Course overview
Digital media is at the heart of how organisations communicate, influence, and innovate. Our MA Digital Media and Communications (Online) gives you the advanced knowledge and practical skills to lead in this dynamic space. You’ll explore digital storytelling, UX design, social media strategy, and global communication planning – all taught by experts with real-world experience.
What sets this course apart is its focus on combining creativity with strategy. You won’t just learn how to produce content – you’ll understand how to make it work for audiences, brands, and campaigns across global platforms. From persona analysis to digital product development, you’ll gain insights that position you ahead of industry trends.
Delivered 100% online, this programme is designed for ambitious professionals who want to learn flexibly without compromising on quality or support. You’ll join a collaborative virtual environment where you can share ideas, work on projects, and build a global network – all while balancing study with your career and personal commitments.
Graduating with a UK master’s degree from a triple Gold-rated university (Teaching Excellence Framework 2023) gives you a competitive edge. Whether you’re looking to upskill, pivot careers, or advance into leadership roles, this course provides the academic grounding and practical expertise employers are looking for.
This course is ideal for:
- marketing and communications professionals looking to enhance their digital skillset
- journalists and content creators transitioning to digital-first storytelling
- career changers seeking roles in digital media, UX, or social strategy
- graduates from humanities, social sciences, or creative disciplines applying analytical and storytelling skills in a digital context
- entrepreneurs and business owners aiming to improve their brand’s online presence.
Course details
Course structure
Core modules
Digital Platforms and Production
This is a student-led exercise of digital creativity. You develop your digital communication capabilities by developing a website around a subject of your choice. You have the opportunity to develop digital content and journalism using a range of technologies, social media production and optimisation, user experience and design and creative innovation.
Digital Platforms: Develop and Launch
You consider user experience, content design, development and deployment of a digital product for an identified platform. You develop an application to facilitate specific audiences’ engagement with digital content. You explore a range of open source frameworks to develop a prototype product/service and devise a digital launch and enterprise strategy utilising digital communication channels.
You are assessed by 100% ICA, a development portfolio and a launch strategy presentation.
Explore digital media through three intertwining themes: representation, audiences and communication and culture. Delve into ideology, mediated personas, and bias as you examine intercommunication between mainstream and independent media, and the dynamics between content producers and consumers. Investigate the socio-cultural, political, and economic impacts of digital communication.
Through a series of workshops, you produce a range of professional assets designed to support your career aspirations. Projects and analysis of work-related practice will enhance your career vision in the media, events and creative arts industries.
Master's Project: Digital Media and Communications
You undertake a major, in-depth, individual study in an aspect of your course. Normally your project is drawn from commercial, industrial or research-based problem areas. Your project involves researching and investigating aspects of your area of study and then producing a major deliverable, which can be purely research-led dissertation or a project, which involves the development and production of a media campaign and associated report.
Your assessment is 100% ICA.
You explore contemporary developments and research methods within the media industries and the impact developments might be expected to have on institutions, artefacts and audiences. You research a specific area or development within digital communication or journalism - this may be technical, economic, cultural, sociological, or based on a combination of factors - and predict future trends and directions. You develop research methods, skills and knowledge and expertise together to formulate an independent research problematic.
You are assessed through 100% ICA consisting of either a 5,000 portfolio/presentation or an essay of negotiated equivalence.
User Experience for Digital Communications
You build expertise in the design and development of user centred digital environments. You examine audiences and adaptability of digital media with a particular emphasis on mobile or web-based systems, applications and services. You examine current research initiatives; gain a thorough understanding of legislation, guidelines, standards and programming techniques related to user centred design. Through analysis of current research and industry techniques, you explore design and development methods for the creation of adaptable environments for digital media. The module facilitates techniques for evaluating websites with audiences. You explore mobile applications for audience usability, adaptability and accessibility.
You are assessed by 100% ICA consisting of a portfolio
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
All learning is online. You learn through lectures, workshops and seminars as well as through educationally purposeful packages of digital learning.
You develop creative skills and commercial awareness by working to industry briefs. Learning focuses on reflecting the reality of working in the creative industries, and throughout the course you are encouraged to work both individually and as part of a group.
Each unit typically consists of:
- a short introductory video, where your tutor introduces the week’s key themes
- writing prompts and exercises
- supporting materials, reading questions and suggestions for further reading and research to discuss in the discussion forum
- a dedicated private space to workshop your ideas and work-in-progress with the tutor and fellow students.
How you are assessed
Assessment is through coursework, including digital content projects, strategic communication plans, UX analysis, and research-based assignments. There are no traditional exams – your work reflects real-world applications of digital media and communications. Most of the modules include a progressive assessment strategy, with practical tasks set each week to support you in working towards in course assessment (ICA).
Entry requirements
You will typically have a first degree (2.2 minimum). We also consider other relevant experience or qualifications.
You are expected to be a confident and independent learner with a good understanding of idea development, critical thinking and the digital communications environment.
International students will require IELTS 6.0 or equivalent.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
Employability
Career opportunities
Graduates are prepared for roles across the media and communications industries, such as:
- campaign manager
- communications manager
- digital content manager
- journalist
- marketing consultant
- marketing manager
- social media strategist
- UX content designer
- public relations manager.
Learning platform
Our virtual learning environment (VLE) is the platform you use to access your online course
Teesside University online learning courses are delivered through the Brightspace Learning Environment.
Here are some of the benefits.
- You can use it on your smartphone, tablet and computer.
- And you can use it anytime, so that you can plan your learning to fit your own schedule.
- It's easy to use and navigate.
- Modules are set out by topics and themes. You can use the progress bar to understand where you are in your modules, and appreciate your achievements.
- We support you to become familiar with your VLE, helping you to start learning quickly.
- You get feedback, help and guidance from tutors throughout your course through the VLE, and you can ask questions at any time.
- Our tutors use a live activity feed to keep you updated about your course.
- You can create a student profile, collaborate with other students and take part in online discussion forums.
