Do you want to learn more about digital and social media, media use or journalism? Choose one of the four tracks of the MA Mediastudies. All tracks have a duration of a year and a half (90 ECTS).
Een gezonde samenleving heeft goede journalistiek nodig. Hoe en waarom is de journalistiek zo aan het veranderen? Hoe maak je zelf onafhankelijke, betrouwbare en boeiende journalistieke verhalen? In deze track word je opgeleid tot verslaggever en leer je kritisch denken over wat journalistiek inhoudt. Je ontwikkelt zowel praktische vaardigheden als academische kennis.
Voor de tracks Journalistiek en Journalism geldt een selectieprocedure.
Are you passionate about news and do you want to report and analyze current affairs? Do you want to know why journalism is transforming so quickly nowadays? This track trains students from diverse parts of the world to become international journalists, with in-depth academic knowledge in the field of Journalism Studies presented by journalism researchers and intensive training by experienced journalists, offering a solid foundation in the skills that are needed to succeed in journalism today.
For the track Journalism a selection procedure is in place.
Media, Cultural Industries and
Innovation
In this MA track students
explore how media are produced and (re-)used in a digital era. You
study how new media technologies enable innovative formats and
distinctive practices of media use, re-use and consumption.
Moreover, you will apply academic knowledge and research skills to
tackle societal challenges. If you are interested in studying media
production and practice and the roles innovation and
entrepreneurship play in this, this is the track for
you.
Media, Digital Transformations and
Society
In this MA track students
investigate the impacts of digital media on contemporary society.
Through the track's specific focus on media literacies and
inclusion and data and technology, you investigate how networked
technologies might help in creating more equitable and sustainable
societies. Throughout the programme, you will apply academic
knowledge and research skills to tackle these societal challenges.
If you are interested in studying topics such as digital
citizenship and the platform society, this is the track for
you.
For Journalism and Journalistiek: some of courses in the theoretical learning pathway are shared between the two tracks. All other courses are track-specific.
The third semester is designated for the MA thesis and the mandatory MA internship.
| Programme options |
|---|
| Journalistiek (track) Wil je verslag doen van actuele gebeurtenissen en deze analyseren? Wil je nadenken over de rol van de journalistiek nu dit veld zo snel verandert? Dan is deze track iets voor jou. |
| Journalism (track) Do you want to report and analyse current affairs? Or reshape the rapidly changing field of journalism? This Master's track puts you in the front line of contemporary journalism. |
| Media, Cultural Industries and Innovation (track) How are new media technologies enabling innovative formats and distinctive practices of media use, re-use and consumption? How do innovation and entrepreneurship shape the cultural industries and media production and practices today?. |
| Media, Digital Transformations and Society (track) How do digital transformations create new inequalities in society and how can they help in creating more equitable and sustainable societies? How do digital technologies shape citizenship and how do platforms shape how we do business, learn and communicate?. |
For journalistiek/journalism it is not possible to do an exchange abroad. However, it is possible to do the mandatory MA internship abroad.
For Media, Cultural Industries and Innovation and Media, Digital Transformations and Society, study abroad is not possible.
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
For specific information about the entry requirements for the different Master's tracks, please select the track of your choice:
|
| entry test |
For the tracks Journalistiek and Journalism a selection procedure is in place. Check the individual track pages for the details. |
| language test |
Please check the individual track pages for language requirements. |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| All Research universities |
Via a pre-master with a maximum of Voor de tracks Journalistiek en Journalism geldt een aanvullende selectieprocedure. |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Media Studies | University of Groningen |
No additional requirements More information:The BA Media Studies gives direct access to the tracks Media, Cultural Industries and Innovation, and Media, Digital Transformations and Society. |
All degree programmes from University of Groningen and other research universities give access, though a pre-master programme might be necessary. Please check specific requirements per track on the track pages.
For the tracks Journalistiek and Journalism there is an additional selection procedure in place. Apply via the 'Apply Now' button on the right.
Students with a University of Groningen degree in Media Studies are directly admissible to the tracks Media, Cultural Industries and Innovation, and Media, Digital Transformations and Society. Students from other BA programmes are advised to take the Faculty Minor Media Studies and students with an applied sciences diploma will need to do a pre-master in order to be admitted. If you have any questions on admission please email admission.mediastudies rug.nl.
After you complete your application, the Media Studies Admissions Board will assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific track requirements, and will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies.
The Admissions Board will then determine whether:
* direct admission is possible
* a student has to complete the pre-masterprogramme first
* a student cannot be admitted
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
Deadline Journalism/Journalistiek: 1 May 2026 (NL students, EU/non-EU students). The selection procedure will take place in the first half of May. Students can still register after 1 May, but will be put on a waiting list if the maximum amount of students (60 for both Masters together) has been reached.
Deadline other tracks: 15 August (NL Students) and 1 May (EU/non-EU students).
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
For specific information about the entry requirements for the different Master's tracks, please select the track of your choice:
|
| entry test |
For the tracks Journalistiek and Journalism a selection procedure is in place. Check the the individual track pages for the details. |
| language test |
Please check the individual track pages for language requirements. |
All degree programmes from University of Groningen and other research universities give access, though a pre-master programme might be necessary. Please check specific requirements per track on the track pages.
For the tracks Journalistiek and Journalism there is an
additional selection procedure in place. Apply via the 'Apply Now'
button on the right.
Students with a University of Groningen degree in Media Studies are
directly admissible to the tracks Media, Cultural Industries and
Innovation, and Media, Digital Transformations and Society.
Students from other BA programmes are advised to take the Faculty
Minor Media Studies and students with an applied sciences diploma
will need to do a pre-master in order to be admitted. If you have
any questions on admission please email admission.mediastudies rug.nl.
After you complete your application, the Media Studies Admissions
Board will assess whether your educational/academic background
meets the specific track requirements, and will consider the level
and curriculum of your previous studies.
The Admissions Board will then determine whether:
* direct admission is possible
* a student has to complete the pre-masterprogramme first
* a student cannot be admitted
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
Deadline Journalism/Journalistiek: 1 May 2026 (NL students, EU/non-EU students). The selection procedure will take place in the first half of May. Students can still register after 1 May, but will be put on a waiting list if the maximum amount of students (60 for both Masters together) has been reached.
Deadline other tracks: 15 August (NL Students) and 1 May (EU/non-EU students).
If you chose the Dutch-taught Journalism track, you will be able to work as a reporter/editor within a Dutch media organization. The English-taught track leads to similar functions in your country of origin or an international journalism context. Jobs in (non-profit) pr and communication, policy advice and research are another possibility.
Our staff are conducting varied research in the field of Journalism Studies, also within larger collaborative projects with other universities, such as Sheffield and Cardiff. During this degree programme, you as a student will familiarize yourself with the field of research and even learn to conduct research yourself. The Research Center for Media and Journalism Studies holds a database of all research within the department..
These courses and your thesis could lead to a publication of your article or even book. An example of this is the work De hoofdredacteur. Over ondernemend leiderschap in de journalistiek (2011), which was written during a research course of the same topic.
The departmant supports students' participation in congresses and symposiums concerning journalism and Journalism Studies. You can also be asked to assist in a staff members' research project as a student assistant.
Here you will find a couple of research projects that are scheduled to run for a couple of years:
You can find examples of Master's theses in the thesis repository.
