MA Digital Media and Creative Industries
Birmingham, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 up to 2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
GBP 10,530 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for UK students | 7 May 2024 for international students
** for UK students full-time | £24,120 for international students full-time
Introduction
MA Digital Media and Creative Industries combines world-leading research, practice-led teaching, and unique industry connections in areas such as arts and cultural policy, and the legal, administrative, and management strands of the creative industries.
Collaborating with practitioners working in industry, you’ll work across disciplinary boundaries to develop a rounded knowledge of work in the creative sector – its policy and legal dimensions, the practicalities of managing cultural productions, and how to develop entrepreneurial and freelancing skills.
You'll explore how cultural policy is developed, through engagement with the university's cultural programs, and develop in-depth knowledge about all stakeholders in the production and consumption of digital and creative work.
If you; 're a creator or producer looking to advance in the digital and creative industry then this program is designed to enhance your professional skills, empowering you with the expertise to move forward in your career.
Why Study this Course?
- Unlock valuable connections and Collaborate with prestigious organizations like the Royal Shakespeare Company, Birmingham Rep, and Create Central. These opportunities will take your postgraduate experience to the next level, providing insights that extend far beyond the classroom
- Interdisciplinary expertise – Prepare to expand your horizons through interdisciplinary learning. Our program is designed to embrace knowledge from diverse subject areas. You'll benefit from the specialized insights of experts who offer unique perspectives, enhancing your understanding of the ever-evolving landscape of digital media
- Career ready – We’re not just talking about careers; we prepare you for them. Engage with experienced creative practitioners and gain practical insights into essential areas such as law, marketing, and freelancing. Elevate your skills with experts who know the ins and outs of the creative sector
- Hands-on experience – Stand out in the competitive creative industry by undertaking a practice-based project. Work directly with our cultural partners on live briefs, providing you with first-hand experience of how creative organizations operate. This is where your classroom knowledge transforms into real-world expertise
- Second city living – Immerse yourself in our vibrant campus and the bustling second city of Birmingham. Contribute to our University newspaper, host shows for our TV and radio stations or join our dynamic writing, film, and drama societies. Your studies will come to life as you step into the heart of Birmingham's rich cultural scene. Explore literature, film, drama, and arts festivals, and make the most of Birmingham's diverse cultural attractions, including historic theatres, the country's oldest working cinema, and Europe's largest regional library.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarships to cover fees and/or maintenance costs may be available. To discover whether you are eligible for any award across the University, and to start your funding application, please visit the University's Postgraduate Funding Database.
International students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships, or their home government.
Postgraduate Loans
Government-backed master loans are available to help UK and EU students to finance their studies. For those starting courses after 1 August 2020, loans are available of up to £11,836 for Masters students in all subject areas. Criteria, eligibility, repayment, and application information are available on the UK government website.
Curriculum
Core Modules
All students will take the following modules:
Creative Industries and the Law
Creative Industries and the Law provides an in-depth exploration of the relationship between creative industries and the legal landscape. In a sector developing new business models quickly in response to the iterative development of digital and social media, this module critically examines the contemporary legal frameworks and debates in the creative and cultural sector at the moment, drawing on case studies in recent legal history.
Through a multidisciplinary approach grounded in both law and the creative arts, you will analyze copyright, intellectual property, contract law, and regulations specific to creative enterprises – students will develop a sound and detailed knowledge of the relationships between creatives, distributors, finance, and consumers.
Key topics may include:
- Copyright and its application in the digital age
- Intellectual property protection for creative works
- Contractual agreements within creative collaborations
- Entertainment law, including issues related to media production and distribution
- Privacy, defamation, and press regulation in the industry
Creative Industries: Policy and Professional Development
This module takes advantage of the established relationships Birmingham has with its cultural partners. You will have the opportunity to work with external stakeholders on live briefs on a range of issues facing the sector in the region. You will learn from academic staff and external providers drawn from industry in the region to explore the challenges that confront professionals in the creative and cultural sector today.
You will work in groups on a project from a bank of briefs provided by some of our partners in the region (such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, Birmingham Rep, the National Literacy Trust, Soul City Arts, Writing West Midlands, Birmingham Museums Trust, and many more) to develop a strategic response to an industry issue. You will be guided on their projects by dedicated sessions on cultural policy and government, funding models for the industry (through public and private revenue development), and equality, diversity, and inclusion. You will also learn strategies to measure the effectiveness of their solutions, and how to iterate project solutions into the future.
Marketing in the Creative and Cultural sector
Through a study on this module, you will develop insight into marketing strategies and campaigns as they apply to creative and cultural organizations. You will learn a range of different marketing theories and approaches, and develop a critical awareness of the distinctiveness of creative and cultural products. Using case studies, you will learn a variety of marketing concepts, which may include:
- Audience Segmentation and Engagement: Understanding the diverse audiences within the creative and cultural sector and developing tailored strategies to engage them
- Branding and Identity: Building and managing the identity and reputation of creative and cultural organizations.
- Digital Marketing in the Arts: Leveraging digital platforms, social media, and online tools to promote cultural events, artists, and creative projects.
- Cultural Marketing and Diversity: Exploring the cultural dimensions of marketing, with a focus on inclusive and culturally sensitive approaches to reach diverse audiences.
- Market Research and Analytics: Utilising data-driven insights to make informed marketing decisions, analyze audience behavior, and assess the impact of marketing campaigns.
- Partnerships and Sponsorships: Developing collaborations with other organizations, sponsors, and donors to support cultural and creative initiatives.
- Arts Promotion and Event Management: Planning, promoting, and managing cultural events, exhibitions, performances, and festivals.
Multimedia Adaptation
Adaptation is one of the most widespread forms of artistic expression in the world today. Works inspired by earlier cultural products continue to proliferate in a variety of media, most obviously film and television, but also theatre, radio, graphic novels, and video games. This module equips you with a key understanding of how adaptation operates as a multimedia practice. Drawing on a range of adaptive materials from the nineteenth century to the present day, it examines why artists choose to adapt, and how they engage with the possibilities and limitations of their specific media. In tandem with this consideration of the key drivers behind adaptation, you will examine the wider dimensions of the adaptation industry and the implications of working within it (including franchising, publishing rights, and questions of copyright and intellectual property). Like Adaptation Studies more broadly, the module is interdisciplinary, exploring connections between different forms of art, and challenging you to interrogate what adaptation means in the twenty-first century. In so doing, it also reflects on ways in which a theoretical understanding of adaptation can support you in enhancing your future employability and potentially building towards careers in the adaptation industry.
Dissertation / Final Project
Your final, independent project on the program will offer you a choice of a standard academic dissertation of 12,000 words on a research topic of your choosing OR a practice-based project that works with industry in the region on a particular facet of their work. You will be supported in this choice when you arrive in Birmingham through conversations with your dissertation supervisor.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
On completion of the program, you will possess a diverse set of transferable and industry-specific skills, including digital content creation, project management, data analytics, and critical thinking. You will be adept at navigating the digital landscape and will be well-prepared to adapt to new technologies and trends. The skills developed will leave you well-positioned for careers in the cultural and creative industries, including:
- Digital marketing and advertising
- Media production and broadcasting
- Content strategy and management
- Startups and entrepreneurship in the creative industries
- Further academic research or PhD studies in related fields
Program delivery
We have three teaching terms per year, the autumn, spring and summer terms.
As a full-time student, you will typically take two modules in each of the first two terms, followed by your dissertation or final project. If you are a part-time student, you will typically take two modules across each year, followed by your dissertation or final project.