Digital Information and Media Management

Information Studies at Aberystwyth is the leading provider of distance learning degrees in this subject area.  We pursue a student centred, flexible, open learning approach which has proved not only popular with our students, but very successful in managing to make studying at a distance as rewarding and enjoyable as possible.

Our distance learning students participate in residential study schools and are supported by web-based conferencing facilities which enable them to communicate with each other – whether consulting about a particular assignment in one of the module conferencing areas, or just enjoying a light hearted exchange at the electronic students café - and with staff, easing the feeling of isolation that can sometimes be felt by distance learners.

The Diploma/MA in Digital Information and Media Management is divided into two parts: The first part (120 credits) is the taught course, successful completion of which reaches Diploma-level. The second part (60 credits) involves writing a dissertation, to be submitted for the Master’s-level qualification.

Tuition is provided through printed or digital study packs containing the core learning material, supplemented by a resource pack and a conference area on Blackboard (the Virtual Learning Environment), which provides information updates relevant to the course, and a directory of websites referred to in the study packs.  Assessment is by means of a variety of written assignments including essays and reports.  You can progress at your own pace, taking between two and five years to complete the course. On average, you should expect to spend 10 to 15 hours a week studying.

Duration:

• Two - Five years by distance learning. April and September intakes annually.
• On average you should expect to spend 10-15 hours a week studying.

Contact Time:

• Students on all courses are required to attend Study Schools in Aberystwyth. For most students this means attending three schools of approximately 4-5 days duration during the course. For the rest of the time you will work through specially designed self-study module packs supported by online learning materials.

Assessment:

• The programme is assessed on the basis of coursework for the taught 120 credits and a 60 credit dissertation. A variety of assignments are included in the taught modules including reports, essays, presentations and case studies which enable you to relate theoretical knowledge to your own workplace. 

Entry Requirements: 

• The minimum basic entry requirement for a Master’s degree is normally a good Honours Degree or equivalent.

You must:

• Have a minimum of six weeks practical experience of working with digital information prior to beginning the course;
• Be employed in a relevant post (full-time, or possibly part-time), or a short-term contract that can reasonably be supposed to last for the duration of the course (a minimum of 2 years) OR be prepared to undertake voluntary work in an archive repository for the duration of the course;
• Have pre-defined Information and Communication Technology skills and access to a computer linked to the Internet.

English Language Requirements:

• If you have a Bachelor’s degree from a UK University, you do not need to take an English proficiency test.
• Non-native English speakers who do not meet this requirement must take a University-recognised test of academic English language proficiency. For further information please see our English Language requirements page.

Course Fees:

• Please see the tuition fee pages for current tuition fees. Please note that all fees are subject to an annual increase.

Funding:

• Funding opportunities may be available, please check our funding calculator for details.

The university has a proud tradition of research excellence, as demonstrated in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2014) assessment. It placed the university in the top 50 institutions for research power and intensity. It submitted 77% of eligible staff and 95% of the university's research was of an internationally recognised standard.

The Masters in Digital Information and Media Management is designed to give you a thorough understanding of the professional theories, principles, ethics, legislation, policies and technologies that underpin the discipline. You will go beyond this to interrogate the structures and systems that define the digital information lifecycle in order to find more efficient and productive ways of operating. The world-class instruction from our departmental staff will be augmented by visiting professionals from cutting-edge organisations. By the end of your course, you will be able to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the organisational and technical processes surrounding information governance and digital information management.

You will achieve this by applying your specialist skills to real-life situations throughout the course. By making the most of this experiential learning, you will graduate with a valuable skill-set gained through hands-on experience of this increasingly important subject. Your study will culminate in your academic dissertation, a significant piece of independent research, on any aspect of digital information management that holds particular interest for you. You may choose to use this study as a showcase of your expertise or as a springboard into future study or research. In addition to this first-rate education in digital information management, you will also develop a skill set perfect for almost any role in any business or postgraduate workplace.

You will be confident in research, analysis and planning, as well as writing, reporting and argument formation to justify your decisions in managing an organisation's most precious commodity: information. These are just some of the skills you will gain which will make you a desirable employee for a wide range of public and private sector organisations and businesses.

The University has a proud tradition of research excellence, as demonstrated in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2014) assessment. It placed the university in the top 50 institutions for research power and intensity. It submitted 77% of eligible staff and 95% of the university's research was of an internationally recognised standard.

Why study Digital Information and Media Management at Aberystwyth University?

• hands-on project working with professional digital information managers
• training in industry standard cataloguing and preservation software
• education in relevant coding languages
• 3-4 day hands-on methods and tools workshop
• intensive dissertation workshop to support research topic
• identification and develop research skills
• professional conferences, visits and lectures
• 3-4 day study tour in London.

This degree will equip you with latest developments in digital information curation, both in terms of technological and theoretical approaches. By balancing the theory with the practice, you will be strongly placed to succeed in the jobs marketplace, particularly in organisations that prize well-trained managers of its most valuable resource: information. The course will also equip you with a wide range of more general work skills – in research, analysis, writing, presentation and management – ensuring your employability is improved across the board.

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study:

• Recordkeeping Theories and Contexts
• Recordkeeping Process and Practice
• Digital Collection Development
• Digital Preservation
• Practical Project
• Knowledge and Information Architecture

Choose from option modules including:

• Studies in Management
• Information Systems in Organisations
• Digital Information Literacy.

How will I be taught?

Our distance learning courses are delivered through a blend of methods including: online modules, study guides, activities and resources, residential schools and workshops, telephone and online tutorials, workplace reflection exercises, personal and academic tutor support. Modules are designed with study guides and a range of activities and resources such as case studies, video and podcast interviews, quizzes, and shared activities such as online discussion groups, with advice and support from the subject expert about the module and its assignments.