Course summary

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2024). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas. The MSc in Social Science of the Internet provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to question and understand the multi-faceted ways in which the internet and emerging digital technologies are influencing and affecting our lives, societies, businesses, and governments. Learning from the Oxford Internet Institute’s world-leading multi-disciplinary faculty, students of the MSc course will leave with new knowledge on important social science concepts and theories, research methods, technological fundamentals, and how to conduct and communicate high-quality research. The OII's busy calendar of seminars and events showcases many of the most noteworthy people in internet research, innovation and policy, allowing you to engage with the cutting edge of scholarship and debates around digital culture, internet technologies and AI. The course can be studied full-time or part-time with both modes requiring attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements. Part-time students are required to attend course-related activities in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year. The full-time course is studied over 10 months. The part-time course has the same requirements, but is studied over 22 months. The degree and expectations for both modes of study are equally rigorous: if you study part-time, you will take your classes with your fellow full-time students, but spread over two years to accommodate work and personal circumstances. Whether you choose to apply for the part-time or full-time course, you will be part of a close-knit cohort of students from diverse backgrounds. If studying full-time, you will be expected to spend around 40 hours studying each week during term and you will also be expected to complete assignments and undertake further study during vacations. During the first (Michaelmas) and second (Hilary) terms, you will be advised to allocate between 10 and 15 hours each week for each course you undertake. This includes: At least six hours per week on reading, preparation and formative assignments for each core/option course 10 to 12 hours per week in classes (typically one and a half to two hours of lectures per course, plus a one-hour seminar or workshop on certain core and methods-based courses) If studying part-time, you will be expected to commit to a proportional workload. The course content for the part-time degree is identical to that taken by full-time students but will be completed in two years rather than one year. You will be expected to attend lectures, seminars and workshops in the department for one to two days a week during term-time, and to participate fully in the life of this friendly and dynamic department.