Career prospects
Graduates of this Master’s programme await a large and expanding professional field:
- Media industries: graduates enter careers in media, information, communication, and cultural industries as advisor, producer, developer, interface/software architect, festival organizer, presenter, designers engineer, etc.
- Governmental institutions: graduates fill advisory positions in governmental institutions and shape policies that make a difference in how our society gives its citizens the (digital) opportunities to act and have influence. The political ramifications of new media are often hidden in hardware and algorithms, but our students will know how to bring them out in the open and make them subject of critical reflection.
- Educational and cultural institutions: graduates are well prepared to transfer knowledge and skills in ways that connect with the expectations of many types of audiences in educational and cultural settings. Think of schools and universities, or public organizations that help advocate new media literacies.
Professional careers
Around 80% of our graduates find a job within six months after graduation, mostly via the networks created during the research internship phase of the programme. Alumni found jobs as:
- Designer and Advisor at SETUP, Utrecht's Digital Media Lab.
- Lecturer and Researcher on new media, culture and society at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam.
- Marketing & Media Specialist at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI).
More graduates have found jobs at, amongst others:
Google | VPRO | PICNIC | Mindshare | Beeld & Geluid | Rathenau Institute | Rabobank | Oxfam/Novib | Greenberry
Academic careers
The Master’s programme in New Media and Digital Culture does not specifically train you to become an academic scholar with a PhD degree. Even though some of our graduates have successfully pursued an academic career, we would recommend applying for the two-year Research Master’s programme in Media and Performance Studies if you are specifically interested in obtaining a PhD degree.
Career development
Media of Tomorrow symposium
Once a year the programme organises an internship information event, bringing together students and alumni working in organisations, companies, and institutions relevant to the field of new media and digital culture. During the event, experiences on moving from theory to practice, and from studying to work, are exchanged and discussed. The goal is to show you what you can expect to do and learn during the research internship, and to give you some idea of what an NMDC profile can do for you when looking for a job.
Keep in mind that while quite a lot of organisations in the Netherlands use Dutch as their working language, there are plenty of opportunities for English-spoken internships. You can also do an internship abroad, at a research project at a university or at an international organisation.
Career Services
Career Services offers events, tests, coaching and training in and outside your Master's programme, related to professional self-analysis, career orientation and job application skills. You can find more information about career services on Career Services for Dutch students or Career Services for international students.
Other career events
- Your Perspective is a monthly career orientation meeting for students and alumni of the Faculty of Humanities at Utrecht University. Each month we explore a different workfield or theme that is relevant for students of various disciplines within the humanities.
- The Faculty of Humanities organises a Career Night Humanities with interesting partners who will illustrate the diversity in career opportunities for humanities graduates and give you possibilities to develop yourself by joining their projects or attending their services.
- Once a year Utrecht University organises a Careers Day. This Careers Day offers the opportunity to sign up for workshops and trainings, and to meet recruiters at the careers fair. It’s also possible to participate in a job application training or have your résumé checked.