Science Communication

Mark your calendars: Our first online information session on the new Science Communication Master Program will take place March 26, 2025, from 15:00–17:00 hrs Central European Time (CET). The Zoom link is here: hs-ansbach-de.zoom.us/j/7724962017

✍ To make sure we can prepare, please try to send your questions beforehand, to me at andreas.von-bubnoff@hs-ansbach.de (for specific questions about the program), and to study@hs-ansbach.de (for general questions about studying in Germany). Of course, there will also be plenty of time to ask questions during the session!

Study overview

Why study science communication?

Do you love science and telling stories? Can you imagine a job that lets you talk to the smartest people on the planet and allows you to turn what you've learned into beautiful storytelling projects?

If the answer is yes, a career in science communication might be the perfect choice for you.

Career prospects are actually quite good. Because we need science to address many of today's most pressing issues like pandemics, climate change or artificial intelligence, science communicators are in demand—be it in journalism, governments, NGOs, think tanks, museums or ad agencies.

What makes the Ansbach Master Program stand out?

No tuition, even for foreign students.
Taught entirely in English.
You'll learn both strategic and journalistic communication of findings not only from natural sciences, but also from social sciences and humanities.
Study and practice traditional communication through text, audio and video, as well as innovative approaches such as data visualization, virtual reality, or game and exhibition design.
Learn what distinguishes good from bad-quality research. This includes understanding different research study designs and challenges like p-hacking, publication bias or predatory publishing.
Learn to communicate uncertainty and the process of scientific discovery as an honest broker without under- or overstating scientific findings, and to find ways to connect with audiences who are skeptical of the findings of credible science.
Know how to make your own communication more reliable, for example by pre-publication fact checking or by addressing biases or conflicts of interest.
Understand how to involve your audience through public engagement projects, and explore what communication research has found about which communication strategies are the most effective.
Case studies and international guest speakers will allow you to connect what you have learned to the real world and show you the many possible career paths.
In your Master's thesis you'll either showcase what you've learned in a larger communication project that will become part of your portfolio for job applications, or you'll conduct an academic study to answer a communication research question with practical relevance for working journalists or science communicators.

Short form	SCO
Type of study	Full time
Standard length of study	3 semesters
Degree awarded	Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Start first semester	Fall (winter semester)
Admission restriction	specific (see here)
Application period	May 2025
Location	Ansbach, Germany
Course Language	English
Course director	Prof. Dr. Andreas von Bubnoff
Student advice (specific)	Prof. Dr. Andreas von Bubnoff
Student advice (general)	Student advice (general) study(at)hs-ansbach.de

Course flyer

Admission requirements

You will be able to upload your application materials between May 1 and 31, 2025, so the upload link will only become available by then. We're looking for people passionate about science and storytelling from diverse backgrounds, ranging from recent science or social science and humanities undergraduates all the way to working scientists or even artists. What you'll need:

A university degree with a grade of 2.0 or better (Bachelor's, Diplom, Magister, state examination) totalling 180 ECTS in relevant fields such as natural or social sciences, humanities, communication, journalism or art. (Applicants with fewer than 210 ECTS must complete additional coursework or internships to make up the difference.)
Master application from abroad
Applicants from outside Germany first need a preliminary review documentation (VPD, German for "Vorprüfungsdokumentation)" from an organization called “uni-assist.de”. This means that uni-assist will check your previous academic degrees and determine how they are graded in the German grade system. Because this usually takes 4–6 weeks, we recommend that you do this as soon as possible (you can start at any time, before the Ansbach University of Applied Sciences application period starts on May 1st). You will then use the uni-assist report to apply at the "PRIMUSS" application portal at Ansbach University of Applied Sciences, which will open in May.
Proof of English proficiency at C1 level (IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 100; to be submitted by May 31st (even if you come from an English-language country / university), and German at A2 level (German A2 may be submitted later, by Sep. 15, 2025, and is not needed if you have an academic degree from a German-language University).
A portfolio of at least three, ideally published, examples of science communication directed at non-expert audiences (these can be articles, videos, podcasts, or creative projects).
A motivation letter of up to 1,000 words in English explaining why you wish to enter the field of science communication, how your previous experience has influenced this decision, and what you expect to gain from a Master's degree in this field.

Graduates will be able to:

Assess the quality of scientific studies based on research study design, keeping in mind challenges like p-hacking, publication bias or predatory publishing.
Improve the reliability of their own communication by applying strategies like pre-publication fact checking.
Adapt communication tools and strategies to different use cases, publics and audiences by using text, audio, video, data visualization, immersive approaches, game design or exhibition design.
Understand the different ethical and practical challenges that distinguish strategic communication (communicate to persuade) from journalistic communication (communicate to inform).
Develop public engagement campaigns and risk and crisis communication strategies.
Apply findings from communication research to make their communication strategies more effective.