MSc in Political, Institutional Communication and Lobbying

By the end of this MSc, you will be able to decode the dynamics of power and represent organizations at the highest level.

The program targets 6 major competencies:

• Global Strategic Communication: Master integrated communication to effectively reach political, institutional and corporate audiences.
• Public Affairs & Lobbying: Design and lead influence campaigns targeting senior national and European decision-makers.
• Opinion Analysis: Decode the media ecosystem and social networks to craft high-impact, audience-specific message
• Reputation Management: Manage communication crises in real time and deploy effective post-crisis reputation strategies.
• Compliance & Ethics: Navigate the legal frameworks governing lobbying in France, the EU and internationally with confidence.
• Media Training & Leadership: Develop a commanding communication style, master public speaking and build strong coalitions.

The “Manager of Public Institutions and Affairs” certification was registered with France Compétences in 2024 to meet growing market demand and recruiter expectations for professionally oriented programs. It is structured around 4 essential blocks.

Block 1 – Designing a Public Policy or Public Affairs Project

• Implement a strategic, legal and prospective intelligence system by selecting appropriate digital data-collection tools (including AI) to identify qualitative and quantitative data needs
• Analyze collected data using appropriate methods to assess territorial needs and opportunities, citizen expectations and gaps in existing public policy
• Synthesize information by structuring results in a usable format to inform decisions on public policy or public affairs projects, including societal, economic and environmental dimensions
• Conduct a precise field diagnosis through in-depth strategic, legal and prospective analysis of the current situation, integrating factors likely to influence the project and relevant societal/environmental challenges
• Map stakeholders (institutional and non-institutional), identify their roles and interests, and consider the workings of local, national and European institutions to mobilize them
• Develop an impact assessment using appropriate tools (cost-benefit analysis, benchmarking, life-cycle analysis) to anticipate expected outcomes and facilitate monitoring and evaluation
• Define strategic objectives by identifying the necessary human and material resources and key milestones in order to build a performance dashboard
• Identify participatory democracy mechanisms and implementation modalities, including public participation tools in the environmental sphere, to secure stakeholder buy-in

Assessment: individual case study

Block 2 – Leading and Evaluating a Public Policy or Public Affairs Project

• Build a project team by clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of each member, accounting for any disability situations
• Activate go/no-go alert tools through dashboards adapted to project management and progress reporting
• Integrate project evaluation mechanisms using monitoring and control tools, performance indicators — including societal, economic and environmental goals — and effectiveness measures to track progress and adjust actions
• Apply change management techniques tailored to public policy or public affairs specifics through a transformation plan that prioritizes steps to ensure visibility, acceptance and dissemination of change
• Design effective mobilization strategies to foster the engagement and active participation of project stakeholders
• Manage cross-functional projects by collaborating and negotiating with actors from different levels and horizons, both public and private
• Mobilize local, national and European funding while accounting for the legal and financial framework of partners and European economic dynamics

Assessment: individual case study

Block 3 – Managing a Team in a Public Institution

• Apply the main HR management rules in the public sector and build HR dashboards to monitor headcount and key management operations
• Implement effective recruitment processes by drafting clear job descriptions aligned with public-sector recruitment principles
• Support skills development among public servants by anticipating training needs (including CSR topics) and designing training plans that account for potential disability situations
• Develop a budget process applying the main principles of public finance at national or local level
• Implement and monitor the established budget using budgetary and financial documents
• Apply public procurement procedures for tendering and responding to public contracts, drafting appropriate legal documents and evaluating offers on objective criteria
• Oversee and monitor public contracts using tracking and evaluation techniques to ensure compliance and effectiveness

Assessment: professional role-play simulation

Block 4 – Leading Public Communication and Public Affairs

• Draft internal and external communication plans based on defined objectives (including sustainability goals), target audiences, key messages, communication channels (including social media, digital platforms and AI) and implementation timelines
• Evaluate communication strategy effectiveness by measuring the plan’s impact through outcome indicators and post-experience surveys, and adjust accordingly
• In crisis situations, use appropriate communication tools to organize, draft and disseminate information to internal and external target audiences
• Build a crisis communication plan based on analysis of the media context, opinion trends and organizational risks, to limit reputational damage
• Develop lobbying and influence strategies by mapping stakeholders and considering political and institutional dynamics at national and EU level
• Define an action plan to influence public decisions in favor of the organization using lobbying and influence tools and techniques
• Manage relations between interest representatives and public officials, applying ethical principles and current regulations

Assessment: professional role-play simulation

The full certification is obtained by validating and accumulating all four competency blocks.

HEIP’s programmes are designed by academic and industry experts and are regularly updated to reflect the latest trends in public affairs and political communication.

Choosing HEIP’s MSc in Political Communication and Lobbying means choosing a programme rooted in the real-world dynamics of power and decision-making. The course combines the development of analytical, technical and interpersonal skills.

Our teaching approach is based on full immersion. Students take part in complete political and electoral campaign simulations, as well as real-time media crisis management workshops, helping them develop strong strategic reflexes.

Throughout the programme, students attend seminars led by guest speakers from the fields of communication, lobbying and influence strategy, including political advisers and campaign strategists. They also receive intensive coaching in public speaking, media training and applied storytelling.

To strengthen students’ employability, the programme includes real-life case studies commissioned by partner organisations, alongside substantial professional experience in France or abroad: a five-month internship in the first year, followed by either a six-month internship or a work-study placement in the second year.

Because we train influence professionals, assessment goes far beyond traditional academic exams. The goal is to place you in concrete professional situations to measure your skill acquisition and execution ability.

The degree is assessed through practical assignments rooted in real-world professional situations:

• Practical Immersion: Assessment through professional role-play simulations and real client or institutional case studies.
• Grand Oral: Oral presentations and a final oral examination to demonstrate your ability to communicate, argue and persuade a panel of expert examiners.
• Written Expertise: Strategic briefing documents, a professional experience report and a final dissertation.

Ideal if you want to focus fully on your studies while gaining diverse experience across different organizations in France or abroad.

• Schedule: Intensive coursework for 6 months / Professional placement for 6 months
• Placement: Minimum 110 days per year (e.g. 5 months in Year 1, 6 months in Year 2). Compulsory to validate the year.
• Funding: Tuition fees are €10,350 per year. Students are responsible for funding their studies, with possible options including student loans, private scholarships, family support or internship compensation.

Perfect if you want to enter the job market immediately and gain long-term professional experience.

• Schedule: You sign a professional training contract or apprenticeship contract, following a rhythm of 2 or 3 weeks in the workplace for 1 week of classes.
• Professional experience: You spend a minimum of 110 days per year in a company or organisation, while taking on assignments with increasing levels of responsibility over one or two full years.
• Funding and salary: This is the main advantage of the work-study format. The tuition fees of €10,950 per year are fully covered by your employer and its OPCO funding body.