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Digital Media Culture

MA

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Key information

Key information for 2026-27

Start date:
October 2026 | January 2027
Study route:

  • One year full-time, on campus

  • Two years part-time, on campus

Status:
Fully approved
Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Awarding body:
University of London
Study options:
Full-time | Part-time | On campus

Course overview

This MA Digital Media Culture provides you with the crucial knowledge you need to analyse and comprehend today’s fast-evolving digital environments. It offers you critical thinking about digital culture enhanced by direct exposure to digital media software, technologies and design practices.

  • Why choose this course?
    • 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. 
    • It is designed to prepare you for a career in digital media by offering you the opportunity to learn how new technologies are changing social, cultural and economic life.

  • What will I learn?

    On this MA Digital Media Culture you will acquire the research skills, approaches and methods that will allow you to understand current forms of digital culture, while also anticipating future developments in digital media. Together, we will explore the influence of digital media technologies on contemporary culture and consider how the growing spread of digital images and information have changed how we create and communicate. You will engage with the critical technology issues facing contemporary society and culture including:

    • the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI)
    • social media and the attention economy
    • digital animation and gaming cultures
    • the politics of big data and digital algorithms. 

  • How will I learn?

    This course is available to study full- or part-time. It has an evening timetable with classes taking place in the evening. These consist of formal lectures, seminars and practical workshops to provide you with hands-on experience. We offer you targeted smaller class sizes and highly interactive teaching which make for an engaging learning experience.

    This course focuses on digital media culture, but we also offer an interlinked MA Digital Management. This means that you can tailor your degree to your career goals broadening your skills further with option modules relating to either management or design.

  • How often will I attend classes?

    Full-time October start: Two evenings a week, plus occasional Saturdays, October to July

    Full-time January start: Two evenings a week, plus occasional Saturdays, January to December

    Part-time October start: One to two evenings a week, plus occasional Saturdays, October to July

    Part-time January start: One to two evenings a week, plus occasional Saturdays, January to December

  • Course disclaimer

    Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

    Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the How will I learn? section.

More highlights

Modules and Teaching

School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication

The school's teaching and research is highly interdisciplinary, spanning cultures and periods. Academic and practice-based study will equip you for a career in the creative and cultural industries.

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Entry requirements

Our standard entry requirements for postgraduate courses are a second-class honours degree (2:2), or equivalent, in any area of study.

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered, and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

  • What are the English language requirements?

    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. We also accept other English language tests.

    If you don't meet the minimum English language requirements, please contact us or see our international study skills page for more details about how we can help.

    Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

  • What are the visa and funding requirements?

    If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

    The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

    • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
    • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

    International students who require a Student visa should apply to study on our courses full-time as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol to study part-time courses at Birkbeck (with the exception of some modules).

    As a Student visa student, you should also apply to study on campus only, as online and flexible options of study (if they are available for your course) may affect the conditions of your visa.

    For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

    Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

    Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

  • Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

    If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits. It may be possible to transfer these from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

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Fees

MA: One year full-time or two years part-time, on campus, starting in October 2026

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £5,670 per year
Full-time home students: £11,340 per year
Part-time international students: £11,115 per year
Full-time international students: £22,230 per year

MA: One year full-time or two years part-time, on campus, starting in January 2027

Academic year 2026-27

Part-time home students: £5,670 per year
Full-time home students: £11,340 per year
Part-time international students: £11,115 per year
Full-time international students: £22,230 per year

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing their course may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the Fees Policy.

Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

Birkbeck's campus is located in the historic and vibrant Bloomsbury area of central London - named one of the best places to live in London 2025 by The Times.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this MA Digital Media Culture, you will have developed an array of important transferable skills, including:

  • strong research skills
  • an advanced critical ability in the use of theoretical perspectives
  • facility and precision in the use of analytical tools
  • digital design capabilities
  • effective digital project development and management skills.

Graduates can pursue career paths in digital design, education and training. Possible professions include:

  • digital project manager
  • digital designer
  • multimedia specialist
  • digital consultant
  • digital educator
  • technology policy analyst.

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.

Some of our graduates from this course have gone on to be employed at the following organisations:

  • The Ada Lovelace Institute for Research on AI and Society
  • Clusta Social Media Platform
  • Nissan
  • King’s College London
  • The NHS
  • US/UK Fulbright Commission
  • LeanLab Education Technology

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.

Student support

Birkbeck offers study, learning and wellbeing support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed.

Our Learning Development Service provides a lively programme of free weekly workshops building essential academic skills - from writing and critical thinking to maths and referencing - offering flexible sessions, practical tips, and online resources to boost your skills and confidence.

Our Disability and Mental Health Service can support you if you have disabilities, specific learning differences, mental health conditions or neurodivergence, by providing practical support to help you achieve your academic potential.

Our Counselling Service aims to support you with any emotional and psychological difficulties that are affecting your experience and engagement with your studies at university. It is a free, non-judgemental and confidential service which consists of a consultation process followed by time limited counselling contact.

Find out more about the full range of student services we offer at Birkbeck.

How to apply

You apply directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

You will need to prove your identity when you apply. Find out more about how to apply.

  • When should I apply?

    You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places left, and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

    You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

Related courses

Study routes for Digital Media Culture (MA)

Please select a study route below to continue your application.

Please note that international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK can only apply for full-time, on campus routes.

Starting in October 2026

Full-time

Part-time

Starting in January 2027

Full-time

Part-time