UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and KING’S COLLEGE LONDON Studentships (Scholarships) for a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate on the MA in STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS programme –– 2022-23

HOW TO APPLY:

To register your interest in the scholarship programme, please select your preferred course of study (Postgraduate Certificate, or Diploma Full-time) and upload your documents to: https://apply.kcl.ac.uk/ 

The closing date for applications is Friday 8th July 2022.

30 Studentship awards are being offered by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to study Strategic Communications for a Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate on the Masters Programme at King’s College London.

Each studentship covers the cost of fees for the PGDip/PG Cert, and travel and accommodation for specific courses within this programme. Study will be both online and offline.

The Strategic Communications MA/PGDip/PG Cert programme is delivered by the King’s Centre for Strategic Communications (KCSC). It is situated in the Department of War Studies (School of Security Studies, and Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy) at King’s College London. Students are taught by a range of academics and practitioners from the world of government, military, media and marketing agencies, journalism, NGOs, and international organisations.

Strategic Communications Programme Specification

Students will complete one year of study from September 2022 – May 2023 (a final two-hour written examination will be scheduled in May 2023 for PG Dips). At the end of study, students will receive either a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate from King’s College London depending on which aspect of the programme they have enrolled.

The main Strategic Communications MA courses will be delivered online across two semesters (Autumn 2022 and Winter 2023).  PG Dip students will be invited to join two weekend modules in London across four weekends–– Audience & Population, Behaviour & Influence course, and Political Marketing in the Digital Age course. PG Cert students will be invited to join one weekend module in London across two weekends.

The following table will give you an idea of what a typical MA Strategic Communications full-time academic year might look like as you progress through your studies:

All students will also study:

(i) a short Introduction to Strategic Communications, worth five credits, delivered in July/August 2022, and will be assessed using a short-written submission.

(ii) a short course in Freedom of Speech will be delivered during Summer 2022 or Summer 2023, and will NOT be assessed. Details will be announced soon.

(iii) a short course on How to Run a NGO will be delivered during Summer 2022 or Summer 2023, and will NOT be assessed. Details will be announced soon.

(iv) guest lectures and workshop in Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion Culture and Principles (delivered during Summer 2022 or Summer 2023) and will not be assessed. Details will be announced soon.

Postgraduate Diploma

15 students will be selected to study the Postgraduate Diploma which accrue 120 Masters-level credits. Postgraduate Diploma students will study:

1         A short Introduction to Strategic Communications (five hours)

2         20 weeks of Strategic Communications Theory & Practice course (40 hours) plus Theory Seminars (20 hours);

3         20 weeks of Applied Strategic Communications course (50 hours);

4         Two weekends of Audience & Population Behaviour & Influence course (20 hours);

5         Two weekends of Political Marketing in the Digital Age course (20 hours);

6         Short courses on Freedom of Speech; Running a NGO; Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. NOT assessed.

Postgraduate Certificate

15 students will be selected to study the Postgraduate Certificate which accrues 60 Masters-level credits. Postgraduate certificate students will study:

1         A short Introduction to Strategic Communications (five hours)

2         Either 20 weeks of Strategic Communications Theory & Practice (50 hours) plus Theory Seminars (20 hours); OR 20 weeks of Applied Strategic Communications with NO seminars (50 hours);

3         Either two weekends of Audience & Population Behaviour & Influence (20 hours); OR two weekends of Political Marketing in the Digital Age (20 hours)

4         Short courses in Freedom of Speech; Running a NGO; Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. NOT assessed.

Student specification

The King’s Centre for Strategic Communications is looking for students who fulfil the following criteria:

• At least a Bachelors degree (BA/BSc) from a good university (proof required)
• Demonstrate a strong interest in Strategic Communications or political communications.
• Are active in the management and/or campaigns of NGOs and journalistic outlets
• Have a high-level of English language proficiency. Must be fluent in speaking and writing English. (NB: all teaching will be delivered in English language)

For more information on funding eligibility please contact: fcdo.correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk

To apply, please prepare:

- Contact information for your reference (preferably academic, but professional could be accepted in the event that you have left education in the last five years)

- Official transcripts of your previous and current qualifications in English (detailing course, modules, subject grades and final overall grade, if completed). 

- Copies of your final degree certificate if you have been awarded the qualification, with English translation where possible

- A personal statement in English

- Your CV emphasising your demonstrable interest in Strategic Communications/political communications and work in the NGO and/or journalism sector

- These documents should be uploaded to https://apply.kcl.ac.uk/ , once you select your preferred course of study (Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma Full-time)

- On https://apply.kcl.ac.uk/,  in section 5, which refers to Funding information, select code FCO2022 for the Studentship awards.