion with the course team and fellow students, and ongoing engagement and collaborative learning opportunities. 

You will need to devote a considerable amount of time to reading, critical analysis of issues, research, preparation of assignments and participation in on-line discussion boards. The theory into practice approach and focus on your current workplace in assessments means that that you can achieve a level of integration between work and study.

The Programme 

The programme is made up of four modules:

Culture, communication and sensemaking (30 Credits)

This module sets the context for the strategic management of internal communication, exploring the relationship between communication and the organisational environment in a fast changing world, and equipping you to assess and identify the implications for successful communication practice. Overall, the module is aimed at providing you with a broad perspective on your working life and the varied environments in which you are likely to be working in during your career, as well as giving you new ways of thinking about the process of communication at an individual level.

Strategy and impact (30 Credits)

This module is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to develop, implement and evaluate effective communication strategies to deal with the range of business challenges you are likely to encounter in your career. It also explores the evolution of the employer-employee relationship, and the effect of this on the work of the internal communication practitioner. 

Influencing, partnering and the future (30 Credits)

This module equips you with the underpinning knowledge to act as a key influencer and internal consultant at the most senior level. You will explore the ways you might tailor your approach to different individuals, and the psychology of decision-making in order to support you in assessing optimum approaches with senior leaders. You will also consider how to effectively apply consulting, business partnering and coaching models to your work. The module also looks at current and future challenges at the leading edge of communication, equipping you for changes in the role. 

Robust communication research to drive decision making (30 Credits)

This module aims to develop your skills in working with a client to identify, diagnose, and make practical recommendations towards solving a workplace management issue through internal communication interventions. As a result of the module, you will be equipped to define a research problem, select an appropriate methodological approach and investigate the problem using a combination of secondary and primary research.

The Masters is designed to prepare professionals for increasingly strategic roles in internal communication and add business value in a rapidly changing global organisational environment.

The benefits of studying for the MA in Internal Communication Management include:

• being taught by a highly experienced and passionate teaching team with a background in strategic communication management
• adding immediate value by putting theory into practice in your – or your client’s - organisation
• developing your interpersonal and leadership skills and having impact at the highest level of the organisation
• developing your strategic thinking and evidence-based decision making
• gaining essential research and analytical skills to understand and adapt to rapidly changing business needs
• producing a valuable piece of tailored research for your organisation
• building a strong network of fellow strategic practitioners
• hearing from expert guest speakers who are leaders in current thinking.

By the end of the course, you will be equipped to:

• understand the complexities of workplace culture, the psychology of communication, and the implications for your communication practice
• develop, implement and evaluate internal communication strategies to meet rapidly changing organisational needs and build engagement
• forge leading edge approaches to communication to address the growth of technology and the radical breakdown of organisational boundaries
• influence and coach senior managers to ensure optimum communication that meets the needs of the future, and ensure effective leadership communication at all levels
• undertake in-depth organisational research to ensure a robust, evidence-based approach to communication interventions.

Further benefits include:

• access to Solent’s library and other support services, including health and wellbeing 
• free IoIC membership for the duration of your studies, including all usual members benefits.

Who is the course for?

This is a part-time programme for communication practitioners with significant experience in the management of internal communication. Students will typically already be working at a strategic level, or be looking to move into a strategic role. Designed to make it as easy as possible to combine work and study, the MA requires minimal time out of the office (four workshops over the year, each of two days duration); while its ‘theory into practice’ approach that means you can immediately apply learning to current business challenges, adding value from the outset. 

The Application Process

Applications for the MA Internal Communication Management will be considered if candidates can demonstrate their suitability for the course - having the experience, ability and motivation to work at this level. 

As part of the application process candidates are accredited with 60 academic credits on the basis of prior learning and/or experience of internal communication. This is done via a process known as Advanced Standing.

Candidates should therefore fulfil ONE of the following: 

1. Possess a recognised postgraduate qualification in management and business studies equivalent to 60 level 7 credits.
2. Possess a degree or equivalent Level 6 professional qualification and have significant experience in the internal communication field and other indicators of achievement (e.g. written reports etc.)
3. Have substantial relevant experience of internal communication management and other indicators of achievement (e.g. evidence of acceptable training courses attended, written reports etc.). Candidates who do not possess a degree or equivalent professional qualification will also be required to complete a sample assignment to pass standard. They will be given support in assignment writing as part of the application process by a member of the teaching team.

Additional Requirements

The MA Internal Communication Management is delivered and assessed in English. Applicants for whom English is not their first language will be required to demonstrate their English language proficiency via a certificate from an undergraduate degree taught in English, an IELTS score of 6.5 or above, or a similar alternative such as Duolingo.