Structure and contents
The MSc in Media Management (MMM) at USI aims to help future media officers, business communicators and other professionals, including journalists, enhance their knowledge and understanding of modern media and communication industries, preparing them to meet the many challenges posed by a period of unprecedented changes to digital mass and social media.
The full programme consists of 120 ECTS, and is directed to all students wishing to forge a career in media and journalism industries as well as professionals in communication-related activities in commercial and non-commercial organizations of all types, including NGOs and international companies. The course helps enable employees and managers at media companies, entrepreneurs in communication businesses and relevant public and NGO organisations to analyze the changes to media and communication industries, identifying how best they can utilize these changes to improve commercial viability and incorporate social and digital media into everyday business use.
Students will examine the transmedia nature of every modern media product, understanding the role of giant tech companies in changing the face of modern media and communications. The course is particularly useful for students wishing to understand the nature of modern media practice and economic management including journalism, advertising and social media. The course examines modern strategic management tools as a way of managing businesses in the digital media and social media age. The course is taught by full time academics led by Professor Matthew Hibberd as well as professional managers with senior practical experience in media and communication industries. Students will have the opportunity to practice what they learn through assignments, presentations, group projects and research papers with continuous feedbacks from professors as well as engagement in conversations that go beyond what is taught in class to examine how social media touches all our lives. Moreover students will have the direct access to take part in one of the summer schools organized by the Institute of Media and Journalism (IMeG), including interacting with filmmakers during the Locarno Film Festival (Locarno Documentary Summer School) as well as experts from the world biggest emerging media market in China (Europe-China Dialogue: Media and Communication Studies).
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Study Programme 2024-2026
First Semester
ECTS 3
Media Economics and Policy 3
3 6
6
3
3 3
Second Semester
ECTS Core courses
3 3 6 6 3 3 6 Third Semester
ECTS Thematic Area #1: Corporate Social Responsibility and the Common Good
18+12* 3 3 3 6 3 3 3 Additional courses upon availability
3 3 3 3 Thematic Area #2: Crossmedia, Multimodal and Transmedia Communication
18+12* 3 3 Brand Management: Strategic Deisng and Creative Applications
3 Multimodal Rhetoric
3 3 Additional courses upon availability
3 3 6 6
6
Thematic Area #3: Visual and Material Culture
18+12* 6 Brand Management: Strategic Design and Creative Applications
3 3 3 Multimodal Rhetoric
3 3 Additional courses upon availability
3 3 3 3 6 Thematic Area #4: Customer Experience and Value
18+12* 6 3 3 3 Additional course upon availability
Brand Management: Strategic Design and Creative Applications
3 6 3 Thematic Area #5: Organisation and human resource management
18+12* 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Additional courses upon availability
Brand Management: Strategic Design and Creative Applications
3 3 3 6 3 Management ed innovazione nella pubblica amministrazione e nel non profit
3 3 3 6 Thematic Area # 6: Strategy and entrepreneurship
18+12* 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Additional course upon availability
Brand Management: Strategic Design and Creative Applications
3 6 6 3 3 6 6 6 6
3
3
3
3
Thematic Area # 7: Cinema and Audiovisual Futures
6
6
3
3
Additional course upon availability
3
3
Fourth Semester
Capstone Work
Internship
12 Thesis
18 TOTAL ECTS
120 *Students have to validate at least 18 ECTS within the list of courses of each option and add 12 more ECTS from other electives listed in any of the four specializations.
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Internship
A crucial part of this academic programme is the internship.
Internships aim at allowing students to get in touch with the professional world, in Switzerland and abroad, within professional environments that are consistent with the Master programme, in companies such as TV and radio broadcasters, news outlet, etc.- Walt Disney
- Sky Italia
- Mediaset
- Locarno Film Festival
- Mondadori
- Bertelsman
- RSI
- MTV
- Eurosport
- Italian Ministry of Foreign Affair
- Government of the principality of Liechtenstein
- Nestlè
- IKEA
In alternative to the internship and in order to broaden their scientific competences, students can attend an academic Semester abroad or in Switzerland, in one of USI's partner universities.
During this semester, students can integrate courses they attended in Lugano in the first two semesters with other subjects in media management. -
Master Thesis
Master theses are set to conclude students' preparation and are aimed at deepen the analysis of a topic students can decide, within the scope of the Master programme.
The research work, supervised by one or more professors of the Master, can be theoretical or empirical: students have to demonstrate to be able to use proper concepts, theories, methodologies and tools and to have analysis, synthesis and editorial skills. -
Language
Admission to the A.Y. 2024/25
Admission to English-language Master programmes at USI requires a good command of English. Non-native English speakers applying to the Master’s or whose previous degree was obtained in another language are required to provide an internationally acknowledged language certificate equal to the B2+ level as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Language Learning (CEFR) or equivalent (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, etc.).
The B2+ level on the CEFR corresponds to the following scores in internationally acknowledged exams:
Score IELTS 6.5 TOEFL Internet-based: 85 Cambridge English First grade B TOEIC Listening & Reading: 860
Speaking: 170
Writing: 170Important:
- The language certificate must be included in the application package: candidates whose Bachelor's was entirely taught in English must upload an official document mentioning the tuition language (e.g., official transcript, diploma supplement, or any other official certificate issued by the university) in the application form.
- We only accept the above English qualifications (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge English, TOEIC).
- The certificate must still be valid at the point of the application. We generally cannot accept language test results older than three years as of September 1st.
- Certificates obtained by passing the IELTS Academic Online or TOEFL iBT Home Edition tests may also be submitted for admission to the programme.
Italian
As Lugano is located in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, students might be interested in acquiring the basics in Italian.
The Università della Svizzera italiana offers a free of charge Italian language course: further information can be found here.
