Keele University

What you'll study

This programme combines critical and applied approaches to digital media. You will study core themes such as the social and cultural impacts of platforms, the politics and governance of digital technologies, and methods for researching digital environments. Teaching typically mixes seminars, practical workshops and supervised research.

• Core themes: theories of digital media and society; digital cultures and identities; digital policy, regulation and ethics.
• Research and methods: qualitative and quantitative approaches for digital research, including discourse analysis, digital ethnography, social media analytics and mixed-methods designs.
• Applied and technical skills: data handling for social research, basics of web and social-media analytics, digital communication strategies, and user-centred research techniques.
• Dissertation / Major Project: an independent research project on a topic of your choice, supervised by academic staff, which may be empirical, practice-led or policy-focused.
• Optional modules: depending on availability you may be able to choose options such as digital storytelling and content production, digital labour and work, media and public policy, digital heritage, or design and evaluation of digital services.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a UK upper second-class honours degree (2:1) or an international equivalent in a relevant discipline such as media studies, sociology, communications, politics, computer science or a related subject. Applicants with a lower-class degree but with substantial relevant professional experience in digital media, communications, policy or research may also be considered.

All applicants whose first language is not English will need to demonstrate proficiency in English to the level required by the university for postgraduate study. The programme may also ask for a CV and a personal statement outlining your interests and proposed area of study; selected applicants may be invited to interview.

Career prospects

Graduates leave prepared for roles that bridge social analysis and digital practice. Typical career paths include positions in digital communications and content strategy, social media management, user research and experience roles, digital policy and regulation, public affairs and campaigning, media research and analytics, as well as further academic research at MPhil/PhD level.

The programme’s combination of methodological training and applied project work is also suitable for professionals aiming to move into research-oriented roles within think tanks, NGOs, government and cultural organisations, or into consultancy and industry roles that require critical understanding of digital platforms and their social impacts.

Why study at Keele University

Keele offers an interdisciplinary environment where social sciences, humanities and computing disciplines intersect, enabling a broad perspective on digital media issues. You will benefit from research-led teaching, accessible academic supervision and small-group seminars that emphasise critical debate and practical skills.

The campus setting provides ready access to university resources including libraries, computing facilities and research support, while links between academic staff and external organisations create opportunities for applied projects, placements and collaborative research. The programme’s emphasis on both theory and methods equips you with the analytical and practical tools needed to work with digital technologies across sectors.