Digital Media, Culture and Politics
Digital media, culture and politics is a discipline shaped by the recognition that the way political life is conducted, communicated and contested has been fundamentally altered by digital technologies. Social media, online news environments, political advertising and digital campaigning have changed how politicians reach voters, how citizens engage with public affairs, and how power is exercised and challenged. Understanding these changes requires tools drawn from media studies, cultural theory and political science, and the ability to bring them to bear on the rapid developments currently reshaping democratic life.
At the School of Oriental and African Studies you will approach these questions with the global and cross-cultural perspective that characterises the institution's work. You will examine how digital platforms mediate political communication across different national and cultural contexts, how global media corporations interact with local political cultures, and how digital media shapes both formal politics and broader cultural and social movements. The programme includes a foundation year, providing an entry route into degree-level study, and the main degree runs full time over three years in the standard entry configuration.
You will develop skills in media analysis, political theory, cultural criticism and digital research methods. You will learn to think critically about the relationship between technology, media and power, and to communicate your analysis effectively in academic and professional contexts.
Graduates move into careers in digital communications, political campaigning, journalism, public affairs, media and communications management, policy analysis and the technology sector. The combination of cultural and political analysis with an understanding of digital media is increasingly valued by employers in government, NGOs, think tanks and private communications consultancies. Postgraduate study in media studies, digital politics, communications, international relations or cultural studies is a natural progression for graduates wanting to develop specialist expertise.