Graduate School of Humanities | Master's 2017 - 2018

Media Studies (Research MA)

The two-year Media Studies Research Master's programme offers an interdisciplinary,

humanities-oriented approach to media. It considers media as cultural discourses and
practices, technological infrastructures, as well as powerful political-economic actors. With
roots in philosophy, history, and literary studies, as well as science and technology studies,
this discipline has developed pertinent theoretical approaches to the study of media in
contemporary culture. Closely connected with the one-year Master's Programmes in Media
Studies, the Research Master's allows students to specialise in Film Studies, Television and
Cross-Media Studies, New Media and Digital Culture, or Archival and Information Studies.
The backbone of the programme is composed of the two core courses: ‘Media Theory’ and
‘Research Practices in Media Studies’. In addition, the programme gives students ample
opportunity to develop their own customised programme by taking electives, masterclasses,
summer and winter schools, and small group tutorials.

Degree certificate
The Research Master's programme Media Studies is an accredited degree programme. After
successful completion of this programme, you will receive a legally accredited Master’s
degree in Media Studies and the title Master of Arts (MA).

Title CROHO-code
Master of Arts 60832

Mode and duration Tuition fee

full-time 2 years www.uva.nl/tuitionfees

Credits Application and Admission

120 ECTS See: www.uva.nl/ma-media-studies-en

Language of instruction Deadlines

English www.gsh.uva.nl/deadlines

Starts in
September

Graduate School of Humanities | Master's 2017 - 2018

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Curriculum
The Research Master's programme Media Studies comprises 120 ECTS credits:
• 30 credits MA Specialisation
• 60 credits core courses, electives, tutorials, summer and winter school
• 30 credits Research Master's thesis project

Entry requirements
The Research Master’s in Media Studies is open to all students with a Bachelor’s diploma
from the UvA, or a recognised equivalent from another accredited university, in:
• Media and Culture
• Media and Information (previously known as Cultural Information Science)
• Other disciplines if the candidate's profile and motivation indicate a substantial interest
in media related questions and humanistic research

Student profile
Media Studies is a research programme, which means that it is meant for students with
strong academic interests. This is the principal reason why the UvA follows a selection
process. During the process, the selections committee scrutinises the content of a student’s
Bachelor’s programme, his/her study results, his/her duration of study, motivation, and
study plan.
Candidates are expected to have an open mind towards interdisciplinary work and to be
capable of theoretical and methodological rigour. They must also be critically interested in
both historical and contemporary developments in the media, have the ability to write in
English at a high academic level, and be prepared to study hard (40 hours a week).
Successful students have a talent for independent research.

Grade average
A/ 3.6 (American system)
2.1 (a second class upper/division one degree in the British system)
B (ECTS-system) or 7.5 (Dutch system)

Minimum Language requirements

New Master's students should be able to speak, read, write and understand English at level
C1 of the Common European Framework of References for Languages. Please carefully check
whether you already meet the English language requirements or whether you may need to
arrange to take an official English language test. Please see:
www.gsh.uva.nl/language-requirements

Career prospects
Many Research Master graduates find employment in public sectors related to their field,
such as government agencies, advisory boards, education, media and cultural institutions, as
well as in museums, broadcasting companies, and digital publishing and archival
organisations. There is and will continue to be a great demand for expertise in the areas of
new media and digital culture, audio-visual presentation and representation, information
storage and retrieval, and contemporary cross-media culture. The Research Master also
prepares its participants for a career as a lecturer or researcher in the field of media studies.
Specifically, students will be eligible to compete for a place in a PhD programme in the
Netherlands or abroad in a discipline related to Media Studies. Over the past years, our rMA
students have secured PhD positions around the globe.

More information: www.uva.nl/ma-media-studies-en

Graduate School of Humanities | Master's 2017 - 2018