11Jan
PostgraduateCourse summary
The MA in Digital Media is unique in its combination of practical and theoretical approaches to contemporary media and technology.
- This exciting degree is designed to help you understand digital transformations in media, culture, and society and apply this understanding in practice, in the media and creative industries and in further research.
- The MA Digital Media has an established record - redefining media theory and practice since 2004.
- The programme will equip you with skills that can be applied to current and future developments in digital media, social media, computing, and other aspects of technology.
- The MA Digital Media educates aspiring media practitioners and academics as well as early and mid-career professionals who seek to reflect on their roles in a structured and stimulating learning environment designed to give all students up-to-the-minute knowledge of digital media and the skills to apply that knowledge to future developments.
- You will benefit from the experience and expertise of one of the world’s leading media and communications departments. The Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies has been ranked number two in the UK for 'world-leading or internationally excellent' research (Research Excellence Framework, 2021) and 16th in the world (third in the UK) in the 2024 QS World Rankings for communication and media studies. In your options modules you will be taught by theorists and practitioners of international standing.
- Our students have access to state-of-the-art facilities including well-equipped lecture and seminar rooms, exhibition spaces, computer facilities and digital media suites.
- There are three pathways, so you can specialise in image making or data visualisation, or take a more theoretical approach.
Modules
Programme overview This is an exciting programme which offers a critical, contextual and practical approach to digital media and technology. It problematises approaches to the 'new' media in academic and professional debate, especially those that overemphasise the potential for radical social change led by a homogenised technology itself. The programme is defined by its resistance to technological determinism and its insistence on the importance of addressing the social and historical contexts within which a range of media technologies are employed. The programme has three pathways: Pathway 1: Theory You'll learn about developments in digital media and technology. Drawing on media theory, critical theory, continental philosophy, science and technology studies, gender studies, critical race studies, the posthumanities, software studies and cultural studies to diagnose our present digital condition. You'll take the following compulsory module: Digital Media: Critical Perspectives You choose one option module from the following: Digital Culture: Critical Theory Software Studies Photography and After You'll also choose 60 credits of option modules from a list provided each year and produce a 12-15,000 word dissertation on a topic agreed with your supervisor. Pathway 2: Image Making A theory and practice programme. Alongside engaging with digital media theory you will work with one or more of the following – animation, photography, video and other forms of moving image – to create installations, apps and single/multi-screen work that is responsive to a continually changing, and conceptually understood, digital landscape. Students can explore new media theories and concepts in image making. This pathway is primarily aimed at those who already have some practical experience. It is meant to appeal to media industry professionals who are keen to reflect critically on their practice within a structured learning environment and graduates of practice-based courses. You'll take the following compulsory modules: Digital Media: Critical Perspectives Photography and After Digital Media Practice: Image Making You'll also choose 30 credits of option modules from a list provided each year and produce a practice/theory project in the area of contemporary digital communication. Pathway 3: Data Visualisation A theory/practice programme. You'll learn how information is structured, gathered, sorted and figured into new knowledge. During the course, you'll develop investigative methods to explore data, using art, installations, workshops, graphic design, scripting, critical making and critical technical practice. The pathway also draws on theory from the posthumanities, software studies, machine learning and data analysis and the history of data modelling. The pathway is aimed at helping you to create innovative methods that reveal new knowledge inherent in a data-rich society. It offers the opportunity to explore new media theories and concepts in data visualisation. No advanced prior knowledge of computation is required, but a willingness to learn about technology and media on a theoretical and practical level is. You'll take the following compulsory modules: Digital Media: Critical Perspectives Software Studies Digital Media Data Visualisation You'll also choose 30 credits of option modules from a list provided each year and produce a practice/theory project in the area of contemporary digital communication. Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
Assessment method
Seen take-home paper; essays; dissertation or practice/theory project and other production work for Image Making and Data Visualisation.
Entry requirements
You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard in a relevant/related subject. If you're applying to the practice pathway you'll also need to submit a portfolio of work. You might also be considered if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level. If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Sponsorship information
There is a £6,000 bursary available for UK students studying this course. Find out more about the Stationers' Postgraduate Bursary Scheme on our departmental awards page.
Provider information
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross
Lewisham
SE14 6NW