Media Studies

You can study Media Studies as a bachelor or master student at the Braunschweig University of Art:

The Media Studies bachelor's degree programme is studied both at the Brauschweig University of Art (HBK) and the Technical University Braunschweig (TU).

The steadily expanding definition of media lends the subject matter an especially interdisciplinary note, and that is what makes media studies stand out from the other liberal arts. The combination of media-culture and media-praxis study modules at the HBK with communication studies, media technologies, and media contexts at the TU has resulted in a many-sided degree programme that one would be hard pressed to find elsewhere.
Media Studies can be studied as both a minor or major subject in this six semester bachelor degree programme. Students can combine media studies with subjects such as, Aesthetics and Art History, Communication Design, Industrial Design, Performing Arts, Computer-Communications Engineering (TU), or English Studies (TU).

Graduates receive a Bachelor of Arts that is essential for vocational success, and which is prerequisite should they choose to pursue any higher degrees.

Job Depiction

Media studies graduates are capable of individual, strategically reflective, and observational thought regarding solution development for technical media issues. They have been imparted with media qualifications that are highly applicable for numerous vocational fields, e.g. in film and television, radio, print media, media agencies, media economics, media education, museum pedagogy, adult education, corporate workshops, and media management.

A compulsory internship serves the purpose of helping students narrow this large vocational field by determining their interests, while simultaneously giving them the chance to claim working experience, and make important contacts before they graduate.

Study Goals

As a degree subject, Media Studies covers the production, structure, function and effect of media products, with special focus on film/television/video/radio and photography, including new media (computer animation, multimedia, etc.). Handling issues of media history and theory, aesthetics, sociology, political science, pedagogy, and psychology requires instructors to take an interdisciplinary approach in order to convey the form, content, process and effect of media design in its socio-cultural context. Furthermore, it is necessary to prepare students for their futures by offering hands-on applied technology courses.

The Degree

The Media Studies B.A. is structured in study modules belonging to three core areas: the major subject, the minor subject, and professionalisation.

1. Media culture: 5
modules covering media theory, media history, media analysis, and mass communication

2. Media technology:
approx. 6 modules covering fundamental mathematics, programming, information technology basics, and electrical engineering basics

3. Media contexts:
compulsory elective area covering media law, media economics, media psychology, aesthetics and art history, media politics, media sociology, and media education

4. Professionalisation:
mainly practice oriented courses, especially with utilisation of professional software, camera and recording technology, introduction to the methods of journalism, and an internship

The degree is completed with a written bachelor thesis.

A minor in Media Studies only covers the areas of media culture and media contexts.

Admission Requirements & Application

Applicants are required to provide proof of completed secondary schooling in the form of school transcripts. Only a limited number of applicants are admitted each year, and the degree is always begun in the fall term.

Entries into the Media Studies major programme are issued:

• according to the grade point average from secondary schooling or equivalent, as observable in transcript records.
• to students on a waiting list if places remain open after the above.
• according to grade point average from secondary schooling or equivalent, in combination with vocational experience, or other certifiable non-school experience relevant to media studies, which would lead to an applicant's having the knowledge foundation appropriate for pursuing this degree.

As for the minor subject, applicants should be aware that certain departments have separate application procedures, especially those with practical art and design content. Pay attention to earlier application deadlines for subjects with specific eligibility tests (English studies (TU), Industrial Design, Communication Design, Performing Arts)! As a rule, the application requirements for the desired major subject also apply for a Media Studies minor.

Please check out the deadline for applications here. For students interested in transferring from other universities, it is possible to apply for studies commencing in the summer term.

The right Degree?

Study candidates should have a keen interest in media use and academic reflection. Achievements in social studies, languages, and liberal arts will prove advantageous for beginner students, as will any well-founded knowledge of natural science and mathematics. Due to the fact that one third of the degree deals with information technology and electrical engineering, a pronounced interest in these specific areas is a definite asset! Furthermore, English language skills are of importance in respect to course content, and possible subject combinations.

The master's degree in Media Studies at the Braunschweig University of Art (HBK) was conceived as a cultural studies programme, which would relate design issues with academic research.

The intense interdisciplinary nature of this Media Studies programme is made possible by cross-institutional course structuring. Complementing the HBK's specialisation in the fields of aesthetics, art history, and design, the degree also includes courses on systems engineering, architecture, English studies, and media technology at the Technical University Braunschweig. The Master of Arts qualifies graduates of the programme for employment in numerous vocational fields, as well as for possible doctoral studies.

Study Goals

The goal behind the Media Studies master programme is the development of more profound media competencies in areas more specific to a student's desired vocational field.

History, theory and analysis should provide the foundation for responsible media application and critical concept development. Through intense reflection and the utilisation of academic methods, students make critical assessments of issues concerning media research. They acquire the ability to follow through with comprehensive analyses of the media branch, and thus give more form to an attractive professional profile.

The Degree

The Media Studies M.A. is structured in study modules belonging to three core areas: the media studies core with a cultural studies focus, the compulsory elective area, and a project work component. The combination of academic study with practical work research allows for the uniquely interdisciplinary nature of this M.A..

The Media Studies core is composed of study modules covering media theory, media history, media analysis, and media technology. This core is further supplemented by media relevant aesthetics, art history, and design modules. This ensures the cultural approach to Media Studies, with its specific focus on image sciences and design that is unique to the HBK.

Students with notable capabilities or previous experience in design may participate in an optional internship / project semester in collaboration with the Communication Arts MA programme.

The compulsory elective area makes it possible for students to develop individual specialisations according to their interests and abilities. Students either choose to study technology oriented electives, or they elect to focus on social studies. Both areas are sensibly supplemented by the modules "Architecture Theory for Media Studies" and "English for Media Studies".

The prescribed M.A. study period is four semesters and is completed with a written master thesis.

Application

In order to be admitted into this master programme, applicants must possess either a degree in media studies, or any other degree with a media related emphasis. Additionally, students are required to have completed the previous degree with a final grade of 2.5 or above.

A maximum of 25 students can begin the programme at the commencement of each fall term. 20 candidates are accepted solely based upon the final grade from their previous degree. The remaining 5 openings are filled in conjunction with a selective interview process. Nevertheless, only candidates with the minimum grade requirements will be interviewed. The application deadline ends every year on August 15.

The Right Degree?

In order to be accepted into the Master of Arts in Media Studies programme, applicants must to have completed bachelor studies in a related field. Applicants are required to submit a letter of motivation, which portrays an explicit interest in media usage and the scholarly altercation of media in view of cultural studies. In addition, applicants are to include a two-page abstract of their bachelor thesis, articulating aspects relevant to Media Studies. English language proficiency is utmost advantageous for successful participation in this degree programme. Any further certified qualifications are more than welcomed (vocational experience, publications, internships).

Information and Advice

Media Studies faculty in Braunschweig make it their cause to provide whatever information and advice students need in order to pursue their studies successfully. Staff are always on hand to give an array of subject related academic advice, and students are encouraged to take advantage of the individual support programme coordinated through the service centre.

Degree Structure and Suggested Module Scheduling

Media Studies Core Area

Semester 1
MA-MODULE 1 / Media Theory
MA-MODULE 6 / Aesthetics and Art History
MA-MODULE 2 / Media History

Semester 2
MA-MODULE 7 / Design

Semester 3
MA-MODULE 5 / Technology Theory
MA-MODULE 3 / Media Analysis

Semester 4
MA-MODULE 4 / Media Theory and Analysis

Compulsory Elective Area

Compulsory Electives: recommended for the second semester

MA-MODULE 8 / Media Contexts I or Media Technology I
MA-MODULE 9 / Media Contexts II or Media Technology II
MA-MODULE 10 / Theory of Architecture
MA-MODULE 11 / English Studies

Work Practice and Project Area

MA-MODULE 13 / Media Praxis
MA-MODULE 12 / Project Module
MA-MODULE 14 / Excursion
MA-MODULE 15 / Master Thesis / planning your thesis

For further information: Admissions Office