Organisations of all types operate in an increasingly complex environment marked by hyper-digitalisation, media fragmentation, ambiguous market and political conditions at global levels, and growing public scepticism. As a result, there is growing market demand for communication experts who can help organisations to (re)build trust, enhance reputation and, more in general, realise their strategic goals.
The MSc Strategic Communication offers a cross-disciplinary education with a distinctive focus on:
The course combines a range of conceptual knowledge and practical skills which are crucial for successfully and critically engaging in a variety of strategic communication activities, such as defining and effectively sharing the mission, vision and values of an organisation, responding to a crisis, launching new products and services or supporting strategic initiatives like mergers, event promotions, and campaigns for political elections, health prevention or policy change.
You will learn how to define communication issues and objectives in line with organisational goals; to analyse contexts, situations and audiences; to design spoken and written communication that are at the same time sound, persuasive and compliant with legal and ethical requirements; to exploit the potential offered by established communication technologies and new digital media to effectively engage stakeholders.
Practical projects include a variety of activities such as designing and delivering effective public speeches, building digital media campaigns and writing of digital communications for live briefs.
The programme creates many opportunities for interaction with communication experts and leaders enabling you to familiarise yourself with relevant professional contexts and learn more about current challenges in strategic communication practices. Through the final project, you will have the opportunity to develop an empirical or theoretical dissertation or to develop a research project in collaboration with an organisation.
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| FUNDAMENTALS OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION (COMM518) | 30 |
| RESEARCH METHODS FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION (COMM523) | 15 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| ARGUMENTATION AND INFLUENCING STRATEGIES IN DIGITAL MEDIA (COMM519) | 30 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| DISSERTATION (COMM716) | 60 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Teaching on MSc Strategic Communication is delivered through weekly lectures, seminars or workshops. These usually take for 2-3 hours per module per week. All classes will take place on campus in person in rooms with adequate equipment. Class sizes for masters programmes in the Department of Communication and Media tend to be small, but numbers can vary depending, again, on what optional modules are selected. A typical class in MSc Strategic Communication will include between 10-20 students.
You will assessed through a variety of individual and group work. This include presentations, exams, essays, case studies, and creative projects. The two 30 credit core modules have two assessment components, while all other modules have normally one single assessment component.
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
The Liverpool Curriculum framework sets out our distinctive approach to education. Our teaching staff support our students to develop academic knowledge, skills, and understanding alongside our graduate attributes:
Our curriculum is characterised by the three Liverpool Hallmarks:
All this is underpinned by our core value of inclusivity and commitment to providing a curriculum that is accessible to all students.
Join our Strategic Communication MSc to understand how communication influences ideas and decisions.
From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:
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The MSc Strategic Communication programme will provide you with in-depth academic knowledge and practical skills which put you in a unique position to find employment in the private, public and third sectors. Past graduates from this programme have found jobs in different industries including large international firms, PR and communication agencies, and non-profit organisations. The wide array of optional modules allows you to build specialised expertise in different areas such as marketing, artificial intelligence, digital communications and the cultural industries.
Graduates wishing to continue academic studies will find a supportive and nurturing research environment that prepares them well for doctoral-level research activities. Career pathways that follow this route include employment in higher education (teaching and/or research), or teaching at secondary and further education levels.
The School of the Arts works closely with Careers and Employability at the University to ensure students are provided with opportunities to undertake training to enhance their employability skills, as well as support students seeking to find either work placements during their vacations or full-time work after graduation.
Our campus Career Studio is a space for students and graduates to drop into and talk to a career coach. Career coaches are highly trained to help no matter what stage you are at in your career planning. You can access support to find and apply for full-time and part-time roles, placements, internships and graduate schemes. You will also find the help you need if you have a start-up idea or want to create a business plan. You can explore the world of work, prepare for job interviews, and access careers events and workshops. The Career Studio is open Monday to Friday from 10am-5pm, simply drop in at a time that works for you.
We develop our programmes with employers in mind. You will be supported to enhance your long-term employment prospects as you learn. We do this by exposing you to professionals, a variety of sectors and supporting you to work collaboratively with others to develop transferable skills. You are equipped with a clearer view of what to focus on in your area of interest, and to reflect on your studies. Our digital employability tools give you a tech-enhanced curriculum experience and make it easy for you to prepare for the world of work. You can use tools like the Handshake platform to connect with employers and message the Career Studio 24/7.
You can start building good professional networks by attending events and employability activities. Our events are designed to develop your skills and expose you to many different employers, as well as to help you make contacts in your field. We help you improve your confidence when speaking to employers and give you access to unique opportunities. Our networking events also boost your understanding of the competencies and skills that employers are looking for in their recruitment process, giving you a competitive edge.
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
Full-time place, per year - £14,100
Part-time place, per year - £7,050
Full-time place, per year - £26,600
Part-time place, per year - £13,300
Fees stated are for the 2025-26 academic year.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support.
You can pay your tuition fees in instalments.
All or part of your tuition fees can be funded by external sponsorship.
International applicants who accept an offer of a place will need to pay a tuition fee deposit.
If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Loan worth up to £12,167 to help with course fees and living costs. Learn more about paying for your studies.
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.
Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this course.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition and living expenses.
If you’re a University of Liverpool graduate starting this master’s degree with us, you could be eligible to receive a loyalty discount of up to £2,500 off your master’s tuition fees.
If you’re a UK student, either born in or with strong family connections to Merseyside, you could be eligible to apply for a fee discount of up to £4,500. You’ll need to demonstrate an active interest in global, community and environmental issues to be considered.
If you’re a UK University of Liverpool graduate joining a master’s degree with us, you could be eligible to receive £3,000 off your tuition fees. You must have graduated in the last two years and received a widening access scholarship during your undergraduate studies.
Apply to receive tailored training support to enhance your sporting performance. Our athlete support package includes a range of benefits, from bespoke strength and conditioning training to physiotherapy sessions and one-to-one nutritional advice.
If you’re a British Muslim, active within a Muslim community and dedicated to bringing positive change to society, you could apply to potentially have the full cost of your master’s tuition fees covered by an Aziz Foundation Scholarship.
The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course.
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| Postgraduate entry requirements | Non-graduates with very extensive professional experience and/or other prior qualifications may also be considered. This degree should be in a communications-related discipline, such as Media, Communication, Linguistics or Management. We also encourage applications from graduates who have work experience in a relevant role. You should provide a personal statement with your application. This should demonstrate your interest in the programme and a good understanding of the programme content, as well as outlining your preferred career path in the field of communications. |
| International qualifications |
Many countries have a different education system to that of the UK, meaning your qualifications may not meet our entry requirements. Completing your Foundation Certificate, such as that offered by the University of Liverpool International College, means you're guaranteed a place on your chosen course. |
You'll need to demonstrate competence in the use of English language, unless you’re from a majority English speaking country.
We accept a variety of international language tests and country-specific qualifications.
International applicants who do not meet the minimum required standard of English language can complete one of our Pre-Sessional English courses to achieve the required level.
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 88 overall, with minimum scores of listening 19, writing 19, reading 19 and speaking 20. TOEFL Home Edition not accepted. |
| Duolingo English Test | 125 overall, with writing not less than 125, speaking and reading not less than 115, and listening not below 110 |
| Pearson PTE Academic | 61 overall, with no component below 59 |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 overall, with no skill below 65 |
| PSI Skills for English | B2 Pass with Merit in all bands |
| INDIA Standard XII | National Curriculum (CBSE/ISC) - 75% and above in English. Accepted State Boards - 80% and above in English. |
| WAEC | C6 or above |
Do you need to complete a Pre-sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course?
The length of Pre-sessional English course you’ll need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.
If you don’t meet our English language requirements, we can use your most recent IELTS score, or the equivalent score in selected other English language tests, to determine the length of Pre-sessional English course you require.
Use the table below to check the course length you're likely to require for your current English language ability and see whether the course is available on campus or online.
| Your most recent IELTS score | Pre-sessional English course length | On campus or online |
|---|---|---|
| 6.0 overall, with no component below 6.0 | 6 weeks | On campus |
| 6.0 overall, with no component below 5.5 | 10 weeks | On campus and online options available |
| 6.0 overall, with no more than one component below 5.5, and no component below 5.0 | 12 weeks | On campus and online options available |
| 5.5 overall, with no more than one component below 5.5, and no component below 5.0 | 20 weeks | On campus |
| 5.0 overall, with no more than one component below 5.0, and no component below 4.5 | 30 weeks | On campus |
| 4.5 overall, with no more than one component below 4.5, and no component below 4.0 | 40 weeks | On campus |
If you’ve completed an alternative English language test to IELTS, we may be able to use this to assess your English language ability and determine the Pre-sessional English course length you require.
Please see our guide to Pre-sessional English entry requirements for IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0, for further details.
Discover more about the city and University.
Liverpool bursts with diversity and creativity which makes it ideal for you to undertake your postgraduate studies and access various opportunities for you and your family.
To fully immerse yourself in the university experience living in halls will keep you close to campus where you can always meet new people. Find your home away from home.
Discover what expenses are covered by the cost of your tuition fees and other finance-related information you may need regarding your studies at Liverpool.
Have a question about this course or studying with us? Our dedicated enquiries team can help.
If you have any questions about the course content, please get in touch with the programme director.
Last updated 27 March 2025 / / Programme terms and conditions