MA in Big Data in Culture and Society

Our Big Data in Culture & Society MA recognises the growing importance of Big Data in contemporary society and looks at the theory and practice of Big Data from an arts and humanities perspective. What is Big Data? Beyond the large data sets that can be analysed to reveal patterns, trends, and associations, it is increasingly about our everyday lives and how the data we generate is transforming social, cultural, political and economic processes and the generation of knowledge. Our course is likely to appeal to a broad range of students across the Arts and Humanities from Sociology to Political Science to English to Business and beyond. It will attract students interested in emerging trends who recognise that data scientists and analysts need collaborators with domain specialisation and critical insights.

Key benefits

• Taught by scholars working at the leading edge of digital studies and big data.
• Offers a lively mix of theory and practical work.
• Equips students with skills that are highly attractive to employers in our digital age.
• Provides a series of workshops with data scientists and analysts to learn collaborative practices and applications in social media and cultural analytics, mobile platforms, and data visualisation.
• Is at the forefront of digital developments - Big Data is transforming society, politics, the economy and culture and impacting work.
• Offers innovative interdisciplinary methods of study crossing technological and cultural perspectives.
• Links Big Data to Culture, Law & Ethics, Geography, Public Health, and Social Life.

Course essentials

This Big Data in Culture & Society MA offers you the opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding of the role of Big Data in culture and society. It will enable you to analyse Big Data across social, political and economic areas. In addition to the required content we cover, you will have the opportunity to pursue your own academic interests through our optional modules and to undertake an internship and a group project module.

By bringing together domain knowledge and technical skills and approaching these from an Arts and Humanities perspective, the course will help you develop highly valued employment skills and expertise for careers in Big Data.

Meeting the challenges of today conceptually, historically and imaginatively.

One of the most prestigious arts and humanities faculties in the country, A&H is based in the heart of London and boasts close ties to many of the city’s most renowned cultural institutions, such as the British Museum, Shakespeare’s Globe and the National Portrait Gallery. Formed in 1989 when the former Faculties of Arts, Music and Theology were amalgamated, the following three decades have seen A&H grow to one of the broadest, most diverse faculties of its kind.

We offer undergraduate degrees, postgraduate master’s courses and extensive research opportunities in all aspects of human culture and history, from ancient languages to contemporary film studies. A commitment to interdisciplinarity is central to what we do and the successes we have achieved – borne out in our collaborations, our joint-events and our combined reached/teaching with other departments.

Recent successes include:

• Numerous A&H departments being ranked in worldwide ‘Top 20s’ – for example Philosophy (9th), Classics (12th), English (16th) and History (17th) - QS World University Rankings 2022
• 95 % of Faculty research judged to have made a ‘world leading’ (4) or ‘internationally excellent’ (3) impact [REF 2021]

Our Faculty's vision

To be one of the world’s leading arts and humanities faculties, recognised for the quality, impact and integration of our research and education, and for the exceptional student experience we offer.

Key statistics in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities

• One of the largest faculties in the university (c.a. 5000+ students)
• Around 24 % of our current students are International and 16% are EU
• C.a. 900 academic and professional services staff members
• Host to over 1000 Study Abroad students every year