Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Social Media and Social Research at University of York is a rigorous postgraduate programme delivered on-campus at University of York. Designed for graduates and professionals seeking advanced expertise in humanities & arts, the programme develops both theoretical foundations and applied skills essential for today's competitive environment.
Spanning 12 months, students engage with cutting-edge research, industry-relevant case studies, and practical projects. Instruction is delivered in English by research-active faculty with professional expertise.
The programme culminates in a dissertation or capstone project. Graduates are well-prepared for leadership roles, research careers, and doctoral study in humanities & arts.
Key Program Features
Why choose Social Media and Social Research at York?
Critically investigate the impact of social media across societies. Social media and digital technologies don't exist in a vacuum. They must be understood within the specific social worlds they are embedded in. You'll learn how to view social media as a social researcher does. You'll research the different social, cultural and political impacts and effects of social media. By employing a range of sociological research methodologies, you'll investigate the ethics of emerging technologies and the power they have over our contemporary society.
Learn how to analyse and draw insights from social media data. The data generated from social media contains insight into how entire populations communicate, behave and interact with each other. You'll understand how social media data is produced and how to evaluate and interpret this data. You'll develop a foundation in traditional social science research skills. You'll also explore new methods of analysis for both large- and small-scale data.
Develop a practical skill set valued by employers across a range of industries. Social media is a new and emerging field. By studying how social media works and how it's used, you'll develop highly sought after skills in an in-demand area. You'll also develop highly transferable skills relevant to various career paths.
Immerse yourself in teaching led by the latest research. We're highly ranked for the quality of our research into digital technologies. We're researching new approaches and techniques for studying these technologies and their political, economic and cultural contexts. You'll work directly with people who are developing these techniques.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTFuLVHaPjE
Career Opportunities
Careers and skills
You'll develop the skills and knowledge needed to play a leading role in the design and evaluation of interactive technologies in industry, commerce, academia and public service. This social media degree also provides an ideal basis to progress to further study at PhD level.
Career opportunities
- Social media analyst
- Social media manager
- Social media and content strategist
- Digital marketing executive
- Digital communications officer
- Content editor
Transferable skills
- Data analysis
- Critical reasoning
- Social media
- Social research
Program Curriculum
Course content
You'll study 180 credits in total. The course consists of:
- Six 20-credit core modules
- A 60-credit independent research dissertation
Modules Dissertation Modules Core Modules Understanding Social Media Introduction to Qualitative Methods and Data Analysis Introduction to Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis Social Media, Data and Society Researching Digital Life Advanced Methods in Social Research Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning. Dissertation Dissertation You will develop, design, implement and manage your own original research project, supervised by a member of staff. You will analyse the data and produce a 10,000-word dissertation. Examples of dissertation titles with social media topics include: The role of new media in politics. Application of digital by-product data: Using online ratings and reviews to analyse the market preferences of cultural products. “That’s entertainment”: A comparative analysis of culture and the current situation of TV entertainment programmes in the UK and China. The spread of celebrity gossip in the circumstances of new media.
Admission Requirements
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in Sociology or a relevant discipline, or equivalent suitable experience |
| International pre-masters programme | Pre-masters from our International Pathway College |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
English language
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements .
If you haven't met our English language requirements You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses . These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer. The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements. After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York .
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 16,290/year (international)
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2026/27
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
| Full-time (1 year) | £12,500 | £28,600 |
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status .
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
- Postgraduate taught fees and expenses
Funding information
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2026/27
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
| Full-time (1 year) | £12,500 | £28,600 |
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status .
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
- Postgraduate taught fees and expenses
Funding information
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
About University of York
University of York
Heslington, United Kingdom
University of York is a distinguished institution of higher education committed to academic excellence, innovative research, and preparing students for leadership in their chosen fields. The...
University Profile- Application Deadline 2018-06-15
- Start Date 2018-09-24
- Language English
- Duration 12 months
- Credits 60 ECTS / 180 credits (1-year programme)
