A: Executive means that we train communications professionals who already have substantial management experience. The typical participant is a mid-career executive preparing for the next level of his/her career. What differentiates an executive program is that it assumes participants can bring a number of years professional experience to the program. The fact that it is part-time allows participants to continue working while pursuing a degree. Executive education has recently become a regular feature in most business schools.

A:If you are an established communication professional with at least 3 years of relevant work experience under your belt, it is worth your while to contact the MScom office to further analyze whether the MScom program fits with your personal and professional goals. The average age of our participants is 36 and the average professional experience is 12 years.

A: ECTS stands for European Credit Transfer System which was originally set up to facilitate the transfer of credits between universities in different European countries. Today however, it is a student-centered system based on the workload required to achieve the objectives of a program. The Executive MScom Program amounts to a total workload of 1800 hours, consisting of 600 hours of instruction, 480 hours dedicated to the consulting project and 720 hours of individual work preparing for seminars, reviewing for and taking tests. The program thus corresponds to 60 ECTS, representing the equivalent of a full year of academic study.

A: The Executive MScom Program amounts to a total workload of 1800 hours, consisting of 600 hours of instruction, 480 hours dedicated to the consulting project and 720 hours of individual work preparing for seminars, reviewing for and taking tests. The program thus corresponds to 60 ECTS, representing the equivalent of a full year of academic study.

A: The 21-month program is separated into four modules, each one covering an area of study, the first is Embedding communications in management, the second Positioning communications management, the third, Managing integrated communications and the fourth, Building communications intelligence and delivering solutions.

A: A session is 4.5 days long and takes place once a month. Each session comprises two seminars (classes), each handled by different professors. Click here to see the calendar.

A: MScom classes start in January and last until September of the following year.

A: In August of the first year, the two-week summer session takes place at the UCLA Anderson School of Management in Los Angeles, California, together with Copenhagen Business School’s MCC participants. Two additional shared sessions are held with students from the CBS program – one in Copenhagen and one in Lugano.

A: Classes typically meet from 08:00 hrs to 17:30 hrs, on seven consecutive days and are held in Lugano every other month.

A: A written explanation is required in the event you can’t make it to a session. A maximum of 15 per cent of instruction days can be missed.

A: If you miss a test, you will receive a failing grade. It is possible to reschedule a test one day before or up to a week after the original test date. A charge of CHF 300 will be incurred for participants wishing to move the test date.

A: We can accept a maximum of 26 participants per year.

A: Almost half of the participants are in management functions (44%). The remainder of the participants is in top management (13%), executive (13%) and freelance/owner (13%). Find more statistics.

A: Over half of our participants come from the corporate sector (51%), with agencies (19%), the public sector (16%) and NGOs (14%) also represented. Click here to see statistics.

A: Most people attending MScom have a university degree (56%), some have a post-graduate degree (5%), while others have a degree from a university of applied sciences (15%) or a vocational degree (22%). Click here to see more statistics.

A: On average, our participants have 12 years of work experience.

A: In addition to the admission requirements, we evaluate applications based on professional achievement and organizational responsibility. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the MScom office to find out why MScom could be the right choice for you.

A: MScom is a demanding program but you will have free time in the evenings. There is a wide range of things to do in Lugano, no matter what the season. Click here to have a look at some examples of things to do in Lugano. MScom organizes optional cultural outings followed by a dinner in local restaurants every Friday evening. Participants often get together to play sport or do some sightseeing. Basically, it is entirely up to you!

A: Burson-Marsteller (B-M), which has branches in Zurich and Berne, is one of Switzerland’s leading public relations and communications consulting companies. With its staff of around 40, B-M offers services in the fields of corporate and financial communications, public affairs, healthcare and scientific communications, medial relations and in specific areas of advertising. The company is managed by CEO Roman Geiser.
Burson-Marsteller was founded fifty years ago in the United States and has long been a world leader in the creation and management of communications strategies and plans. The company has 47b branches in 24 countries spread over five continents. Furthermore, Burson-Marsteller works with 44 affiliated offices in 30 other countries. Burson-Marsteller belongs to the Young & Rubicam network of agencies.

A: The majority of participants who have completed the program have moved up in their company’s management function from management to top management or from top management to executive level. See here for more statistics.

A: The Burson-Marsteller Award of CHF 10,000 goes to the Consulting Project group with the highest academic standing. The award strives for excellence in the field chosen and stands to represent MScom’s standard of excellence.

A: We keep track of past participant’s salaries by way of questionnaires one year after completion of the MScom Program. Over 20% of participants received a six to ten per cent increase in salary while over half received more than a ten percent increase. See here for more statistics.

A: The Executive MScom Program was one of the first of its kind in Europe and since its inception, has retained a standard of excellence as the market has become increasingly competitive. Future employers will recognize an Executive MScom diploma as a commitment to investing in your future, and a desire to stay on the cutting edge of current strategic communication practices. Click here to read testimonials.

A: The things you will learn during the program are directly applicable to the professional world. You and your colleagues will notice both during and after the program that you will be bringing new ideas, methods and insights back from the classroom into the workplace. Click here to read testimonials.

A: Accreditation is very important to ensure a standard of education is being upheld. MScom is accredited through the Rector’s Conference of the Swiss Universities (CRUS). CRUS is an organization representing all Swiss Universities and maintains relationships with other accredited universities outside of Switzerland.

A: In addition to the admission requirements, we evaluate applications based on professional achievement and organizational responsibility. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the MScom office to find out why MScom could be the right choice for you.

A: Between negotiating with your employer for time off from work and for financial assistance, getting all the necessary documents in place and arranging interviews with MScom, the whole procedure can take up to 6 months. Our advice to you is to start early with the application process to meet the deadline on October 31.

A: The payment of tuition and fees is divided into four installments. The first installment is to be made by November 30 - one month before the start of the Executive MScom Program if the course begins during the month of January of the following year. The second installment is due by January 31, the third, July 31 and the fourth, January 31 of the year following the beginning of the course.

A: We do accept payment in one installment; however most participants and organizations prefer to divide the payment into four installments, spread out over the 21-month period.

A: If you withdraw before the first installment deadline, payment of only the first installment is required. After this time, full payment of all fees and tuition is required.

A: Full financial support is nor a pre-requisite for entry. If your employer does not wish to offer full financial assistance, maybe they would be prepared to meet you half-way by offering partial support. This could mean paying for travel expenses or course material, for example.

A: You have the option of spreading out your payments over a three year period. Please contact the MScom office for more specific details.

A: As with most organizations in Switzerland, we operate on a bank transfer system. We will send you an invoice with the relevant details for the transfer. We do no accept checks or credit cards as forms of payment.

A: If you an applicant applying to MScom from outside Switzerland, you are eligible for a scholarship

A: The tuition and fees that the participant must pay to participate in the Executive MScom Program cover costs of teaching, photocopied material distributed in class, test fees and half board (hotel, breakfast and lunch) for The Anderson School Session. The participant is responsible for paying expenses for accommodation, travel and classroom material.

A: Each situation is different, but in general it is a good idea to start early and have a clear plan for how the program can benefit both you and your company. For more suggestions, including advice from past students, go to xxx

A: There are scholarships available for participants coming from outside of Switzerland and wishing to participate in the program. For more information, go to Scholarships.

A: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis so it is a good idea to start early with the procedure. The deadline is October 31 of every year

A: It is always worth while to contact the MScom office to see if there are still places available.

A: Since the MScom Program is so demanding, we are looking for recommendations from professional superiors, testifying that the applicant has what it takes to manage and contribute to the 21-month program. It represents an important component of the application process.

A: Your essay is a letter of motivation which demonstrates your reasons for returning to study, what you hope to accomplish with an MScom diploma, what your participation can bring to the program and your general expectations for the future after MScom.

A: The institution where you got your initial degree should be able to provide you with an official transcript of study.

A: We supply you with a letter of sponsorship, to be completed by your employer. It is a contract by which your employer commits him/herself to support you financially for the duration of the MScom Program. Click here to download your letter of sponsorship.

A: After the first week of lessons, an MScom participant, as well as colleagues, will almost instantly notice new ideas and methods coming back into the workplace. It is this almost instantaneous return on investment which encourages employers to send their employees to MScom and is often what drives participants to do the program in the first place. The MScom Program consists of one-third MBA themes and two-thirds strategic communication themes, ultimately enabling a professionalisation of a company’s communication strategy.

A: How much an employer decides to financially support an employee is at the discretion of the organization and the budget available. We have had participants come here partially funded and fully funded, there is no golden rule.

A: Certainly! Just get in contact with the MScom office and we will introduce to you to a previous sponsor who can give you the ins and outs of sponsoring a top-notch employee.

A: In order for you, the company and the participant to maximize the effect of the MScom Program, we suggest giving your employee 20% of time off work. The participant/candidate will need your full support and understanding during the program.

A: It is a good idea to meet with the director of the program before you start the application process to get a feel for the program and to discuss if MScom is right for you.

A: The MScom faculty is chosen for being among the best in their field of expertise. They are closely linked to the business world, working in both research and consulting, giving them a contemporary edge to the theories they impart. The faculty comes from all over the world to teach in the MScom Program, offering participants a unique insight into global communication strategies and strategic management themes.

A: The University is a ten minute walk from the city center. Here is a map of where we are.

A: Milano Malpensa is forty-five minutes by car from Lugano and is served by all the major international airline carriers. There is a frequent shuttle service that runs from Lugano train station to Malpensa. See here for the Malpensa shuttle service timetable. Alternatively, there is a smaller airport six kilometers outside of Lugano which is served by smaller airlines. These fly mainly to Zürich.

A: No, Lugano is a relatively small city and the public transport system is efficient and will get you to where you need to go. If you want to bring a car, parking is available on campus in the USI parking lot. If you would like to rent a car, rental car agencies can be found in the center of town.

A: The UCLA Anderson School of Management is one of the top business schools in the world, with top faculty and facilities. The summer session in The Anderson School gives participants an insight into the most common and cutting edge business practices of today. It also facilitates contact with faculty and professionals from ‘the other side of the pond’ demonstrating how they do things over there.

A: Obviously, to complete a summer session in LA with your classmates is the ideal situation but if you cannot make it to the summer session, it is possible to join the session the following summer.