The Online Master of Arts Digital Media and Global Communication from the University of BirminghamThe Online Master of Arts Digital Media and Global Communication from the University of BirminghamThe Online Master of Arts Digital Media and Global Communication from the University of Birmingham

How, why, and with whom we communicate has been changed as mass media, like newspapers and television, have evolved into communication devices that live in our pockets. The evolution of the communication industries impacts nearly every aspect of work and life, and developing the tools and language needed to adapt is critical for leaders in business and society.

Our online MA Digital Media & Global Communication is a flexible, career-focused postgraduate-course that draws on a broad range of expertise and unique perspectives. As you work across disciplinary boundaries, you will develop a diverse set of theoretical and practical skills, each increasingly required in the global media and communications industry. 

This online postgraduate taught course combines our research expertise, practice-led teaching, and unique industry connections. Whether you work, or go on to work, in media, broadcasting, publishing, or creative industries, or with transnational organisations, you can enhance your career with a curriculum that combines theory with practice to develop your knowledge and broaden your understanding of the modern media landscape.

30-month programme

---

Complete your masters degree in 30 months, part time. This enables you to balance your personal and work obligations with your professional goals. 

Unique, multidisciplinary curriculum

---

Gain a broad perspective and enhanced understanding of digital media with a curriculum informed by the expertise of multiple departments.

Advice, guidance, and support at every step

---

Receive the same level of support as students studying on campus – from health and wellbeing to tailored career services.

University of Birmingham seeks applicants from around the world who are looking to develop a global perspective, enhance their cross-cultural communication skills, and gain the theoretical and practical expertise needed to navigate the rapidly evolving digital media landscape.

Please note that fees are the same for UK and non-UK residents alike. The University of Birmingham is committed to providing accessible education pathways, and this fee structure enables international students to more easily access our research-informed, employability-driven courses. 

Learn more about fees and funding options.

Most postgraduate communication programmes fall into two broad categories: theoretical or practical. The former focuses more on theory and research while the latter focuses on applied skills relevant to your career. The MA Digital Media & Global Communication combines both theory and practice to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to advance in your career. 

The course content is expansive, informed by expertise across multiple subject areas, providing you with a unique perspective and enhanced understanding of digital media. You will explore different national and international cultures to develop a truly global skill set that leaves you well prepared for a transnational career.

The curriculum is taught through a combination of asynchronous teaching and learning activities and regular live sessions, culminating in a dissertation that showcases your in-depth knowledge and analytical skills. You will engage with experienced academics and practitioners, and learn from world-leading research to transform classroom learning into real-world expertise. 

The online MA Digital Media & Global Communication covers the following modules:

• Digital Transformation: Multimedia Archives

  expand_more

  Explore the phenomenon, process, and product of analogue-to-digital transformations of archives, gaining new theoretical, practical, and policy understanding of managing such a project. 

• Digital Citizens and Mental Health

  expand_more

  Draw on work in the humanities, social sciences, computer science, and education, along with insights from psychotherapeutic theory, to examine the interactions between contemporary digital technologies and mental health.

• Data Skills – Analysing Data and Communicating Insights

  expand_more

  Discover the limits and possibilities of data usage in creative fields, while learning how to manage, analyse, and communicate about data in a responsible and ethical manner.

• Mass Media: Past, Present, Future

  expand_more

  Through an approach that combines history, archives, and theory, chart the origins of the mass media, and its multiple resurrections from newspapers to radio, television, and the internet revolution. 

• Global Digital Cultures: Comparative Perspectives

  expand_more

  Gain a comparative perspective on global digital cultures, providing insights into the intricate relationship between digital platforms, narratives, identity, and cultural diplomacy in our interconnected world through a unique international, cross-campus collaboration between the University’s Edgbaston and Dubai campuses.

• Games, Gamification, and the Player as Consumer

  expand_more

  Blend theory and hands-on experience to explore the history, design, impact, and ethical considerations of video games and gamification, while developing the skills to critically analyse and create the discourses of engaging digital experiences through games and gamification.

• AI in Society and Research: Theory, Ethics, and Practice 

  expand_more

  Gain a grounding in media theory, the history of cybernetics, and critiques of computation, and then develop the practical skills to use generative AI in fields related to linguistics and digital media, and the knowledge to engage critically with the challenging ethical issues that will continue to arise around this developing technology.

• Textual (r)Evolution: Implications of Shifting Cultural Production

  expand_more

  Explore the ways digital technologies have impacted cultural production in Latin America, and reflect on the enduring and changing concerns over cultural, social, and political processes in the region as reflected in – and intervened by – its rich and ever-evolving intellectual production.

• Narrative Enquiry Interviewing and Creative Nonfiction

  expand_more

  Combine theory and knowledge with practical tools and frameworks for sourcing credible content, preparing and conducting interviews, and incorporating the material into research and creative projects, while evaluating ethical and legal considerations when creating unique content for media and communication.

• Movies, Cognition, and Storytelling

  expand_more

  Engage with interdisciplinary research in the areas of moving image theory, aesthetics, history, cognitive science, and the philosophy of film and mind, and then produce unique research that illustrates the ways in which media reflects, shapes, and is shaped by the human mind.

• Framing the News: Power, Propaganda, and Positionality

  expand_more

  Use theoretical tools from multiple disciplines to critically analyse how global news is framed, interrogate power relations, and examine how different countries and actors have sought to control global news narratives.

• Language as Data: A Primer to Text Mining for the Humanities

  expand_more

  Rooted in the University of Birmingham’s distinguished corpus-linguistic tradition, develop essential skills for querying large text collections to explore a broad range of questions concerning language, communication, culture, and society.

• Digital Media and Global Communication Dissertation

  expand_more

  With the support of a supervisor, plan and carry out an independent research project that contributes to existing research in the interdisciplinary fields of digital media and global communication.

Develop a broad range of cutting-edge media skills

Gain a unique perspective on modern communications and digital media through the study of multiple subject areas – taught by industry experts, and informed by active research.

Request information

close Close Modal

Request information

Answer a few quick questions to determine if the online Master of Arts in Digital Media and Global Communication programme is a good fit for you.

Next Step

Birmingham has been running Distance Learning courses in the UK for over 25 years. As one of the largest providers of distance learning in the UK, we offer you a prestigious online education that matches the on-campus experience, taught by our same expert professors and lecturers. Courses are designed to encourage participation and connectivity through the use of video lectures, case studies, interactive assignments, digital resources, and peer-to-peer social interaction. You have the flexibility to study from wherever you are in the world, control your daily schedule, and still benefit from the academic, wellbeing, and career support as part of our global postgraduate community.

University-provided services that are available to online students include:

University of Birmingham academic staff are forward thinking, diverse, and community orientated, encouraging bold, independent thinking and empowering students like you to turn ideas into reality. 

The MA Digital Media & Global Communication is taught and facilitated by the same professors who also teach our in-person postgraduate programmes. As well as being specialised experts in diverse subject areas, our teaching staff are also experienced creative practitioners in their own right – ideally positioned to equip you with knowledge and support to advance in your own career. The passionate module leads are active both in the design and delivery of the course.

With employability and career advancement informing every aspect of the MA Digital Media & Global Communication, you will be prepared for a wide spectrum of opportunities in media and communications, and across creative industries. 

You will develop a diverse set of transferable and industry-specific skills, including research, content creation and storytelling, intercultural communication, project management, data analytics, and critical thinking. 

You will also be uniquely equipped to not only navigate but lead in an increasingly globalised digital landscape, and will be well prepared to adapt to new technologies and trends. This will leave you positioned for leadership roles in the cultural and creative industries, including:

As well as the career preparation provided by this programme, we offer a range of employability support services including its Careers Network’s dedicated careers and employability team.

Why choose an online programme from the University of Birmingham?

When you choose the University of Birmingham, you are choosing to study at an outstanding institution, renowned for changing lives and transforming society.

At Birmingham, we encourage bold, independent thinking and offer a high-quality academic experience to stretch and challenge you. By studying with us, you will be an active part of a diverse university community as you pursue your own interests and develop the career path that’s right for you.

Commonly referred to as “the second city,” the city of Birmingham is a vibrant and inspiring place to live, with a rich culture and diverse community. Famous for being the “city of a thousand trades,” Birmingham has always been a hub of innovation. For more than a century, the University of Birmingham has been forging a path of similar excellence.

As the UK’s first civic university, we were founded on a vision of social responsibility and equality of opportunity for all. Today, we are a globally ambitious institution prepared to tackle the world’s challenges, to have an international impact, and to equip you to do the same. 

As an online student, you will join a diverse global community that is an integral part of the University, while benefiting from the flexibility online education offers. We are committed to encouraging fresh perspectives, and empowering tomorrow’s leaders to translate ideas into solutions and make a lasting difference to the world. 

This is your time. The future is happening at Birmingham.

¹QS World University Rankings 2025: Top Global Universities. (2024). QS Top Universities. Retrieved September 20, 2024.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference

²QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024: Arts and Humanities. (2024). QS Top Universities. Retrieved September 18, 2024.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote referenceReturn to footnote reference