Corporate Communication Management (MSc) Pforzheim University

Join our unique Master’s programme for corporate communication management. Experience the comprehensive focus on communications with a specialisation in public relations & CSR communication, internal communication & change management, and digital marketing & social media.

Study at the public Business School Pforzheim – Germany’s number one business school among universities of applied sciences (Eduniversal Ranking), one of the world’s top five percent of business schools according to AACSB accreditation.

The MSc in Corporate Communication Management (MCCM) covers communication of and in organisations, with a specific focus on corporate communication and its three pillars.

What you can expect:

• In-depth understanding of corporate communication
• Integrated approach to the three pillars of communication management: public relations, internal communication and marketing communication
• Applied skills in communication methods, techniques and leadership training
• Research-based insight into current trends, e.g. through a teaching research project
• Communication studies with core and elective subjects from contemporary management, embedded in the broader course offer of Business School Pforzheim

Elective courses in the first and third semester are drawn from a wide range of business school offerings, allowing students to shape an individual profile for their career.

Top reasons for studying Corporate Communication Management at Pforzheim

1. Comprehensive focus on corporate communications:

The MCCM provides an academic foundation in corporate communication and management needed for professional practice. You will gain a deeper understanding of the wide range of corporate communication within the three pillars of internal communication, public relations and marketing communication. You can shape your individual profile in applied courses and research projects, seminars and electives. In a small group of 25 students per batch, collegial teams and with professors who know you by name.

2. Strategic management education within a top-ranked public business school:

The MCCM combines communication and management. Expand your knowledge through electives in strategic management and leadership, and discover business management from the perspective of top managers at an AACSB-accredited public business school. The programme runs over three structured semesters.

3. High employability and a large network of companies in the heart of an economically strong region:

Located in the strong economy of the southwest, we work closely with major international companies and well-known SMEs. Case studies, company projects and empirical studies bring practice into the classroom.

The full-time programme comprises three semesters with 90 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits, which are obtained through 10 modules and the final Master's thesis. Courses are fully taught in English.

First semester:

Module 1: "Corporate Communication" (7 ECTS) provides the fundamentals of communication of and in organisations, supplemented by a selection of hands-on communication training courses.

Module 2: "Reputation Management" (7 ECTS) is on corporate media management and communicative competence. In addition, there is a course on communication tools and techniques.

Module 3: In the compulsory elective module "Contemporary Management" (6 ECTS), students can choose from a wide range of courses on communications, business administration, management or leadership with a national or international focus.

Module 4: The applied module "Strategic Communication" (9 ECTS) imparts application-oriented knowledge of strategy, communication planning and value creation. Participants develop strategic communication concepts for a client company.

Second semester:

Module 5: "Internal Communication and Change Management" (6 ECTS) covers internal corporate communication, employee and management communication in the context of organisational change, identity and culture.

Module 6: "Digital Marketing and Social Media Communication" (6 ECTS) deals with in-depth questions on marketing communication and brand management in the context of current issues as well as social media.

Module 7: "CSR and Stakeholder Communication" module (6 ECTS) focuses on issues of public relations, corporate social responsibility communication and stakeholder management.

Module 8: In the practical module "Communication Research" (9 ECTS), participants learn about research design, methods and processes in theory and practice.

Module 9: In "Leadership" (6 ECTS), students have the opportunity to work on a topic of their choice from theory, research or practice (design or consulting) as part of an individual project ("Innovation Lab").

Third semester:

Module 10: The "Advanced Electives" module (9 ECTS) is a compulsory elective module. Students choose from a wide range of subjects geared towards the profession. Alternatively, there is the option of earning these credits at one of the partner universities abroad.

Module 11: The Master's thesis (18 ECTS) is an integral part of the third semester. The thesis period is four months. It is accompanied by a thesis course on corporate communication (1 ECTS) that is held in hybrid mode if necessary.

• Optional internships can be done during the semester break or as part of a semester of leave.
• Students are encouraged to write their theses in cooperation with a company or a consultancy.
• Through company contacts, our alumni network, the mentoring programme, excursion weeks, company projects and lecturers from the industry, students are supported in finding internships.

To be admitted to the Master's programme in Corporate Communication Management, you need

• a university Bachelor's or Diploma degree in business administration, communication science or a similar programme, with an overall grade of 2.2 or better (German grading system)
• a minimum of 180 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits
• Letter of motivation (two pages)
• successful completion of the two-stage application process: written application and (online) interview

University semester fees for all students of approx. 200 EUR per semester (incl. regional public transport ticket)

Student life in Pforzheim is cheaper than in most other German university towns. To live here with all the expected expenses (health insurance, rent, etc.), you will need about 700 to 900 EUR per month. A room in a student residence costs about 300 EUR per month, and a meal in the student cafeteria costs about 4 EUR.

Companies in the area offer working student jobs. For some students, jobs as student assistants are available at the university.

A semi-annual career fair and various networking events are held on campus.

The university's Career Centre advises MCCM students regarding applications and company contacts. Furthermore, the Career Centre runs its own online platform on which students can find information on internships and job opportunities.

Additionally, we offer a mentoring programme that connects current MCCM students with alumni.

The MCCM-specific mentoring programme brings together successful MCCM alumni with ambitious current MCCM students. Through this programme, graduates with at least two years of work experience after their graduation pass on their knowledge and experience to their mentees. Mentoring stands for an intensive, challenging and mutually rewarding relationship of trust concentrating on the mentee's development of personal, social and professional competencies.

The student union offers accommodation in student dorms around the campus (via Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe). Many private rooms are also available in the city of Pforzheim and the surrounding area. The university provides lists of private rooms and apartments via the International Programmes Office.

The Business School

For nearly 60 years, the Business School Pforzheim stands for a sound university education at the highest academic level. Top rankings and the renowned international AACSB accreditation demonstrate that Pforzheim is one of the leading business schools world-wide. Emerged from the "Fachhochschule für Wirtschaft (FHW)", the school offers a wide range of courses consisting of 14 Bachelor’s and 12 Master’s degree programmes. These are clearly aligned with specific job profiles and today‘s requirements of employers. In addition, students can obtain additional qualifications during their studies, which will further enhance their profiles.

Pforzheim University

Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences is characterised by its broad range of subjects and its interdisciplinary combination of design, engineering, business and law. Three faculties offer a total of 30 Bachelor’s and 20 Master’s programmes. More than 6,200 students – 3,200 of whom study at the Business School – are taught by 182 professors (96 of them in business and law) and 300 lecturers. In addition to the professors’ research activities, research is organised in seven institutes and several competence centres. Three doctoral programmes, which are run in cooperation with partner universities, provide an opportunity for students to obtain a doctorate.

The Economic region

Pforzheim University is located in the southwest of Germany, close to the state capital Stuttgart, in one of Germany's strongest economic regions. Companies such as Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Robert Bosch, SAP, Adolf Würth, Carl Zeiss, Trumpf, Hugo Boss or Alfred Kärcher and many hidden champions are based here. For MCCM students, this offers the opportunity to gain practical experience as a working student, to do a voluntary internship during their studies or to write their thesis in cooperation with a company.

The Black Forest

The city of Pforzheim is located between Stuttgart and Karlsruhe. As the gateway to the northern Black Forest, the city and region also offer a wide variety of recreational and sports activities. Hikes or mountain bike tours through the Black Forest, river surfing on the Black Forest Wave in the middle of Pforzheim, bouldering or many other sports - a wide range of leisure activities can be added to your studies.  

For international students, the four seasons are also a reason to come to Pforzheim. The region offers the most hours of sunshine in Germany, but also snow-covered forests for sledging or cross-country skiing in winter.