MSc Communication & Counseling in Business

After successful completion of the MSc Communication and Counseling in Business, you will have developed a wide range of skills in the areas of communication and counseling, which are suitable for counseling both individuals and groups. You will be able to apply these skills in an entrepreneurial context. You will also be able to implement the necessary interventions to support employees and managers in successfully overcoming challenges in today’s working world.

The most important success factor for companies are their employees. Nowadays, communication takes place via a variety of technical media, which makes the quality of communication all the more important. The aspect of counseling is particularly relevant against the background of the constantly changing requirements and diverse challenges for employees and organizations (New World of Work, Work 4.0, VUCA World, changed working environments due to pandemics, home office, etc.). Effective management of communication, performance and motivation are maintained or even increased by consulting in the companies, and additionally, the health of the employees is supported.

Working environments are subject to constant change. As has recently become massively noticeable for all companies and their employees, working conditions can change very suddenly from one day to the next, requiring an enormous amount of flexibility from all concerned. Especially in this context, it is important to support and accompany people in dealing with and coping with new burdens. This is exactly what the Communication and Counseling study program qualifies you for.

Contact

MSc Communication and Counseling in Business

Raphaela Köfner, BA
Program Manager
Tel.: +43 1 476 77-5768

WIFI Vienna
Mag.a Johanna Hoffmann-Handler, M.A.
Währinger Gürtel 97, 1180 Vienna
Tel.: (01) 476 77-5230

Duration

3*/4

semesters

Degree

MSc

Master of Science

Study places up to

24

at WIFI Vienna

*If you have a trade license as a life and social counsellor, it is possible to start studying in the 2^nd semester.

The MSc Communication & Counseling in Business is a course of further education according to § 9 FHG (University of Applied Sciences Act) with the degree “Master of Science (MSc)”.

The University of Cooperative Education “Communication & Counseling in Business” is conducted in cooperation with the WIFI Vienna.

Program

Highlights

Developement of advisory skills and communication tools at academic level
Application-oriented content in a business context
A range of students, all with different professional backgrounds

Organization

Type of degree program

Part-time

Blocked

Language of instruction

German

Start of degree program

September

Place of study

WIFI Vienna

Application

Fees

EUR 12,600 in total (for all semester)

Focus & Qualifications

The part-time 3 or 4-semester Master’s program can be flexibly completed while working, supports students in the sustainable expansion of their competences in the areas of communication and consulting and concludes with the internationally recognized academic title “Master of Science”.

Students are supported by a didactic approach that is less oriented towards written final exams but is primarily characterized by (written) reflection, case studies, project work, (conflict) analyses, presentations and the creation of written concepts. A combination of attendance units and self-study units is designed to meet the needs of working students.

After completion of the study program, graduates can

apply counseling methods and coaching techniques to create counseling strategies and designs and use them on specific target groups.
counsel companies and individuals in case of changes, conflicts or crises, in group dynamics or intercultural issues or in aspects of occupational health management on site, online or in hybrid forms
offer their services in a quality-assured manner and apply their competence in their own company or take on management responsibility in (psychosocial) counselling facilities in a responsible manner
make a positive contribution to the further development of companies and individuals through their work as a coach, consultant, supervisor or counselor in a business context

Curriculum

The content and sequence of the courses or modules of the MSc Communication and Counseling in Business are chosen in such a way that the three areas of the program are systematically linked and deepened.

Study focus of the program

The course of study is divided into three main content areas, to which the 19 subject-specific modules are assigned as follows.

Business management context:

Resilience & crisis management in a corporate context
Fundamentals of business administration
Challenging situations in personnel management
Operational health management
Labor law basics & organizational theory
Leadership

Communication and counseling: methods and techniques

Basics of communication & methods in counseling
Conducting a conversation
Basics of conflict management
Fundamentals of crisis intervention
Presentation & moderation
Health psychology
Group dynamics & teamwork
Advanced methods in counseling & online consulting
Supervision & intercultural competence

Research Skills and Methods and Master’s Thesis

Research skills and methods
Master thesis 1
Master thesis 2
Master exam

Job & Career

The need for academic development of skills in the field of counselling is based on the one hand on increased chances of promotion in companies (especially if combined with management competence), on the other hand on increased implementation potential in the freelance sector by proving one’s own competences in the form of an academic degree.

A corporate culture that values cooperation based on partnership understands communication as an essential building block for corporate development and provides employees with psychosocial counseling services will be central to corporate success in the long term.

You will support companies that have recognized the human factor as a success factor. The demand for high quality services is increasing as demographic change, globalization and digitalization affect everyone and must be mastered. The academic basis of this program enables students to more consciously exercise and develop existing knowledge and skills and to acquire new perspectives.

Application

The MSc Communication and Counseling in Business is aimed at a diverse target group. In each cohort, students with different professional backgrounds will be represented: those who already have experience in the field of psychosocial counselling and those who are just entering the field of counseling in a business context. This makes for extra potential for the successful further education of the students.

Target group

The program has two main target groups:

Consulting (external) professions, such as

Life coaches and social counselors
Management consultants
Mediators
Psychologists, especially health and occupational psychologists
Psychotherapists
Trainers, lecturers
Qualified nursing staff

Managers and employees in specific functions

Management
Human Resources: Personnel managers, personnel developers, company health managers, company (re)integration managers
Marketing, communication and public relations: communication officers, press spokespersons, public relations officers
Works Councils and Equal Opportunities Officers

Admission requirements

First degree (minimum Bachelor) from a recognized Austrian or comparable foreign university and at least one year of work experience OR
At least six years’ relevant professional experience (including at least three years after the end of the apprenticeship), including at least one year in a management function
Completion of admission procedures/interview

Admission procedure

Applications should be made directly to WIFI Vienna.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Program information

The WIFI Vienna is at your disposal for any questions you may have.

Subsidies

Tax reimbursement: You can write off the tuition fees against your taxes, as long as the continuing education program is relevant or related to your current occupational field. The tax advantage depends on your total income. You could be reimbursed for up to 43.6% of the tuition fees!
More information can be found here:
Bundesministerium für Finanzen (Federal Ministry of Finance)
Hintere Zollamtsstraße 2b, 1030 Wien
Tel.: 01/514 33-0
www.bmf.gv.at
The e-mail contact form can be found here:
www.bmf.gv.at/service/allg/feedback/_start.asp
BFB Training allowance for companies:
www.kursfoerderung.at/index.php?id=9&uid=22