DIGITAL MEDIA AND CULTURE (MA)

Digital media today affect all aspects of everyday, professional and public life, and understanding its significance requires interdisciplinary knowledge. Based at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies (CIM) at the University of Warwick, the MA Programme in Digital Media and Culture is an advanced one-year postgraduate degree that addresses the role of digital technologies, media, and infrastructures in relation to culture, economics, politics, and society.

Drawing on multiple disciplines, the degree supports critical approaches to key topics in digital culture, including platformisation, participatory culture, media activism, digital labour and political economy, privacy and surveillance, behavioural design, data critique, and environmental sustainability.

Our teaching combines theory, research methods, and creative practice. By selecting from a diverse offering of modules, students will have, for instance, the opportunity to learn data analytics and visualisation, to engage with speculative design and media art, and to discuss concepts in fields ranging from software studies to environmental humanities.

Based at a research centre promoting cutting-edge scholarship in these areas, our degree is primarily research-driven. MA students will be encouraged to select their own path through the degree and contribute to the culture of CIM by attending invited talks, participating in workshops, and organising interdisciplinary symposiums.

Is this course for me?

The Digital Media and Culture MA is aimed at students from a range of disciplinary backgrounds who want to learn more about the emerging field of digital culture and media. Although no specific background is required, your application must demonstrate an ability to work creatively and independently as well as an interest in contemporary developments in digital media and culture.

Where will it take me?

This degree equips you to follow a professional career in knowledge-based workplaces, whether businesses or charities/non-profits, museums or marketing agencies, new media production companies, editing and copywriting companies, or public relations firms and think-tanks. It also provides you with an excellent academic background to pursue issues in digital media at the doctoral level.

Recent MA in Digital Media and Culture graduates have gone on to pursue the following careers:

Research Assistant, Leverhulme Centre for the Future of IntelligenceLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.
Assistant Account Executive, EdelmanLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.
Public Relations Intern, Nara CommunicationsLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.
Lecturer, CU CoventryLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.
Digital Product Manager, Cambridge University Press and AssessmentLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.
Media Public Relations Specialist, BYDLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.
User Experience Designer, FlexiSpotLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.

Core modules

The MA in Digital Media and Culture includes two core modules and a dissertation project, and two or three option modules.

Optional modules

Please note that not all modules listed here will be available each year due to staff availability and student number uptake. Modules will also be updated annually. For further information, contact the Director of Taught Postgraduate Degrees, Michael Dieter: M.J.Dieter@warwick.ac.uk

All our modules offer European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits. Please see individual module pages for equivalence.

Optional modules from other departments may be considered as part of your degree programme. Should you wish to undertake an outside option, you will need to discuss this with your Masters Convenor.

Essential information

Duration

Full-time: 1 year

Part-time: 2 years

Entry requirements

2:i undergraduate degree (or equivalent).

English language requirements

Band B

There may be the option to attend the Pre-Sessional English Programme prior to commencement of study. See the Pre-Sessional English Programme websiteLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window for information, but note that CIM has the additional requirement of a minimum 6.0 in the IELTS writing component for acceptance through this programme.

Fees and Scholarships

2025/26 Course fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations, registration and some student amenities.

Status	Full-Time (one year)	Part-time (two years)
Overseas	£27,680	£13,840
Home	£11,170	£5,585

We consider all eligible applicants for bursaries and scholarship while funds are available, so do apply for the course as early as possible if you'd like to be considered.

Opportunity

Eligibility

Further Details

CIM International Masters Bursaries 2025-26

To support exceptional overseas scholars, CIM are offering a number of bursaries to candidates applying to study our MA in Digital Media & Culture, MSc in Big Data & Digital Futures and MASc in Data Visualisation. Candidates must have submitted an application by the deadline below and be classed as a resident of the countries named for tuition fee purposes. All awards will be a contribution towards tuition fees and be made on a competitive basis.

Applicants from all African countries: £19,243 (70% of full-time 2024-25 Overseas fee)

Applicants from the following South and Southeast Asian countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka; Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar). £13,745 (50% of the full-time 2025-26 Overseas fee)

Applicants from all South American countries: £13,745 (50% of the full-time 2025-26 Overseas fee)

The deadline for applicants from these regions is: 23:59 (BST) 31 May 2025

Please click here to apply

CIM Home Masters Bursaries 2025-26

To support talented scholars from the UK, we are offering a number of bursaries across our three taught masters programmes to applicants classified as Home for fee purposes. Each award will be an £8,000 contribution towards tuition fees and be made on a competitive basis.

The deadline for applications is: 23:59 (BST) 31 July 2025

Please click here to apply

Digital Health and Rights Project Link opens in a new windowScholarship

This multinational research project advocating for rights-based digital governance in low- to middle-income countries is offering one scholarship to an exceptional postgraduate student with an interest in furthering digital health and human rights. The award will provide £24,000 towards tuition fees and a £1,600 travel grant. Only candidates eligible for Overseas Fees status can apply.

The deadline for applications is: 23:59 (BST) 31 May 2025

Please click here to applyLink opens in a new window

Postgraduate Loans

Home students may be eligible to apply for a loan to support their study and living costs. Postgraduate Loans have to be paid back.

Please click here for more details opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window

Warwick Alumni Discount Scheme

10% tuition fee discount will be available to Warwick graduates who have Home or Overseas fee status. You must be a graduate of Warwick at any level of qualification.

Please click here for more details Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window

Warwick Taught Masters Scholarships

Bursaries to support Home fee status students and UK domiciled students who satisfy certain eligibility criteria.

Please click here for more details Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window

PhD Funding is possible through a number of sources at Warwick.

Information on all funding sources available to CIM postgraduate candidates (Masters and Doctoral) is available hereLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.

Digital media and culture (MA)

Digital processes are transforming culture, the economy and society. This course explores the origins and impact of these changes. It gives you the training to understand and make use of digital media critically, creatively and productively.

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Our other courses:

MASc Data Visualisation

MSc Big Data and Digital Futures

MPhil/PhD Programmes

Graduate Testimonial:

He Shuhui

MA Digital Media and Culture

“I had previously studied Journalism in my undergraduate program. However, in this vibrant and fast-changing digital age, I am in need of a more insightful understanding of the relationship between digital media and modern society. In order to discover more possibilities of my career path, I chose Digital Media and Culture to pursue my master’s degree.

One of the most interesting aspects I have experienced during my time with CIM is the clash of various opinions on same issues from multiple dimensions, of which valuable thought experiments proved to be conducive to my ability to think critically. Module tutors have always surprised me with a wide range of academic perspectives to support me unlock the new knowledge and I encountered many “WOW” moments opening my mind to many new areas of interest.

My MA study has led me to the intersection between people and media, culture and society, it has helped me cultivate an interdisciplinary way of thinking and practicing. This, apart from becoming a journalist, I have a great variety of career options available. I am currently in a UNESCO traineeship programme, contributing to the UNESCO GREEN CITIZENS project. This shall be the starting point of my long-term professional aspiration in public affairs.”