- UCAS course code
- P390
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
BA Digital Media, Culture and Society
Duration: 3 years, 4 years with optional placement
Year of entry: 2026
UCAS course code: P390 / Institution code: M20
- Typical A-level offer: AAB
- Typical contextual A-level offer: BBB
- UK refugee/care-experienced offer: BBC
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 35 points overall with 6,6,5 at HL
Overview
Course overview
- Explore the impact that digital technology is having on our culture and society and the significance it has today and for the future.
- Learn to use digital tools to analyse cultural and social data. Reflect on important questions about digital technology.
- Use creative and innovative methods to tackle modern digital media challenges. These skills will also apply to jobs in many industries, like social media, entertainment, and journalism.
- The University of Manchester is a world-leading institution, ranked in the top-50 globally across all of Arts and Humanities by Times Higher Education 2025.
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Arts, Languages and Cultures
- Telephone
- +44 (0)161 509 2871
- ug-ahvs@manchester.ac.uk
- School/Faculty overview
-
See: About us
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
A-level
AAB including grade A in an arts, humanities or social sciences based subject
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
A-level contextual offer
BBB including one arts, humanities or social sciences based subject.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
Contextual offers are available for applicants who:
- live in the UK and will be under the age of 21 on 1 September of the year they will start their course; and
- live in an area of disadvantage or with low progression into higher education; and
- have attended a UK school or college for their GCSEs or A-levels (or equivalent qualifications) that has performed below the national average over multiple years.
See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.
UK refugee/care-experienced offer
BBC including one humanities subject.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
UK refugee/care-experienced offers are available for applicants who:
- have been looked after in care for more than three months; or
- have been granted refugee status by the UK government or have been issued a UK visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family Scheme or Ukraine Extension Scheme).
See our contextual admissions page for full details and to check your eligibility.
International Baccalaureate
35 points overall. 6,6,5 in Higher Level subjects
Applicants studying the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme (IBCP) should contact the admissions team prior to applying so that their academic profile can be considered.
GCSE/IGCSE
Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade 6 in English and Grade 4 in Mathematics. GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the admissions team in your academic School/Department for clarification.
Other entry requirements
Other entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.
Country-specific entry requirements
We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see Accepted entry qualifications from your country
Still need help? Please contact salcadmissions@manchester.ac.uk for further advice
English language requirements
All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency. The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:
GCSE/IGCSE English Language grade 6, or;
IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in any component, or;
An acceptable equivalent qualification.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.
If you need to improve your English language skills to meet the entry requirements for your academic course, the University Centre for Academic English (UCAE) summer pre-sessional courses can help. Check if your academic course offers the option of taking a pre-sessional course on the UCAE page .
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student requiring a visa to study in the UK must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language (common European Framework (CEFR B2 level) to be granted a Student Route visa (previously known as a Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
In addition, our academic Schools/Departments may require applicants to demonstrate English proficiency above the B2 level. Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be found here .
English language test validity
Fees and funding
Fees
Fees for entry in 2026 have not yet been set. For entry in 2025 the tuition fees were £9,535 per annum for home students, and are expected to increase slightly for 2026 entry.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
- Find out more from student finance
- Eligible UK students can apply for bursaries and scholarships
- Funding for EU and international students is on our country-specific pages
- Many students work part-time or complete a student internship
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
Potential candidates are expected to demonstrate why they have chosen this particular degree in their personal statement and express why the course interests them.
Applicants submitting mitigating circumstances
If you are submitting information about mitigating circumstances that have affected, or are likely to affect, your academic performance, you should include this in the referee's report.
We cannot usually take into account information that is supplied after an adverse decision has been made on an application by the admitting school.
(Examples of mitigating circumstances include family illness, problems with school facilities or an unusual curriculum followed by your school of college.)
Home-schooled applicants
If you have followed a non-standard educational route and have been, for example, educated at home, your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course to which you applied. You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the academic entry requirements as specified for the course. We will also require a reference which should be written by somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education. Please refer to UCAS for further information: UCAS reference guidelines
Non-standard educational routes
Mature students are some of our most well-equipped learners, bringing skills and attributes gained from work, family and other life experiences. Students come from a whole array of backgrounds, study every kind of course, undertake full-time and part-time learning and are motivated by career intentions as well as personal interest. There is no such thing as a typical mature student at Manchester.
The application process is the same as for other prospective undergraduates. If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to. Further information for mature students can be found here ( http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/mature-students/ )
How your application is considered
Overseas (non-UK) applicants
Deferrals
NB Some English Language test results, such as IELTS of TOEFL, are only valid from two years from the test date.
Course details
Course description
The programme includes four foundational course units in the first year of study, ‘Thinking Digital Media’, ‘History of Big Data’ and ‘Researching in the Digital Age’ I & II. These units will equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to think, learn and research from a digital media perspective. Further core units in subsequent years—including ‘Big Questions in the Digital World’, ‘Researching with Digital Methods’ (Y2) and ‘Digital Futures’ (Final Year)—will familiarize students with contemporary issues and debates about digital technology, broaden their digital skills, and inspire them to offer creative alternatives to digital challenges. Students will also produce an independent research project (dissertation) in the final year of study.
Additionally, students will be able to take optional units to expand their knowledge and skills according to their interests. These additional units will be offered from within and beyond the Digital Media programme, and will zoom in on such topics as race; gender and sexuality; climate change; fake news and disinformation; activism and social change; visual communication; and mobility. There will also be an opportunity for students to undertake a year-long work placement.
Aims
The BA Digital Media, Culture and Society examines how the digital revolution is reshaping our world, leaving many benefitting from the changes, while others are becoming increasingly marginalised.
Those who enrol on the course will explore the ways digital developments have influenced our lives and gain the tools and inspiration to craft innovative solutions to digital challenges - putting them at the cutting edge of advancements in the modern world.
Special features
Digital Futures Initiative
Digital Futures unites 1700 researchers from different disciplines across all three of the University's faculties. They form teams to solve key research problems, grow in new and emerging research areas, and work with outside stakeholders. This makes up one element of a greater push towards Manchester's goal of being a leading digital city.
State-of-the art facilities
Our teaching takes place in the Centre for Digital Humanities, Cultures and Media Lab, a dedicated, state-of-the art teaching and research space with large screens, flexible seating, and high-performance laptops. Our research-led teaching combines theoretically informed study and critique of digital media and technology with training in creative digital skills that are transferable in a wide range of roles, such as data analysis and visualisation.
Work placement
Students can gain 20 days of industry experience in a relevant project. These are offered by businesses or organisations, on-site or remotely. They also need approval from a host and an academic supervisor. Students can also create their own placements with the course unit convenor and programme director's approval. For more information, visit the work placements page.
Culture and technology in Manchester
Manchester is growing as a key hub in the UK for media and technology, and is now considered the north's foremost cultural hub. The city is attracting significant investment in technology and culture. Notable places include MediaCityUK, the Whitworth Gallery, the Sharp Project, and HOME.
Teaching and learning
For every hour of university study, you will be expected to complete a further 2-3 hours of independent study. The individual study component could be spent reading, producing written or creative work, and collaborating with other students on projects.
Coursework and assessment
In the programme, you will learn not only how digital media are changing everyday life across the globe, but also what novel insights and interpretations can be gained by employing digital tools, including new algorithmic techniques, big data analytics, visual methods, and other digitally native approaches. You will use cutting-edge digital software to make sense of digital transformations, interrogate our increasingly datafied cultural records, and offer creative answers to burning social and cultural questions.
Performance will be evaluated through a variety of traditional and creative assessments, including essays, reports, presentations, policy briefs, and digital creative projects alongside undertaking a dissertation project in your final year.
Course content for year 1
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIGI10041 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| DIGI10042 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| DIGI10051 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| DIGI10082 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| DIGI10031 | 20 | Optional | |
| DIGI10062 | 20 | Optional | |
| DIGI10072 | 20 | Optional | |
| SALC10402 | 20 | Optional | |
| UCIL20421 | 20 | Optional |
Course content for year 2
You will also prepare for a placement year, should you wish to take that option, where you can put your skills and knowledge into practice in industry.
Course units for year 2
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIGI20041 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| DIGI20082 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| DIGI20052 | 20 | Optional | |
| DIGI20062 | 20 | Optional | |
| DIGI20071 | 20 | Optional | |
| DIGI24232 | 20 | Optional | |
| SALC20031 | 20 | Optional | |
| UCIL20421 | 20 | Optional | |
| UCIL24151 | 20 | Optional |
Course content for year 3
Your optional placement year will be in a digital media or technology-related organisation, where you will apply program knowledge and skills in real-world situations, while gaining insights into program topics. Organisations could include those within the entertainment industry, social media, journalism, or the public sector.
This offers valuable work experience and a chance to showcase communication, collaboration, and leadership skills in a professional setting.
Course units for year 3
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIGI30000 | 40 | Mandatory | |
| DIGI30051 | 20 | Mandatory | |
| CCMI30122 | 20 | Optional | |
| DIGI30022 | 20 | Optional | |
| DIGI30061 | 20 | Optional | |
| DIGI30071 | 20 | Optional | |
| UCIL33501 | 20 | Optional |
Course content for year 4
Scholarships and bursaries
Find out more from Student Finance .
International student? Check your country page .
Interested in a student internship ?
Facilities
Centre for Digital Humanities, Cultures and Media
The Centre for Digital Humanities, Cultures and Media connects staff, students, and outside partners in humanities and technology. The University boasts one of the UK's largest groups of humanities scholars. Both the Centre and wider University is known for innovation and has top computational experts. Together, they use advanced digital methods and technology to tackle new humanities research challenges.
Digital Media Labs
Our Digital Media Labs are available to our students throughout their time at the University. These spaces, home to cutting-edge digital media technology, will be used for formal sessions and students can book them for group use.
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
• Media and Entertainment Industry
• Social Media Management
• Digital Strategy and Consulting
• Government and Public Sector
• Policy and Advocacy
• Journalism and Publishing
• Digital Marketing and Communications
• User Experience (UX)
• Research and Analysis
• Cultural Institutions and Museums
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The course will also prepare you for working in a much wider variety of sectors beyond the media, where critical understanding of digital media and technology is essential for operation.
Regulated by the Office for Students
The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.
You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.