Master Media Innovation

1-year professional master’s programme | English-taught

Master
1 year
Full time
English

Bring something new into use

Do you work in the media industry and want to learn how to develop new and groundbreaking concepts? Or have you finished your media studies (hbo) and want to move on to a master's? Then consider the Master Media Innovation! Once you have obtained this master's degree, you will be able to apply theory to practical applications, leading to new, pioneering and future-proof (digital) media concepts.

This master's programme in digital and interactive media has been developed in close cooperation with partners in the business world. Starting from everyday issues and with a focus on new trends and technologies, you will learn to recognise opportunities for media innovation and turn them into new and successful products.

Why choose the Master Media Innovation at BUas?

  • Study innovation, design thinking, and cutting-edge media
  • Industry-experienced lecturing team, cooperation with international partners
  • Successfully blends theory and practical application
Why BUas?
What Media Innovation?

'Learning from different cultures is an eye opener.'

Stefani, student

Programme content
Experience
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Study overview

Study programme

Since its inception, the objective of the Master in Media Innovation has been to educate students who are able to develop insightful media-related research and innovative, market-oriented media products. In order to do this, students are exposed to a wide variety of topics including media theory, business models, emerging technologies, user-centred design, communication theory, and more.

Innovation

In developing the Master in Media Innovation, the objective was to educate people capable of anticipating future developments in the field of digital media and taking advantage of those developments. These innovators can be recognised by:

  • Their ability to initiate, shape or partially shape, monitor or manage very complex processes: innovative media products are created in an ingenious process in which technology, content, design, business and knowledge about consumers and markets are optimally geared to one another and integrated functionally;
  • Their ability to anticipate the future. After all, a new product will only be used if it is so special that it creates a new market as it were, or appears to seamlessly align with an obvious or latent market need. Timing and anticipation, in other words, are factors that should not be underestimated;
  • Their ability to reshape analytical insights. In the manufacturing process of a product, analysis is no longer a goal in itself (such as a report, article or academic or other publication), but a creative guiding principle: the building blocks for a product yet to be developed.
Focus

The Master in Media Innovation offers students a programme that trains them to systematically obtain the strategic skills necessary to become innovators. You will learn to look beyond the surface of digital media to reveal some very decisive core processes (ontologies), understand the way in which they function, and obtain the ability to apply these skills in creative, innovative and future-orientated media products.

International network

The Master in Media Innovation is a highly international programme; not only a large percentage of our students and lecturers are international, but you will also come into contact with international researchers and industry partners during the programme. The media industry is a global industry, and graduates of the Master in Media Innovation are equipped to work in that industry. 

     

    Course details

    The Master Media Innovation is an international programme with lecturers from a number of academic and commercial disciplines in the field of digital media. The programme has a unique, multidisciplinary approach; training you to acquire analytical skills and look beyond the surface of digital media, while encouraging you to apply those skills practically in innovative media concepts. The programme covers 12 months and it comprises four modules (44 ECTS credits), an industry case (3 ECTS credits) and a graduation project (13 ECTS credits). Details on thesecomponents can be found below:

    Media Theory

    The Media Theory module introduces you to the field of (contemporary) Media Studies and Media Theory. Media Studies is defined as an academic interdisciplinary field of study that deals with the content, history and effects of various media. In order to reflect this interdisciplinary nature, the module will introduce several theoretical angles and subjects including, but not limited to, transmedia, semiotics, game design, and narratology.

    Business

    The Business module aims at providing you with knowledge, tools and practical insight necessary in managing intellectual property, strategy, innovation, entrepreneurship and consumer behaviour. In addition to generic concepts and topics, particular characteristics in the media and entertainment industry will be emphasised.

    Media Technology

    Media Technology has been developed on the basis off three pillars: methods for understanding and eliciting user requirements; principles for prototyping the user interface and user interaction for the proposed concept; and aspects addressing the technical feasibility of the proposed concept. The backdrop framework of the module is human-computer interaction (HCI) and user-centred design. The module assumes that students possess no prior technical or programming knowledge and is thus suitable for students from all disciplines.

    Research and Communication Studies

    The objective of this module is twofold. Firstly, it provides you with a solid understanding of research methods and the general knowledge and basic practical skills of conducting applied research at master’s level and applying research insights to create innovations. Secondly, it gives you a theoretical grounding in communication theory and academic skills and theory-based argumentation in general. These two objectives are thus entwined throughout the duration of the programme.

    • Industry case
      Since a considerable amount of the teaching material has a strategic content, the Master in Media Innovation also utilises an industry case study, which is presented to you alongside the four modules. Every year, a different industry client is selected and offers a real-world case to the our master's students, giving them the opportunity to utilise theory obtained within the programme and apply this theory to the solution of real-world problems. Every year involves a unique case, but the core concept - students using their knowledge of media theory, business and technology, to solve core problems and suggest conceptual solutions - remains a consistent factor. The industry client is involved in establishing the case problem, providing formative feedback, and helping to provide assessment of the student’s final work. Examples of clients are: IBM, KLM, and Samsung.
    • Final graduation project
      In the final part of the Master of Media Innovation, students choose one of two graduation options; either a pure thesis or a product-based graduation track. In both options, you will write a thesis in which you reflect on the knowledge aqauired, while in the product-based graduation track you also work under supervision in creating conceptual documentation and an electronic prototype of your innovative idea.

    Study load and coaching

    The Master Media Innovation is a one-year, full-time programme. The total study load is 60 ECTS credits. With 1 ECTS credit being equivalent to 28 hours of study, this means that the programme has a study load of approximately 40 hours per week.

    We offer you a small-scale study environment, as the number of students involved in this master is limited. The programme coordinator is always available to help you with day-to-day issues. Additionally, if you wish to discuss personal problems that may be affecting your life as a student, you can turn to the student counsellor.

    The best fit for my passion and curiosity in media & innovation

    After my Bachelor in Journalism in Bulgaria, I wanted to expand my knowledge and experience by obtaining a master’s degree abroad. I chose the best programme that ideally fitted my passion and curiosity in media and innovation. This programme provided me with priceless practical skills, taught me how to sell my ideas and expand my international business network.

    Gabriella

    Graduate I TV News Reporter at bTV Media Group EAD in Bulgaria

    I was looking for depth and creativity

    I chose this master’s programme, because I wanted to conduct research and create concepts based on advanced insights. I was looking for depth and creativity. Topics like Media Theory and Technology gave me a good understanding of the psychology behind media and human-centric design. Other modules like Research and Communication provided me with the mindset to hink on both a strategic and creative level.

    Piet

    Graduate I Creative at Norvell Jefferson

    Incredibly innovative work

    I always strive to ensure that I engage, enthuse, and entertain my students – with the occasional touch of dry English humour of course. But most importantly, I’m trying to get my students to think both critically and creatively. And where I gain the greatest satisfaction in my work is when I see our students heading off into the media industry, utilising that critical and creative thinking, and doing incredibly innovative work.

    Oliver Davies

    Lecturer Master Media Innovation

    Admission

    Students are eligible if they have a bachelor’s degree in the field of Business Administration, Media Studies, Communication Studies, IT, or another media-related field.

    Please check out the full admission requirements.

    Application

    If you meet the admission requirements, you are invited to apply for this programme. Please check out the application procedure.

    Costs 

    In the academic year 2024-2025 the statutory tuition fee for master's programmes is €2,530. In addition to the tuition fee, you will need to take into account additional costs for the purchase of study materials such as textbooks. Read more about study costs.

    Your career

    The Master Media Innovation offers you the required qualifications for a range of media positions including, but not limited to: product owner, innovation lead, creative lead, digital marketer, creative consultant, digital strategist, and digital brand strategist. After your graduation you are entitled to the degree of Master of Arts.