In general, the Master of Arts in Digital Communication Research is a good fit for you if you…

• …are curious to get to the bottom of current communication phenomena – including through your own research projects.
• …want to broaden your horizons and your intuition for data using innovative research methods.
• …are interested in the latest developments in the field of digital communication.
• …want to actively contribute to the future of digital media
• … are eager to study in an open, welcoming, and inspiring work environment.

Proof of English language proficiency is not required for the application. However, we require that you have sufficient active and passive English language skills to understand English-language academic literature and, if necessary, participate in courses taught in English.

In addition, a number of academic and formal requirements must be met in order to secure a spot in the program. These are described in detail below.

Proof of a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent degree earned at a higher education institution in Communication Studies, Psychology, Political Science, or Sociology, or a closely related subject, in which:

• at least 90 credit points (CP) were earned in one of the subjects named above or through a combination of these subjects,
• at least 20 credits were earned in empirical research methods and empirical social research, including the field of statistics (obligatory). You must provide proof of knowledge of empirical methodologies (including statistics) and empirical social research by the application deadline.

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date; this certificate must be issued by the responsible higher education institution. If the admission requirements listed above require proof of a specific number of credit points, applicants must provide proof of two-thirds of that number by the end of the application deadline.

Exception: The “two-thirds rule” applies only to the required credit points in the field of communication studies, psychology, political science, or sociology. It is mandatory to obtain the 20 credit points required in the fields of empirical methodology and empirical social research (incl. statistics) by the end of the application period.

If you did not obtain your university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung, HZB) from a German institution and you did not complete a degree in a German-speaking degree program, you are required to submit results from the “German Language Proficiency Examination for Admission to Higher Education for Foreign Applicants” proving a DSH 3 level, or 4 x TDN 5 of the TestDaF.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for selection, admission and enrollment is the text of the entrance requirements as specified in Section 2 of the currently valid examination regulations and, where applicable, in the appendix.

The examination regulations are available online (in German only).

Research is teamwork. The master’s degree program in Digital Communication Research therefore emphasizes collaboration in small groups and interactive learning to create a creative and open learning environment.

Your individual learning success is the top priority: In the seminars, the clear objective is to strengthen your analytical skills, for example through the critical examination of texts and methods or the analysis of data. Faculty members impart digital expertise using a wide variety of teaching and learning methods, such as simulation games, poster presentations, and podcasts.

In the first semester, you will get an overview of current exciting topics and state-of-the-art research in digital communication. The focus is on critically examining data and the ability to offer constructive criticism. You will expand your research skills in courses on advanced data analysis, where you will learn, for example, how to visualize data clearly and creatively. In addition, the first semester explores the significance of digital media for individuals and covers the fundamentals of media psychology. This is also where conceptualizing your first research project in the field of media reception and impact research comes in.

In the second semester, you will carry out the research project you planned in the first semester. You will simultaneously begin planning your second research project in the field of media change, which will focus on the societal importance of digital media. You will also focus on the interplay of information, algorithms, and society. In addition to engaging with the topic of the future of digitalization, you will gain competence in the use of data by becoming familiar with digital behavioral data and automated methods of analysis.

In the third semester, you will make the connection to practical communication. In cooperation with external partners in communication and media research, you will discover problems and solutions from applied research topics (such as design thinking, digital content development, or digital storytelling). You will also discuss the role algorithms and artificial intelligence play in media and society. You can demonstrate your communication expertise by developing campaigns in the field of science communication in order to disseminate research findings beyond the scientific community to people in business or politics and society in general.

In the fourth semester, you will focus on your master’s thesis. You can deepen your interests and choose your specialization. The aim is to incorporate the knowledge you have acquired up to this point into your final project with individualized support from the lecturers. This semester is also well-suited to a change of scenery. You can gain international experience by going abroad for a semester at one of our more than 20 partner universities.

Internships

During your studies, you will also gain valuable practical experience through a flexible, at least 12-week internship at the intersection of communication studies – particularly in market and media research, corporate communications/PR, or media editorial departments. Here, you can deepen your interests and specialize.

The internship module can be completed at any time in the program. We recommend interning during the semester break to avoid missing classes during the lecture period. Relevant part-time jobs or student traineeships can also be counted as mandatory internships. You can find more information on the website of the Communication Studies student advising office (in German).

Voluntary internships are another good opportunity to obtain more in-depth insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

The modular structure of the degree program generally allows for a mobility period after the third academic semester.

On the website of the Communication Studies student advising office you will find subject-specific information on stays abroad (in German).

This degree program prepares you for the job market of the future by providing you with a wealth of practical knowledge and skills. These include:

• comprehensive practical expertise in fields related to communication studies, such as the effects of social media, microtargeting, and artificial intelligence,
• comprehensive knowledge in the field of (computer-assisted) empirical methods, quantitative and qualitative data collection and statistical data analysis, which can be used in jobs related to applied media, market, and social research,
• project management and analytical thinking skills,
• critical engagement with scientific topics and the acquisition of communication techniques to help transmit scientific discoveries to a variety of (non-academic) target groups.

Thanks to its comprehensive methodological training and practice-oriented research, the Digital Communication Research master’s degree program opens up excellent prospects for a career in a wide variety of professional fields related to digital media, communication and social science research.

Research, data analytics, and science

• Market, public opinion, and social research at private-sector research institutes
• Big data, market, and consumer analyses at companies and agencies
• Academic careers at higher education institutions in communication studies or other social science disciplines

Working in the communications field

• PR and marketing in companies and agencies, in the nonprofit sector (e.g., clubs/associations, NGOs), in the public sector (e.g., government, educational and cultural institutions), or in the political sector
• agencies, advertising, journalism and other editorial work (publishing industry)

Advising and human resources development

• Corporate consulting and other forms of consulting
• Human resources, corporate training

Use this chance to position yourself at the intersection between research and practical application and play a decisive role in the future of digital media!

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.