Master Digital Society
The Digital Society programme is a Master programme at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland (M.A. in Digital Society). It is an interdisciplinary study programme focusing on the social dimensions and consequences of digital technology in today's societies.
Admission
Students with a 180 ECTS BA degree are admitted (with or without conditions) to the Digital Society Master major. There are no formal language requirements but students should be able to read, write and present in English.
Admissions happen via the University of Fribourg admission office. For more information about admission and cost, please contact the admission office.
Programme description
The Master’s programme in Digital Society explores the dynamic relationship between technology and society. From the establishment of the Internet in the 1970s, the emergence of the World Wide Web through the 1990s, to social media, AI, online platforms and gig work, digital technologies not only transform how we communicate, work, and participate in public life. These technologies are themselves, in turn, shaped by cultural values, political institutions, and social practices. The Digital Society master programme highlights these mutual influences: how technologies reconfigure education, health, mobility, and economics, while social norms, power structures, and collective behavior determine which technologies emerge, how they are used, and how they evolve.
Drawing on sociology, anthropology, and science and technology studies, and complemented by foundations in computer science and digital skills, the Digital Society master equips students to analyze digital technologies as both drivers and products of social change. By studying the interplay of innovation, regulation, culture, and community, graduates are prepared to critically engage with the key challenges and opportunities of our digital age.
And after graduation?
Graduates of the MA Digital Society major are equipped with a unique combination of social science knowledge, methodological insights, critical thinking and technological skills. They are prepared students for diverse roles in public administration, NGOs, cultural institutions, consultancy, the private sector, and media. Their expertise will be particularly relevant in areas such as digital transformation, AI governance, technology regulation, and advocacy, where critical reflection on digital change meets practical application. The interdisciplinary programme also provides a strong basis for careers in research and academia, as well as applied fields like project management, ICT consulting, user experience research, or technology journalism.
Practical Information
The Digital Society master programme is taught entirely in English. Learning units can usually be taken in any order during the duration of the Master, allowing for utmost flexibility in study organisation.
Elective classes allow students to deepen their expertise in areas of their choosing, depending on their backgrounds and interests.
Read the study plan for detailed information about the study programme:
For any preliminary inquiries and to express interest, please contact the Digital Society study advisor.
Brought to you by
The Digital Society study programme is part of the social sciences programmes and is offered in cooperation with the Department of Social Sciences, the Department of Social Work, Social Policy and Global Development, and the Interfaculty Human-IST Institute of the University of Fribourg.