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Make an impact in the public debate

Communication Science: Media and Democracy

Are you critical, socially engaged – and interested in the role of media in our democracy? In the Master’s specialisation CS: Media and Democracy at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, you apply scientific insights to understand how media shape public debate and democratic processes.

News media, social media, and AI play a crucial role in how citizens are informed and how they make political choices. How do media influence our political opinions? What is the impact of disinformation on trust in institutions? And how do media function in times of polarisation? During your studies, you gain scientific knowledge about political communication, journalism, media dynamics, and public opinion, and learn to critically analyse media coverage and investigate its societal impact.

Theory, research, and analysis in realistic assignments

In CS: Media and Democracy, you combine scientific theory with critical thinking and analytical skills in your assignments. You work on current societal and political issues, sometimes in collaboration with external partners. In addition, you conduct scientific research on the relationship between media, citizens, and democratic institutions, learning to substantiate how media influence democratic processes.

Prefer to study Communication Science in Dutch? Then choose CW: Media en Democratie.

VU Master's Event

Saturday 7 March 2026

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Communication Science has three different specialisations

Why study CS: Media and Democracy?

Why study CS: Media and Democracy?

As a Master’s student in Communication Science: Media and Democracy, you are challenged to solve real-world problems in a professional context. For example, in the course Impact, you provide advice to a societal organisation facing a communication issue.

What makes our Master’s unique is the wide range of electives: from media analytics to creative writing, and from corporate communications to storytelling. In this programme, you will not only get to observe the relationship between media and public debate, but you will learn to truly understand it. Media play a central role in an increasing number of societal issues: from sustainability to migration, and from public trust to social inequality and polarisation. Once you understand the underlying principles that apply each and every time, you will have developed your most important professional skill set.

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Change your world, study Communication Science: Media and Democracy

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