

TH Köln - Cologne University of Applied Sciences
Digital Narratives
- Start Dates
- Winter Semester: September
- Starting
- Winter semester
- Mode of admission:
- local admission restriction
- Application:
- directly at the University
- Study mode:
- Blended learning
- Registration Fee & Tuition Information:
- One-time registration fee: 400 €.
Program Video
Five Reasons to choose this Master's Program
Course Description

The M.A. in Digital Narratives is intended for holders of a previous bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in
- Storytelling
- Film
- Games
- Journalism
- Software/Video Game/Web Development
- Communication Studies
- Design
- Architecture
- Theatre and Performing Arts
- Media and Cultural Studies
- Social Sciences and Humanities
- Closely related disciplines
interested in advancing their qualifications and career opportunities in the field of digital narratives.
Special Program Features
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city
The wide range of cultural and leisure activities on offer makes studying in Cologne attractive. Cologne is one of the leading media locations in Germany and a centre of the creative industries.
Study in small groups with a hands-on approach
Classes are held in small groups of students, which allows them to interact and exchange ideas in an environment where creative and analytical approaches come together and build the perfect bridge between theory and practice.
Learn with experienced professors and lecturers
Professors and lecturers in this master’s program have exceptional theoretical knowledge and extensive professional experience in a variety of industries.
Accreditations

AQAS
AQAS
The “Agency for Quality Assurance through Accreditation of Study Programs” is a German non-profit association that is authorized to conduct external evaluation procedures for universities in Germany and Europe.
Requirements
Qualification Requirements
The application requirements for the study program in “Digital Narratives” are:
Previous bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in
- Storytelling
- Film
- Games
- Journalism
- Software/Video Game/Web Development
- Communication Studies
- Design
- Architecture
- Theatre and Performing Arts
- Media and Cultural Studies
- Social Sciences and Humanities
- Closely related disciplines
Min ECTS points required:
- 180
At least one year of specialized professional practice or similar professional project experience after the bachelor’s degree.
Proof of program-related aptitude for the M.A. Digital Narratives.
Applicants must submit a CV as well as previous work samples and assignments to prove their aptitude. If short-listed, candidates will be invited to an online interview, after which selected applicants will be announced.
Language Requirements
The following certificates are recognised as proof of your language proficience.
Application & Admission
Application Deadlines

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(starting in September)



Application Procedure & Selection
none
Application Documents
Application form and Declaration of Commitment (scan)
CV showing at least one year of subject-related professional practice or comparable experience
A translated (German or English) and certified copy of your degree certificates (scan)
A translated (German or English) and certified copy of your examination certificates – alternatively translated (German or English) and certified copies of your transcript of records and your diploma supplement (scan)
A letter of motivation answering the following questions:
Why do you want to take part in this program?
What is your professional/educational background?
Which of your previous experiences and interests are relevant for the program?
What skills/competencies would you bring to a collaborative working environment?
What are your future professional/artistic goals and how would participating in this program help you achieve them?
Please try to be as clear and comprehensive as possible in presenting your expectations and interests. (Length: max. 750 words)
Links to three work samples/writing samples, such as immersive or interactive works, installations, games, films, a photo slideshow, reportages, research investigations, etc. Individual and/or teamwork (in which you had a particular role or task such as narrative designer, creative or artistic director, UX designer, or creative technologist, among others) is accepted as a work or writing sample. In case of being part of a team, please specify your role in the project. (If possible, one link will lead to a portfolio page that showcases a selection of the candidate’s work.)
Write an essay on a topic relevant to this program. Alternatively, you can also submit a previously written article, blog post, or scholarly paper from your BA studies program, with the appropriate references to where these were published/submitted. (Length: min. 1000 to max. 2500 words)
Suggest up to three topics for which you would be interested in performing artistic, creative and academic research during the program.
Select up to three projects that are in your opinion exceptional for their innovative use of storytelling in digital media. Describe each one and explain why and how they are outstanding. (Length: max. 200 words per project)
Testimonials
The M.A. in Digital Narratives at ifs is a unique, holistic study experience. I was happy to encounter an international environment where both academic and practical approaches are tuned in to bring out the best of each attendee. Every student is encouraged to develop a project or prototype on any digital medium, without defined creative boundaries, while being fully supported by all ifs staff, technical crew, and professors.
The M.A. in Digital Narratives is a creative and research program that provides its students with high design tools and production methods, coupled with a solid analytical approach toward the digital medium. For me, coming from both cultural studies and independent cinema, the master managed to profoundly intertwine my artistic and intellectual interests. At a creative level, it has greatly improved my production skills, as well as training me with a whole set of transmedia forms in which to render my new ideas. On a more theoretical aspect, it has also granted me a plethora of research tools for a quality academic approach to cultural cybernetics. For all these reasons, I feel incredibly indebted to the program, and I hope it will continue to enlighten new cohorts about the future prospects of the digital medium.
In a world where art is experienced on a daily basis, the M.A. in Digital Narratives at the ifs brings clarity to the concept of creative development. When I started, I thought I knew what art was and how to create it digitally, but once we went in depth into our program I realized that it’s so much more than what we think. It’s a process of ideating, creating, prototyping, expanding, reflecting, and producing. It’s a circle of thoughts that brings you closer to your creative goal. I am grateful that I got to have hands-on experiences with a lot of different projects at ifs, as I learned how to trust my ideas, go further with them and make them come to life. One of the main aspects of the program is the interlink between theory and practice. This allowed my classmates and me to focus on both creative and analytical approaches to our thesis projects.
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Further Information
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