Information Studies

Entry requirements

Our regular standard of admission is at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree (2:1), although candidates will usually also have completed or be undertaking a Masters qualification.

• a straightforward, descriptive, and informative title
• the question that your research will address
• an account of why this question is important and worth investigating
• an assessment of how your own research will engage with recent study in the subject
• a brief account of the methodology and approach you will take
• a discussion of the primary sources that your research will draw upon, including printed books, manuscripts, archives, libraries, or museums
• an indicative bibliography of secondary sources that you have already consulted and/or are planning to consult

Months of entry

Anytime

Course content

Information Studies has a vibrant research culture that investigates a range of topics in the fields of information studies and digital culture, and digital humanities. Rapid technological change, massive volumes of digital information of increasing complexity pose significant challenges to our individual and collective use and curation of information. Fundamental concepts such as identity, memory, authenticity, trust, transparency, accountability, representation, engagement, preservation and access are important aspects of information studies in a digital era. These concerns demand a fresh theoretical approach, a deeper understanding of the nature of information and innovative solutions that connect theory with practice, people with information, and technology with humanity.

Our research focuses on the following areas:

• Theoretical approaches to information
• Management, Curation and Evaluation of Digital Asset
• Archive, Records and Information Management
• Digital Cultural Heritage and Digital Museology
• Digital Humanities and Arts

Topics of particular interest

Information Studies places great emphasis on the relationship of theory and practice in the information society drawing on a range of disciplinary perspectives and experience from different parts of the globe. Research students are expected to join the departmental research seminars and contribute to discussion and publications, and make an active contribution to the research environment in the subject area. Staff are always delighted to discuss research proposals and ideas with prospective students. Topics of particular interest within these areas include:

• Digital media in cultural heritage (ranging from behind the scenes collection information systems to social media and mobile apps for interpretation)
• Visitor studies and evaluation of information use
• Digital collections: use, value and impact
• The transformation of archival practice
• Digital manuscripts and advanced imaging
• The use of digital tools and methods in humanities and arts research
• Citizen science and crowdsourcing
• Multimedia Tools and Applications (ranging from music analysis to lifelogging)
• Record keeping, archives, and accountability
• Gamification in heritage settings and beyond

Information for international students

Please see the English Language requirements if your first language is not English. Please also see the international page.

Fees and funding