Jos Rouw_alumnus CIW

Program and courses Communication and Information Sciences

Study communication in light of current social and technological developments. Tailor the program to your own preferences by choosing from a wide range of electives.

Program structure

This one-year program consists of 60 credits (ECTS), of which:

  • 6 core electives (36 ECTS)
  • 2 Research Skills modules (6 ECTS)
  • Master’s thesis (18 ECTS)

You can start either end of August or end of January.

Program content

Specializations

Within the Master's in Communication and Information Sciences, you have the option to specialize by choosing one of the following tracks:

To have a chosen track specialization listed on your diploma, at least 4 of the 6 core electives you choose must have the label of that track.

It is not mandatory to choose a track. You can also choose to compose your own program from all the electives offered within the MSc in Communication and Information Sciences. These electives include all courses of the above mentioned tracks. One of the six core electives may - under certain conditions - also be a Master's course from another program at Tilburg University, or from another university.

Courses you can choose from

Please check the Course Catalog for a full overview of courses you can choose from as a student in the MSc Communication and Information Sciences.

Please note that the courses offered and the distribution of courses among the blocks may be different in the upcoming academic year.

Master’s thesis

You start with your Master's Thesis (18 ECTS) in the first lecture week of the third block of your study and complete it at the end of the fourth block.

  • For your Master's thesis, you will conduct research on a subject related to Communication and Information Sciences or to a specific track (New Media Design, Communication and Cognition, Business Communication and Digital Media).
  • You will be paired with a supervisor with expertise in the area of the topic you have indicated your interest in.

Examples of previous Master's thesis subjects are:

  • LinkedIn versus traditional CV as a screening tool. Experimental research on the influence of ‘projects’ and ‘recommendations’ in a LinkedIn profile versus a traditional CV on the impression formation of job applicants
  • Online is on, offline is off? Differences in the level of intimacy and perceived quality in daily online and offline interactions between existing ties
  • Consumer behavior on search engine result pages, the effect of matching meta descriptions to hedonic- or utilitarian online shopping motivations
  • Do semantic associations change as a result of scenario? A Virtual Reality Experiment
  • The taste of Europe. Branding EU’s identity through European quality labels
  • Are we less biased with another face? Gender identity and gender-swapping through enfacement illusions

Watch a trial lecture

Dual Degree with Wirtschaftsuniversität Vienna (+1 year)

Become a specialist in the field of business communication with a special focus on digital and intercultural communication.

This Dual Degree program provides two degrees: one from the Wirtschaftsuniversität (WU) Vienna in Austria and one from Tilburg University. Yo will learn how companies can optimally adapt their communication to the international environment in which they operate, and the opportunities and challenges of today's media society.

  • You will start at the end of September at WU Vienna.
  • One year later you will continue the program at Tilburg University, starting at the end of August.
  • A scholarship covers part of your tuition.

More on the Dual Degree with Wirtschaftsuniversität Vienna

You will find a detailed description of the courses and required literature in our course catalog.

Go to the course descriptions

Please note: programs are subject to change. We advise you to look up the current program in OSIRIS Student at the start of the year.

Do you want to know more about this Master’s program?

Find out more during one of our events

Check out our events calendar

Short overview of Communication and Information Sciences

  • Become an all-around communication expert or specialize with one of the following tracks:
  • Develop contemporary research skills, such as working with Virtual and Augmented Reality, eye-tracking, EEG and sensory technology.
  • Within various courses, gain practical skills such as negotiating, preparing and presenting a pitch, writing a crisis communication plan, and working in teams.

Interested in the MSc Communication and Information Sciences?

Check your eligibility and the deadlines for application

Application and admission

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