Prospectus

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Media Technology

Are you eager to bring your own questions and curiosity into scientific research? Do the creation of media and use of technology drive your research interests? Could you be a researcher who challenges scientific practice and pushes its boundaries?

Research informed by a creative and critical mindset

The Media Technology MSc programme offers an interdisciplinary and international environment for students to produce scientific work informed by a creative and critical mindset. We welcome applicants from diverse educational backgrounds with a shared fascination for research and technology. Besides engaging in our core courses, students draw from the knowledge throughout Leiden University and other institutes. After graduation alumni pursue a career as life-long researchers within science, (creative) industries, or education.

Education

Our education specializes in creative exploration and a broad understanding of scientific research and technology. It prepares students for a career involving creative and critical thinking, and in particular for a future in scientific research. We aim to fulfil the need for flexible, technically autonomous, critical individuals in research. We offer a full-time Master's program that takes two years. This is an intense research-oriented study program and students must be available to study full-time.

Research

Research is meant to generate knowledge, in a rational and sensible way. Many research methods exist to do this, and creativity is an important factor. Our mission is to explore creative, playful, unexpected, and unconventional forms of academic research. Through our research we hope to bring fresh views, challenging thoughts, and a creative spark to academia. Whether this is in the natural sciences, humanities or any other academic field is irrelevant.

For more information about the programme you contact the study coordinator by sending an e-mail to: mediatechnology@leiden.edu

First year

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Core courses

Media Technology Field Trip 1
Research Fundamentals 3
Strategies in Creative and Performing Arts 3
Creative Programming 6
Human Computer Interaction and Information Visualization (Msc) 6
Playful and Creative Science 6
Hardware and Physical Computing 3
Meta Media 2
Sciences and Humanities 4
Non-human Cognition 4
Artificial Creatures 4
Sound, Space and Interaction 6
Exhibition: Science to Experience 12

Second year

Elective courses level 400+ 10-19 ECTS
Students are expected to take the core courses with a total of 92 ECTS including the Graduation Project. The remaining 28 ECTS are obtained through a combination of accent courses and elective courses. Student must take minimally 2 and no more than 3 accent courses.

The courses New Media & New Technologies (level 500, 5 EC) and Language Evolution (level 500, 5 EC) if completed before 1 September 2020 are considered as core courses.

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

Core courses

Graduation Lab 1
Graduation Project (Media Technology MSc) 30
Portfolio (Media Technology MSc) 1

Accent courses (select 2 or 3 out of the 5 courses below and obtain 9-18 EC)

Computational Creativity 6
Research Seminar Artificial Intelligence 6
Research Seminar: Social Technologies 6
Scientific Narration and Visualization 3
Video Games for Research 6

Elective courses (obtain 10-19 EC, depending on selected accent courses)

Career Orientation

During the Media Technology MSc programme we want to provide you with the best possible preparation for the job market. In addition to knowledge, it is important that you develop skills, gain practical experience, orientate on positions & careers, and reflect on your own profile and development. In addition to substantive knowledge, it is also important to be aware of the so-called transferable skills that you develop outside and during your education. These are, for example, your cognitive skills such as critical thinking and communication. Altogether, this contributes to your development as a professional and offers good preparation for the labour market.

With an MSc degree in Media Technology you will be an autonomous scientist, prepared for a career involving creative and critical thinking. In particular, the programme prepares you for a future in scientific research.

Acquired skills and competence

You understand not only the fundamental principles and organisation of academia, but also the importance of creativity and playfulness in academic research. You have knowledge and skills in computer programming, other specialist areas (e.g. artificial intelligence, creative and performative arts, philosophy, cognitive science, linguistics), and in the use of various media and technologies within virtual and physical environments. You are able to communicate with colleagues/peers in science as well as with a wider public, and have the ability to act as independent researcher and thinker with a critical attitude.

Career prospects

After completing the Media Technology MSc programme you will have a broad array of career prospects: our alumni hold positions ranging from PhD researcher to creative entrepreneur. Students with a Media Technology MSc degree are admissible to a PhD programme, and if you have the desire to apply your knowledge of Media Technology outside the university, there are good job possibilities in the creative industry. Graduates also choose artistic professions or a career in teaching in higher professional education (HBO). In fact, any job that combines creative and scientific thinking is suitable. Media Technology students find a job within 6 months after graduation, with more than 60% within one month (December 2019).

Nevertheless, questions about this subject may arise during your studies, such as: How can you use the knowledge and skills you gain within and outside your study program in the labor market? Which direction do you choose within your study and why? What are you already able to do, and what skills do you still want to learn? How do you translate the courses you choose into something you would like to do later?

You may have already discussed this with the study advisor, mentor, tutor, the Science Career Service, fellow students or made use of the Leiden University Career Zone. All kinds of activities are organized where you get the chance to orientate yourself on the job market and gives opportunities to reflect on your own development, possibilities and (study) career profile as well. Central to this are the questions: "What are my capabilities?", "What do I want?" and "How do I achieve my goals?".

In the prospectus, learning objectives have been formulated for each subject, the purpose of which is to inform you which components are covered in the development of your (study) career profile and preparation for the labour market. Various activities are also organized that help you in making all kinds of career choices and to develop skills. An overview of activities is shown below.

Activities

A selection of activities and events organised by Leiden University, the Faculty of Science and the Media Technology MSc programme:

  • Alumni and guest lectures

  • What’s Next talks

  • Workshops, e.g. ‘How to get a PhD position’

  • Workshops en Career Colleges Science Career Service

  • Mentorship and tutoring

  • Science Career Event

  • Leiden University Mentor Network

Science Career Service

One of the utilities of the Science faculty, Science Career Service, offers information and advice on study (re)orientation, career planning and personal professional profile as well as preparation for the job market, such as job applications. Facilities provided to students include online information, walk-in consultations, workshops and individual counselling sessions. In addition, Science Career Service offers expertise and support to programmes that want to strengthen the connection between their curriculum and the job market. This can vary from providing specific guest lectures/workshops to advising on integrating career orientation programmes into the curriculum.

LU Career Zone

The Leiden University Career Zone is the website for students and alumni of Leiden University to support their (study) career planning. You will find advice, information, video recordings of webinars and tools such as professional tests to get an idea of your personal profile. You can also explore positions and sectors, you will find tips about CV, job application, LinkedIn and there is a vacancy platform that you can make use of.

Mentornetwerk

Leiden University likes to prepare students and young alumni well for the job market. For this we use the knowledge and experience of Leiden alumni. To bring students and young alumni with questions about their careers into contact with experienced alumni, Leiden University has established the Mentornetwerk. Students and young alumni can register for free.

Contact

Do you have questions about your (study) career choices and has the above information not been able to help you further? Please contact the study advisor via mediatechnology@leiden.edu.