Digital Media and Culture

This programme lets you explore the space of contemporary thinking about computers, networked communications, ubiquitous media and social media. It includes compulsory coursework, option courses and the opportunity for original research, packaged in manageable work units.You will be researching alongside students studying more technical courses, and can dip into these. The programme examines theories and philosophies of digital media, technological change, the mass media, gaming, data mining, computation, artificial intelligence, and the social and cultural contexts in which such developments take place.Students of this programme will be part of a dynamic community of researchers, exploring many aspects of computing: its social ramifications, social media, the world of e-commerce, e-entrepreneurship, e-learning, project-based composition and artistic works, digital architecture and urbanism, new media consumption practices, the co-creation of media, changes to the household, links between vision and sound, and more.Students on the programme benefit from access to a broad range of expertise and research in digital media and culture.

International students arriving in Edinburgh can access various help and assistance to integrate with their new community. This starts at the International Student Centre where advice and assistance is available with fees and finance as well as legal matters such as immigration advice and visas. There is also a number of events organised by the ISC including weekly themed nights representing different countries and subsidized trips around the country. There are also campus wide events such as International Evening and the International Desserts Night to help students bring their own culture to others. The Edinburgh University Students Association (EUSA) is the combination of the unions and the Student Representative Council and has buildings around the campus including Teviot Row House, Potterrow, Kings Buildings House and the Pleasance. Teviot Row House has claims as the oldest purpose built student union building in the world. EUSA is responsible for some 250 societies for students to become involved with outside the classroom. Edinburgh itself is an important centre for the performing arts, particularly comedy, amateur and fringe theatre and numerous groups within the university are involved in this area. The Theatre Company was founded in 1896 and the Drama Society runs Bedlam Theatre, the oldest student run theatre in the UK. There is a weekly newspaper produced by students along with an independent publication and an alternative music radio station. In sports, there are 67 clubs ranging from rugby and football to judo and gliding.