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Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Communications
We prepare our students for the global challenges of the 21st century.
We are living in turbulent times. The strains on the international community of sovereign states and the rules-based-order seem unprecedented. Threats and vulnerabilities appear to grow daily. And world leaders and their citizens have never been in greater need of clear insight filtered through Strategic Communications as the critical way of navigating and mitigating this climate of unrest.
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Sympodium’s education programme is the first gold-standard, international study programme aimed at Strategic Communications professionals.
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It has been carefully shaped to create a rich mosaic, enabling students to understand better how today’s geopolitics, geoeconomics, and geoecology converge. And how Strategic Communicators must now build their knowledge and skills on this more sophisticated level of engagement if they are to be equipped to face the threats and vulnerabilities of our age.
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STRUCTURE:
The programme includes 9 courses with 180 hours of teaching (subject to confirmation):
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Strategic Communications: Theory, Concepts, & Practice
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Target Audience Analysis & Measurement of Effect
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Truth and Lies in the Modern World
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Emotions, Memory, & Identity
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Indo-Pacific: Strategic Communications Theatre
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Influence & Behavioural Change
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Strategic Communications & AI
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Gaming Strategic Communications
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Authoritarian Playbook
ACADEMIC CALENDAR & MODES OF TEACHING:
The programme consists of 2 taught terms of 9 weeks each and 1 term of assessment:
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Term 1: Taught programme – Monday 13 October to Friday 12 December 2025
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Term 2: Taught programme – Monday 12 January to Friday 13 March 2026
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Term 3: NO TAUGHT programme – Assessment period: Monday 13 April to Friday 29 May
This is a hybrid programme that combines online and in-person modes of teaching:
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18 weeks of online teaching: the anticipated study commitment is one synchronous (live) session, and one asynchronous session, each of 3 hours per week.
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One week of intensive group study in-person teaching conducted in a European city (TBC), of 8 hours per day for 5 days.
For the duration of the programme, students will have access to a dedicated online site containing reading materials. Further access to online libraries and databases will be made available.
TEACHING STAFF:
As befits the world’s leading centre for the education and training of Strategic Communications, Sympodium’s teaching staff includes scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from across the world.
For the duration of the programme, our students have access to:
• More than 10 academics from 9 different, international institutions of higher education
• More than 30 policymakers and practitioners in the field of Strategic Communications from the UK, US, EU, Japan and the rest of the world.
CERTIFICATION:
On completion of the Programme, students receive:
• The Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Communications issued by Sympodium Institute for Strategic Communications in association with Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences.
• The official transcript for 30 ECTS recognised under the Bologna Agreement within the European Union showing all modules studied and grades achieved.
PROGRAMME APPLICATION & ELIGIBILITY:
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To be eligible for the Programme, candidates must have attained their Bachelor's degree with commendable academic achievements or be in the process of completing such qualifications by the commencement date of the Programme.
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Fees
Student fees are £10,000, plus travel and accommodation expenses for the on-site study week.
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FCDO Scholarship
Sympodium Institute with the generous support of United Kingdom Foreign Office (FCDO) is offering a fixed number of scholarships to study for the Postgraduate Certificate. Student fees under the scholarship scheme will be covered. Travel and accommodation costs for the in-person study week are included in this scholarship.
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This scholarship scheme is available exclusively to prospective students from civil society organisations and UK embassies who are nationals of the following eligible countries: Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Scholarship applications, with all supporting documents, must be submitted via an electronic form by Friday 30 May 2025:
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Scholarship Applications for the Postgraduate Programme 2025-2026 are now CLOSED
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If your country of residence is not listed in the above eligible countries for Scholarship Applications, please apply via the General (self-funded) application portal below.
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General Application Process (non-scholarship)
Self-funded candidates, those who wish to meet the costs of their own fees, are invited to submit their application packages including their academic transcripts and qualification certificates; their professional CVs; and personal letters of interest via the General applications portal below.
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APPLY FOR: General (non-scholarship) Applications Postgraduate Programme 2025-2026
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Interviews will be conducted online during the following weeks. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to produce a letter of support from their employer.
Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding the programme or the application process, please do not hesitate to contact us at: