Digital Media

Twenty-first century communication has changed how individuals, companies, and organisations connect to the world. Success and participation in social life increasingly depend on how targeted, creatively, and effectively we can use digital media.
In light of these challenges, our project-based Master's degree programme "Digital Media" combines the creativity of design with the cutting edge of information technology. Students from both fields collaborate in developing innovative solutions by sharing their knowledge of communication media and new technologies right from the outset and the idea generation stage.
The degree focuses on fields that employ digital media and technologies to develop new products and services which transfer knowledge and ensure a great interactive experience. Whether digital exhibits for trade-fairs, digital services for theatres, apps that generate complex visualisations, or interfaces for home networking solutions - these are but a few of the challenges that digital communication, information, and interaction might have to meet. Whenever we want to communicate complex content, design an interactive experience, or tell multi-layered digital stories, we need approaches far beyond established forms of communication and interaction. Thus, we designed our degree to equip you with the skills and versatility to remain successful amidst this rapidly changing and increasingly complex professional environment. As a graduate, you will benefit from the hands-on experience you have acquired and will be well prepared to develop and successfully implement digital projects across a range of specialisations.

Educational organisation

This course is a three-semester follow-on Master's degree programme. In each of your first two semesters, you will be given the chance to design, develop, and carry out a digital media project of your choosing. This will allow you to become familiar with the technical tools and means you need to independently realise and implement your own digital projects. At the same time, you will be introduced to cutting-edge technology and design trends. You will study the latest creative practices and approaches to implementing innovative ideas and explore the opportunities and challenges that our young digital culture has to offer. You can also choose elective modules from other academic fields and disciplines, which allows you to expand your specialist knowledge to new areas and rely on a diverse set of tools for implementing future projects. Your third semester will be devoted to your Master's thesis, which usually takes the form of an independently developed project.

Study abroad unit(s)

None

Internships

None

Forms of assessment

Graded examinations (seminar papers, presentations, written assignments, oral examinations, project work) and certificates (reports, presentations)
Master's thesis, final project

Course objectives

As the lines between scientific disciplines become increasingly blurred, interdisciplinary team work is an inevitable part of professional life for computer scientists and designers alike.
Our degree programme aims to equip you for a career that matches these current and future labour market trends. The personal, professional, and technical skills you acquire will give you a competitive edge when it comes to tackling tasks that require profound knowledge across specialisations in the fields of technology, computer science, and design.
You will find employment, for example, with design or advertising agencies and work in the fields of screen and interactive design or interactive digital installations. You might also be employed by companies to assume tasks at the crossroads of design and information technology, such as the development of trendsetting online shops or user interfaces for new products. Due to the unusually dynamic environment of digital media, you can expect to find not only pioneering trends, but also a wide range of future career opportunities.
With a Master's degree in digital media, you will be highly qualified to work in interdisciplinary teams with your expert knowledge in multiple specialisations. Your proficiency in evaluating the impact of technical and creative decisions in the early stages of project development will set you apart from the crowd and enable you to take innovative digital media projects from the drawing board to reality.

Language requirements

Please note that for this degree programme, English language skills at level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference are required. Please be aware that all applicants' test report form numbers will be checked. We will accept the following certificates (or equivalents):
IELTS: 6.0 - 6.5
TOEFL (Internet-based test): minimum 80
TOEFL (paper-based test): minimum 550
TOEFL (computer-based test): minimum 213
The TOEFL code of our university is: 6962

Academic requirements

Admission to our Master's degree programme is subject to an application process.
The formal entry requirements for the Digital Media MA programme are the following:

• Proof of a completed undergraduate degree (BSc, BA, German Diploma ("Diplom"), or equivalent) which included subjects in the fields of design, computer science, and/or digital media. Grades and subjects of your degree will be considered in the admission process.
• In individual cases, missing subjects can be compensated by proof of other related academic training or qualifications. Please outline your additional knowledge and experience in an essay of no more than 1,000 words.
• A sufficient level of English language proficiency (level B2 CEFR, or better)

Please find more information on our website.

Enrolment fees

Approx. 270 EUR per semester. This covers nominal administration fees and includes a semester ticket that allows free travel on most bus and train routes throughout the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as well as to and from Nijmegen in the Netherlands.

Costs of living

The "Deutsches Studentenwerk" puts the average cost of living for students in Germany at around 700 to 800 EUR per month. This includes rent, utilities, personal expenses, and other nominal costs. For a sample breakdown of living expenses and information about financing your studies in Germany, please see our website: http://www.hochschule-rhein-waal.de/en/academics/students/costs-scholarships-and-grants.

Job opportunities

International students from non-EU countries are legally permitted to work 120 full days or 240 half days per year on a student visa. No additional authorisation from German authorities is required.
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences often posts job advertisements for students both inside and outside the university on campus noticeboards. Some jobs at the university only require English, but most jobs in Kleve, Kamp-Lintfort, and surrounding areas will require at least conversational fluency in German. Fortunately, our Language Centre offers German courses that students can attend at no charge.
However, due to the intense workload at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, first-year students are strongly advised to dedicate their full attention to their studies. In later semesters, you will have a more open schedule and a better idea of how to balance work and studies. This is also a realistic time frame for acquiring speaking proficiency in German while studying full-time.

Funding opportunities within the university

A limited number of scholarships are available for currently enrolled students at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. The most prominent scholarship is the Germany Scholarship ("Deutschlandstipendium"). German and international students are both eligible to apply. The Germany Scholarship is a stipend of 300 EUR per month awarded each year to a limited number of students who have demonstrated excellent academic performance or exemplary social commitment to the community. Other scholarships, grants, and fellowships are available through regional and national organisations in Germany. Please see our website for details.
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences informs all students of important scholarship deadlines in advance so that they don't miss any potential application opportunities.
http://www.hochschule-rhein-waal.de/en/academics/students/costs-scholarships-and-grants/scholarships-and-grants

Arrival support

Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences is accessible from the international airports Amsterdam (AMS), Düsseldorf (DUS), Cologne/Bonn (CGN), and Weeze (NRN). The university does not offer any pick-up services, but both Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort can be reached by public transportation from any of these airports.
If you anticipate any travel problems, delays, or unexpected changes to your plans, please contact our Welcome Centre so that we can support you with helpful advice.

Services and support for international students

Our Welcome Centre supports international students during their first few weeks in Germany. The Welcome Centre provides helpful advice and guidance on contracts, opening a bank account, registering your place of residence, applying for a student visa, setting up health insurance, and more.
The student mentors at the Welcome Centre know first-hand what it's like adjusting to life as a student in Germany. They are also an important first contact point for students with personal and social issues, as they can direct students to the right place for their specific needs. The Welcome Centre also promotes student culture at the university by organising trips and excursions to destinations all around the region as well as a range of social events for students such as the annual "Freshtival", the university's week-long orientation festival for new students in the winter semester.

Accommodation

Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences strongly urges you to make accommodation arrangements before your arrival. The university does not have its own residence halls, but the "Studierendenwerk Düsseldorf" runs dormitories near campus in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort with options for single rooms or two- and three-room flats. Prices start at around 220 EUR per month. Room availability in these dormitories is limited and subject to a waiting list, so it's important to register online for a room as soon as possible. Please note that a security deposit of three months' rent is also required.
Most students choose to share a private flat off campus with fellow students. There are a number of popular online portals for finding a flat in Germany, for example: http://www.wg-gesucht.de. Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences also maintains its own list of available flats and rooms for students on its website. Thanks to the flexibility of the Semester Ticket, students can live in Kleve, Kamp-Lintfort, or one of the many cities and towns nearby and reach campus by public transport. For more information and helpful tips on finding a flat, please see our website: http://www.hochschule-rhein-waal.de/en/academics/prospective-students/housing.