Digital Media Culture at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

How can scholars keep pace with the rapidly changing field of digital media, design and culture? Is it possible to learn academic research skills, approaches and methods that facilitate the understanding of both current forms of digital culture and the anticipation of future developments in digital media? The MA Digital Media Culture at Birkbeck introduces you to the key intellectual debates, discussions and texts shaping the field of digital culture and media theory. This course provides you with the conceptual framework required to analyse and comprehend the digital environments of today and tomorrow. It is one of the only MA degrees in the UK to combine academic rigour and scholarly consideration with the opportunity for hands-on training in digital media design and management. The philosophy of the course is that critical thinking about digital culture is enhanced by direct exposure to digital media software, technologies and design practices. MA Digital Media Culture graduates will be well positioned to pursue further academic study at PhD level, or work within digital media and design industries. Highlights

  • The unique combination of technical, management and conceptual skills will increase your chances of working in one of the most rapidly expanding sectors in the UK. The majority of jobs in the sector are located in London and the southeast, with Birkbeck uniquely positioned to take advantage of technology hubs such as East London's 'Silicon Roundabout'.
  • We focus on teaching and research in film and media, journalism, arts policy and management, with the Birkbeck Interdisciplinary Research in Media and Culture, the Vasari Research Centre for Art and Technology and the Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image (BIMI) as focal points of our research culture. BIMI has a rich programme of free screenings and film-related events, and also hosts the annual Essay Film Festival.
  • We have state-of-the art cinema and exhibition spaces, all housed in a historic building that was a former home to key members of the Bloomsbury Group, including the author Virginia Woolf and the artist Vanessa Bell.
  • Birkbeck was ranked as one of the top four universities in the UK for its Art and Design research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
  • We offer a number of bursaries for postgraduate students.
Careers and employability Graduates can pursue career paths in web development, multimedia programming, design, project management, education and training. Possible professions include:
  • web developer
  • project manager
  • digital designer
  • multimedia specialist
  • teacher
  • market researcher.
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

This course is assessed by coursework only, including the production of digital items, critical evaluations and essays.


How to apply

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.

Entry requirements

A second-class honours degree (2:2 or above) in any related subject. Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.


English language requirements

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this programme is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 7.0, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses, foundation programmes and language support services to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.


Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £5400 Year 1
Northern Ireland £5400 Year 1
Scotland £5400 Year 1
Wales £5400 Year 1
International £9915 Year 1

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Digital Media Culture at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS