Studies & Degrees in Business Communication
Business Communication Study Programs
Business communication, also called corporate communication, is the study of how an organisation communicates with the people it depends on: employees, customers, investors, the media, public authorities and the general public. It covers internal communication, media relations, public relations, crisis communication, brand and reputation management and the use of digital channels and social media.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes the core job in the field, the public relations specialist, as someone who creates and maintains a positive public image for the individuals, groups or organisations they represent. Typical tasks are writing press releases, answering information requests from the media, drafting speeches and evaluating public opinion through social media. Degree programmes therefore combine a great deal of writing and presenting with communication theory, marketing, basic business and law, research methods and campaign planning. At some colleges, business communication is also the name of a single course in professional writing and presentation skills within a business degree.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degree. According to the BLS, public relations specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in public relations or another communications field, social science or business. In Spain a bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits, and the subject is usually studied within degrees in communication or in advertising and public relations.
- Master's degree. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The Máster Universitario en Comunicación Política y Empresarial at the Universidad Camilo José Cela lasts one academic year, has 60 ECTS credits and is taught in Spanish, on campus or online. At EAE Business School, the Máster en Comunicación Corporativa & Digital has 60 ECTS credits and is taught in Spanish; in Madrid the full-time format of 10 months leads to an official qualification and the hybrid format to the school's own qualification.
- Business school programmes. ESDEN Business School in Madrid offers a Máster en Comunicación, Eventos y RRPP of one academic year and 60 ECTS credits, part time on campus, hybrid or online. The school lists the master's title as its own qualification. INSA Business, Marketing & Communication School in Barcelona lists a Master in International Business Communication. Ask each school what recognition its qualification has.
- Vocational training (FP) in Spain. The grado superior Técnico Superior en Marketing y Publicidad, of 2,000 hours, includes public relations technician among its occupations.
- Professional diplomas. The Irish Academy of Public Relations, founded in 1991, offers professional diploma and certificate courses and online continuing professional development courses.
Where to study business communication
SpainExchange lists 20 active schools for business communication. Spain has 7, the United States 3, and Canada and Mexico 2 each. Italy, Denmark, Singapore, Japan, the United Kingdom and Ireland have one school each.
In Spain the schools are mainly in Madrid and Barcelona: the Universidad Camilo José Cela and ESDEN Business School in the Madrid region, and INSA Business, Marketing & Communication School, C3S Business School and UIBS / Barcelona Business School in Barcelona. Programmes at Spanish universities are taught in Spanish; INSA states that it offers programmes in English and Spanish.
In English-speaking countries the list includes Middle Tennessee State University in the United States and the Irish Academy of Public Relations in Dublin. Communication is a language-dependent profession, so it makes sense to study in the language, and if possible the country, where you plan to work.
Careers
Graduates work in the communication departments of companies and public bodies, in public relations and advertising agencies, and in non-profit organisations, as press officers, internal communication officers, social media and content managers, event organisers and, with experience, heads of communication.
The BLS counted about 314,500 public relations specialists in the United States in 2025. It projects employment to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, slower than the average for all occupations, with about 23,000 openings each year, most of them to replace workers who leave the occupation. Public relations managers held about 80,800 jobs in 2025. The BLS notes that these managers typically need at least a bachelor's degree and many years of related work experience. The figures apply to the United States only.
Frequently asked questions
Is business communication the same as marketing?
No, although they overlap. Marketing concentrates on customers and sales. Business communication deals with all the audiences of an organisation, including employees, the media and investors, and with its reputation.
What do I need to enter the profession?
In the United States, public relations specialists typically need a bachelor's degree, and employers may prefer candidates who have studied communications or business, according to the BLS. A portfolio of written work and internships help.
How long does a master's in corporate communication take in Spain?
Usually one academic year. The master's programmes at the Universidad Camilo José Cela, EAE Business School and ESDEN Business School named here all have 60 ECTS credits.
Can I study the subject online?
Yes. The Universidad Camilo José Cela and ESDEN Business School offer their master's programmes online as well as on campus, and the Irish Academy of Public Relations offers online courses.