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Digital Society, Social Innovation and Global Citizenship (DIGISOC)


Course Description

Digital Society, Social Innovation and Global Citizenship (DIGISOC)


Presentation of the degree programme

The European Joint Master's Programme in Digital Society, Social Innovation and Global Citizenship (DIGISOC) is a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and international study programme designed to train a new generation of highly qualified socio-digital innovators capable of leading and managing digital transformation processes in diverse societal contexts.

Offered as part of the EURIDICE Project, co-founded by the European Union and born within the AURORA Alliance, DIGISOC combines advanced digital competencies with in-depth social innovation knowledge, focusing particularly on three critical sectors: Education, Communication, and Culture.

DIGISOC is an initiative of 3 Awarding Universities – the University of Naples Federico II (Italy), the Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck (Austria) and the Palacky University of Olomouc (Czechia) – which recognize the joint title with the support of 3 Partner Universities – the Pavla Jozefa Safarika V Kosiciach University (Slovakia), the University Lusòfona of Lisbon (Portugal) and the University Paris-Est Créteil (France).

DIGISOC is the first European Joint Master's Programme of the University of Naples Federico II and represents a unique initiative of its kind:

  • an excellence-oriented, research-based, and highly interdisciplinary teaching programme;
  • a diverse learning environment, innovative teaching methods, and international mobility;
  • a joint transnational education, resulting in a joint degree and joint micro-credentials;
  • a hybrid, seamless, collaborative and challenge-based educational environment.

The Study Programme has 3 relevant key features:

  • Summer School and International Mobility, that offer to students the opportunity to interact with renowned European scholars and professionals in the field of socio-digital innovation;
  • Collaboratorium and Hybrid Learning, a new educational concept based on a learning environment made of interoperable digital solutions and a phygital infrastructure (physical and digital);
  • International Internship and Service Learning, that offer to students the opportunity to develop a social innovation project or, alternatively, be involved in an International Service-Learning programme, that allow them to engage in organised service activities that address community needs.

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Career perspectives and Job opportunities

 

DIGISOC trains experts in socio-digital innovation and theories and techniques of digital communication for social innovation. DIGISOC graduates will be highly qualified figures for the design, prototyping, implementation and promotion of digital solutions for sustainable social innovation in three critical societal sectors:

  • Education;
  • Social, political and public communication;
  • Cultural industry.

DIGISOC graduates will be trained as responsible professionals, as well as future leaders, with a strong international perspective, motivated and capable of facing new social challenges that digitalisation poses to our societies but also of exploiting the opportunities that it offers to promote forms of social innovation that respond to an ethical, sustainable and inclusive perspective.

Graduates acquire a comprehensive set of skills that blend specialised technical knowledge with the ability to think critically and act ethically. This unique combination prepares professionals for a wide range of career paths in consulting, digital innovation and transformation, project and product management, research, as well as academic and leadership roles at a national and international level in public, private and third sector organisations in these fields.

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Admission procedure

Every academic year a public selection for the admission to the Joint Master Programme in Digital Society, Social Innovation and Global Citizenship (DIGISOC) is announced.

The annual DIGISOC Call for Application is provided by the University of Naples Federico II, the University of Innsbruck and the Palacký University Olomouc, for a total of 90 places.

More specifically, 30 places will be available in each of the three degree-awarding Universities (30 in Italy, 30 in Austria, 30 in Czechia). Students are enrolled at all degree-awarding Universities, but they primarily attend courses at one of them.

When applying to DIGISOC, candidates should state their preferences (1st, 2nd and 3rd choice), indicating in which of the degree-awarding Universities they prefer to attend onsite hybrid courses.

Admission requirements

Candidates have to comply with the requirements of all Degree-Awarding Universities to be enrolled at DIGISOC. To apply for DIGISOC, candidates must have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent; be fluent in English, both written and spoken, with a level of competence of at least B2 of the CEFR.

In particoular, candidates must:

1. Hold a Bachelor Degree in one of the following fields – or equivalent – according to the International Classification of Education (ISCED-F-2013):

  • 011 Education;
  • 018 Interdisciplinary programmes and qualifications involving education;
  • 021 Arts;
  • 022 Humanities (excluding languages);
  • 023 Languages;
  • 028 Interdisciplinary programmes and qualifications involving the arts and humanities;
  • 031 Social and behavioural sciences;
  • 032 Journalism and information;
  • 038 Interdisciplinary programmes and qualifications involving social sciences, journalism and information;
  • 041 Economics and Administration;
  • 042 Law;
  • 048 Interdisciplinary programmes and qualifications involving economics, administration and law;
  • 052 Environment;
  • 054 Mathematics and Statistics;
  • 061 Information and Communication Technology (ICT);
  • 068 Interdisciplinary programmes and qualifications involving Information and Communication Technology;
  • 0714 Electronics and Automation;
  • 073 Architecture and Construction;
  • 092 Social Services;
  • 098 Interdisciplinary programmes and qualifications involving health and social services;
  • 101 Personal services;
  • 1022 Occupational health and safety;
  • 108 Interdisciplinary programmes and qualifications involving services;
  • Other equivalent three-year degrees (equivalence will be determined or assessed by the Admission Committee).

2. Certify their proficiency in the English language at least the B2 level according to the CEF (Common European Framework) through one of the following methods:

  • Official documentation issued by an educational institution proving successful completion of a school-leaving certificate, a Bachelor's Programme (180 ECTS credits), or a Master's Programme of at least two years' duration (120 ECTS credits) that was taught entirely in English. The documentation must explicitly confirm English as the sole language of instruction;
  • Positive mark in English in the annual school report preceding the school-leaving certificate or on the school-leaving certificate issued from a school within the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, "Sprachenzentrum" (Language Centre) at the University of Innsbruck: successful completion of English course at advanced level III (B2);
  • One of the following English language certificates not older than two years from the date of the examination:

o   Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL, iBT Test: from 72 Scores)

o   British Council: International English Testing System (IELTS from 5,5 Scores)

o   Cambridge Assessment English, B2: First (= First Certificate in English, FCE)

o   Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic: from 59 Scores)

In addition, candidates have to meet the legal requirements of all the three Degree-awarding Universities. The detailed framework of special and legal admission requirements is available in the annual Call for Application.

Admission Test

Admission to DIGISOC is based on a transparent and merit-based selection procedure. Applicants apply online and are selected through a supervised admission test assessing critical thinking competences.

The admission test consists of 80 multiple-choice questions in english, aimed at verifying students' critical thinking competences. A selection committee reviews the results of the test to determine applicant eligibility. Details on the test syllabus and how to prepare for the test can be found in the annual Call for Application.

How to apply

Every year, when the DIGISOC Call for Application is open, candidates may apply online to take part in the admission procedure:

  1. Read the annual DIGISOC Call for Application
  2. Go to the DIGISOC website
  3. Go to the Apply now section
  4. Fill in the Application Form with the required data
  5. Upload the requested documents
  6. Subscribe the Confirmation statements
  7. Submit the application
  8. Download the application confirmation incl. "Candidate code" in pdf format.

The application process is facilitated by the University of Naples Federico II. For any questions, please contact info@digisoc.eu

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Call for Application 2026/2027

Applications for the academic year 2026/2027 are open from December 2025 to February 2026 and candidates may apply until February 27, 2026.

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Study Plan

The study programme consists of 120 ECTS credits, culminating in the writing of a Master's thesis. It incorporates both compulsory and elective modules, as well as short term mobility phases (Summer Schools), provisions for individual learning paths, internships and service learning, respecting the needs and interests of a diverse European student body. DIGISOC is conducted in English and is primarily offered in a hybrid format.

Learning objectives

Detailed informations about the Study Plan are available at this link: https://digitalsociety4innovation.eu/study-plan/
 

Traineeship opportunities

DIGISOC students will also have the opportunity to undertake an International Internship or an International Service Learning activity at accredited institutions and SMEs (10 ects):

  • International Internship: Students will carry out a social innovation project linked to the specialisation path chosen at thebeginning of Year II. Although a list of possible projects will be available, students may come up with their own ideas. Students must find a supervisor fortheir social innovation project from the available lecturers at one of the Degree-Awarding Universities.
  • International Service-Learning: programmes allow students to engage in organised service activities that address community needs; get involved in practical learning experiences and cross-cultural interactions; participate in regular reflection sessions; gain a deeper appreciation of global and intercultural issues.

For further information:https://digitalsociety4innovation.eu/internship-and-service-learning/

Graduation thesis and exam

DIGISOC Master's thesis involves the preparation, presentation and oral discussion of a comprehensive work on a topic chosen by the student and concerning a topic consistent with the study plan. Students can decide to carry out the thesis in one of the Universities that award the joint degree.

Each student is assigned a supervisor. The supervisor defines the thesis project together with the candidate, facilitates its design and realisation, and approves the final draft.

The Master's thesis can take the form of a written paper or even a socio-digital innovation project/product/prototype, also developed as part of the internship or International Service-Learning activities carried out during the training course.

The discussion of the final exam takes place before a Commission in which the supervisor participates.

For further information: https://digitalsociety4innovation.eu/study-plan/master-thesis/

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Costs and Scholarships

To enrol in DIGISOC, admitted candidates will receive detailed instructions for completing the necessary payments.

Specifically, candidates must pay (according to the Call for Application 2026/2027):

  • a tuition fee of €2,000 (annual base)
  • a regional tax of €167.50 (annual base)
  • a stamp duty of €16.00 (annual base)
  • a contribution to the Austrian Student Union of €26.20 (semester base)
  • Additional municipal waste tax (Additionally, only for students planning to reside on the Olomouc University campus for a period exceeding three months in 2026)

Failure to complete the payment within the specified deadlines and according to the prescribed procedure will result in automatic forfeiture of the candidate's right to enrolment.

Scholarship Programme

DIGISOC offers a Scholarship Programme, which is designed to provide financial support to students participating in the Joint Master's Programme.

DIGISOC scholarships aims to:

  • alleviate costs associated with tuition fees, summer schools, short-term mobilities, and living expenses;
  • support students from underprivileged or vulnerable backgrounds;
  • promote diversity, fairness, and gender balance in higher education.

DIGISOC scholarships also serve as a form of social support, helping students overcome personal or socio-economic obstacles that hinder participation in international education.

Students enrolled in DIGISOC and matching at least one of the following criteria are eligible to apply for a scholarship:

  • Students with certified Disabilities
  • Migrants or Refugees
  • Students with Low Socio-Economic Family Condition
  • Students living in Remote Areas

The amount of the scholarship can reach a maximum of EUR 3.000,00 each (gross percipient) per academic year and applicant. The exact amount of the Scholarship assigned to each applicant is based on the points awarded in the evaluation process. The maximum total funding per student is EUR 6.000,00 over the course of the two-year programme.

For further information: https://digitalsociety4innovation.eu/costs-and-scholarships/

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Academic calendar and examinations

Academic calendar 2025/2026

Next exam session academic year 2025/26

  • Summer Session: DA2

Book here your exams: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/UUAqWFuk0J

Old exam session academic year 2025/26

  • Early Session: DA2

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Didactic Regulation

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