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MADisinformation and Societal Resilience

Tuition fee €14,000 per year

There are 10 tuition waivers available for top ranked applicants in 2023, including 2 for Estonian citizens and 8 for citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine.

More information on tuition fees is available at www.ut.ee/tuition.

NB! Applicants who are not citizens of EU/EEA/Switzerland must pre-pay half of the first semester’s tuition-fee after receiving an admission offer.

Application fee €100 one-time

Application fee is non-refundable.
Further information: www.ut.ee/application-fee

Overview

The studies aim to equip professionals with essential and flexible knowledge in various areas such as communication, sociology, data sciences, regional studies, law, and psychology. The goal is to enable them to analyse information processes, identify risks associated with disinformation and societal vulnerabilities, and help enhance societal resilience through effective policymaking. The programme trains specialists in strategic communication, societal analysis, vulnerable audiences, polarisation, the role of news and social media, policy-making and analysis, international relations and security policy.

The programme is designed for specialists for whom the issue of building and maintaining societal resilience in the face of disruptive processes within our information sphere is a matter of professional necessity – an issue burning enough to take time off work and join us on-site. All applicants must have at least five years of relevant professional work experience.

The development and launch of the programme are co-funded by the US State Department’s Development Cooperation Partnership and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Estonia.

What will you get from this programme?

As a student who has completed this programme, you will gain the ability to compare and analyse the factors that impact societal vulnerabilities and resilience across different contexts and societies.

You will develop the skills to evaluate the geopolitical context and its influence on vulnerabilities and disinformation. Additionally, you will learn to analyse the role of policy planning in enhancing societal resilience.

Understanding the main instruments and strategies used for the dissemination of disinformation will be a key aspect of your knowledge. This will enable you to plan appropriate and purposeful interventions, both preventive and reactive, to effectively diminish the risks associated with disinformation.

You will also have the opportunity to analyse and compare different mediascapes and systems from the perspective of informational resilience. This will provide valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of various media platforms.

In terms of communication ethics, you will become familiar with core principles and learn to weigh the effectiveness of different interventions. This understanding will help you make informed decisions regarding ethical communication practices.

Furthermore, you will delve into the juridical and technological aspects of cyber security. You will assess and consider the role of cyber security in enhancing societal and organisational resilience, taking into account the legal and technological context in which it operates.

Programme structure

Please see the programme structure in our Study Information System

Career opportunities

Upon completion of the programme, students will be awarded a prestigious Master of Arts in Social Sciences with a specialisation in Disinformation and Societal Resilience. As a graduate, you will have exceptional opportunities for career advancement in both the public and third sectors. This includes positions within public institutions, governmental agencies, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Your expertise will be highly sought after in areas such as strategic communication, policy analysis, impact assessment, cyber security, media, and information literacy through formal or nonformal educational settings.

The field of strengthening democracies against disinformation is continuously evolving, offering new and exciting career paths each year. Some of these paths may even exceed our current imagination. By joining this master’s programme, you will be at the forefront of this emerging field, equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to the protection of democratic processes and the resilience of societies against disinformation.

Apply now! Fall semester 2025/26
Application start
2 Jan 2025
Application deadline
15 Mar 2025, 23:59:59
Eastern European Time
Studies commence
1 Sept 2025
Apply now! Fall semester 2025/26
Application start
2 Jan 2025
Application deadline
15 Mar 2025, 23:59:59
Eastern European Time
Studies commence
1 Sept 2025
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