Study Global Digital Humanities Online with Scotland’s 1st University

Bring the University of St Andrews to you, wherever you are in the world.

Global Digital Humanities is a fully online, flexible postgraduate degree that explores how digital technologies are reshaping language, culture, literature, and society on a global scale. This part-time degree is designed to fit around work and other commitments, allowing you to build practical digital and analytical skills while studying at your own pace.

Applications are open for multiple start dates, including September 2026.

Why study Global Digital Humanities?

This innovative online Masters combines humanities thinking with powerful digital and computational methods. You’ll learn how technologies such as data analytics, programming, machine learning, and AI are changing the way culture is created, studied, and shared around the world.

Taught by academics from Modern Languages and Computer Science at Scotland’s top university (The Guardian University Guide 2026), the degree gives you both critical insight and hands‑on experience.

You’ll explore topics such as:

• Digital cultural heritage and preservation
• Global literature and storytelling in the digital age
• Data visualisation and computational text analysis
• Programming in Python
• End‑to‑end machine learning using real-world datasets
• The opportunities, challenges, and ethics of AI and digital technologies

Alongside theory, you’ll gain practical experience using digital tools to analyse, interpret, and present cultural data in meaningful and visually engaging ways.

Who is this course for?

This programme is ideal if you’re curious about how digital technologies intersect with culture, languages, and society, and you want skills that are increasingly in demand.

It’s particularly well suited to graduates and professionals with interests or experience in:

• Humanities and languages
• Media, publishing, and communications
• Education
• Museums, archives, and heritage organisations
• Cultural, creative, or research-focused roles

You don’t need a computing background to apply. Whether you’re looking to progress in your current field, retrain, or move into digital humanities, this course offers a flexible and globally relevant skill set.

How you’ll learn

You’ll study entirely online, with the freedom to learn at a pace that suits you.

Teaching includes:

• Online lectures and seminars
• Practical exercises and collaborative projects
• Guided independent study

You’ll have access to learning materials, digital resources, and specialist software, along with ongoing support from experienced academic staff. MSc students complete either a dissertation or an applied digital humanities project.

Careers and future opportunities

Graduates develop a unique mix of technical, analytical, and cultural skills, opening doors to a wide range of career paths, including:

• Digital heritage and cultural curation
• Research and data-driven roles
• Publishing and digital media
• Education and public engagement
• Cultural and creative industries

The MSc also provides strong preparation for further academic study, including PhD research in digital humanities or related areas.

Scholarships and funding

The University of St Andrews offers financial support to help make postgraduate study more accessible, including:

• St Leonard’s Postgraduate College funding opportunities
• 15% alumni tuition fee discount for University of St Andrews graduates

Visit the course page to explore funding options and apply online.