Digital Media, Culture and East Asian Studies

Digital media and culture asks how new forms of communication, representation, and connection are changing the way we live, work, and understand each other. East Asian studies brings a specific and increasingly important regional lens to that question, focusing on the cultures, languages, histories, and contemporary societies of China, Japan, Korea, and their neighbours. Together they form a degree that is analytically sharp, culturally rich, and highly relevant to the world as it is now.

Based at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, one of the world's leading centres for the study of Asia and Africa, this three-year full-time programme gives you access to exceptional expertise in both areas. The foundation year provides structured preparation for honours-level study, helping you build the analytical and linguistic skills needed to engage seriously with both digital media scholarship and East Asian cultural material. You will study the theory and practice of digital communication, platform culture, social media, visual media, and the political economy of the internet, while also developing knowledge of at least one East Asian language and a deep understanding of the cultural, political, and historical contexts of the region.

This combination opens doors in international media and communications, cultural diplomacy, policy work on technology and society, journalism, publishing, and the creative industries. East Asia is central to the global technology industry and to some of the world's most dynamic cultural exports, from Korean popular culture to Japanese media franchises, and graduates with both digital media literacy and regional expertise are valuable in that context. Postgraduate study in media studies, Asian studies, or international relations is a common next step.