Digital Humanities

MA

  • Entry year 2025 or 2024
  • Duration Full time 1 year, Part time 2 years

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • Use specialist facilities in our Digital Scholarship Lab

  • World Top 50 Arts & Humanities THE World University Rankings 2024

  • Learn from experts in our specialist research centres

Why Lancaster?

  • Open doors to exciting professional roles through an MA at Lancaster University - an institution with a world-leading reputation in Digital Humanities
  • Study in a department that specialises in the application of artificial intelligence techniques in humanities research
  • Get involved in projects with experts in places such as America, Mexico, Brazil, and India
  • Collaborate with your peers in our Digital Scholarship Lab, a state-of-the-art research space with specialist software and equipment
  • Choose our Heritage Placement module for the chance to work with a range of regional, national and international organisations

The digital sphere is transforming the way we live and work, as well as how we study the past. On this dynamic degree you’ll learn how to apply cutting-edge technology to traditional humanities and cultural heritage research. Building expertise that can be applied in academic research, as well as careers in a wide range of industries.

We’re world leaders

Lancaster University is a world leader in the integration of new technologies in humanities research. During this course, you’ll learn from globally recognised experts in the field and engage with cutting-edge research in digital humanities.

From visualisation and data design, to text mining and geographic information analysis and retrieval, the technological skills and knowledge you gain from this course will prepare you for rewarding roles in a wide range of sectors. You’ll learn about the use and creation of digital assets and databases, relevant interdisciplinary theories and methods, as well as applications of artificial intelligence such as natural language processing, machine learning, and computer vision.

Digital disciplines

You'll develop digital and historical research skills and complete core modules in Digital Humanities and Spatial Technologies for Humanities Research. This will allow you to analyse data in more complex and sophisticated ways.

For instance, you will:

  • extract and analyse information on a large scale through text mining techniques
  • discover how to map historical sources and works of literature
  • apply and carry out research using methods such as Network Analysis, Spatial Statistics, and Corpus Linguistics
  • acquire the skills to capture and visualise data, and create interactive story-maps and timelines
  • use Artificial Intelligence techniques to identify, extract and analyse information from thousands of images or texts, and paint a more vivid picture of your findings

Learning about researching and writing history will be an important part of your degree too. You’ll apply this knowledge to develop your own original research for your dissertation.

Careers

This MA equips you with a valuable set of transferable skills. You’ll be able to continue into academia on research projects, or apply your newly acquired skills in the private and public sectors.

We prepare our graduates for success in many fascinating careers including:

  • Cultural heritage management
  • Galleries, museums and archives
  • Infrastructure research councils
  • Civil service for digital developments
  • Geographic information systems analysis
  • Digital librarianship

Previous graduates have successfully achieved positions as a Digital Curator with the BBC, a GIS consultant in private industry, and a Digital Humanities Librarian in Higher Education.

This Master's degree also puts graduates in a strong position to further their studies at doctorate level. A PhD is a brilliant opportunity to continue your research and deepen your digital humanities skills in a specific area. Previous graduates secured PhD scholarships both in the UK and overseas.

Entry requirements

Academic Requirements

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) In any humanities discipline or related subjects, such as Library Science, Journalism, for example.

We may also consider non-standard applicants, please contact us for information.

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

English Language Requirements

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 5.5 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.

If your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Pre-master’s programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master’s pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master’s degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Course structure

You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

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Optional

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Fees and funding

Location Full Time (per year) Part Time (per year)
Home £11,960 £5,980
International £24,830 £12,415

General fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

If you're considering postgraduate research you should look at our funded PhD opportunities.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important Information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.