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BA (Hons) Digital Media, Culture and Communication

Deepen your understanding of how digital culture has changed how we live, interact, create and communicate.

Year of entry: 2025/26
Show year of entry: 2026/27

  1. Overview
  2. Course content
  3. Fees and funding
  4. Teaching and assessment
  5. Careers
  6. Entry requirements
UCAS code
L391
Institution code
Y50
Start date
September 2025
View semester dates
Length
3 years full-time
Typical offer
ABB
Full entry requirements
School/department
Department of Sociology, School of Arts and Creative Technologies
UK (home) fees
£9,535
International and EU fees
£25,800

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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. 

Student filming and recording interview with two other students.
Innovative research
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).
UNESCO City of Media Arts
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.
What I find with Sociology is how relevant it is to everyday life. I’ll see things that I have been studying appear in the news or on social media. Areas of study feature topics that I would have conversations with family and friends about!
Molly, Department of Sociology student. Read Molly's blog post.

Course content

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. 

Year 1

Your first year is based on six core modules that will give you the foundation and understanding of digital media, culture and communication.

Core modules

Academic integrity module

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:

  • define academic integrity and academic misconduct
  • explain why and when you should reference source material and other people's work
  • provide interactive exercises to help you to assess whether you've understood the concepts
  • provide answers to FAQs and links to useful resources.

Year 2

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.

Elective modules

You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.

Year 3

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.

Elective modules

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.

Real-world experiences

Find your edge by gaining practical experience that boosts your employability. Explore diverse opportunities to apply your knowledge and build vital professional skills, such as placements, internships and part-time jobs.

Learning by design

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.

Learning outcomes for this course
  • Understand and respond to developments in digital technologies and their implications for contemporary culture and communication.
  • Critically evaluate accounts of the impact of digital media, culture and communication upon individuals, groups and social structures.
  • Design and conduct research that creates insights into the implications of a variety of developments in digital media, culture and communication.
  • Create detailed and creative accounts of the changes brought about by transformations in digital media, culture and communication.
  • Situate developments in digital media, culture and communication within wider social, cultural and environmental transformations.
  • Use a knowledge of wider debates and perspectives to produce contextualised arguments, findings and analyses.
  • Identify, interrogate and assess the properties of key present and future changes brought about by developments in digital technologies.
Workshops, like practicals, are more hands-on, and you get more of a chance to put the skills you learn in lectures into practice.
Beth, School of Arts and Creative Technologies student. Read Beth's blog post.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees

UK (home) International and EU
£9,535 £25,800

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.

Fees for subsequent years

  • UK (home) fees may increase within the government fee cap in subsequent academic years. We will notify you of any increase as soon as we can.
  • International fees are subject to increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

More information

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.

Additional costs

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.

Funding

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.

Living costs

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.

York, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial

Just four UK universities are rated Gold for teaching and top ten for research* in the latest national assessment exercises.

* Awarded joint 10th in the Times Higher Education ranking of the Research Excellence Framework 2021.

Teaching and assessment

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.

Teaching format

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.

Teaching location

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.

About our campus

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.

Assessment and feedback

The programme uses standard assessment methods such as essays, open and online exams, reports and a dissertation but also non-standard assessment including:

  • Reflective portfolios - where you are invited to reflect on their individual or group learning experiences
  • Book reviews - where you will review a text they have read offering insights and critique
  • Design prototype - where you will design an interactive media system
  • Design an artefact or conduct a live demonstration - you will design a creative output (ie film, interactive media etc) that addresses accessibility challenges of disability
  • Speculative design prototype or group design brief - where you will develop a design to address a digital media problem or issue.

Careers and skills

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.

Career opportunities

  • Creative industries
  • Marketing
  • Public relations
  • Social media
  • Communications

Transferable skills

  • Research and analysis.
  • Digital creativity.
  • Communicating complex ideas
  • Real world applications
  • Source and evaluate information 
  • Creative communication

Careers and employability

Turn ambition into achievement with our expert guidance and connections. From your first day here to life after graduation, we'll help you find your career advantage.

Entry requirements

Qualification 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

Alternative offers

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 offer BBB
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.

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Qualification 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.

If you haven't met our 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.

Applying

To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

Next steps

Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions

Professor David Beer

david.beer@york.ac.uk

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