Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Communications

Overview

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.

Sympodium’s postgraduate programme is the first gold-standard, international study programme aimed at Strategic Communications professionals.

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.

Programme structure

Course

Strategic Communications: Theory, Concepts, & Practice

15 hours

In-person lessons

Course

Target Audience Analysis & Measurement of Effect

15 hours

In-person lessons

Course

Truth and Lies in the Modern World

15 hours

In-person lessons

Course

Emotions, Memory, & Identity

15 hours

In-person lessons

Course

Indo-Pacific: Strategic Communications Theatre

15 hours

In-person lessons

Course

Influence & Behavioural Change

15 hours

In-person lessons

Course

Strategic Communications & AI

15 hours

In-person lessons

Course

Gaming Strategic Communications

15 hours

In-person lessons

Course

Authoritarian Playbook

15 hours

In-person lessons

Academic calendar and modes of teaching

The programme consists of 2 taught terms of 9 weeks each and 1 term of assessment:

Term 1: Taught programme

Monday 13 October to Friday 12 December 2025

Term 2: Taught programme

Monday 12 January to Friday 13 March 2026

Term 3: NO TAUGHT programme

Assessment period: Monday 13 April to Friday 29 May

This hybrid programme combines online and in-person modes of teaching:

18 weeks of online teaching: the anticipated study commitment is one synchronous (live) session, and one asynchronous session, each of 3 hours per week.
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:

10 +

Academics

More than 10 academics from 9 different, international institutions of higher education

30 +

Policymakers

More than 30 policymakers and practitioners in the field of Strategic Communications from the UK, US, EU and Japan.

Certification

On completion of the Programme, students receive the following documents:

Certificate

The Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Communications

Certificate issued by Sympodium Institute for Strategic Communications in association with Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences.

Transcript

The official transcript for 30 ECTS recognised within the EU

The official transcript for 30 ECTS recognised under the Bologna Agreement within the European Union showing all modules studied and grades achieved.

Programme eligibility

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.

Fees

Student fees are £10,000, plus travel and accommodation expenses for the on-site study week.

Application process

We are now accepting applications for the Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Communications (2025–2026). There are two admissions tracks: the General Admissions Track and the Scholarship Admissions Track. Please follow the process outlined below:

#1: Applications from both admissions tracks will be accepted.

Students are invited to submit their application and all required documentation within the application window for their selected admissions track (General or Scholarship).

#2: Applications are reviewed by Sympodium's Admissions Committee.

General Track: All applications will be carefully reviewed by Sympodium’s Admissions Team. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview as part of the selection process. Scholarship Track: Applications will be jointly reviewed by Sympodium’s Admissions Team and a UK FCDO representative. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview before final selections are made.

#3: Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview.

General Track: Interviews are conducted by Sympodium’s Admissions Team. Scholarship Track: Interviews are conducted jointly by Sympodium’s Admissions Team and a UK FCDO representative.

#4: The outcome

General Track: Following a comprehensive review and successful completion of the interview, selected applicants will be offered a place on the programme. Applicants can expect to receive an outcome within 2–3 weeks of their interview.

Scholarship Track: After the interview stage, a limited number of applicants will be awarded a scholarship place on the programme. As scholarship spaces are highly competitive and limited, not all interviewed candidates will receive an offer. Applicants can expect to receive an outcome within 2–3 weeks of their interview.
Successful applicants must accept their offer within one week of notification to secure their place.

Required Documents

Applicants must upload the following supporting documents with their application:

Academic Qualifications
Final certificate(s) confirming completion of your qualification
Official transcripts showing all modules and grades
Documentation confirming name change (if applicable), and evidence of current legal name such as a passport or official ID
Professional CV
Letter of Interest; A brief statement outlining your motivations for applying and what you hope to gain from the programme.
Certified translations for any documents not originally in English

If you have any questions or require assistance with your application, please do not hesitate to contact our Admissions Team.

Apply now

Self-funded

FCDO scholarship

Self-funded

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.

Applications for the 2025/2026 cohort are now closed.

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.

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.

If your country of residence is not listed in the eligible countries for Scholarship Applications, please apply via the General (self-funded) application portal.

Interviews will be conducted online during the following weeks. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to produce a letter of support from their employer.

Applications for the 2025/2026 cohort are now closed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study the whole programme online and not attend the on-site teaching week?

Unfortunately not. The periods of on-site teaching are intense and require participation in person. They also offer students an opportunity to build professional and friendship networks.

Is an English language test such as IELTS/TOEFL required?

The Programme is taught in English and language proficiency is required. All short-listed candidates will have to pass an interview to show their level of English. and an internal test of spoken and written English. No IELTS/TOEFL test is required.

I am shortlisted for an interview, how should I prepare?

You should expect to be asked about your professional work and your earlier academic study.

When will I be notified about the outcomes of the interview?

Our student-liaison office will aim to notify candidates within 3 weeks after the interview.

If I apply through a scholarship track and am shortlisted but not awarded a scholarship, will I still be considered under the general admissions track?

For those who applied to the Programme via a scholarship track, should your application be shortlisted, but ultimately not awarded a scholarship, then you will be offered the opportunity to join the programme as self-funded. You do not need to submit an additional application.

What resources will I need?

Students will require computer access for study throughout the duration of this Programme. Students will also need to bring a laptop to any in-person teaching.