Deepen your understanding of how digital culture has changed how we live, interact, create and communicate.
Year of entry: 2025/26
L391
Y50
3 years full-time
ABB (full entry requirements)
September 2025 (semester dates)
Placing you at the forefront of the big changes facing us today, you will examine the key transformations in digital media, culture and communication that are shaping our lives.
Learn to analyse and respond to wider shifts in media, culture and communication. You'll discover the implications these shifts have for our cultural and societal interactions.
You will cover a wide range of aspects in digital media, culture and communication. From discovering our personal identities through to the organisations we're involved in. Explore the environmental and geopolitical futures we imagine. Understand the connections and divisions between people and the impact of AI on decision-making, the way we tell stories, realise ideas or create content.
The Department of Sociology is 1st for research impact and 4th in the UK for research overall according to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results (2021).
The city of York is a hotbed of creative talent, and media arts are a driving force of York's social innovation, inclusivity, and diversity.
Our BA Digital Media, Culture and Communication degree programme will help you to understand how we live, interact, connect and create within the transformations brought about by new digital media, culture and communications.
Working across disciplines, and developing your own insights and ideas, you will be guided through resources that will help you to make sense of how our lives and experiences are shaped by these digital developments.
The course is based on a combination of core modules covering key aspects of the programme learning outcomes balanced with highly relevant option modules in the second and third years. We have built the programme so that all modules - be they optional or core - speak directly to the programme's core themes.
There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.
Your first year is based on six core modules that will give you the foundation and understanding of digital media, culture and communication.
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
Your second year incorporates core modules that will advance your understanding of the issues on the programme. Adding direct specialist knowledge of digital media, culture and communication.
The option modules in the second year then allow you to choose to develop different forms of practical and analytical knowledge. These can be focused on the areas you wish to work in or prepare for your future.
Core modules
Option modules
You will study two option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
Your third year contains a specialist independent study module that will build on existing knowledge and allow students to design and develop research project work.
This independent study module sits alongside core modules in the first semester that develop your knowledge of the key issues of artificial intelligence and digital storytelling. Your second semester then focuses on the specialisms that you wish to develop further in applied and analytic forms of knowledge.
Core modules
Option modules
You will study two option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £25,800 |
Fees for students starting in the 2025/26 academic year.
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.
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
You may choose to buy textbooks, but this is not required. You may also incur some minor costs through occasional printing or photocopying, and the production of your final year dissertation.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
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.
Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Our courses consist of a mixture of classroom-based lectures, seminars, and workshops.
Our research-informed curriculum will provide you with the ability to think critically, develop effective solutions to various work-based problems, and work both independently and as part of a team.
You’ll be taught in a range of specialist subject areas, allowing you to delve deeply into complex topics, explore a whole spectrum of social issues, and develop a resilient, adaptable and challenging mindset that will aid you both within, and beyond, your study.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
You will be based in the Department of Sociology on Campus East. Most of your teaching will take place at various locations across Campus East either in the Department building or in the nearby School of Arts and Creative Technologies.
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 - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.
The programme uses standard assessment methods such as essays, open and online exams, reports and a dissertation but also non-standard assessment including:
By enabling you to analyse and respond creatively to cutting edge digital developments. This course helps you to develop excellent employability skills that can be utilised in a range of different future careers.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | ABB |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 30 credits at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDM |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, M2, M2 |
| European Baccalaureate | An overall average of 75% |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall |
| T levels | We will consider a range of T Level qualifications for entry. Please visit our dedicated T Levels page for a full list of accepted T Levels. |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | Scottish Highers - ABBBB Advanced Highers - not required for entry We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications. |
| International foundation programme | Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | If you achieve C or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
| Core Maths | If you achieve B or higher in Core Maths, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
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) | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, with a minimum of 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | Integrated subscores: 120 overall, with a minimum of 105 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C / Grade 4 |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478 Main Flight score with 444 in each component |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
| Other English language qualifications | We also accept other English Language qualifications, including various school-leaving certificates. |
For more information see our undergraduate 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.
Get in touch if you have any questions
Department of Sociology, School of Arts and Creative Technologies
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