Digital Media and Communication

Digital media and communication are key to any industry or aspects of social and public life. Explore how digital media and communication influence contemporary society. Gain hands-on experience with digital tools and platforms to create and curate contents that are persuasive, user-oriented, inclusive and sustainable.

You’ll examine key theories and research methods from digital humanities, communication and language studies, and media and design theory. Through this lens, you’ll explore the intersections of language, media and technology and critically reflect on how these influence society, identity, power, relationships, businesses as well as creative and heritage industries. Alongside critical analysis, you’ll gain practical skills in producing and curating a wide range of multimodal digital products, including blogs, vlogs, reels, podcasts, videos, and online exhibitions.

At the University of Reading, you’ll join our friendly, collaborative Department of English Language and Applied Linguistics. We’re proud of our:

• established reputation in language studies and communication. We’ve been around for 60 years, and offered the first linguistics degree in the UK.

• global ranking. We place in the top 150 universities in the world (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025).

• thriving research environment. 100% of our research is of international standing (Research Excellence Framework 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Modern Languages and Linguistics).

In the Guardian University Guide 2025, we are ranked 9th for English, and we are ranked 2nd in UK for English Language in the Daily Mail University Guide 2026. 100% of our students said that teaching staff are good at explaining things, easy to contact and support their learning well (National Student Survey 2025, responders from the Department of English Language and Applied Linguistics).

You’ll be supported by leading experts who will help you become both a critical digital media analyst and an innovative content creator, equipping you with the communication and analytical skills demanded across business, creative and heritage industries as well as the public sector.

As well as analysing diverse media and communication settings, you’ll explore:

• strategies and techniques of digital influence

• diverse media forms, including film, graphic communication, and visual storytelling

• how to communicate effectively and ethically with AI

• and how AI and digital media impact on social relationships, identity and privacy.

You’ll also develop advanced knowledge and skills in discourse analysis, multimodality, critical literacy, digital marketing and personal branding, data analysis, creative and inclusive multimedia production as well as ethical and responsible conduct, teamwork, and problem solving. There will be the option of undertaking a placement year as part of the course. By the end of your degree, you will understand not only how digital media and communication work and how to produce creative content, but also how they connect to pressing global issues such as politics, migration, gender and sexuality.