Learn to understand, analyse and research how the increasing power of digital media and culture shapes and influences our world today.
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
Join us online or in person to find out more about postgraduate study at York.
Upcoming eventsStudy key debates, theories, issues and contentions about how digital media intersect and influence contemporary life.
At York, you'll be housed in our interdisciplinary School of Arts and Creative Technologies, accessing specific media expertise across film, television, theatre, interactive media and music. You'll be able to gain specialist knowledge of digital culture in tandem with interdisciplinary learning across different media forms through optional modules.
We'll teach you through a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, practicals and masterclasses. You'll study a wide range of key concepts, applications, operations, and visions of contemporary digital media and culture to give you the intellectual tools to analyse and answer questions about our digitally mediated world. Our focus is on developing skills of research, discussion, critique, analysis, and critical thinking for you to gain specialist insights into the effects, transformations and consequences of digital technologies.
You'll graduate equipped with the knowledge, understanding, analytical and research skills with which to consider, evaluate and investigate our digital present and future as a community, society, even as a species. You'll be well-equipped to embark on careers in media, creative, and technology sectors, research work, arts and culture, government and public administration, education, or further PhD study.
We have a wide range of industry connections and regularly host visiting speakers and masterclasses. We have previously worked with Simon Stephens, Alistair McDowell and Laura Wade.
Our staff are active researchers in their fields, meaning you'll always study the most innovative material.
At York, I really benefit from studying the field of digital culture, especially in helping me explore today’s relationships between human beings and technology, and their futures. I enjoy York's passion for building our great community.Siqi, PhD student
You'll combine discussion, critique, analysis, creative-making and critical thinking when understanding the role of media technologies and digital culture in today's world. Grapple with the meaning of culture itself and hone your ability to defend or argue against arguments by key thinkers.
You'll cover all dominant aspects of digital media and culture, from politics to the marketplace. You'll undertake an extended writing or creative project on a topic of your choosing, giving you the opportunity to demonstrate your research and analysis skills.
Your option modules enable you to explore the methodologies and subject matter of multiple disciplines.
You'll study taught modules and undertake an extended independent writing or creative study project.
You will choose two option modules from examples including:
Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
During the summer vacation, you'll work on your extended independent writing or creative study project. You'll submit either a 10,000 word dissertation or a media artefact with a 5,000 word reflective report.
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £11,200 | £27,190 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£5,600 | £13,595 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
The course involves a range of different teaching styles, including seminar discussion, analysis and synthesis, collaborative work and practical activities.
We incorporate masterclasses from industry professionals, enhancing your employability. You'll have the opportunity to attend talks, productions and festivals.
You'll be assigned a member of our teaching staff who will act as your personal supervisor. They are there to give advice on academic matters as well as other areas of University life. For your project or dissertation, you'll also be assigned a supervisor who may be a different member of staff.
We have excellent purpose-built facilities available to you, including:
You'll also be able to access the Borthwick Institute for Archives and the University Library and Archives, as well as other local resources.
Browse the rest of our facilities.
You will be based in the School of Arts and Creative Technologies on Campus East. You'll be part of a large postgraduate community with our Humanities Research Centre.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You'll be assessed throughout your course.
Types of assessment vary depending on the module and may include the following:
This course will help to develop your employability by equipping you with the knowledge of key theories and research methods relevant for analysing and understanding today's digital environment. Your independent study project will enable you to prepare, scope, research, implement, write, evaluate and critically produce a substantive piece of work in an intellectually rich and fast-changing area.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in a relevant subject. For those returning to study, evidence of appropriate experience will be required. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 459-494, with 426-458 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
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