The Federal Diploma – Higher Professional Examination
Head of Communications
CREA’s Federal Diploma in Communication Management is an essential training program for communication professionals looking to advance their careers. Over a period of several months, this program, designed by experts and approved by the Swiss Confederation, equips candidates with advanced skills in communication, marketing, and management.
We are privileged to welcome Valérie Pécalvel as Director of the Federal Diploma in Communication Management, a leading figure in the sector, accompanied by a team of expert and experienced professionals.
Founder and Director of the Franz & René agency, Valérie embodies the dynamism, creativity, and strategic rigor that are the strengths of contemporary Swiss communication.
Recently named “Communicator of the Year 2025” by the jury of Meilleur de la Pub, she perfectly embodies the spirit of this program: combining strategic vision, inspiring leadership, and professional excellence.
The Federal Diploma in Communication Management is now recognized as the missing link in the recognition of advanced skills in the Swiss market. A transition is underway to create a true equivalent to a Professional Master’s degree by 2027, combining practical expertise and official recognition at the federal level.
This tailored program includes more than 300 hours of classes and is designed to be combined with full-time employment. Classes are held on Monday and Wednesday evenings via video conferencing and two Saturdays per month in person. The lecturers, who are experts and professionals in their fields, support students by combining theory and practice, always in line with the professional world.
EARLY BOOKING OFFER AT CHF 15,000 INSTEAD OF CHF 16,000. – VALID UNTIL APRIL 30, 2026
Next session: September 2026
Evening classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (video conference) and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (in person).
Under certain conditions, the Confederation grants a subsidy to candidates taking the Diplôme Fédéral exam.
Frederic Dumonal
Director of Continuing Education @CREA
The programme
the Federal Diploma in Communications Management
Management & business administration
Marketing & Market Research
Communication strategy
Communication concepts
Use of media and channels
Creative implementation
Media and communications law
Situations with critical success factors
Design brief and presentation technique
Strategic diagnosis
Design and Implementation of the Digital Communication Plan
Content Management and Social Networks
Marketing Digital
Team and Project Management
More details
the programme
Monday & Wednesday (via video conference): 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday (in person): 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Start date: Monday, September 28, 2026, in person at CREA Lausanne
- End of April 2027: submission of written work (federal diploma)
- End of August 2027: DF Comm written exams
- Early October 2027: DF Comm oral exams
- September 2026: Mon, Sept. 28 and Wed, Sept. 30
- October 2026: Sat, Oct. 3, Mon, Oct. 5, Wed, Oct. 7, Mon, Oct. 26, Wed, Oct. 28, and Sat, Oct. 31
- November 2026: Mon 2, Wed 4, Mon 9, Wed 11, Sat 14, Mon 16, Wed 18, Mon 23, Wed 25, Sat 28 and Mon 30
- December 2026: Wed 2, Mon 7, Wed 9, Sat 12, Mon 14 and Wed 16
- January 2027: Mon 11, Wed 13, Sat 16, Mon 18, Wed 20, Mon 25, Wed 27, and Sat 30
- February 2027: Mon 1, Wed 3, Mon 15, Wed 17, Sat 20, Mon 22, Wed 24, and Sat 27
- March 2027 (in-person date to be confirmed): Mon 1, Wed 3, Mon 8, Wed 10, Sat 13, Mon 15, Wed 17, Sat 20, Mon 22, and Wed 24
- April 2027: Mon 12, Wed 14, Sat 17 + thesis submission dates to be confirmed
- May 2027: Mon 3, Wed 5, Mon 10, Wed 12, Tue 18, Thu 20, Sat 22, Mon 24, Wed 26 and Mon 31
- June 2027 (in-person date to be confirmed): Wed 2, Sat 5, Mon 7, Wed 9, Mon 14, Wed 16, Sat 19, Mon 21, Wed 23, Mon 28, and Wed 30
- July 2027: Sat 3, Mon 5, and Wed 7
- August 2027: dates to be confirmed
- September 2027 (in-person date to be confirmed): Sat 4, Mon 6, Wed 8, Mon 13, Wed 15, Wed 22, Sat 25 and Mon 27
- October 2027: dates to be confirmed
In a nutshell
Things to remember
14
months of training (2 evenings a week and 2 Saturdays a month)
On-the-job program
Language: French
Campus : Lausanne
Higher Professional Examination
50% federal subsidy on school fees
How to join CREA
Admission requirements
- Hold a Brevet Fédéral Spécialiste en Communication ou Relations Publiques, a diploma from a college, university, university of applied sciences or equivalent , and have 2 years’ practical experience as a communications manager or communications consultant.
or
- Hold a marketing specialist qualification or a diploma from a university, technical college or a diploma recognized by the Confederation (higher technical examination, higher technical college) in the commercial field and have worked for at least 3 years in the field of corporate communications or marketing/commercial, if at least 2 years’ experience as an advertising manager or communications manager or communications consultant with a management function.
or
- Hold a high school diploma or equivalent qualification and have at least 5 years’ experience in corporate communications and marketing/commercial, provided that at least 2 years of this is as an advertising manager or communications manager or communications consultant with a management function.
If you have already attended the CREA program presentation, please
Entrance exam
There is no entrance exam. Each application is evaluated individually by the course director, who reserves the right to accept or reject a candidate without justification.
School
Course price (for 16 months): CHF 16’000.- CHF 15’000.- (Early Booking price valid until 30/04/2026)
Registration fee: CHF 300.00
- The examination fee for the Federal Diploma, amounting to CHF 3,390, is not included in the course fee.
- CREA is at your disposal to discuss the financing of your training. A suitable payment plan can be arranged.
NOTE:
Participants in preparatory courses for federal exams may be eligible for federal financial support. For more information, click on this link.
If the training is partially funded by a third party or a legal entity, the subsidy offered by the Confederation does not apply.
The federal government may grant a subsidy of up to 50% of tuition fees under certain conditions to candidates taking the Federal Diploma exam.
To be eligible, participants must have taken a preparatory course and must be domiciled in Switzerland.
Residence is defined as the place where the participant lives with the intention of settling permanently and where they have filed their official documents (Art. 23, CC).
The nationality of participants has no bearing on the granting of this subsidy.
Cross-border commuters and weekly residents domiciled abroad do not have their legal domicile in Switzerland and are therefore not eligible for the federal grant.
Inside
Dive into CREA
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