Platforms structure public debates, algorithms influence political processes, AI systems intervene in work and everyday life – digital technologies are fundamentally changing societies. They are changing our coexistence in Europe and worldwide – at a time characterised by armed conflicts, the climate crisis, geopolitical shifts of power and polarised debates. Understanding and shaping these relationships requires critical, theoretically informed thinking across disciplinary boundaries.

The Master´s degree programme in Digital Studies enables you to analyse and critically question the interactions between digital technologies, media, culture and politics. You will acquire theoretical knowledge and methodological skills from Science & Technology Studies (STS), Media Studies and Communication Studies, supplemented by perspectives from the fields of Cultural Studies, Law and Economics.

The degree course provides a nuanced understanding of the diversity of technical and social contexts as well as of practices, conflicts and resistance in different geographical, cultural and historical contexts. On this principles, you will learn to empirically examine current developments and societal challenges using qualitative, quantitative, digital and innovative methods. On the basis of case studies from various regions of the world, in particular from Central and Eastern Europe, Western and Eurocentric perspectives are critically examined. The course also addresses issues such as exclusion, inequality and discrimination as well as central questions of responsibility, participation and sustainability.

The Master’s programme is taught entirely in English and is aimed at graduates with a Bachelor’s academic degree or a comparable academic degree in Cultural, Media or Communication Studies, Economics or Law as well as in technical disciplines, provided that they can demonstrate appropriate basic knowledge and research interest.

First professionally qualifying certificate of academic degree worth at least 180 ECTS credits, of which at least 60 ECTS credits in the social sciences or humanities (e.g. Sociology, Media Studies, Communication Studies, Political Sciences, History, etc.) or
Interdisciplinary Digitalisation Research or a related subject (e.g. Social Informatics, Science and Technology Studies, Digital Studies, etc.). At least 10 ECTS must be demonstrated through methodological knowledge in the aforementioned fields. All students are required to demonstrate English language proficiency at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).