Computing with Digital Media MSc

If you're fascinated by the intersection of technology and creativity and want to build the technical skills to shape digital experiences, the Computing with Digital Media MSc at the University of Sussex is designed to give you a unique and practical edge. This programme is perfect if you want to move beyond just using digital media and learn how to engineer, develop, and innovate the systems that power it. You'll be based in our Future Technologies Labs, a £12 million facility that brings together cutting-edge computing with creative technology, providing the perfect environment to bring your ideas to life.

Your learning is a hands-on blend of computational principles and creative application:

• Specialist Digital Media Laboratories: You will have direct access to our suite of specialist labs, including the Interact Lab, which is equipped for practical work in human-computer interaction, motion capture, and ubiquitous computing, and the Creative Technology Lab, which provides a space for developing and prototyping interactive digital media applications.

• Industry-Standard Software & Development Tools: You will gain hands-on experience with the tools used by professionals at the intersection of tech and media. This includes programming environments for web development, multimedia programming using frameworks like Processing, graphics tools, and software for user experience (UX) design and prototyping.

• Project-Based Learning: A core part of your experience will be practical, project-oriented work. You'll tackle challenges that involve designing and developing interactive systems, digital audio/video applications, or web-based multimedia, allowing you to build a diverse and impressive portfolio.

• Collaborative and Individual Projects: The curriculum includes both team-based projects, which simulate a professional digital studio environment, and a significant individual MSc project. This final project is your chance to specialise deeply in an area like interactive installation design, web-based media, or audio-visual systems.

• Research-Led Teaching: You'll be taught by academics from research groups like the Creative Technology Research Group, giving you direct exposure to current ideas and innovations in interactive and digital media technology.

• Extensive University Resources: You will have full access to the University’s Library, with its extensive collection of resources on digital media, computing, and design, alongside 24/7 access to the specialist software and hardware in the Future Technologies Labs.

This programme is your gateway to becoming a hybrid tech-creative professional. You'll graduate not just with theoretical knowledge, but with the proven, practical ability to design, develop, and deploy compelling digital media systems, making you a strong candidate for roles in UX/UI engineering, web development, interactive media, and technical design.

After completing MSc Computing with Digital Media at Sussex, graduates tend to take up roles such as Digital Media Developer / Multimedia Specialist, Web Developer, 3D Modelling / Animation / Visual Effects Artist, or Interactive / Game Programmer. Many are also well-positioned for research or tech-creative roles thanks to the mix of media, computing, and human-centred design in the course.

Progression & Future Opportunities:

Here are specific features of the programme and what you can expect after graduation, based on Sussex’s official info:

• University Services that Help Students to Employ:

  • Career Lab offers support to explore options, build skills (CVs, interviews etc.), and connect with employers. Sussex emphasises internships, community consultancy projects and insight visits. 

  • One-to-one coaching with a Faculty Careers Consultant helps you set goals, prepare job applications, and develop professionally. 

  • Entrepreneurship support via StartUp Sussex and Ideas Lab, where you can develop your own creative/tech ideas or side-projects. 

  • The Media Technology Laboratory provides state-of-the-art facilities: digital content creation tools, professional video editing systems, web-multimedia labs, and studio environments to practise exactly what employers need. 

• Employment Stats & Indicators:

  • 91% of Sussex postgraduates in this programme have completed some work experience by the time they graduate.

  • 95% of recent graduates from the course are in job roles at professional or managerial level. 

  • Graduates usually find roles in digital media, web development, games programming, e-learning production, 3D modelling and related creative tech fields.  

• University–Industry / Real-World Project Partnerships:

  • The MSc project often includes opportunities to work with industrial sponsors: projects with commercial or real-world clients are encouraged, which helps you build portfolio items. 

  • Because Sussex is in Brighton (a city with many digital/digital media companies), graduates have good local networks. The industry presence in the city supports job opportunities. 

• Long-Term Value & Accreditation / Recognition:

  • While the programme description doesn’t specify a PSRB (professional accreditation like BCS) for this particular course, Sussex has a strong reputation in computing & informatics and digital media; its facilities and research outputs boost recognition of the degree. 

  • The mix of practical skills (media creation, animation, web / interactive systems) plus computing foundations means that the skills you gain are relevant and often valued in creative-tech industries, not just “academic” roles.

• Graduation Outcomes:

  • You’ll leave with practical experience in building interactive multimedia applications, 3D modelling & animation, visual effects, live video production, web-distributed multimedia. 

  • Graduates have gone into roles locally (Brighton / UK) and beyond in sectors such as digital media companies, game studios, web design / development agencies, educational / e-learning firms, and creative studios. 

  • Also, many use this degree as a springboard into research (PhD) or more specialised tech-creative work, especially where human-centred design, interaction, or advanced graphics are involved.

Further Academic Progression:

If you complete the MSc Computing with Digital Media at Sussex and want to push forward academically or specialise further, here are routes you might take:

• PhD / Doctoral Research in areas such as computer graphics, visual effects, interactive systems, human-computer interaction, virtual/augmented reality, or media technology. Sussex supports these through its research labs.

• Postgraduate Certificates / Short Courses in niche subfields (for example: advanced VFX, game engines, AR/VR, motion capture, real-time graphics, or UX / interaction design) to deepen expertise.

• Professional / Creative Portfolio / Freelancing: Because digital media often values demonstrated work, you could build up a portfolio, freelance or collaborate on creative projects (games, media, animation) which also serves as ongoing academic-creative development.

• Cross-Discipline Specialisation: If interested, you might combine media + computing with design, psychology, or educational tech; possibly via further study or research work that draws from multiple disciplines.