Digital Narratives – ifs internationale filmschule köln

Master’s program Digital Narratives

With the international Master’s program Digital Narratives, the ifs internationale filmschule köln is offering dedicated media and cultural professionals an opportunity to develop and produce stories for the future of digital media.

The program combines theoretical investigations in the fields of media and cultural studies with creative and practical processes exploring dramaturgy and design, as well as interdisciplinary development and production methods that enable the students to create innovative narrative projects for a digital future.

Digitization has generated rapid technological changes, and has had a fundamental impact on people, culture and society as a whole. In the media and creative industry, convergence has grown, and narratives have become increasingly interactive and immersive. Given these circumstances, the program’s projects are conceived and created right from the very first idea. These developments are part of the artistic and academic discourse of the program, with the aim of shaping the future of media in a creative and responsible way.

Next start of studies: September 2020

Please find here the module handbook (PDF) for our MA Digital Narratives.

Curriculum

The MA Digital Narratives supports young creatives to develop their skills and abilities – both practical and theoretical, artistical and critical, conceptual and applied.

The MA Digital Narratives combines five central elements in its two-year curriculum:

Change Investigation of the responsibility of the arts and the media for a participatory society in the digital age

Narrative Research and development of innovative narratives based on contemporary technologies for linear and non-linear storytelling in digital media

Digitality Media-theoretical knowledge and research on digital disruption and transformation processes in society, economics and the arts

Methods Analysis and implementation of aesthetic strategies and development methods for design, creation, communication and projects in art and creative businesses

Projects Collaborative work on student projects together with fellow students and external partners is supervised by professors and tutors MA digital narratives

structure

The MA Digital Narratives takes place every two years. The second cohort starts on October 1, 2018.

Duration:
2 years (4 Semesters)

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

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

Number of students:
max. 12

Program Structure

Semester 1: Analysis and Consolidation
The first semester focuses on the analysis and consolidation of the project idea. The students classify their project ideas in a context through a general and comparative historical and technological analysis. They explore their topics and the methods they could potentially use, both historically and through a comparison with existing projects. Theoretical and practical events help the students prepare the development

Semester 2: Development and Perspective
In the second semester, students revise their projects based on the results of their research and with the help of the advanced capabilities acquired throughout their studies. Part of this step is to perform a concrete trans-media design of the project and integrate more forms of expression, media and technologies into the concept. Students also develop potential business models and entrepreneurial approaches. At the end of the semester, a decision is made on the extent of the project’s implementation in the further course of study.

Semester 3: Design and Implementation
Depending on the nature of their projects, in the third semester students create a proof of concept, a prototype or the final version of their projects on the basis of previous work.

Semester 4: Documentation
Students complete their studies with a Master’s thesis and a project presentation.

The lectures will be held in English. The program offers students an international perspective that enhances and promotes their intercultural competence.

Excursions to internationally relevant conferences and festivals, such as Re:Publica or Transmediale, are an integral part of the curriculum. It is possible to visit cross-institutional events and to create partnerships for research and project work in order to expand networks.

Fees & Financing

Study fees:
One-time registration fee: 400 euros Tuition fee per semester: 2,250 euros (= 375 euros per month) Contribution to »The Friends of the ifs Society« per semester: 250 euros

Student loans:
For financial assistance to cover tuition fees and/or living expenses, first-semester students may apply for an interest-free loan from »The Friends of the ifs international filmschule köln Society«. Approval of the interest-free loans depends on the funds available as well as on the applicant’s financial situation. Repayment of the loan begins six months after graduation/termination of studies.

Scholarships:
»The Friends of the ifs internationale filmschule köln Society« offers second-semester students one scholarship for outstanding academic achievement that runs until the end of the Master’s program. This scholarship covers the tuition fees as well as an additional monthly allowance of up to 500 euros to cover living expenses (up to a total of 9,000 euros), paid throughout the course of studies until completion of the Master’s program.

Guidelines for the awards of scholarships

Overview of scholarship funds for M.A. study programs

The requirements for the award of a scholarship vary between individual foundations. In any case, the enrollment at the TH Köln, franchise partner of the ifs, is mandatory. Another way to finance your studies is to apply for a repayable loan (eg Career Concept, db student loans, KfW Development Bank).

Financing and funding opportunities

Contact

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