John was always jumping on the newest things and new media. He would be creating art on computers now. That's where he'd go.
This exciting new Digital Media Arts degree programme gives you a unique pathway into the digital arts and creative industries. Our state-of-the-art facilities, expert staff and groundbreaking innovations in digital literacy and skills allow you to explore and develop progressive, potentially market-leading creative practices.
This degree gives you expert knowledge of how cutting-edge technology and methods are shaping the creative industries, both in the UK and abroad. By combining theory, practical skills and professional experience, we open up an unbeatable range of career opportunities for you.
In your first year, you choose from a range of multidisciplinary media, including digital photography and video, web design and audio design. In subsequent years, you deepen your knowledge of your chosen media, and also gain wider skills and understanding in mixed-media practices, such as games, net art, virtual worlds and interactive design. This equips you with the versatility and scope to succeed in an increasingly complex professional environment.
Our unique approach combines three principles that are central to our vision: integration of practical technological skills with critical thinking; transformation of student experience into career opportunities through Professional Training placements with our leading international partners; and development of a holistic practice that will enhance your employability, entrepreneurialism and professional adaptability.
The University of Surrey has an outstanding reputation for technological advancement, with rich cross-departmental interactions on offer. In addition to opportunities with departments in the School of Arts (Dance, Theatre, Film, Music and Sound Recording), you can also collaborate with our partners in the Computing Department and the Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP), as well as our prestigious academic and research hubs, such as the Digital World Research Centre.
A Digital Media Arts degree from Surrey will provide you with the tools to succeed in digital arts, media, marketing or the creative industries. It's also a wise choice for creative people who are still considering their career options or who wish to bring modern, creative skills to more traditional organisations.
Digital technologies are transforming community life, culture and the economy. Industries and employment opportunities related to these transformational changes and technologies demand creatively skilled individuals who are able to work across specialisms in flexible and collaborative ways. The Digital Media Arts programme recognises the challenges of working in this rapidly changing and technically orientated sector. It will equip you with the ability to remain successful amidst a range of portfolio-dominated and highly mobile professional contexts.
The degree is built around the development of your own arts practice. This is supported through an integrated approach that combines practical and theoretical knowledge of contemporary digital arts practice with the development of professional and applied skills. Importantly, the degree does this with an emphasis on combining and fusing approaches – you will become comfortable working in ways that value and make use of multiple specialisms and perspectives, often working collaboratively. The result is an unusually dynamic and stimulating environment of creative exploration and innovation.
Programme content covering entrepreneurship, professional training and design will equip you for your career and emphasise applied contexts for arts-based knowledge and skills. You will be taught by staff with teaching and research specialisms in areas of digital culture, arts and technology, new media, and performance and production in the creative industries, including TV, photography, video art and animation; radio and online broadcasting; multimedia production; digital design; software, database, game and ‘net’ art; installation art; and performance, including theatre, dance, music and sound art.
The programme is constructed around three interconnected threads: skills-based learning, historical and cultural studies, and practice. Skills-based learning includes academic (for example, study skills), technical (for example, software/hardware, artistic) and professional (for example, business, industry, employment) areas. Historical and cultural studies cover, for example, areas of cultural and critical theory, new media and repertoire studies. Practice is approached through a series of ‘integrative projects’, typically involving collaboration and interface between different colleagues and technologies, combining technical skills, artistic vision, professional practice and contextual understanding – including, for example, proposal writing, prototyping, written critical reflection and presentation – and provides a facilitative space for the creative application and realisation of the programme content as a whole.
*Optional
You can spend your third year working in a professional role for a digital media arts organisation, with help from the Senior Professional Training Tutor to choose an appropriate host organisation and prepare you for the placement period. Types of placement are varied and can take place anywhere in the UK or overseas, but they all give you experiences that will help you get that all-important graduate job or move on to postgraduate study.
Types of placement are varied and can take place anywhere in the country or overseas. Partner organisations will be drawn from a list including: Digital Art Museum (DAM), Berlin and Cologne; Eyebeam Art and Technology Centre, New York; Foundation for Art and Creative Technology (FACT), Liverpool; Lovebytes (digital arts organisation and international festival), Sheffield; New York Digital Salon; Ars Electronica, Linz; rhizome.org, online and the New Museum, New York; Transmediale, Berlin; ZKM Center for Art and Media, Karlsruhe; STEIM, Amsterdam; and Banff New Media Institute, Banff, Canada.
The placement experience helps you to get that all-important first job or move on to postgraduate study.
On our degree programme, you attend a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. Practical projects make use of group discussion to review and develop work. Workshops and lab sessions are also integral to the programme.
Degrees are awarded on the basis of the assessment of coursework, end-of-semester examinations, projects, folios and performances, exhibitions, and installations, as appropriate.
Year 1 marks do not count towards the final degree classification. However, they do determine whether students are able to proceed to Year 2.
The degree programme is supported by lab facilities containing individual workstations for digital media production; individual edit suits for post-production work; an electronics workshop; and multiple performance spaces (the LewisEltonArtGallery, the Ivy Arts Centre, the Performing Arts and Technology Centre).
Building on the University of Surrey’s excellent record for graduate employment and the directly transferable skills acquired through the degree, you will be able to work within almost every area of the cultural and creative industries. Indicative career paths include games development, exhibition curating, digital post-production, arts practitioner, marketing and advertising.
The personal, professional and technical skills you acquire will enable you to succeed in almost every area of the cultural and creative industries. Indicative career paths include games development, exhibition curating, digital post-production, arts practitioner, marketing and advertising.
Come to one of our Open Days, when you can tour the campus, speak to students and academic staff, see our student accommodation and ask as many questions as you like. In the meantime, order a personal prospectus – tailored to only include the subjects that interest you.
GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C or above (or equivalent). Grade A at A-level in a digital media arts related subject (including Art and Design, Applied Art & Design, Applied Performing Arts, Communication and Culture, Computing, Dance, Design and Technology, Drama and Theatre Studies, Film Studies, Graphic Design, History of Art, ICT, Media Studies, Media Communication and Production, Music, Music Technology, Performance Studies, Performing Arts, Philosophy, Photography). Applicants without one or more digital media arts related A-level would normally be permitted to present a portfolio for consideration.
Offers are normally made in terms of grades. Suitable candidates will be invited to an Applicant Day. During the visit to the University the candidate can find out more about the programme and meet staff and students.
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill (or equivalent).
We offer intensive English language pre-sessional courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
| Award | Course Length | Professional Training | UCAS code | KIS code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA (Hons) | 3 years | W212 | View KIS data set | |
| BA (Hons) | 4 years | W213 | View KIS data set |
* Subject to validation
We offer a range of bursaries, scholarships and other financial support.
See course information for students applying to start in September 2013.
Phone: +44 (0)1483 681 681
