Program Overview

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University of Fribourg Doctoral Program in Communication Studies

The Department of Communication and Media Research (DCM) at the University of Fribourg/Switzerland offers the possibility to pursue a doctoral degree of Social sciences in Communication Studies. Communication Studies at the University of Fribourg is firmly rooted in the tradition of the social sciences and is devoted to the analysis of public communication in modern societies, looking at both legacy and new media (e.g. online platforms). Central topics are the general framework, systems, processes, contents and effects of communication.

Research Fields

Doctoral theses can be written in the following research fields, among others:

• Journalism studies (e.g., current developments of journalism, quality in journalism)
• Theory and history of communication and journalism
• Political communication (e.g., digital democracy, analysis of political debates, opinion formation)
• Media use, exposure, and effects (e.g., persuasion, parasocial relationships, health communication, media exposure)
• Organisational communication (e.g. reputation and issues management, corporate social responsibility, communication strategies)
• Comparative communication research
• Media systems and media organisations
• Media policy and media regulation (e.g., public service media, policy-making processes and power, governance)
• Analysis of new media and new forms of communication

Doctoral Programme

A doctoral programme of 30 ECTS credits must be followed for successful completion of the doctorate. The core part of the doctoral programme is the DCM Colloquium. It is held at regular intervals and offers doctoral students the possibility to present and discuss the current state of their projects. ECTS credits can also be acquired by participating in academic courses at the University of Fribourg or elsewhere (e.g. summer or winter schools) in areas such as theory, methodology, didactics or academic writing and presentation skills, by giving presentations at scientific conferences, by publishing articles in scientific journals or books (first author or co-author), by writing reviews or helping with the organisation of conferences, or by undertaking other academic tasks at the Department.

Professors Eligible to Supervise Theses

The following professors are eligible to supervise theses:

• Prof. Andreas Fahr: Areas of specialisation include media selection, media use, media effects, emotional & cognitive processing of media exposure, mediated social communication, parasocial relationships, health communication, entertainment. Supervision of theses in German and English.
• Prof. Alexandra Feddersen: Areas of specialisation include political communication, media and public opinion, media and democracy. Supervision of theses in English, French and German.
• Prof. Regula Hänggli: Areas of specialisation include political communication, public debates, challenges to democracy based on commercialisation and digitalisation, relation between media and democracy. Supervision of theses in German and English.
• Prof. Laura Illia: Areas of specialisation include emerging forms of organisation, audiences and social media, e-audiences and their influence on business and society, legitimacy, reputation, identity, stigma and new media, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and communication, communication in social impact and business in the circular economy, crisis, communication, stakeholder management, artificial intelligence (AI) text agents and their implications for business and society. Supervision of theses in French and English.
• Prof. Diana Ingenhoff: Areas of specialisation include strategic communication, organisational communication, communication management, international public relations research, public diplomacy and country images, corporate social responsibility (CSR), social advocacy, and media quality, reputation management and crisis communication in the digital age. Supervision of theses in German and English.
• Prof. Manuel Puppis: Areas of specialisation include international comparison of media systems & Swiss media system, media policy, media regulation and media governance, media organisations, critical communication research. Supervision of theses in German and English.
• Prof. Philomen Schönhagen: Areas of specialisation include theory and history of mass communication, history of mass communication research, qualitative methods in communication studies, gender and media. Supervision of theses in German, French and English.
• Prof. Thilo von Pape: Areas of specialisation include communication in digital contexts: uses and effects, social construction and appropriation of media innovations, mobile media and communication, privacy, sustainability, accessibility in digital communication. Supervision of theses in German, French and English.

Structure of Studies

30 ECTS credits can be earned.

Admission

In order to be admitted to a doctorate, the candidate must have been awarded an academic bachelor's and master's degree or an equivalent qualification from a university recognised by the University of Fribourg. Before applying for a doctorate, the candidate must contact a professor who would be willing to supervise the thesis work. There is no general right to be admitted to a doctorate.

Degree Conferred

Rerum Socialium Doctor / Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)

Commencement of Studies

An application for admission may be submitted at any time.

Regulation

The respective conditions of admission for each doctoral study programme are reserved.

Application Procedure

Candidates with Swiss qualifications and candidates with foreign qualifications must follow the specified application procedure.

Key Points

• Degree conferred: Rerum Socialium Doctor / Doctor of Philosophy in Communication (PhD)
• Commencement of studies: An application for admission may be submitted at any time
• Regulation: The respective conditions of admission for each doctoral study programme are reserved
• Application procedure: Candidates with Swiss qualifications and candidates with foreign qualifications must follow the specified application procedure

Course Offerings

The University of Fribourg offers a wide range of courses in various fields, including:

• Theology and Interreligious Studies
• Law
• Management and Economics
• Communication and Media Research
• Philosophy
• Languages and Literatures
• Multilingualism and Foreign Language Education
• Historical Sciences
• Art History and Musicology
• Social Sciences
• Pedagogy, Psychology
• Exact and Natural Science
• Human Medicine, Medical and Sport Science
• Digitalisation and Computer Science
• Teacher Education for Primary and Secondary Level
• Interdisciplinary

Organisation of Studies

The University of Fribourg provides various resources and services to support students during their studies, including:

• Beginning of studies
• During studies
• Administrative services for Unifr students
• Glossary

Choose Fribourg

The University of Fribourg offers a unique and enriching study experience, with:

• Life in Fribourg
• Living in Fribourg
• Fribourg and its region

Admission

The University of Fribourg offers various admission options, including:

• Bachelor
• Master
• DEEM
• Doctorate & post-doctorate
• Visiting student
• Listener
• Refugees
• Welcome Center
• Contact & team
• Administrative services for Unifr students

Mobility

The University of Fribourg provides opportunities for mobility, including:

• Incoming
• Outgoing
• Contact

Diploma

The University of Fribourg offers various diploma options, including:

• University diploma
• Diploma Supplement
• Verification
• Duplicate
• Equivalence Licentiate / Master
• Certified copy, legalisation (of the original)

Support & Resources

The University of Fribourg provides various support and resources, including:

• Financial support & insurance
• Wellbeing & Health
• Learning & success
• Equality & Parenthood
• Conflits & discrimination Duplicata
• Administrative & legal support
• Contacts
• Emergency numbers