Why this programme

Media & Creative Industries
Media & Creative Industries student

What does this study entail?

Media and creative industries such as film and television, music, video games, and advertising have experienced profound changes due to digitalisation, internationalisation, and increasing conglomeration. Simultaneously, socio-cultural, political, and economic forces have played a pivotal role in shaping these changes. Think about the emergence of streaming services in the music and television industries, user-generated content in journalism, and the impact of artificial intelligence on creativity at large.

The master specialisation Media & Creative Industries covers the production, organisation, management, marketing and distribution of media and creative products, but also provides you with in-depth insights into how audiences receive and engage with those products. As an essential driver of economic growth and a rewarding career path, these industries play a pivotal role in today’s society.

Is this the right programme for you?

How do festivals reach their audiences? What is the effect of blockchain technologies on fan engagement? How can we make the creative industries more inclusive? How to best market new entertainment products? Do you want to delve in these kinds of questions? Then, de master specialisation Media & Creative Industries is the study that suits you.

There is a high demand for academically trained experts who understand technological and organisational developments and can respond effectively and critically to complex issues and changes in the media and creative sector. During this master specialisation, you will be trained to become such an expert, who can tackle the challenges facing media and creative businesses.

Media & Creative Industries by Viktória

Media & Creative Industries by Viktória

Five reasons to study Media & Creative Industries at the EUR

  • Real-world cases, guest lectures, and professional seminar sessions support the interdisciplinary focus of this master specialisation.
  • Special attention is paid to presentation, debate, analysis, writing, and research skills in seminars and research workshops.
  • You will be part of an international, interactive, and engaged classroom. And you will be supported and guided by a professional, international, and enthusiastic team of lecturers.
  • The programme's practice-based approach and distinctive focus on the labour market will bring you into contact with a variety of media and creative industry professionals, which will facilitate access to high profile jobs in the media and creative industries.
  • And did we already mention how cool Rotterdam is? Studying in here means studying in a cosmopolitan city. Discover the city's best restaurants, visit the most beautiful museums, or go to world-class events. Living in Rotterdam will never get boring.

A word from our students

Sherida van IJsselmuide

Sherida van IJsselmuide - PR Consultant at Bijl PR

The program has taught me a lot about how media work, how audiences might perceive certain messages and what role digitalization plays.
Photo of Sherida van IJsselmuide
The program has taught me a lot about how media work, how audiences might perceive certain messages and what role digitalization plays.

Why did you choose the Master programme Media & Creatieve Industries? Was it a conscious choice for a specific career path? What other factors contributed to your decision?

Coming from a very practice-oriented bachelor programme in Journalism, I was looking for a theoretical deep dive to complement my skills and experience. I completed my study at the age of 21 and knew I wasn’t ready to start working yet. Also, I had no clear idea yet of what kind of career I wanted to pursue. All I knew was that I was interested in many things, and that being a journalist all my life would not satisfy me. In my search on ‘what to do next’, I stumbled upon the Media & Creative Industries pre-master program. It was perfect for me, to both gain more theoretical knowledge as well as to find out what other job opportunities in the media sector would suit me.

Has the Media & Creative Industries programme lived up to your expectations?

It surely did. What I liked most, is that even though it was of course a master program and therefore had a strong theoretical component, the courses were also linked to the daily practice of media professionals. It taught me how to use theory to solve real problems. It was a lot of hard work, but I felt that the programme was the right choice for me.

How long did it take you to find a job after graduation?

Not long at all. I already found a job while I was still completing my master programme.

For which organisation or company do you currently work, and what is your position?

For 1,5 years now I have been working at Bijl PR as a consultant. Bijl PR is a public relations agency, based in the heart of Rotterdam. We build, guard and strengthen reputations for brands, companies and organisations. From corporates to non-profits, and everything in between. We help our clients to tell their story, reach the right audiences and really make an impact with their communications.

How did you find your first job?

By simply applying to an open vacancy I found online. I extended my master programme with an exchange semester at a university in Italy (which I’d totally recommend, by the way). From there, I started my job hunt. Successfully. I found a job in online communications at the University of Utrecht. However, a few months in an opportunity at Bijl PR came by that I could not ignore. For this position, I actually did not have enough experience. I decided to just try and send the director of the agency a message on LinkedIn. He was charmed by this and invited me for a job interview. The rest is history.

What are your most prominent tasks?

My tasks are best summarized as advising our clients on everything related to public relations and communications. I do both strategic and executive work. From creating PR plans and strategies to drafting up press releases, coordinating influencer campaigns, being a spokesperson for media questions and supporting clients with crisis communications. My work is very diverse, and so is the range of clients I work for. This makes it dynamic. My days never look the same. But the diversity and complexity makes it challenging from time to time as well. Luckily, I have a great team and boss, supporting and guiding me when necessary. And having been in this job for some time now, I have learned that those challenges are necessary in order to grow.

Which components of your Master programme are useful in your current position or career trajectory?

My master program helped me in developing a critical attitude, which you definitely need to have when working as a consultant. It is my job to stay calm, analyze the situation thoroughly and guide my clients into the direction that helps them to reach their goals best. On a more practical level, the program has taught me a lot about how media work, how audiences might perceive certain messages and what role digitalization plays in all this. Working in public relations and trying to reach certain audiences via both online and offline media, this knowledge comes in very useful.

Any advice for new graduates?

Do not put too much pressure on yourself to find your dream job right away. Sometimes, a not so great match can be just what you need to push you into the right direction and learn a thing or two about yourself. Most importantly: do never let your fear guide you. And consider starting off at an agency like I did. For me, working at an agency is the perfect stepping stone to gain a lot of valuable experience in the field and learn about my own strengths and interests at the same time.

Photo of Sherida van IJsselmuide

Marjolijn Winten

Marjolijn Winten - Alumna Master Media & Creative Industries

Ik vind de commerciële kant van communicatie echt heel leuk
Ik vind de commerciële kant van communicatie echt heel leuk

‘Toen ik een half jaar moest overbruggen tussen mijn Bachelor Communicatie- en Informatiewetenschappen en de Master Media & Cultuur kwam ik via- via bij Universal Music terecht. Er ging een wereld voor me open en ik ontdekte daar dat ik communicatie, en juist ook de commerciële kant hiervan, echt heel leuk vind.

Ik heb mijn afstudeeronderzoek in Argentinië gedaan en vanuit daar gesolliciteerd. Bij terugkomst deed Warner Music mij een aanbod. Op de avond voor mijn eerste werkdag leverde ik mijn scriptie in, dat sloot naadloos aan. Daarna kwam ik bij Viacom International Media Networks terecht, waar ik nu verantwoordelijk ben voor de marketing van Comedy Central Duitsland/Zwitserland/Oostenrijk. Ik bekijk de programmering en bepaal hoe we bepaalde programma’s gaan promoten. Het is echt marketing in de breedste zin van het woord, heel uitdagend en veelzijdig.

Huidige studenten zou ik aan willen raden om te proberen erachter te komen waar je hart ligt. Ikzelf heb er tijdens mijn studie altijd veel dingen naast gedaan, al realiseer ik me dat dit tijdens de Master best lastig is omdat die pittig is. Maar juist aan die nevenactiviteiten heb ik veel gehad. Probeer je echt zoveel mogelijk naast je studie te ontwikkelen. Zo kom je er ook achter wat je leuk vindt en dan kun je komen waar je wilt komen. Daardoor ga ik elke dag met heel veel plezier naar mijn werk.'

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