International Communication Management - English - 3 years - Full-time
How do big brands like Patagonia and Toms capture the public imagination? How has Unilever convinced investors that sustainability is good for business? On ICM you’ll learn to have a positive influence with real-life experiences. How a marketing communications specialist can strengthen relationships with consumers and a PR professional can win back trust with actions rather than words. You’ll apply critical thinking and hands on skills. Group projects in the first two years will train you how to advise real companies on their communication strategies. An optional five month internationally orientated internship will develop your social awareness and integrity for the global workplace.
Structure of International Communication Management - English - 3 years - Full-time
Lectures
20hours per week
Self-study
20hours per week
Projects
10hours per week
Study credits
60in year one
Year 1
The first year is the introductory (propadeutic) year
At ICM we do things differently. Most universities focus on communication theory in the first year, but we’ll expose you to a regional, national, and international network. You’ll join a dynamic classroom working with new friends from different continents and cultural backgrounds. Theory becomes reality as you delve into world affairs from different angles and solve complex global issues. In the introductory Global Issues, Media and Society course, we focus on how communication plays a key part in social changes. Organisational Communication gives an integrated perspective on stakeholder relations and internal, corporate, intercultural and marketing communication. During the second semester, you’ll work on an entrepreneurial group Design Thinking Project where you’ll resolve a communication issue for an external organisation. Previously, students worked with the National Institute for Traffic Safety to help prevent bike accidents caused using smartphone technology.
Timetable
Year 2
Delve deeper
Year 2 of ICM is all about putting your critical skills into practice with a large multinational, Start-up, or government body. You’ll take on the role of a communication advisor and further your knowledge in courses such as Media Relations, Advisory Skills and Public Communication. As well as studying in our international program, you'll have the flexibility to tailor your study with an international or local exchange. Our network consists of carefully selected partners based in several countries within and outside of Europe. Alternatively you can stay at The Hague University and choose to do minors and choose from the full range of our different faculties.
Timetable
Year 3
Placement and graduation
It’s the year of the ‘dreaded’ Final Paper! Well, that might be the case if you were to write a 30,000-word masterpiece on a boring subject. At ICM, you’ll get a taste of the real working world. You’ll learn to balance a five-month placement at a national or international company with your Final Paper - and social life. But don’t worry, we’ll make sure that you’ve got everything covered beforehand. In the first semester, we prepare you for this challenge with the subject Placement Preparation. You could write your Final Paper while learning about social media and project management at a digital agency, or promoting brands in-store for the marketing team at a multinational. It’s a great way to get a foot on the ladder – as well as an opportunity for creativity and personal development. That’s probably why many ICM students get a job offer and a good salary after their placement.
Timetable
Lecturers
Zah Kahar
“I started up my career as a Public Relations Officer and worked my way up as a Corporate Communication Deputy Director at a multinational company in Malaysia. After moving to the Netherlands for love, I joined the Embassy of Malaysia in The Hague as information officer bridging the 2 nations namely in the area of culture and diversity. At THUAS, I enjoy working with students to develop not only their academic capability but also guide them to develop their personal effectiveness. My extensive experience in Corporate Communication has motivated me to share my line of expertise especially on Corporate Reputation and Change Management. Besides teaching, I give trainings to various companies that plan to do business in the South East Asia region on how to conduct business with Asians.”
Dr. Olivier Nyirubugara
“For me teaching means learning in the first place. In other words, as I teach I turn my students into my teachers and that happens in many ways. The most exciting one is having students as co-researchers. As a teacher of research skills and a researcher, I love it when my students start using the skills we learned together in class to critically question my own research. Apart from academic research skills, I also teach subjects ranging from Media Theory and Media Relations to Journalism and Academic Writing Skills, among other subjects. The main philosophy that guided me during my student years and which I keep central to my teaching revolves around the idea of going “beyond the contract”. I encourage my students to consider the syllabus as representing the minimum requirements. I invite them to explore the wonderful world beyond the limited the classroom environment and beyond compulsory readings and assignments.”
Carla Wood
“What I like best about being an ICM teacher is the diversity of the program. Not only do we teach students from 75 different countries, the course material is also very broad. In my 10 years at ICM I have helped develop quite a few courses which keeps me up-to-date also. I teach content courses like Internal Communications in Times of Change and Organizational Communication. The course I like most however is a foundation course called Critical Thinking Skills. In this course I teach students to become strong independent thinkers. I also coach our students during the three years they are with us. In the coaching sessions there is attention for both personal as well as professional development. The coaching aspect of my career is very rewarding. My own international work experiences in France, Indonesia, Tanzania and the USA are a great basis from which I help shape the next generation of international communications experts.”
Barry Verbeek
“I am still very proud to be one of the founders of the ICM programme back in 2008. The fact that I am still lecturing in the programme, is because I have a lot of love for ICM and because we have a great international team of lecturers. The main courses I teach are Corporate Communication (introduction year 1 and advanced year 2) and Advisory Skills. I like to make jokes during my lectures to make it fun, because I believe learning should be fun. I also make the lectures and workshops as interactive as possible. Besides the course I just mentioned I also am the proud module manager of a minor called Sustainability in Business. Besides being a part-time teacher for ICM I am also a part-time consultant for a sustainability consultancy firm. Before I became a lecturer I worked in a corporate communications and design agency for five years.”
Peter Hanssen
“The reason why I love teaching ICM students is that they are a wonderful mix of colourful internationals who flock to The Hague every year, bringing their own cultures and their ambitions for the future. After getting a degree in Communications from Nijmegen University I spent 15 years ‘agency-side’, first in Amsterdam, then London and then back in Amsterdam, working on international accounts. I liked being engaged in diverse markets, joining a morning brainstorm on baby food and then rushing off to an afternoon pitch on mobile phones. At ICM I initially lectured in Branding and Marketing Communication but gradually focused on how communications can make brands and organisations more sustainable. This perspective is now at the heart of ICM’s identity and together with students I try to bring that to life in courses like Global Issues, and Design Thinking.”
Dominique Darmon
“As a lecturer at ICM, I have the pleasure of teaching classes such as Journalism and Media, Intercultural communication, and Communication and Behavior. It gives me a lot of satisfaction to watch my students improve over the course of their studies and turn into successful communication professionals. Before coming to the Hague University, I worked as a television producer for Canadian broadcasters for nearly twenty years, adnd after, took on a position as international campaign manager at SNV (The Netherlands Development Organisation). I am also an enthusiastic member of the Research group Change Management at the Hague University. My research is about the role of gossip in organizations, and so far, I have published two academic papers on the topic. Not only do my students hear about my research during my lectures, but many are taking an active part in it.”
Robert Cartwright
“As an ICM lecturer I have the privilege of teaching the things that I am passionate about: digital media and the research methodologies that surround it. In the fast paced era of technology and communications, it is important that students learn about the fundamental mechanisms that draw people and communicate ideas. That said, my classes also involve the elements of critical thinking. Navigating incorrect information (“fake news”), conducting independent research, interpreting results and formulating recommendations, are all skills that are necessary for digital natives as they enter the professional world of communications. Coming from a farm in Alberta, Canada: the multicultural classroom and exchange of ideas amongst the ICM students of different backgrounds make for an even more exciting experience.”
Testimonials
My Minor in ‘Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation’
Andrea Palet Villanueva
Communication is important in so many ways but is definitely very important if you want to make a change into the world. During the ‘’Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation’’ minor you get to experience first-hand what it is to come up with a social start-up idea. At the end of the minor, we got to pitch our final project in front of entrepreneurs and it was the perfect opportunity to learn more about what it is like to own a social business.
As a digital marketing intern for a mobile start-up
Jacob Heppleston
“During my internship, I was part of the digital marketing department in a fast growing start-up called Appromoters, that provides mobile marketing and advertising services. My usual duties encompassed management of the company blog and social media channels. However, with the wide variety of communication styles that I had learnt in ICM, I was given additional responsibilities to write PR releases, online publications and content strategic relation management.”
My study exchange to Indonesia
Tina Thierfelder
I got the chance to go to Indonesia and spend one semester at our partner university The London School of Public Relations (LSPR) in Jakarta. Indonesia is such an amazing country with great people and lots of culture to explore. At LSPR everyone is extremely welcoming and treats you like part of the family right from the first moment - you will definitely leave with some lifetime friends. I highly recommend doing your exchange there!
As a Marketing Operations intern for global fashion
Silvia Hristova
“I am currently doing a work placement as Marketing Operator at one of the leading European lingerie brands: Hunkemöller. I am responsible for managing the print production for all the countries where Hunkemöller operates. Moreover, I manage the marketing requests coming from different departments and brief it to the in-house design team. Up until now, I love my time at Hunkemöller and will make the best of my time her!”
My study exchange to Thailand
Laura Reinhardt
My time in Bangkok was the most magical, yet challenging, time of my life. I have collected so many great memories, made so many friends from all over the world, tasted the most flavourful food, experienced a mystical culture and sweated like I have never sweated in my life before! I studied Communication Management at Chulalongkorn University. If I could I would do it all over again!
As a Social Media intern for a digital agency
Lena Kollega
"I’m doing my internship at a digital agency called PUSHH in Hamburg, Germany. It was quite a transition to live and work in a German environment. My internship is all about project management and social media, from editorial planning to cost estimates. So far, ICM has pretty much covered it all. PUSHH is a small, employee-friendly agency. There are four office dogs and no hierarchy. Employees are free to work from home and during the summer months PUSHH will try out a new working hours model, allowing us to work four days, which I am really excited about. So far, it has been quite challenging to balance a 40-hour-week internship, social life and writing a final paper at the same time, but I guess as long as you plan well, you can do it."
My study exchange to Scotland
Polina Kuzmina
Last year I went on exchange to Glasgow in Scotland. It was absolutely one of the greatest experiences in my life. Scotland is such a beautiful country and exchange gives you a lot of opportunities to explore the country and that is what I did. Now I am completely in love with highlands and can’t wait to go back! I studied Arts & Entertainment Journalism at Glasgow Caledonian University.
As Promotions intern for global FMCG brand
Anastasia Alipova
"I’m working for one of Kimberly-Clark’s big multinational brands, Huggies, in Moscow. I help out with the promotion strategy for new products. I also give presentations and go on field trips to the stores to check how the product is being sold. I believe that doing an internship at a well-known multinational company will boost my practical and professional skills as well as preparing me for my third year placement. The marketing team gives me opportunity for personal development, creation and thought. It’s great as you meet new people and gain an insight into your future professional field. It has definitely been an interesting start to my professional career."
My study exchange to Amsterdam
Hana Kurahashi
I decided to do a minor at HVA because they offered an interesting minor called Business of Sport and Entertainment Management. The minor revolved around topics surrounding the area of hosting big sports events and music festivals. During the minor, we also worked as a junior consultant with real clients on a project. Towards the end of the project, we also had to present a recommendation report to the client on how they could improve their social media strategy.
Minors
Shape your degree
Our ICM students enter the workforce ready to conquer the world. Minors give your ICM degree an edge. And the list is endless. You might want to learn new media relations and journalism skills, how to handle press queries as a PR officer, or corporate social responsibility in the public sector. Many of our ICM students go global and take minors at one of our partner universities in countries within and outside of Europe. In the Entrepreneurship minor, four students took a fresh approach to communication and designed the 'Green Spoon' to communicate how easy it can be to reduce plastic waste and protect the planet.
Working methods
Lectures, seminars, study visits, self-study, group activities and project work
The world needs ‘doers’ not philosophers. And that’s what stands ICM apart from theoretical courses at academic universities. This means you won’t just do general mass communication theory, you’ll learn how to make well-thought-out decisions and challenge ideas. From both entrepreneurial and socially responsible perspectives. ICM encourages you to adapt to an ever-changing world and equips you to become a ‘manager of change’.
Contact with the student
Paul van Zanten
Hi! My name is Paul. I am a 28 year old American nearing the end of my first year studying International Communication Management. I am an avid traveler, communicator and someone who constantly seeks experience new things! I enjoy living and working abroad, while immersing myself in different cultures, which is something I've been doing for the last 5 years! Please feel free to send me any questions, whether they are about ICM, The Hague University, The Netherlands, or anything you can think of!
Aks Paul a questionVitoria Mendes Lopes
Hello! My name is Vitoria. I am 19 and originally from Brazil. Far away from home, now I have settled in The Hague for my ICM degree. Just as you, I once was a prospective student myself! I know this is a difficult decision but I am here to help you out! If you would like an insider perspective on life as a student at THUAS feel free to contact me anytime! I'll do my best to get back to you right away!
Ask Vitoria a questionCristina Cocis
Hello! My name is Cristina Cocis, I am 20 years old and I come from Romania. I am a first-year student of the International Communication Management program.
Studying and working abroad as an international might seem challenging, but my first lesson here at ICM was that building a relationship and connecting with people is a must! So, please, reach out to me. Do not hesitate! I would be more than happy to share my experience with you and answer any possible questions.
Svetoslava Kabaivanova
Hello! My name is Svetoslava Kabaivanova and I come from Bulgaria. I am a first-year ICM student at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. I know that there are many factors that you need to consider when applying. So, if you have a question regarding the program or the student life, please, do not hesitate to ask. I will gladly help you with all of your queries. Looking forward to hear from you!
Ask Svetoslava a questionAssistance during your studies
Study coaching and advice
We assume your time at ICM will run smoothly. However, we do offer personal assistance if you are experiencing any study problems. In the first year, you’ll be allocated a coach who can help you keep track of your study progress. They can help you improve your time management skills, or find the right people within the programme to answer more complicated questions. They will also support you if you have any personal problems that can adversely affect your schoolwork.
Collect ECTS
Binding Study Advice (BSA)
To continue your degree programme after the first year, you need to earn 50 of the 60 credits (EC or Credits). In some cases, the degree programme may also require that you pass a specific subject as European art of the credit requirements. We call this a qualitative requirement. If you meet the credit requirements as well as the qualitative requirement where applicable, you will receive a positive binding study advice (BSA) from the Examination Board at the end of your first year and you will be able to continue your degree programme.
If you earn less than 50 credits or don’t meet the qualitative requirements where applicable, you will receive a negative binding study advice and will have to leave the degree programme. This is why this advice is called a Negative Binding Study Advice (NBSA).
Your academic progress may be affected by personal circumstances such as illness or the professional practice of a sport. It is important that you inform the Examination Board immediately of any personal circumstances that might apply to you. The Board can take these into account when issuing its study advice.
Read all the rules for the binding study advice in Chapter 7 of the Education and Examination Rules and Regulations (OER) for your degree programme.