The study programme in a nutshell
Media, Digitalisation & Society is one of the four master specialisations within the master Media Studies. The curriculum is intensive and interactive, relying upon seminars, workshops, and guest lectures to provide a varied and challenging programme. This specialization uniquely combines media theories, internet studies and the sociology of technology to critically analyze how mass media and digitalisation processes reshape culture, politics and everyday life.
You will debate urgent issues, work on real-world cases, and collaborate with peers and experts in an international classroom. Together, you will explore topics such as the politics of media representations, mis- and disinformation, social media activism, online cultures and their impacts on people’s lives, algorithmic and AI disruptions, and the role of digital platforms in strengthening and threatening democracies.
What you will learn
As a student, you will:
- Analyze processes of media representation, production, circulation, and consumption in the digital age;
- Explore the impact of digital cultures and trends on cultural identity, reputation, and privacy;
- Understand how mass media and digital technologies can be used responsibly for social change;
- Dive into the social and ethical aspects of platforms, algorithms and artificial intelligence;
- Develop strategies for ethical communication in policy, NGOs, and business;
- Train essential communication and scientific skills such as critical analysis, convincing argumentation, persuasive writing, and conducting empirical research.
Master Thesis
The final step of the master specialisation is writing your master thesis. Students before you wrote their master thesis on topics such as “Auditing of AI: Towards explainable and trustworthy artificial intelligence”, “Exploring political humor on TikTok: A qualitative analysis of Dutch elections 2023” and “From double-taps to demonstrations: Instagram and gender activism in Greece” to name a few.
Course overview
Below you can view the programme of Media, Digitalisation & Society for 2026-2027.
Note: The capacity of Elective Seminars and Research Workshops is limited. Registration will be on a first come, first serve basis. Content, themes and scheduling of Elective Seminars and Research Workshops is subject to change and may vary in subsequent academic years.