Communication Studies: Digital Media in Europe

6 ECTS - Semesters 1 & 2



The Lecture Series - Digital Media in Europe is a prestigious series of lectures and round tables on the role of digital media in changing European societies. The series covers economic, political, technical, legal and societal aspects of media and their interplay with society. With invited guest speakers from the European media industry, journalism, academia and European institutions, the Lecture Series brings the digital media and the social platform changing reality right into the classroom. Students actively participate in the discussions and have the chance to network. 

Ethical aspects of the digital information society, threats and opportunities for broadcasting in the digital era, the challenges facing media and journalism and the future of education in the digital age are among the topics dealt with in the Lecture Series. The series complements the courses offered in the Digital Media in Europe programme providing insightful debates and critical perspectives about European media, technological innovation in the media industry, and the complex relationship between digital media and society. 



Course titular: Prof. Luciano Morganti

18 ECTS - Semesters 1 & 2



The Master Thesis in Communication Studies is the work by which you complete the master’s programme. With the Master Thesis, the student demonstrates analytical and synthesising skills or an independent problem-solving capacity on an academic level. The work reflects the general critical-reflective mindset and the research mentality of the student.

The Master Thesis treats a topic that is related to one of the subareas that are addressed within the master’s programme in Communication Studies.

18 ECTS - Semesters 1 & 2



The Master Thesis: Pre-doctoral Track is a piece of work that completes the master's programme. By carrying out the ‘pre-doctoral track’ as a master's thesis, the student demonstrates analytical and synthesis abilities, as well as an independent problem-solving ability at an academic level. The “Master Thesis: Pre-doctoral Track” is a track for motivated students with high research potential and interested in doing a PhD in the future. Excellent and motivated students (see admission criteria) can opt for this course, instead of the ‘classic’ master thesis course.

6 ECTS - Semester 1

This course explores how technology, information and data shape contemporary society. You will critically examine theories of the information society and topics such as datafication, surveillance capitalism, data colonialism and the culture of speed.

Course titular: Prof. Franz-Ferdinand Rothe

6 ECTS - Semester 1

This course examines how the EU regulates digital platforms and media services. You will explore topics such as artificial intelligence, data governance, market power, content moderation, disinformation and the visibility of European media content.

Course titular: Prof. Tim Raats

6 ECTS - 2nd semester

The first unicorn company in Belgium started only a few years ago as a VUB spin-off. It is a prominent example of a new type of digital, data-driven startup that can grow very fast and operate on a global level.

Examples like these show that understanding and being successful in digital media and internet services requires new skills in entrepreneurship and innovation management. How to come up with data-driven innovation ideas? How to assess opportunities and potential impacts? How to make sure these inventions reach the market? How to set up and manage digital businesses?

The course is based on academic literature as well as on current, real-life case studies and inspiring testimonials of successful ventures and innovations in Europe, the US and Asia. You will gain in-depth knowledge of what is happening in digital markets today, and what is driving digital inventions and innovations.

Course titular: Prof. Geoffrey Aerts

6 ECTS - 1st semester

This course focuses on the interplay between changes and design of digital media and technologies on the one hand and transitions in the way consumers and citizens in Europe adopt and use digital media in their everyday life on the other hand. In other words, you will learn how people use digital media, what differences there are in terms of usage between for example young and old people, and how new technologies shape user behaviour. A highly topical course that sheds light on the digital behaviour of all people and not only the, at times, atypical behaviour of the student audience itself.

Course titular: Prof. An Jacobs

6 ECTS - 2nd semester

This course explores how European media markets are structured and how digitisation is transforming them. You will examine trends such as platformisation, market concentration and AI across industries including broadcasting, streaming, music, podcasts and video games.

Course titular: Prof. Catalina Iordache

6 ECTS - 2nd semester

This course explores the European public sphere, the European media landscape and EU communication policy. You will examine how European institutions, media, citizenship and participation interact, while critically discussing current challenges such as disinformation, citizen participation and political developments in the EU.

Course titular: Prof. Luciano Morganti

6 ECTS - 1st semester

This course explores how media, communication and digital technologies can contribute to development and social change. You will examine topics such as ICT4D, participatory communication and decolonising media studies through international case studies.

Course titular: Prof. Leo Van Audenhove

6 ECTS - 1st semester

A classic definition of media literacy is the one constructed at the National Leadership Conference on Media Literacy in 1993: 'Media Literacy is the ability to access, analyse, evaluate, and communicate messages in a variety of forms'. Media literacy is a booming topic in our fast-changing digital media environment. At least, at the rhetorical level, it is said to be of utmost importance that all people are media literate. The media literacy field is a highly diverse field. In a review of the field in 2013 Potter identifies 23 different definitions of media literacy. Although all theories on media literacy pay attention to a certain level of critical understanding towards media and news content, the digitalisation of media and the fast innovation in the field have turned attention to levels of access to digital media, to the strengthening of technical skills to deal with computers, tablets and smartphones and the applications running on them. In this course we focus on 1) the theoretical discussions on media literacy, 2) policies on media literacy in selected European countries,  at the level of the EU and UNESCO, and 3) concrete projects on media literacy in Flanders and Europe.



Course titular: Prof. Leo Van Audenhove

6 ECTS - 1st semester

This course explores the role of data and privacy in digital media and society from social, economic, technological and regulatory perspectives. You will critically examine topics such as big data, AI, social media, platform economies, ethics and user empowerment.

Course titular: Prof. Rob Heyman

6 ECTS - 2nd semester

This course aims to introduce and discuss in-depth the wide variety of approaches within the field of Media, Culture and Globalisation Theories.

It sets out from a critical discussion on Globalisation, via questions such as how has the concept and field of globalisation developed historically?; Is globalisation new?; What have been turning points in globalisation’s development and in the globalisation of media and culture; Are these developments positive/negative and for whom?

In each of the following classes, key authors and seminal theoretical texts in the field of media, culture and globalisation are explained, discussed and evaluated. In addition, the theoretical content is applied or illustrated via concrete cases.

Course titular: Prof. Yazan Badran

12 ECTS – 1st or 2nd semester

The fundamental goal of the traineeship programme is to gain practical training and acquire practical skills. More specifically, the internship programme aims for students:

• to operationalise and test, in a professional environment, the theoretical knowledge obtained during the Master's;
• to develop professional skills and competences in light of future jobs/careers (including networking);
• to critically (self-)reflect on both the institutional environment and company/organisation, as well as on personal development (knowledge-building, skills, strengths and weaknesses, etc.) during the traineeship.

The traineeship can be completed in either the first or second semester. There are two types of traineeships: research traineeships and professional traineeships. Students are responsible for finding and proposing a traineeship to the traineeship coordinator, who must approve the proposed position.