MA Data, Culture and Society

We live in an age where almost everything that we do is connected to data. Big data and datafication – the increasing transformation of multiple aspects of everyday lives into digital data, pose great opportunities but also risks for contemporary societies. This MA course addresses, explores and creatively utilises this transformation. We place an emphasis on current and future technologies and practices such as algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, blockchain, data analytics and data mining, the Internet of Things, and others.

This multidisciplinary course brings together media/communication studies and computer science. It combines hands-on and applied approaches with theoretical learning and critical analysis. It will encourage collaboration, creative practice, group work and problem-based learning. You'll apply tools and technologies to your own data challenges and projects, including from your existing professional or cultural, political, social and economic environments. The course also features optional modules from a range of disciplines across the University: Media and Communication Studies, Law, Computer Science, Politics and International Relations, and Cultural Studies.

You'll be introduced to the tools and approaches that can be used for collection, analysis, management and visualisation of data, as well as to the skills needed to critically think about the ethical, cultural, social and political implications of their practice.

The course combines technical skills, critical use and creative production. It directly addresses graduates who may wish to acquire a set of skills in relation to data analytics, processing and visualisation, while maintaining and furthering a critical mode of enquiry into practices and trends that shape individuals, organisations and societies today. It also speaks to graduates with technical backgrounds and work experience in data-related industries, who wish to develop a more critical and multidisciplinary understanding of the social, cultural, political and economic implications of data-driven societies today.

Westminster is a leading provider in this academic discipline and is ranked top 10 among UK institutions for Communication and Media Studies in the QS World University Rankings 2021. The University is also ranked 4th in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2022 for Research Quality in Communication and Media Studies.