Disinformation and Societal Resilience

This one-year master's program in Disinformation and Societal Resilience is for professionals who need to understand information manipulations in the global context, work on strategic communication to build social resilience and deal with risk management in organisations and communities.

In response to the growing threat of misinformation and hostile information operations, the University of Tartu Institute of Social Studies presents a one-year master's program dedicated to training specialists with interdisciplinary expertise in combating disinformation. This program is tailored for students from countries often targeted by information manipulation and malicious misinformation.

Estonia, situated on the eastern border of the European Union, has experienced repeated challenges to its societal resilience due to information manipulations and hostile narratives. In response, the country has developed smart digital solutions, high levels of media and information literacy, and transparent decision-making processes. Our master's program provides a unique opportunity to learn from these efforts, bringing together academic knowledge and practical experiences from within and outside the country.

The program leverages cutting-edge research in communication, law, psychology, sociology, data science, and regional studies to enhance societal resilience across Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia. Students will delve into the impacts of disinformation, explore different dimensions of societal resilience, and identify sources of vulnerability. Students contribute to a holistic understanding of the problem and its regional solutions through country-based practical projects. Moreover, this journey will connect students with an international professional network actively engaged in combating disinformation daily.

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

Why study Disinformation and Societal Resilience at the University of Tartu?

• The program combines systematic theoretical knowledge with a practical approach that connects students to their realities and focuses on the disinformation problems in their countries.
• Unique experiences from scholars and practitioners brought into the program help build the international network of professionals to combat disinformation effectively.

Career opportunities

The program 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. The skills and knowledge gained during the year at the Institute of Social Studies will enable graduates to apply evidence-based strategies in their respective fields for the next decade.

Upon completion, graduates will be awarded a Master of Arts in Social Sciences (Disinformation and Societal Resilience) and will find career opportunities in the public and third sectors. This includes positions in public institutions, agencies, and NGOs, specialising in strategic communication, policy analysis, impact assessment, cyber security, media and information literacy through formal or non-formal education, and more. As the field of strengthening democracies against disinformation continues to evolve, new and unforeseen career paths emerge each year.

To enhance practical skills, the program offers a four-week internship with our partner organisations actively combating information disorders. Through these internships, students gain firsthand knowledge of working processes and expand their professional network, providing invaluable connections for future work in the field.

Every seven years, all Estonian higher education institutions must undergo external evaluation – institutional accreditation. The latest assessment took place in 2022. The assessment council of the Estonian Quality Agency for Education decided to accredit the University of Tartu for the next seven years (2023-2029).

The curriculum consists of:

Compulsory subjects (36 ECTS):

• Cyber Risks and Information Security 9 ECTS

• Geopolitical Context and Policy Analysis 9 ECTS

• Introduction to Disinformation and Influence Activities 9 ECTS
• Resilience Analysis and Practice 9 ECTS

Internship (9ECTS)

Master's Exam (15 ECTS)

The program 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 program director is Maia Klaassen,Junior Research Fellow in Media Competence at the Institute of Social Studies.