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Education Master's and PhD degree programmes Media Studies
Header image Media Studies

Media Studies

Do you want to learn more about digital and social media, media use or journalism? Choose one of the five tracks of the MA Mediastudies. All tracks have a duration of a year and a half (90 ECTS).

Journalistiek (Dutch-taught)

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.

Journalism (English-taught)

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.

Datafication and Digital Literacy

This MA track offers students the opportunity to gain cutting-edge knowledge of the digital transformations that profoundly change society. If you are interested in digital media, how digitalization and datafication transform society, and how a digital literacy perspective helps you to apply knowledge about this transformation in a range of professions, this track is the right one for you.

Media Creation 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. If you are interested in media creation and the way creativity and different forms of (digital) storytelling shape its practices, this track is the right one for you.

Social Media and Society

This MA track offers a critical exploration of social media within contemporary networked societies and trains students to work with (big) data in a responsible way. If you are interested in how social media transform society and want to learn how you can analyze social media data for research and professional purposes, this programme is the right one for you.

Facts & Figures
Degree
MA in Media Studies
Course type
Master
Duration
18 months (90 ECTS)
Croho code
60831
Language of instruction
Dutch, English
Start
September
Faculty
Arts
Why study this programme in Groningen?
Programme

For Journalism and Journalistiek: some of courses in the theoretical learning pathway are shared between the two tracks. All other courses are track-specific

For Datafication and Digital Literacy, Media Creation and Innovation and Social Media and Society: some of the courses in the theoretical learning pathway, all in the methodology learning pathway and all in the professional skills learning pathway are shared between the three 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.

More information about this option

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.

More information about this option

Datafication and Digital Literacy (track)

Ever wondered how algorithms make sense of our digital activities to determine what we see and do online? Do you want to understand how big data is affecting our daily lives and how digital literacy can empower people to navigate digital societies?.

More information about this option

Media Creation and Innovation (track)

Want to understand how new media technologies are used to create innovative formats and ways of storytelling, and how media innovation and start-up culture are rooted in creative processes?

More information about this option

Social Media and Society (track)

Why do some posts go viral on social media and others do not? How can social media analysis be used in business and policy decisions? How do platforms like Facebook change how we live and do business?

More information about this option

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is optional
  • Maximum of 15 EC

It is possible to apply for an internship abroad.

Entry requirements

Transfer options

Transferring from...

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
All Research universities

Via a pre-master with a maximum of 60 EC

More information:

Voor de tracks Journalistiek en Journalism geldt een aanvullende selectieprocedure.

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Media StudiesUniversity of Groningen

No additional requirements

More information:

The BA Media Studies gives direct access to the tracks Datafication and Digital Literacy, Media Creation and Innovation, and Social Media and Society.

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore 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.

Registration procedure

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. Please apply via the 'Apply Now' button on the right.


Students with a University of Groningen degree in Media Studies directly admissible to the tracks Datafication and Digital Literacy, Media Creation and Innovation, and Social Media and Society. Students form other BA programmes or a university of applied sciences will have to take a pre-master programme first.

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-master programme first
* a student cannot be admitted

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students15 August 202401 September 2024
15 August 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025

Deadline Journalistiek / Journalism: 1 May (NL students) and 1 May (EU/non-EU students) Deadline other tracks: 15 August (NL Students) and 1 May (EU/non-EU students)

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore 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.

Registration procedure

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. Please apply via the 'Apply Now' button on the right.

Students with a University of Groningen degree in Media Studies directly admissible to the tracks Datafication and Digital Literacy, Media Creation and Innovation, and Social Media and Society. Students form other BA programmes or a university of applied sciences will have to take a pre-master programme first.

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-master programme first

* a student cannot be admitted

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students15 August 202401 September 2024
15 August 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025

Deadline Journalistiek / Journalism: 1 May (NL students) and 1 May (EU/non-EU students) Deadline other tracks: 15 August (NL Students) and 1 May (EU/non-EU students)

Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2023-2024€ 2314full-time
non-EU/EEA2023-2024€ 16000full-time
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 18700full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

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.

With the track Datafication and Digital Literacy you will find positions in policy making, education, consultancy, data management, media and digital advocacy, media and data analysis.

The track Social Media and Society leads to positions in data analysis, market research, marketing, communication and public relations, consultancy, entrepreneurship and policy advice.

With the track Media Creation and Innovation, you will find positions in media management, media production, (online) communication, online publishing, advertising, audiovisual archives, web curating, content management, tool development, content creation, cultural organizations, entrepreneurship and start-ups.

Job examples

  • PR/communications officer
  • Policy advisor
  • Reporter/editor
Research

Research in Media and Journalism studies

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:

On the personalized webpages of our employees, you will be able to find more information about the research projects of our staff.

You can find examples of Master's theses in the thesis repository.

Apply nowBrochureEventsContact

Contact

  • Gwendolyn Hooijkaas BA MSc (studieadviseur)
    Email: studyadvicemediastudies rug.nl
  • Erika Kastelein MA (studieadviseur)
    Email: studyadvicemediastudies rug.nl
  • Admission Office (Contact form)
    Telephone: +31-(0)50 363 8976

‎Video Journalist/Gallery Director

The internship I completed as part of my Master's track led directly to a job in journalism. After an intense year of studying and three months of work experience, my internship supervisor offered me a job as a Video Journalist. Since then, I have been promoted to Gallery Director, with creative control over my channel's live content.

Studying in Groningen prepared me for daily newsgathering – it taught me how to make news – and also to look critically at the media content others create. That’s important regardless of whether you want to work in Journalism Studies or journalism itself; you can’t get better at what you do without reflecting on the work of others.

Groningen’s the sort of place where other people will want to visit you. You won’t be able to keep your parents, friends or significant others away. I’ve got very fond memories of my time there, which was academically tough enough to keep me on my toes but relaxed enough to have a lot of fun.

I’m looking forward to getting more presenting experience, something that studying in Groningen gave me a real taste for. After a year looking at such varied topics, you learn what you want to do most.

Read more

University of Groningen Orange Tulip Scholarship/Talent Grant Faculty of Arts

Are you a non-EU/EEA student from Russia, India or Indonesia, starting a Master's programme at the Faculty of Arts? If so, you could qualify for the University of Groningen OTS/Talent Grant, Faculty of Arts, a partial scholarship which helps you to finance your studies.

Read more about the OTS/Talent Grant Faculty of Arts.

Read more

Study associations

Max. L. Snijders

Max L. Snijders is a study association for students taking a Master's track in Journalism at the University of Groningen.
The association is named after the first Dutch professor of journalism and former editor-in-chief of the Utrechts Nieuwsblad.
https://totdemax.news/

MESA

MESA is the study association of the bachelor and master programs of Media Studies. The association aims to help the cultural and academic growth of its members as well as improve contact between them. Additionally, the association plays a vital role in promoting and introducing the bachelor to both new and prospective students.
MESA is comprised of various committees, each with their own objectives to help us achieve our goals. Numerous events are organized all year round such as the first years introduction camp, parties, trips, excursions and debates amongst other things and offers services such as high-quality summaries.
https://mesagroningen.nl/
Read more
Study support

Each Master's degree programme has a study advisor whom you can contact if you have questions or need advice about your degree programme and other study-related matters. Everything you discuss will be treated confidentially. If you have a more complex problem, for example study delay, a performance disability or if you are ill for a long time, you should contact a student counsellor.

In addition, you can also follow various courses at the Study Support section of the Student Service Centre (SSC), for example on study stress and holding presentations.