Bachelors in Communication and Information Studies: Language and Media

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Program Overview

The Bachelor's in Communication and Information Studies: Language and Media at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is perfect if you're curious about how organizations use media—from social platforms to traditional channels—to connect with businesses and consumers across borders, all taught entirely in English in a small-scale, supportive environment with plenty of lecturer contact. It suits students passionate about linguistics, media analysis, and intercultural communication, equipping you with skills to analyze digital impacts on interactions and design research that bridges academia and real-world audiences.

Curriculum structure
Year 1
You'll kick off with a strong foundation in core concepts, diving into linguistics to understand language structures, Communication Studies to explore how messages shape behavior, and discourse analysis to unpack how texts and talks convey meaning in media. Courses like Academic Skills Communication and Information Studies will teach you to search for sources, cite in APA style, summarize articles, and present findings confidently, while an English Language Test ensures you're ready for international discussions—all with mandatory attendance for hands-on growth. This year builds your toolkit for analyzing communication in a global, media-driven world.

Year 2
Building on basics, you'll deepen into applied linguistics and media studies, examining how English acts as a lingua franca in international business and consumer contexts, with modules focusing on interaction patterns across cultures. Expect to explore text and image in (social) media, questioning choices like Instagram versus TikTok for brand persuasion, alongside intercultural communication to handle diverse global audiences. It's here you'll start connecting theory to practice, like researching digital media's role in professional exchanges.

Year 3
In your final year, you'll specialize in advanced media strategies, synthesizing skills to study how organizations optimize business-to-business and business-to-consumer interactions via new and old media. Key modules emphasize research design, reporting findings to academics and broader audiences, and analyzing digital impacts on personal and professional life. You'll cap it off with projects that prepare you for real-world communication challenges, all in Amsterdam's vibrant, international hub.

Focus areas
Text and image in (social) media, applied linguistics, media analysis, interaction, intercultural communication, and the impact of digital media on professional/personsl interaction—all with English as the lingua franca in global business contexts.

Learning outcomes
Design, conduct, and report scientific research; analyze how media influences communication; understand organizations' media strategies for B2B/B2C; and communicate effectively across cultures and platforms.

Professional alignment (accreditation)
This NVAO-accredited program (Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation) trains communication specialists with a scientific basis, seamlessly leading to Master's tracks like Dialogue, Health & Society or Multimodal Communication.

Reputation (employability rankings)
VU Amsterdam boasts a top-200 QS World University Ranking position, with strong employability in communication fields thanks to its interdisciplinary approach and industry-linked projects; alumni thrive in media, marketing, and global comms roles.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

If you're passionate about how communication shapes our world, the Bachelor's in Communication and Information Studies: Language and Media at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is designed exactly for you. This programme doesn't just teach you about communication—it puts you in the driver's seat to practice it.

You'll learn how and why organisations use new (and old) media in business-to-business and business-to-consumer interaction, moving seamlessly between theory and application. The programme has a distinctive small-scale setup, which means you'll benefit from plenty of personal contact with lecturers who actively mentor your development. Rather than sitting passively in lectures, you'll explore fields like Communication Studies, applied linguistics, media analysis, interaction and intercultural communication, giving you a toolkit that's genuinely applicable to real-world challenges.

A particularly valuable aspect of this programme is its focus on international communication contexts. Various courses examine the role of English as a lingua franca in international communication—essential knowledge in our globalised world. You'll also learn how digital media impact professional and personal interaction, preparing you for the communication landscape you'll actually encounter in your career.

The programme equips you with critical research capabilities: you'll learn how to design, conduct and report scientific research, both to academic audiences and to broader publics. This skill set is invaluable whether you pursue communication roles in companies or civil society organisations.

- Group-based projects and seminars: The curriculum emphasizes collaborative learning, with structured seminars where you work alongside peers
- Research methodology training: You'll develop both quantitative and qualitative research skills, including experimental testing of communication messages and interpretation of results
- Text and image analysis: Hands-on coursework in analysing communication across social media platforms, examining strategic choices like why organisations choose Instagram over TikTok
- Intercultural communication practicum: Direct application of communication theories to real-world scenarios involving different languages and cultures
- Small-scale, accessible learning environment: Personal access to lecturers and facilities makes this programme uniquely supportive for developing your professional practice
- Digital media and platform literacy: Practical experience with the tools and platforms that shape modern communication

For detailed information about VU Amsterdam's research facilities, libraries, and institutes supporting communication studies, explore the full facilities overview on the VU research portal and your programme-specific resources during the application process.

The programme begins September 1st, giving you the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in a learning environment where experiential practice is woven throughout your studies. This is communication education for the real world.

Progression & Future Opportunities

In the Bachelor's in Communication and Information Studies: Language and Media at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, you'll dive right into practical skills that mirror real-world communication challenges, like analyzing spoken English in international settings, transcribing speech, and assessing how English works as a lingua franca in global business and media interactions. The program emphasizes hands-on learning through small-scale classes with plenty of personal contact with lecturers, where you'll explore text and image on social media, digital impacts on interaction, and how organizations choose platforms like Instagram or TikTok for business-to-consumer strategies. You'll build these skills in an international environment focused on intercultural communication, all taught entirely in English for that global edge.

This setup gives you direct access to tailored facilities and tools that bring theory to life:

- Seminars and group meetings for collaborative work, including research assignments where teams tackle real-life English communication scenarios (with 80% attendance required and group marks counting toward your grade).
- Lectures and workgroups (2 hours each per week) in periods 5 and 6, plus assigned workgroups via rooster.vu.nl, fostering skills in scientific research design, reporting to academics and broader audiences, and media analysis.
- Small-scale program facilities offering easy access to lecturers, a friendly atmosphere, and the vibrant Amsterdam location for immersive international communication practice.
- Canvas platform for direct access to academic articles and course materials, supporting practical tasks like speech transcription and sociolinguistic analysis.