MA Digital Narratives

The MA Digital Narratives supports young creatives to develop their artistic, practical and theoretical skills in the evolving business scene of digital culture.

The central elements of the MA Digital Narratives curriculum are:

• The Study of Digital Culture
Media-theoretical knowledge and research on digital transformation and disruption processes in society, economics, and the arts.
Investigation of the social responsibility in arts and media for a participatory society in the digital age.

• The Study of Narratives
Research and development of immersive narratives based on contemporary technologies and audience engagement strategies in digital media.

• The Study and Practice of Creative Methods
Analysis and implementation of aesthetic strategies and creative development methods in artistic projects and creative businesses.
Analysis and training of creative and agile methods for ideation, development, prototyping, and production in a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative working environment.

• Projects
Collaborative and individual work on artistic, entrepreneurial, and research projects together with external partners and supervised by professors and tutors.

Here you can find the event directory and module handbook.

Admission to the MA Digital Narratives takes place every two years in the winter semester.

Duration:
2 years (4 Semesters)

Residency:
The two-year MA Digital Narratives is a fulltime Master’s program (120 ECTS). It is divided into attendance time and self-study time. The attendance time during the first and second semester is twelve weeks (usually every day from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm). During the third semester, there are eight weeks of attendance time. The fourth semester is dedicated to writing the Master’s thesis, so the attendance time is only three weeks.

Degree:
Master of Arts (M.A.), 120 ECTS

Number of students:
max. 12

Program Structure

In the second year of study, the program also offers students classes to facilitate their professionalization, which include the study of business modelling, project financing, project marketing, deal making, and the practical aspects of intellectual property law. In addition, they can receive coaching and mentoring for their projects and for their professional life after their studies.

The program language is English. Studying in a small group of no more than twelve students ensures an intensive and collaborative work. During the first three semesters, the courses are aimed at self-study phases to support indivi-dual and shared research as well as project development. For this, the students can use a co-working space at the ifs. Excursions to internationally relevant conferences and festivals, such as Re:Publica, Transmediale and Clash of Realities are an integral part of the curriculum. It is also possible for students to visit cross-institutional events and create partnerships for research and project work in order to expand their networks.

Professors

Prof. Lena Thiele
MA Digital Narratives – Art & Design

Lena Thiele, author and creative director of the Berlin-based media company Miiqo Studios UG, has been designing and producing award-winning digital media formats such as web series, interactive storytelling formats and games since 2003.

Her main focus is on the creative combination of state-of-the-art technology and high-quality journalistic content to create innovative formats that intensively involve the recipient and create an experience.

The production, the web series netwars/out of CTRL, has received numerous awards including the SXSW Innovation Award for Best Visual Media Experience, the Grimme Online Award and the Prix Italia 2015.

Since 2012, as Head of Studies and Trainer, she has developed the Audience Design Training Program at TorinoFilmLab. In addition, she worked as a trainer for international programs and universities such as the Dok Leipzig NetLab, Berlinale Residency, the HFF Munich, Filmakademie Ludwigsburg, or the ZHdK and as a consultant for the international media industry. In recent years she has been a member of the jury of the International Digital Emmy® Award in the non-fiction sector on several occasions. In 2018 she was a member of the jury of the Grimme Online Award. Lena Thiele completed her studies at the Berlin University of the Arts with a Magister Artium degree.

 

AWARDS (Selection)

Prix Italia, Best Transmedia Experience  for »Netwars – Out of CTRL« (2015) Grimme Online, Knowledge and Education for »Netwars – Out of CTRL« (2015)  SXSW/South by Southwest Interaction Innovation Award for Best Visual Media Experience for »Netwars – Out of CTRL« (2015) Preis für crossmediale Programminnivationen for »Netwars – Out of CTRL« (2015)  Deutscher Digital Award, Bronze, Category Website, Mobile and Stationary for »Netwars – Out of CTRL« (2015) Japan Award for Best Work Creative Frontier for »Netwars – Out of CTRL« (2014) The FWA – Site of the Day (2014)REMI Winner Worldfest Houston for »Farewell Comrades! Interactive« (2013) Focal International Award 2012 for »Farewell Comrades! Interactive« (2012) Best Webdocumentary France24/RFI 2012 for »Farewell Comrades! Interactive« (2012) Nominated for Deutsch-Französischer Journalistenpreis 2012 for »Farewell Comrades! Interactive« (2012) In Competition: FIPA 2012 mit »Farewell Comrades! Interactive« (2012) Nominated for WEBTV Festival 2012 for »Farewell Comrades! Interactive« (2012) Nominated for France 24-RFI Web Documentary Award for »Farewell Comrades! Interactive« (2012) Nominated for Prix Europa for »Farewell Comrades! Interactive« (2012) Nominated for DocLab Award for »Farewell Comrades! Interactive« (2011) Deutscher Entwicklerpreis / Best Mobile Actiongame: Project: »Werner: Haat am Ball« (2006) Deutscher Entwicklerpreis / Best Mobile Strategy Game for »Armored Forces« (2006)

PERSONAL STATEMENT:

»My work has been shaped by the transformation of digitalization. It is an exciting time to be in as we have the rare opportunity to reshape and co-create the way stories are being told and how we can connect people through story by using the innovation of digital technology to create a real human emotional experience.«

Lecturers

Alistair Alexander

Director of Publishing and Production at »Tactical Tech Collective«. He has worked with various NGOs in the field of health and international human rights. He has led the development of websites, interactive tools and multimedia projects. He is also a freelance journalist and was one of the first to report on Chinese internet censorship in 2002 and the first World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2003. Over the last 15 years he has been active in many activist groups and campaigns. In 2003, he helped organize the Anti-Iraq war demonstration in London, which included 1 million people. He also worked with: »Climate Camp«, the campaign for John Charles de Menezes, »UkUncut« and »Open Rights Group«.

Jörg Bange

Jörg Bange is founder and partner in the law firm »Bange + Wasert Rechtsanwälte«. The main focus of the law firm is in the areas of »intellectual property law« (trademarks, design, copyright, IT, data protection, new media and labor law, digitalization).

Maximilian Borsich

Student at the Cologne Game Lab and consultant for game engine »Unity«.

Christoph Brosius

Game Producer. The trained advertising merchant previously worked for various film and television productions and studied Game Producing at the Games Academy in Berlin. From 2008 to 2010 he was Development Manager at the Munich production company remote control productions. Since 2010 managing director of »Die Hobrechts«. As a lecturer for agile project management he teaches at the Games Academy, HFF Munich, MD.H as well as Qantum (SEA).

Robert Bullerkotte

Web designer and developer.

Jim Charne

Jim Charne is a California, New York, New Jersey, and Wisconsin lawyer with a long private and corporate practice history providing comprehensive representation in all aspects of intellectual property, entertainment, technology, music, and Internet commerce. His experience in computer software, video games, and other technology-based entertainment extends back to the formative days of the category.

Annie Cloutier

Theater author and actress.
Author for (a.o.): »Tapage et autres bruits sourds« (2018), »L’enfance de l’art« (2017), »Musique pour un monte-charge francais« (2015), »L’Effet Papillon: Édition Casselman« 2014-2015, »Comment frencher un fonctionnaire sans le fatiguer« (2014), »Dyslexie émotive et dysfonctions érectiles« (2013), »Love is in the birds: une soirée francophone sans boule disco« (2013).
Actress in (a.o.): »Ceci n’est pas une lettre d’adieu…« (2017), »Musique pour un monte-charge francais« (2015), »Comment frencher un fonctionnaire sans le fatiguer« (2015), »Ce qui meurt en dernier« (2014), »Dyslexie émotive et dysfoctions érectiles« (2013), »Les Z’aventures de Zozotte« (2011), »The Pretentious Young Ladies« (2011), »Perdre la Farce« (2010)

Keith Cunningham

Screenwriter and script consultant Keith Cunningham consulted on dozens of projects, ledhundreds of seminars, and trained thousands of writers, directors, producers, and commissioning editors. His screenwriting and teaching career profits from his insights as a psychologist and specialist in creativity, with years on set as a cameraman and lighting gaffer. The author of »The Soul of Screenwriting: On Writing, Dramatic Truth, and Knowing Yourself« has taught at AFI New York, the Director’s Guild, the Writer’s Guild in L.A., and numerous institutions, companies, and broadcasters all over the world. Keith Cunningham has been a guest lecturer at the ifs for over 12 years, and served as Substitute Professor of Serial Storytelling from 2016 to 2017. In addition, he headed the Writer’s Room Lab at the Deutsch-Amerikanisches Institut Heidelberg (DAI).

Joel Dittrich

Audiovisual artist and Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer, who works interdisciplinary with interactive installations, augmented reality, video projection mapping, 360 degree video and audiovisual performance. He teaches at various universities, e.g: Berghs School of Communication, Beckmans College of Design, Forsbergs School for Graphic Design, Högskolan Dalarna University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, KMH Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Konstfack University College of Arts Craft and Design, University of California, Taipei National University of the Arts, and HDPK College of Popular Arts.

Jörg Friedrich

Game Designer from Berlin, who has worked in influential creative roles in several major games since 2003. Project selection: »Spec Ops: The Line«, »Desperados 2« and »Drakensang«. Currently he is working as Creative Director on »MMORPG Albion Online«. Jörg Friedrich also teaches games design at the Games Academy in Berlin and as a guest lecturer at various German universities.

Nicolò Gallio

Nicolò Gallio holds a Ph.D. in Film Studies from the University of Bologna (Italy) and lectured in Film and Media Studies in universities across England. As a researcher, his main interests are related to the impact of digital media on the film and TV industry, and their audiences. As a consultant and alumnus of the TorinoFilmLab, he runs international workshops and masterclasses focused on marketing and communication strategies for independent and art-house films. He has served as a trainer of the Mediterranean Film Institute and provided research and insights to international film marketing agencies such as Alphapanda. He has a background in PR and media relations, and over 10 years of experience as a freelancer for cultural and creative industries.

Maya Indira Ganesh

Worked at Tactical Technology Collective in Berlin from December 2009-October 2017. In the capacity of Director of Applied Research she worked on and managed research and publishing on Gender and Technology projects related to online harassment; applications and uses of technology in civic tech, human rights and activism; and digital security, privacy and big data. She worked as part of creative teams producing online, video and print projects, events and training workshops on digital security, privacy, and big data politics. She also speaks widely on these topics at sectoral events and conferences. Maya has senior management experience in developing strategy, running small teams, and in managing fund-raising from the grant writing stage to managing budgets, and donor reporting. She has two Masters Degrees, and is currently enrolled as a DPhil candidate at Leuphana University, Lüneburg, Germany. Maya is also a regular contributor to the tech-theory blog, Cyborgology.

Martin Ganteföhr

Studied literature and linguistics, but turned to storytelling in games in 1996. For more than two decades, he has been working as writer, designer and director in the interactive industry. In 1998, he co-founded House of Tales Entertainment, the first German studio to specialize in adventure games, and led the company for twelve years as a CEO and Creative Director. After selling the studio, Ganteföhr has continued to work in a broad range of (interactivity-related) cultural fields, including video games, theatre, audio drama, education, and journalism. Ganteföhr’s work spans more than 30 published software titles for various formats, platforms and genres, from TV-license adaptations (»Terra-X«, 1996-1999 / »X-Files«, 2004 / »Verliebt in Berlin«, 2006) to award-winning video game narratives (»The Moment of Silence«, 2004 / »Overclocked« 2007 / »State of Mind«, 2018). He has provided script work for interactive and linear audio drama at Germany’s largest public broadcaster WDR (»39«, 2015), and has written and co-designed interactive stage plays with game theater pioneers machina eX (»Toxik«, 2015 / »Endgame«, 2017). As a senior lecturer, Ganteföhr has been teaching Game Development and Research (MA) and Digital Games (BA) classes at the Cologne Game Lab for eight years (2010-2017). He continues to be a frequent speaker and lecturer at universities, conferences and symposiums. As a journalist writer, he has contributed to German weekly DIE ZEIT/ZEIT Online (2007 – 2011), and is currently a columnist for WASD, Germany’s bookazine for games culture. Ganteföhr’s latest video game project, »State of Mind«, won Best Story at the German Developer Awards 2018, and is nominated for Best Staging at the German Computer Game Awards 2019. His current main project (2019 – ongoing) is a transmedia game for a major broadcasting company.

José Herranz

José postgraduated in Information Sciences at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain, obtaining a major in Journalism. During this time, he worked for several communication and information security companies in the fields of internal and external communications. He then moved to Germany to complement his practical education with a theoretical approach to media. At the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, he postgraduated again, obtaining a dual Master of Arts in Media Studies and Gender Studies. During these years, he laid his focus on political theory, media theory and experimental philosophy, exploring the potentials of posthumanist and poststructuralist philosophies to better understand the transformation processes that digitality sets off. His master thesis analysed the effects of postfordism on social claims, activism and technopolitics. José is currently researching complex distributed systems at the Institute for Media Studies. He is finishing the doctoral thesis with the title „trustless, decentralised, machinic consensus“ and imparts lectures on digital media. He combines this theoretical approach with a practical one by participating in the digital commons project crown.tech – a global and community driven blockchain ecosystem.

Jörg Ihle

After graduating AFI in Los Angeles, Jörg Ihle worked as a screenwriter selling several scripts to major studios. In addition, he co-produced, directed and wrote the independent films »Two Days«, »The Tribe« and» Privacy«. Jörg Ihle went on to write video games for Ubisoft such as »Settlers 7«, »Anno 1404«,»Red Steel 2« and »Silent Hunter 5« and two animated feature films for Trixter and Parapictures in Germany. Jörg Ihle builds and develops transmedia brands for Germany’s biggest theme park Europa-Park, in co-operation with toy and game companies, publishers, film and television producers as well as attraction designers. He lectures on story worlds and transmedia in film schools across Europe.

Berk Kadakgil

Producer and post supervisor. Projects (a.o.): »Luke! Die Woche und ich« (2017), »Abroad« (2016), »Orte der Kindheit« (2015), »The Way Back Home« (2014), »Good Bye Deutschland« (2013)

Arne Ludwig

Producer and board member of the First German Virtual Reality Association (EDFVR e. V.). VR consultant for EAVE, Cologne Digital Hub. Chief Sales Officer at headtrip immersive media GmbH. »AR experiences for Arvato« (2017), »VR experiences for ADAC, Samsung, Daimler« (2017), »Virtual Reality Square Dance / Co-producer with director Markus Biersack« (2016), »VR Digital Audio Broadcast Experience for WDR« (2016), »Virtual Reality Boxing / 360° experience« (2015), »Silent Summer« (2013), »The Love of Children« (2009), »Dr. Alemán« (2008), »The Visitor« (2007), »The Big Sale« (2006), »The Blue Border« (2005), »Status Yo!« (2004).

Timo Maier

Consultant, concept developer and author for digital media. Founder and Head of Story & Strategy of the production company »Monokel«. Certified ScrumMaster (Scum Alliance).

Curtis Lee Maugham

Media scientist. Publications (a.o.): »Identity Formation through Cinematic Explorations of the Past: Harald Friedl’s Austrian Trilogy« (2015), »Like No Other? Thomas Mann and Kleist’s Novellas« (2014)

Arne Paul Oltmann

2014 Foundation of seedfeed GmbH. Development of business models, coaching, mentoring and support of start-ups and start-up projects. In addition to this work, he is involved with the Business Angel Agentur Ruhr e. V. and is founding director of Angel Engine e. V. in Düsseldorf.

Prof. Mike Sandbothe

The founder of the supra-regional cooperation platform and head of development of the Thuringian model Mindful Universities teaches as professor for culture and media at the Ernst Abbe University in Jena. There he is deputy director of the Institute for Innovative Health Technologies (IGHT). Previously, he was Professor of Media Philosophy at the Aalborg University Copenhagen (Denmark) and the Berlin University of the Arts. From 1998 to 2003, he taught as (senior) assistant professor of philosophy and later university lecturer for media science and cultural theories of digital media at the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena. Substitute professorships at the universities of Bielefeld and Essen. Visiting Scholar at Stanford University. Activities as a freelance science journalist, curator and cultural policy consultant. Mike Sandbothe is a certified trainer for Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) according to Jon Kabat-Zinn and was trained in the Feldenkrais Method according to Moshe Feldenkrais. Between 2015 and 2019 he was head of the Thuringian model project Mindful Universities in the Digital Society and the AOK-PLUS innovation project Healthy Teaching and Learning (GLL) at the Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena. Since 2020, he has been working on the transfer of project results on a European level within the Erasmus+ program Training Embodied Critical Thinking. For more information see Curriculum Vitae on sandbothe.net.

Markus Santner

Markus is a passionate (user) experience designer from Austria with an eye for aesthetics. He believes in clean design that combines purpose and innovation. He operates at the crossroads of design, business, and technology, creating compelling and meaningful experiences. He always puts the users in focus; empathizing with them, understanding their needs, and solving their problems. Important superpowers of a UX designer. In his opinion, (UX) designers have the power to change the world. His 10+ years of work experience as UI/UX designer include working for international companies offering digital solutions for procurement from source to pay; business process management, enterprise architecture management; customer relationship management; and the healthcare business. Markus holds a BA in Information Design, an MSc in Interactive Media Management, and an MA in Digital Narratives. In addition, he is a Certified Professional for Usability and User Experience Engineering. And he likes coffee. And alternate reality experiences.

Thomas Schlesinger

Writer, teacher, and consultant who acted as story consultant on the Academy Award winning »Nowhere in Africa« and the Academy Award nominated »Beyond Silence«. He received a Master of Fine Arts in Theater Arts at UCLA, and studied storytelling for ten years under the tutelage of mythologists Joseph Campbell and Jean Houston. As a story consultant, Tom’s clients have included »Golden Girls« Executive Producer Marc Sotkin, »Star Wars« producer Robert Watts, Francis Coppola’s Zoetrope Studios, Miramax, Universal Studios, Columbia Pictures, Constantin Film, and TV 60. He has taught his screenwriting seminars under the auspices of the Directors Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America, Pixar Animation Studios, Lucasfilm, the American Film Institute, and various studios and film schools internationally.

Maximilian Selvi

Game Designer

Reinhard Strömer

Professor for Cultural Management at the University of Applied Sciences Bremen, Founding Coach and Fellow of the Federal Competence Center for Cultural and Creative Industries.

Tank Thunderbird

Creative Technologist

Clemens von Wedemeyer

Media artist. Solo exhibitions (a.o.): »Hamburger Kunsthalle« 2016, »P.O.V. – Neuer Berliner Kunstverein, Berlin« 2016, »Muster – Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago« 2015, »Every Word You Say – Kunstverein Braunschweig« 2014, »MAXXI – Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo, Rom« 2013, »Metropolis -Bericht über China (mit Maya Schweizer), Frankfurter Kunstverein, Frankfurt am Main« 2011, »The Fourth Wall, KOW, Berlin« 2010, »Barbican Centre, London« 2009, »CGAC, Santiago de Compostela« 2008, »Kölnischer Kunstverein« 2006

Viviane Wilde

Viviane Wilde founded the management consultancy Bockstein Consulting in 2016, which specializes in the rebuilding and restructuring of brands. She supports corporations, medium-sized companies and startups in the development of digital, social media marketing strategies. Until 2016 Wilde was employed as Creative Strategist at Convidera GmbH. Since 2017 she also works as a lecturer for Social Media Marketing, among others at the Cologne Business School.

 

Prototypen für »1:1 CONCERTS«
In the second semester, the students developed prototypes for a digital extension of the music experience »1:1 CONCERTS«.
Free audio project »Lost in Sound«
ifs students Alexandra Tamayo und Cathal Kerins won fourth place in the music hackathon »Your Ocean Sound« of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin with their audio project »Lost in Sound«. The composition takes listeners on a journey off the coast of Ecuador: from the harbor of a small fishing village, a motorboat takes them out to sea and under the surface of the water.

Online workshop »Human machine interfaces«
Final presentation 2020
What will the digital narratives, interactive stories and immersive narrative worlds of the future look like? Eight students from four continents spent two years creatively exploring this question in the Master’s program Digital Narratives. On September 25, they presented their final projects in a virtual final presentation – including interactive web series, VR projects, a graphic novel, a mapping experience and a media installation.
For all those who were not able to attend, more information about the graduates and insights into their final projects can be found here.

Presentation of project works of the master programmes
The Social Spot by Loreto Quijada

Final presentation of MA Digital Narratives

»Yuraq Janka – Cordillera Blanca«
Final project by Alexander Luna.

What do alumni & lecturer say about this study program?

»The MA 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. From conception to guidance through technical challenges, and from the smallest to the biggest necessity that arose during these two years, infrastructure and personal support accompanied me all the way to my final presentation. As unknown as the subject seemed, I always felt heard and encouraged to unleash my potential within the digital realm.«
Loreto Quijada, Filmmaker, Chile

»Wenn eine Filmhochschule digitale Werkzeuge zum Erzählen von Geschichten wertschätzt und auf einen Thron hebt, um für die Zukunft größer zu sein und die Geschichtenerzähler von heute auch für die nächsten Dekaden richtig aufzustellen, dann kommt da der Master Digital Narratives bei raus. Und ich freue mich wahnsinnig da ein kleines Stückchen beitragen zu dürfen.«

Christoph Brosius, Gameproducer & CEO E-Mental-Health Developer Circumradius

 

A Bachelor’s degree with proof of at least 180 ECTS (or a similar academic or higher degree). To ensure that the education certificates and diplomas acquired abroad comply with the admission requirements of the ifs (higher education qualifications), applicants can consult the following database: http://anabin.kmk.org.

At least one year of specialized professional practice or similar professional project experience after the Bachelor’s degree.

Very good knowledge of English
B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, e.g. by a TOEFL score of 87 points (internet-based) or equivalent test results. Native English speakers are exempted from this.

The ifs is a cooperation partner of the University of Applied Science Cologne. As a BA student at the ifs, it is not generally necessary to enroll at the University of Applied Science Cologne. However, this can prove useful if you wish to take advantage of services offered by the University of Applied Science Cologne, such as the »Semester-Ticket« for public transport, access to the University of Applied Science Cologne International Office or to its sports facilities. Enrollment at the University of Applied Science Cologne is mandatory for non-EU citizens.

Students from certain countries need a visa and/or a residence permit. To obtain a residency permit, foreign students must demonstrate sufficient funds to secure their living expenses. The amount required is equivalent to the Bafög maximum rate of 861 euros per month, calculated for one year.

 

Fees
One-time registration fee: 400 euros
Semester fee at TH Köln: 280.50 euros
Study fees paid in full before the start of studies (for two years):
15.000 euros International Students / 11.000 euros EU Students
Study fees paid per semester:
4.250 euros International Students / 3.250 euros EU Students

Student Loans

For financial assistance to cover tuition fees and/or living expenses, students may apply from their first semester for an interest-free loan from the Student Education Fund, which is run by »The Friends of the ifs internationale filmschule köln Society«. Approval of the interest-free loans is based on the applicant’s financial situation  and the funds available. Repayment of the loans begins six months after graduation/termination of studies.

Project Support: To complete their Master’s projects, students have access to the technical equipment of the ifs and will receive financial project support (max. 5.000 euros/student) for the Master’s projects.

Another way to finance your studies is to apply for a repayable loan. The collection of links in the following is not exhaustive and is only sorted in alphabetical order.

Education and/or Student Loans:

• Bildungsfonds
• Bundesverwaltungsamt
• Career Concept AG
• CHE
• DAKA – Darlehenskasse der Studentenwerke im Land NRW
• Deutsche Bildung
• Deutsche Kreditbank
• Erasmus+ Master degree loans 
• KfW Bank

Scholarships

The Friends of the ifs Society awards scholarships to Master’s students with outstanding academic achievements. Beginning in the summer semester of 2021, for the MA Digital Narratives one tuition fee scholarship may be awarded for a period of three semesters.

In addition to the ifs, numerous German and international study foundations offer scholarships to support tuition fees and living costs during the course of studies.

The requirements for the award of a scholarship vary depending on the scholarship provider. An overview of the scholarship programs of external foundations can be found at:

Financing and Funding Opportunities

Working besides studies

Students must decide for themselves whether it is possible for them to pursue a job while studying. Our study programs are full-time degree programs. In the following you will find information on the specific scope of the study program:

The program is a full-time master’s degree with 120 credit points over two years. In the first three semesters, we expect attendance at the school for a period of 8 weeks each semester, with courses running five days a week from 10:00 am till 4:00 pm. During the fourth semester while the master’s thesis is being written there is no obligatory attendance, but at the end of the fourth semester students will be expected to attend a colloquium and presentations. During semester break, the project work will also partially continue.

Financial Assistance for professional training programs

Bildungsprämie (The Grant Voucher of the Continuing Education Grant)
»The Grant Voucher of the Continuing Education Grant« is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research as well as the European Social Fund of the European Union. Please note that the voucher must be presented when the invoice is issued. Details can be found at: www.bildungspraemie.info

Bildungsscheck (Training Voucher NRW)
Under certain conditions, the »Training Voucher NRW« can be used as a funding opportunity. Details can be found at: www.bildungsscheck.nrw.de

International applicants can obtain information about whether their degree, certificate or diploma fulfills the ifs admissions requirements at the following site:
http://anabin.kmk.org (German only).

To obtain a residence permit, international students have to demonstrate sufficient funds to secure their livelihood. The amount required is equivalent to the BaföG (Federal Education and Trainings Assistance Act for university students) maximum rate of € 861 per month.

Citizens of member states of the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA) – that is Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein – as well as Switzerland have equal legal status on the labor market as German citizens. This means that they have the same access to the labor market as German students and are permitted to work as much as they would like to without having to obtain prior approval of German authorities. Students are advised, however, not to work longer than 20 hours a week, as you would have to pay social insurance contributions should you exceed this number of hours.

International students from countries which are NOT member states of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland are normally permitted to work 120 full or 240 half days per year if they are in possession of a valid residence permit for Germany. The immigration office will record these provisions in your residence permit. Should you wish to work more days per year, you will need to obtain approval from your immigration office and the German Federal Employment Agency.

Graduates will be able to initiate and realize progressive artistic research and viable entrepreneurial digital projects in creative, artistic, and scientific positions. They may work in leading creative positions independently or team up for pioneering projects within digital culture and for a variety of narrative formats and platforms including VR/AR, interactive web series, games, and other non-linear narrative formats. They will be able to conduct research in digital culture and art and well prepared to enter lecturing positions in these fields.

Possible professional fields for graduates of the Digital Narratives MA program are:

• Creative director/creative producer
• Storyworld developer/story editor/content designer/narrative designer
• UX designer
• Media artist
• Media researcher/doctoral student
• Curator/media critic

For specific questions concerning the MA Digital Narratives of the ifs please contact:

Jimena Aguilar
Coordination Digital Narratives
T +49 (0) 221 920188-225
j.aguilar(at)filmschule.de

Valerie Lang
Assistance
T +49 (0) 221.920188-266
v.lang(at)filmschule.de

Janina Jansen
Office of Student Affairs
T +49 (0) 221.920188-226
j.jansen(at)filmschule.de