Choosing to study MA Digital Media and Culture at the University of York has been more than an academic journey for me. It has been a process of reshaping my worldview, my capabilities, and my understanding of myself. I’m going to tell you what I’ve learned studying Digital Media and Culture.
What I’ve learned in Digital Media and Culture
Over the past year, I gained not only theoretical knowledge, but also a way of thinking that helps me interpret the relationships between people and technology, culture and society in the digital age. For anyone who hopes to build professional skills in the digital world and explore future possibilities, this course will help you do that!
Being brave and embracing challenges
In 2024, I stepped out of my comfort zone and came to a completely unfamiliar country. Beyond challenges in language, culture, academic atmosphere, and learning approach, I was most curious about a few questions: What exactly do we study in Digital Media and Culture? Is it difficult? What are the teachers like? Is York a good place to live? Can I find a job after graduation?
Within a few weeks, I was certain that I made the right decision. Everything that happened exceeded my expectations. I have met humorous, kind and knowledgeable teachers. I have made friends from diverse backgrounds. Perhaps most importantly, I have completed the first truly self-driven research paper in my life and secured a job after graduation. I feel grateful for the choice I made and for everything York has given me.
A warm and open academic community
Digital Media and Culture sits within the School of Arts and Creative Technologies. The environment is relaxed, friendly, and professional. The lecturers are very approachable and listen to bold ideas. They help us develop them into structured research, and offer support inside and outside the classroom. They ask what you want to do in the future, why you chose a topic, and whether you need resources or guidance. At York, you truly feel seen and understood.
It’s been fascinating to talk to other students and share their cultural experiences. It’s revealed how digital culture appears in different contexts around the world. Discussions are open, and you are free to pursue topics you’re genuinely interested in. Along the way, your way of seeing the world changes. For me, it’s deeper, more detailed, and more sensitive to patterns and trends.
Studying Digital Media and Culture: Rethinking digital society
So, what have I learned studying Digital Media and Culture? We live in a digital society, so the courses are both forward-thinking and closely connected to everyday life. For example:
- Digital Society — understanding the logic behind apps and platforms we use daily
- Digital Labour — rethinking the labour behind “content creation”
- Media, Power and Politics — how media and politics shape public opinion
- Digital Aesthetics — how algorithms reshape perception
We’ve had discussions on AI, drones, and technology ethics throughout the course. Lecturers encourage practical exploration, helping us connect theory with reality. These topics gradually taught me to link abstract concepts to real-world phenomena, allowing me to understand the complexity of digital society.
From early on, I was interested in digital intimacy. In my dissertation I analysed Her, Searching, and Black Mirror. It explored miscommunication, algorithms and forms of “alternative intimacy” in the digital age. It was the first time I combined passion with academic work, discovering how research into a topic I cared about felt challenging but gratifying. Writing wasn’t easy, but each piece of feedback from my supervisor showed progress. Graduating with Distinction became one of my proudest moments.
Practical skills and career growth: Learning that leads forward
Over my course, I gained academic foundations as well as transferable skills in critical thinking, academic writing, project and time management, cross-cultural communication, media/platform analysis, and digital tool usage. In today’s competitive job market, these capabilities became my confidence, they helped me secure a job at a UK university before graduating and supported my growth in a new environment. I also came to realise that good education doesn’t push you to run fast, but makes learn to pause and think. It doesn’t hand you answers, but walks with you as you search.
Answer and exploration: Always moving forward
We come from different places and backgrounds, yet gather at York because of curiosity and dreams. If you are looking for a place where you can discuss platform culture, AI and digital life with people from around the world; where academic study and your personal life can coexist; where you can move closer to the person you hope to become, then Digital Media and Culture at York is a wonderful choice.
I remember in our last class, Dr. Richard A Carter said to us:
Always keep learning, searching for things that make you feel wonder, and feel excitement to be alive – that is what will matter, above anything else.
I hope you have enjoyed reading about what I’ve learned studying Digital Media and Culture at York. Let us stay fearless, always curious, continue questioning, and follow what we love.
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