International Communication and Media (ICM)

Contents

ICM consists of two phases: a common foundation and a main phase, where students can specialize further in their area of interest. Each year is divided in four different modules of ten weeks, each focusing on a specific theme. Classes are then taught in relation with the topic. For example, during the first year the Block “Society and Communication”, explores different aspects of mass communication and media.

Subjects include Sociology, Global Economics, Mass Communication, writing classes and you’ll be working on a project where you will make your own documentary about a subculture. When one module is over, a new one starts with according classes.

The first year of ICM aims to provide students with core concepts and a solid basis in communication, marketing, intercultural issues, journalistic and writing skills, and of course digital media. These introductory courses intend to give an outline of the curriculum, and an indication of what to expect in the upcoming years.

The binding study advice

In order to be admitted to the second year, you need to obtain a certain number of credits during your first year of study. Each year you can get a total number of 60 ECs. However, if you fail too many subjects, and end the year with less than 50 ECs, you will receive a binding negative study advice, and will therefore not be allowed to continue your study.

During the main phase, the knowledge and skills acquired during the first year are deepened and broadened. This page shows an overview of what to expect.

The second year

The second year is more intense and specifies on concrete projects, such as the design of a cross-media campaign, or learning how to create and print a magazine. These projects are combined with essential principles of marketing, corporate and internal communication, international Law, consumer behavior, intercultural management and a foreign language.

The third year

The 3rd year is entirely dedicated to your minor and your internship. Dutch students have to spend at least one of these abroad; international students can choose to stay in The Netherlands. A minor is a 6 months study, either at one of our foreign partner universities or at any school or university in the Netherlands. You can choose to study a different subject for your minor, such as economics, journalism, or law, but the HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht also offers a wide range of different minors you can choose from each year.

The fourth year

During the final year of ICM, you can choose between two specializations: Media or Communication. Both routes have a different focus and enable you to specialize further in the desired area of competence, thanks to real-life cases, complex situations and more in-depths theories.

The second part of the last year is dedicated to the composition of your graduation assignment, for which you have to conduct your own research, in order to respond to a communication or media problem of your choice.

Accreditation

Responsibility for accreditation lies with the Netherlands-Flemish Accreditation Organization (NVAO). All degree programmes offered by research universities and universities of applied sciences will be evaluated according to established criteria, and programmes that meet those criteria will be accredited.

Funding details

We offer two scholarships for our non-EU students. The HU Talent Scholarship, to the amount of € 2000, can be applied for by all students who are from a non-EU country and have been admitted to one of our international Bachelor’s or Master’s programmes. The HU Excellent Scholarship is for students who meet the criteria for the Talent Scholarship and who also performed exceptionally well in their previous studies (B+ average or higher). Some students from EU countries also qualify for a grant from the Dutch government, provided that they are under 30 years of age and are enrolled full-time.