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Languages and Communication Studies at UEA
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Find out moreMA Digital Media and Global Communication with a Placement Year
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- January 2027
Course options
Other Start Dates
Gain a competitive edge with a placement year
This course is also available with an integrated placement year, giving you the opportunity to gain valuable UK industry experience alongside your master's degree
Other Start Dates
Top 20
UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research Quality
UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research QualityCourse Overview
Why MA Digital Media and Global Communication with a Placement Year at UEA?
Explore how digital technologies, social media, and communication systems shape global culture. Create your own digital media content while building skills for careers in creative industries, marketing, journalism, and digital communication.
Why choose UEA
- Global communication skills: Build the confidence to communicate across cultures, platforms, and international audiences
- Creative portfolio: Produce multimedia content that showcases your ideas, technical skills, and creative voice
- Career-ready experience: Gain hands-on production skills, industry insight, and professional confidence for creative and media careers
What is MA Digital Media and Global Communication with a Placement Year?
Explore how digital technologies, social media, and communication systems shape contemporary global culture and influence audiences worldwide.
You’ll combine critical understanding with hands-on training in digital media production, giving you the practical skills to bring creative ideas to life. The course also equips you to manage communication in international business and global media industries, strengthening your professional and intercultural communication skills.
Supported by industry-experienced tutors and specialist digital media facilities, you’ll learn in a creative environment that encourages innovation and experimentation. You’ll also have opportunities for internships and placements within Norwich’s thriving creative sector, including activities such as film festival involvement. The degree prepares you for careers in digital content creation, media, journalism, marketing, PR, and global communication across creative and corporate sectors.
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Placement Year
You have the option to choose a variant of this course with an integrated placement year. This gives you valuable UK industry experience as part of your Master’s degree.
In year one, you’ll complete your academic studies, including your dissertation, alongside an employability programme preparing you for UK work.
In year two, you’ll secure an industry placement or complete three employer-led industry projects with different UK organisations. This extra year lets you apply your learning professionally, strengthen your CV with UK experience, and boost your global career prospects.
You’ll lead the search for your placement, supported by employability workshops, coaching, and guidance from our specialist placement partner.
If you don’t secure a placement, you’ll complete three employer-led industry projects with organisations across different UK sectors.
For more information, check out our Postgraduate Placement Year page.
Careers
Career Pathways
With an MA Digital Media and Global Communication degree, you could launch a career as a:
- Digital Content Creator: Produce video, social media, and multimedia content for brands, organisations, or media platforms
- Social Media Specialist: Plan campaigns, manage channels, and create content that engages online audiences
- PR and Communications Officer: Communicate with diverse audiences and manage messaging across cultural and organisational contexts
- Media Production Manager: Coordinate creative projects, production workflows, and digital media teams
- Brand Strategy Manager: Develop digital campaigns and brand messaging shaped by audience insight and media trends
Career Support
Throughout your degree you’ll be supported by UEA’s Career Central(opens in a new window), with a wide range of resources to help you succeed. Within the School of Media, Language and Communication Studies, we’ll also support your career development with an extensive programme of industry speakers, Alumni panels, mentoring, short courses on AI literacy and career confidence, and assessments designed to help you reflect on your own skills development. Our annual Industry Week in spring brings together the opportunity to immerse yourself in a range of events, working with leaders in industry, specialists in career guidance, and the opportunity to learn new skills to support your journey after your degree.
After the Course
You’ll gain in-demand skills in communication, digital content creation, social media strategy, audience engagement, and digital business – all essential for thriving in today’s fast-evolving global cultural and creative Industries. Whether you're looking to shape compelling content for global brands, manage media for social or streaming platforms, lead creative teams, or launch your own media venture, this course prepares you to stand out. With a strong foundation in digital media and global communication, you'll be equipped for roles in management, consultancy, entrepreneurship, or strategy – wherever your ambition takes you. Graduate as a confident, creative, and globally minded professional ready to make an impact
Study and Modules
Structure
This flexible course is designed to adapt to your individual goals and career aspirations.
You’ll master key concepts in both digital media and global communication, while also gaining essential practical and research skills to thrive in these fast-evolving fields.
You’ll also have the opportunity to tailor your learning with optional modules. Some will allow you to delve deeper into the cultural and societal impact of digital media, while others focus on hands-on content creation, enabling you to put your skills into practice. You can even enhance your professional profile by selecting modules from Norwich Business School.
You’ll undertake an independent research project. This can take the form of an academic study, or a creative media piece accompanied by critical self-reflection. It’s a chance to showcase your expertise and passion—perfect for using as a portfolio or calling card as you enter the job market.
In preparation for your placement year, you'll complete an Employability Skills module designed to help you take the next step with confidence. Through workshops, practical career development activities and personalised support, you'll develop key employability skills, including CV writing, interview techniques, networking and professional communication, helping you stand out to employers and secure a placement.
The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis, and successful completion is required to progress to the placement year.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 40)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In your placement year, you'll complete a 60-credit placement module, giving you the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience relevant to your discipline. With support from dedicated employability specialists, careers workshops and tailored guidance, you'll be supported throughout the process of securing a placement and preparing for the workplace.
If you're unable to secure a placement, you'll instead complete three employer-led industry projects with different organisations, allowing you to gain practical experience, tackle real-world challenges and build your professional portfolio.
The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis through a portfolio documenting your placement search and a reflective report on your placement or industry project experience. By the end of the placement year, you'll have enhanced your CV, expanded your professional network, developed valuable workplace skills, deepened your understanding of your chosen sector and built the confidence to take the next step in your career.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
You’ll be part of our vibrant and interdisciplinary School of Media, Language and Communication Studies, where you’ll benefit from exceptional teaching, cutting-edge facilities, and a wealth of expertise.
Your lecturers will include internationally recognised scholars in digital media, culture and communication, as well as experienced professionals with deep industry insight.
If you opt for a module through Norwich Business School, you’ll gain additional perspectives from a dynamic blend of academic and industry-focused teaching.
Our state-of-the art BLOC facilities(opens in a new window) will nurture your digital media skills and creative vision. You'll benefit from our Media Suite(opens in a new window), equipped with a digitisation lab, podcasting facilities, editing suites, and cloud-networked computers featuring Adobe Creative Cloud and AVID Media Composer. You can book audio, video and lighting equipment to realise your own projects.
Assessment
You’ll develop your academic writing and analytical skills through traditional essays, but that’s just the beginning. Our diverse range of assessments is designed to reflect real-world scenarios and industry practices. You might record a podcast, produce a reflective journal, collaborate on a group project, respond to a live industry brief, create original digital media content, or write professional copy for film festivals and media events. Over the summer you’ll undertake an extended research project, which could look to undertake critical academic research or combine creative practice with critical reflection. This practical approach ensures you graduate not only with academic insight, but also with a portfolio of work that showcases your creative and professional capabilities.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in January each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject area
- Additional Entry Requirements
If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above then please contact the university directly for further information.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in January each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Any subject area
- Additional Entry Requirements
If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above then please contact the university directly for further information.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in each component)
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, UEA International Study Centre offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- UEA International Study Centre
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by UEA International Study Centre. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here:
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2026/27 are:
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UK Students: £11,200 (full time)
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International Students: £23,850 (full time)
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
If you choose to take this course with a placement year, your tuition fees for the first year will be as shown above. An additional fee of £3,500 will apply for the placement year (see our FAQs page for further details).
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Please see our Tuition Fees pages for further information.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships(opens in a new window); please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see additional course fees(opens in a new window) for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form(opens in a new window).
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.