Key information
Price
US$2,750
Commitment
6-8 hours per week
Study mode
Tutor guided
Certificate of Achievement
Evidence your learning with a Certificate of Achievement from the University of Cambridge on successful completion.
Duration of 6 weeks
Regular weekly participation is key to gaining the most from your learning experience.
Discover more about this course from the expert(s) behind it
About the course
Becoming an engaging and inspiring communicator can help you achieve your goals in life – both professionally and personally. In this award-winning online course from Cambridge Advance Online, you’ll learn how to captivate your audience from the very first words you write or say, master techniques for making a mark with memorable messages, and – critically – unleash the power of your own unique voice.
Over six weeks, you’ll explore the importance of being crystal clear when communicating; the effectiveness of simplicity, incisive writing and speaking techniques, using logic and emotion to influence and persuade; how to demonstrate positive body language to help you command an audience; and the remarkable but all too often underappreciated art of storytelling.
Designed for busy professionals by leading communication experts, Compelling Communication Skills was described as a ‘truly excellent learning experience’ by the judges at the 2024 Learning Technologies Awards, the Oscars of the online learning industry. They were particularly impressed by its impact, leading to outstanding professional successes for learners, and awarded the course a gold in the Excellence in the Design of Learning Content category.
By the end of this course, you’ll be ready to step into any communication challenge with confidence. Whether you’re pitching ideas, leading teams or talking to customers and clients, you’ll have the skills you need to impress and inspire your audience, influence decisions and leave a lasting impression. By harnessing your own communication superpowers, you’ll unlock exciting opportunities for career growth and personal success – making your voice heard and driving results wherever you go.

This course equals 48 hours of the CPD Certification Service(Opens in a new window) time.
The course tells a story through six thoughtfully designed modules, offering a step-by-step guide to becoming an excellent communicator. You’ll start by mastering clarity, simplicity and impactful writing before exploring the power of storytelling to create memorable, persuasive messages. As you progress, you’ll gain confidence in public speaking and refine your presentation skills to deliver high-impact, unforgettable talks. The course culminates in a final assessment, where you’ll showcase your skills in a polished presentation that brings your learning to life.
Module 1: Communication essentials
Module 2: Writing with impact
Module 3: The secrets of storytelling
Module 4: Public speaking and presentations
Module 5: Advanced speaking and presentations
Module 6: Conclusion
By the end of the course you will be able to:
apply the principles of effective communication to any situation, from writing to presenting and storytelling
develop your own unique voice to communicate with any audience
apply communication techniques for influence and emotional impact.
On successful completion of the course, you’ll receive a certificate from the University of Cambridge, along with valuable Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points and a digital badge to display on your LinkedIn profile. These Cambridge credentials not only showcase your knowledge and expertise, but also demonstrate your commitment to professional development – helping to future-proof your career.
This course is designed for anyone looking to enhance their communication skills, whether they’re just starting out or intent upon accelerating their career. Specifically, it’s ideal for:
any professional who wants to craft clear, concise, and compelling messages for colleagues, clients, or customers, to deliver them confidently and with impact, and to advance their career.
mid-level managers who want to inspire, motivate and engage their teams and achieve their professional goals
senior leaders who need to communicate their vision and ideas effectively, build stronger connections with their teams, and motivate performance through persuasive storytelling and impactful presentations.
Our flexible, online courses – delivered via a world-leading learning platform – reflect the University of Cambridge experience and values, with low learner-to-tutor ratios and academically rigorous standards.
Our online learning model is designed to help you advance your skills and specialise in emerging areas that address real-world challenges. We will help you build your network through an engaging and impactful learning journey that encourages collaboration with academics and fellow learners.
Courses are delivered in weekly modules, allowing you to plan your time effectively around existing commitments. The assessment criteria will be presented to you at the start of the course, so you can approach your studies with confidence and motivation, knowing exactly what’s expected of you and how to meet those expectations.
Throughout your online learning experience with Cambridge Advance Online, you’ll have digital access to a dedicated course tutor, an expert in the field, who will help steer your learning and provide you with support and guidance every step of the way.
Level of English
You’ll need a good level of spoken and written English to make the most of the course (we recommend a good (C2) level of English language proficiency).
Materials and equipment
No specialist software or IT equipment required.
Sufficient internet speed (2 Mbps up/down) for video streaming.
A mobile phone for recording a short video presentation.
Access to Dropbox, SharePoint or a similar file storage system for uploading and sending assignments.
University of Cambridge course leads
Simon Hall
Simon Hall runs his own business communications agency, Creative Warehouse. He teaches writing, public speaking and storytelling skills at the University of Cambridge, for companies and in government. He’s also an author with 11 business communication books published, and was previously a BBC TV and radio news correspondent.Professor Thomas Roulet
Professor of Organisational Sociology & Leadership, University of Cambridge Judge Business School.Professor Thomas Roulet has published extensively in top research outlets on social evaluations and relations, and has taught leadership strategy for more than ten years. He regularly consults for a variety of organisations.
What our learners are saying
Everything that I learned on this course was new to me and I will continue to review it and apply it to my everyday communication as well as important public speaking such as interviews and presentations. I love that I can apply the things I learned in the course to so many aspects of my life. Thank you so much! You really are brilliant minds!
I have gained so much from this course that was a bit sad to see it ending. I like a healthy challenge and this course was challenging in the best way. I believe it pushed me in the right direction with my lack of confidence.
[I valued] being able to interact daily with peers, to receive and give feedback and be inspired by others' unique voices. There were many opportunities to refine and master the techniques through practice. Conversations with peers and tutors during activities and live sessions were enriching and kept us outside the comfort zone of our daily jobs.
Related content
A Q&A with the course leaders of Compelling Communications Skills
Article


A Q&A with the course leaders of Compelling Communications Skills
Article
Public speaking: Five top tips to nail the nerves
Article


Public speaking: Five top tips to nail the nerves
Article
Effective communication skills: storytelling with stakeholders and employees
Article


Effective communication skills: storytelling with stakeholders and employees
Article
Let’s keep in touch
Sign up here to receive news and updates about Cambridge Advance Online courses from us and relevant university departments.