University of York

What you'll study

This MA combines critical theory with hands-on methods to explore digital media, cultural practices and the political economy of the digital. You will study core topics such as digital culture and society, media industries, digital methods and research design, and contemporary debates about platform power, data, surveillance and representation.

• Core seminars and lectures: critical approaches to digital culture, histories of media and theoretical frameworks for understanding platformisation and algorithmic governance.
• Methods and practice: digital research methods (qualitative and quantitative), data visualisation, ethnography of online communities and practical modules in digital production or UX depending on elective choices.
• Industry and policy perspectives: modules that examine media business models, regulation and the cultural economy of creative production online.
• Dissertation or major project: a sustained piece of independent research or a practice-led project supervised by staff with expertise across media studies, sociology, cultural studies and computing.
• Optional modules: you can typically choose from topics such as social media and politics, game studies, digital heritage and museums, audio-visual practices, or advanced data analysis depending on availability.

Teaching is delivered through seminars, workshops, practical labs and one-to-one supervision for the final project. Assessment usually combines essays, project portfolios, presentations and the dissertation or practice-led final submission.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a good undergraduate degree in a relevant subject such as media studies, cultural studies, sociology, anthropology, communication, computing or a related discipline. Candidates with professional experience in media, cultural organisations or creative industries may also be considered.

International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency through an accepted qualification or test. Academic references and a personal statement that outlines your interests and proposed area of study are required; applicants proposing practice-led projects should normally submit a portfolio or examples of work.

Career prospects

Graduates from this programme move into a range of roles across the creative, cultural and digital sectors. Typical career paths include digital strategist, social media manager, content producer, UX researcher, data analyst for cultural organisations, policy and research roles in think tanks and NGOs, cultural programming for heritage institutions, and further academic research leading to doctoral study.

The degree equips students with analytical skills to interpret digital culture, practical competencies in research methods and production, and the ability to communicate findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences — skills valued in industry, public sector and academia.

Why study at University of York

York offers an interdisciplinary environment where humanities and social-science approaches to media intersect with technical and creative practice. The department has active research groups working on digital culture, media policy and creative technologies, and students benefit from supervisory expertise across these areas.

Students can draw on the university's links with local cultural institutions, industry contacts and research initiatives — including collaborations that bring together academia and the creative tech sector. Facilities include well-equipped digital labs and support for practice-led work, while the collegiate campus and the city of York provide a vibrant cultural context for studying media and heritage.

Overall, the programme is designed to combine rigorous theoretical training with practical and methodological experience, preparing graduates for careers in a rapidly changing media landscape or for further research.