Online, part-time
Digital Economies MScPrepare for a digital future. Learn from world-leading academics at the forefront of research into digital innovation and the key drivers of change in today’s global economy.
Key information
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Study mode: |
100% online |
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Duration: |
2 years, part time |
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Next start date: |
13 January 2025 |
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Application deadline: |
26 November 2024 |
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Intakes: |
January and September |
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Tuition fees: |
£23,160 * These tuition fees may be subject to increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions. (funding options and instalments are available) |
* Depending on your country of residence, you may also have to pay Goods and Services Tax (GST) in addition to your tuition fees. You can find further information on the King's Goods and Services tax page.
Course overview
Unlock the future of work and business with the Digital Economies MSc. This multidisciplinary programme will empower you to understand and leverage digital technology's impact on work, production, exchange, and collaboration.
You'll critically explore these areas and tackle the big questions facing society today. Gain insights into how digital tech transforms labour, markets, platforms, and institutions, equipping you with the skills to meet emerging challenges head-on.
Boost your career by mastering how digital innovation can increase revenue, cut costs, and enhance knowledge sharing in organisations. Discover how digital technologies can be used to solve major societal issues, such as:
- Reducing energy consumption
- Cutting pollution and waste in industrial production
- Providing affordable transport and healthcare
- Increasing access to essential services and information
Ready to join us in January 2025?
Apply nowWhy choose this online MSc?
World-leading research
93% of our research was deemed ‘world-leading’ in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.
Study from a unique perspective
Learn from one of the only programmes that focuses on a critical perspective on the digital economy.
Learn from an interdisciplinary curriculum
Our curriculum combines insights from economics, sociology, anthropology, and much more.
Join one of the largest departments of its kind
Our broad-ranging expertise is applied and critical, spanning political, entrepreneurial, and creative.
The Digital Futures Institute
This course is part of the Digital Futures Institute. Its curriculum is enhanced by the Institute’s focus on interdisciplinary research and industry insights. With a diverse range of expert knowledge across various fields, you'll be positioned to tackle complex societal issues in digital economies. You'll also benefit from the Institute's partnerships with leading industry figures and academic departments.
What you'll study
This MSc programme is designed to give you a competitive edge in the job market. You'll develop a deep understanding of the unique economic characteristics of digital technologies and their transformative impact on businesses and society.
You’ll explore critical and theoretical approaches to digital economies, helping you make sense of their role in our world and their influence on work, transactions, and collaboration.
The course offers practical applications of complex theories to real-world policy debates. Benefit from teaching that draws on current events, established and emerging theories, cutting-edge research, and best practice case studies.
Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to navigate and shape the digital economy, enhancing your career prospects and making a meaningful impact in your field.
Watch a video overview with Programme Director Nick Srnicek
Hello. I'm Dr. Nick Srnicek, the Programme Director for the Digital Economies MSc at King's College London.
Our Digital Economies MSc is designed to provide you with a deep understanding of how digital technologies are reshaping economies and societies globally.
This part time online course allows you the flexibility to balance your studies with your professional and personal commitments.
The programme explores critical topics from both macro and micro perspectives on the digital economy. You'll gain insights into how digital technologies are influencing businesses, workers, markets, and institutions, equipping you with the knowledge to navigate and innovate in the digital landscape.
Let's look at some of the key modules that distinguish our programme.
AI and Society examines the impact and ethical considerations of AI in contemporary society, covering topics from virtual assistance to regulatory challenges.
Digital entrepreneurship explores how digital networks foster entrepreneurial activities emphasising social capital and the dynamics of digital ecosystems.
Digital marketing dives into the transformative role of digital technologies in marketing practices from SEO and social media to to ethical implications in digital advertising.
And your work will culminate in a research dissertation, which will allow you to conduct in-depth research on a topic within digital economies, demonstrating your ability to apply theoretical insights to practical challenges.
Whether you aspire to become a policy analyst, a digital strategist, or pursue entrepreneurial ventures our programme will prepare you with the skills and knowledge essential for thriving in the digital economy.
Module overview
This online Digital Economies MSc comprises seven modules; two 30-credit core modules, one 60-credit Research Dissertation, and four 15-credit specialist modules (180 credits in total).
All modules on the course are compulsory and you must pass all the modules to complete the award.
Core modules:
In this module, you’ll critically examine the impact of the digital economy on contemporary society. You’ll focus on the dominance of tech companies and the pervasive influence of digital technologies. You’ll develop the acumen to analyse pressing issues such as the concentration of power among major platforms and debates about breaking up tech giants.
You’ll also explore the widespread adoption of the winner-takes-all model, the valuation of data, and the emergence of new power inequalities. Through this multi-faceted perspective, you’ll be equipped with the conceptual tools to understand and articulate the systematic connections within the digital economy.
This module introduces the concept of the digital economy, exploring the impact of digital products, processes, and services on companies, communities, and society. You'll develop a fundamental understanding of digital concepts, theories such as Commons-Based Peer Production and Transaction Cost Theory, and ethical considerations in digital creation.
We’ll equip you with the knowledge to develop and implement digital initiatives, critically analyse existing innovation strategies, and address the ethical concerns surrounding digital transformation.
Taking inspiration from our active, world-leading researchers, the Research Dissertation offers an exciting opportunity to carry out an in-depth investigation into a topic that interests you within the field of digital economies. You’ll then write up a 12,000-word dissertation outlining your findings.
Examples of recent dissertations by our on-campus students include the impact of big tech in industry and the impact digital technology can have on identity.
Specialist modules:
Chatbots, virtual and voice assistants, face recognition, online advertising, product recommendations, and smartphone apps. These are just some of the everyday examples of Artificial intelligence (AI) now commonplace in society.
This module considers the possibilities, pros, cons, and concerns of AI for individuals, society, and its regulators. Developing in-depth knowledge of AI and the latest developments in the field, you’ll evaluate a broad range of applications, issues, and current debates.
Digital networks have enormous potential to foster powerful relationships as part of entrepreneurial activity. Through the lens of digitally mediated social interaction, social capital, mutual trust and affordance theory, we’ll deep-dive into the intricacies of these relationships. You’ll develop a profound understanding of how digital networks connect an ecosystem of like-minded individuals and target audiences, fostering meaningful interactions.
Digital technologies have transformed marketing practices in recent years. This has facilitated search engine optimisation, social media marketing, marketing automation, targeted advertising, and more. This module covers the broad range of digital marketing tools available to marketers. It demonstrates through established case studies and current campaigns how these can be used to the greatest effect.
You’ll explore the theoretical and practical aspects of digital media and digital data in marketing practice. This will give you a firm understanding of the computational processes behind digital marketing techniques. You’ll also learn about related economic, social, political, and ethical issues.
Digitalisation is shaping the way we share information, express ourselves creatively, and do business. Together, we’ll explore how creativity, culture and digital industries intersect through several of its key areas: visual and performing arts, computer games, and digital journalism.
You’ll be challenged to analyse the role of digital audiences, the nature of ‘free labour’, and the redefinition of heritage, memory and identity.
Meet the Programme Director
Dr Nick Srnicek
A Canadian writer and academic, Nick is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Economy and the author of Platform Capitalism (Polity, 2016). His research focuses on the digital economy, monopolisation, AI, and anti-work politics.
He’s a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and is regularly invited to give public talks around the world. He’s spoken at Glastonbury, Tate Britain, and Centre Pompidou. He’s also been quoted in a variety of media including The New York Times, Financial Times, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, and Libération.
How you’re assessed
Assessments are crafted to evaluate your knowledge, understanding, and critical awareness of course topics. They also assess your ability to analyse and apply specialist knowledge to practical situations. These assessment methods may vary between modules. They’re likely to include one or more of the following:
Group presentations
Group presentations
Written coursework
(essays and reports)
Written coursework
(essays and reports)
Online exams
Online exams
Entry requirements
A 2:1 honours degree (or above) or international equivalent in a social science, computer science/informatics or humanities subject.
If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a master's or PGDip).
You’ll need to meet ONE of the following criteria:
- A 2:2 honours degree or international equivalent in a related subject. Your application will need to be supported by a CV highlighting relevant experience (or a related graduate qualification, e.g. PGDip) and a 500-word written statement (see details under ‘Written statement and supporting information’ below).
- A 2:1 honours degree or international equivalent in a non-related subject. Your application will need to be supported by a CV highlighting relevant experience (or a related graduate qualification, e.g. PGDip) and a 500-word written statement (see details under ‘Written statement and supporting information’ below).
- A master's degree at merit (or above) or international equivalent in a social science, computer science/informatics or humanities subject.
English language band: B
To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.
Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed:
- An undergraduate degree (at least three years duration) within five years of the course start date.
- A postgraduate taught degree (at least one year) within five years of the course start date.
- A PhD in a majority English-speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.
For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
Depending on your previous qualifications, you may need to submit a 500-word written statement and CV highlighting relevant experience as part of your application.
If you’re required to submit a written statement, you’ll need to address the following two questions: ‘In your view, what are the key issues in the domain of digital culture and society? How will your professional career or academic trajectory benefit from studying them?’
All applicants will need to submit a copy (or copies) of their official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
Not sure if you meet the requirements, or if the course is right for you? Speak to our team to get tailored support:
Discuss my optionsCareer options in Digital Economies
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 6-12% of all online job vacancies in Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the UK, and the United States over the past decade required digital skills. This trend highlights the rapid digital transformation shaping all industries.
With the Digital Economies MSc, you'll future-proof your career by developing the entrepreneurial vision, creativity, and innovative approaches to digital business that are sought by organisations worldwide. A deep understanding of digital trends and awareness of emerging economic opportunities will make you stand out.
After graduating, you could work in a variety of sectors, including health, transportation, services, retail, digital businesses, start-ups, public policy institutions, and creative companies. Specialisations might include digital marketing, analytics, or project management. You'll be prepared for roles such as:
- Digital Strategist
- Digital Product Manager
- Digital Transformation Consultant
- Entrepreneur / Startup Founder
- Digital Strategy Consultant
Ready to join us in January 2025?
Discover more
You have the potential. We’ll help you unleash it. Take charge of your future today.
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