MSc
Digital Media
From computer games to mobile apps, choose your area of digital specialisation
Course Overview
Why take this course?
If you have a background in computing and wish to develop your knowledge and progress in the area of creative digital technologies, this course is ideal.
It considers the theoretical, practical and technical aspects of media production and offers specialised topic choices for you to tailor the course to your personal strengths and future career plans.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Get to grips with the cutting-edge, industry-standard software housed in our computer and multimedia laboratories
- Use our purpose-made TV studios and photographic studios to build and test your digital creations
- Have the opportunity to engage in a real-world, client-based problem in order to develop portfolio pieces
What opportunities might it lead to?
From the web and computer games, to mobile technologies and social media, digital consumerism continues to grow and develop, both in the UK and internationally. This course provides expertise in digital media production and will enable you to find employment in a range of creative industry roles which incorporate the design and use of new media technologies.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- computer game development
- multimedia production
- animation
- graphics and video editing
- digital video film-making
I’m now lucky enough to be working for Aardman Animations. I never thought I’d end up working for a world leader in animation – I’m still pinching myself when I think about it!
Lindsey Howell, MSc Digital Media student 2012
Key Facts
- Duration
- 1 year full time, 3 years part time
- Entry
A 2:2 honours degree in a computing or information technology subject or an art-based subject with a significant information technology component, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.
English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 or equivalent with no component less than 6.0.- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £5,000, part-time students: £1,670 p/a* (3 years)
International full-time students: £11,000, part-time students: £3,670 p/a* (3 years)
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- create.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 2421 - Department
- School of Creative Technologies
Structure & Teaching
You will be introduced to the more advanced concepts within digital media and the professional skills required to project manage a product. Overall this course aims to broaden your skill set and bring your professional competencies to industry standard.
Here are the units you will study:
- Advance Web Technologies: This unit develops your understanding of web development, the latest technologies being deployed on the web and how you might utilise them.
- Multimedia Asset Production: This unit focuses on the production of multimedia assets and the range of tasks, skills and management issues involved in creating video and other media material.
- Primary Empirical Techniques for Original Research: This unit investigates the different empirical methods needed to successfully conduct research projects.
- Professional Development: This unit provides the opportunity for you to develop the skills required to plan and manage development projects in the context of the creative industries.
Specialist optional units:
- Computer Graphics Techniques and Applications: This unit examines the fundamentals of image production and 3D modelling, and their application to animation and virtual reality.
- Post-Production and Special Effects: This unit focuses on the post-production stages of generating media composites.
- Programming Principles for 2D and 3D Animation: This unit investigates the theoretical elements of the object-oriented paradigm within the context of computer animation.
- Sound Synthesis and Processing: This unit establishes the foundations and good practice in Sound Design for artistic and commercial purposes.
Teaching and Assessment
You will experience a variety of teaching through lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory sessions and project work.
Throughout the course you will participate in a range of technical and creative activities. Units are frequently built around practical problems, which typically require a creative and enterprising approach. There is also a mix of both individual and group activities, which also fosters a friendly and supportive atmosphere.
How are you assessed?
There are a range of assessment types, dependant on the content and nature of each topic. Here’s how we assess your work:
- coursework assignments
- learning journals
- examinations
- presentations
- creative technology project
Facilities & Features
TV Studios
Our purpose-built TV studios accommodate the production of all types of television work
Computer Labs
You’ll have excellent resources at your fingertips
Specialist Software and Equipment
Have access to a wide range of powerful and modern multimedia computers equipped with the latest software
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information
TV Studios
We have purpose-built TV studios that allow the production of all types of television work. We offer professional level cameras (Sony EX1 and EX3), sound mixing kit, the Newtek Tricaster system and a TV Broadcast Server (Capital Networks - Audience.TV). All this equipment enables you to get plenty of practical experience and ensures you are working to an industry standard.
Computer Labs
A full range of industry software will be available for you to use in the computer labs. You’ll have excellent resources at your fingertips including:
- the Virtual Reality Lab
- motion capture facilities
- Half Life 2 (source game engine)
- Unreal game engine
- XNA (Dreamspark) Xbox 360 development environment
- Maya
- macromedia software
Specialist Software and Equipment
You will have easy access to a wide range of powerful and modern multimedia computers equipped with the latest software. Such software will play a major role in this course and you’ll regularly be using packages such as Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop, 3D Studio Max, Avid Media Composer, Cool Edit Pro, Adobe After Effects, Protools and Logic. Though these may seem daunting at first – you’ll have day-to-day contact with knowledgeable, enthusiastic and highly motivated staff who will be happy to lend a helping hand.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
You will be equipped to seek employment in the media industries such as film, web or television, training applications development or any job where you can employ your management and technical skills. This course will be a suitable route to roles in video and audio production, as well as graphics, interactive and multimedia design for the creation of contemporary media products. Our previous graduates have successfully found employment in web development, major animation companies and also as freelancers for a range of digital design practices.
Career planning
One of the benefits of studying at Portsmouth is the support that we provide to our Master's and Research Degrees students in career planning. Our careers and recruitment service – Purple Door – can assist you in career research and finding employment opportunities. Help is also available if you wish to find a part-time job while studying your degree. We offer our postgraduate students and alumni one-to-one appointments with a careers adviser, or an online service for those not able to travel back to the University. Our alumni can call on our career services for five years after graduation.
In addition, regular employability events offer you the chance to meet employers, find out about different career sectors and improve your applications or CV. The Graduate Summer Programme provides a range of guidance and employability seminars and workshops.