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Destinations
Exams
Resources
More
Master storytelling and media strategy with skills in design, communication, and digital tools to create impactful content across evolving platforms.
Why choose MA Digital Communication & Media Arts at DePaul University, USA?
DePaul’s MA in Digital Communication and Media Arts equips students with expertise in digital storytelling, media design, and communication strategy. With hands-on projects and industry exposure, graduates are prepared to craft compelling content, manage campaigns, and lead in creative and tech-driven media roles.
Online Duration
7.5 Months
On-Campus Duration
12 Months
Research
R2 Designated
STEM Designated
Yes
Earn MA Digital Communication & Media Arts degree from DePaul University, USA.
Turn credits into milestones with an industry-shaped curriculum built for real-world skills.
1. Fundamentals of Marketing
2. Customer Centricity
3. Digital Marketing Channels and Metrics
4. Designing and Building a Web Owned Presence
5. Social Media Marketing
6. SEO
7. SEM
8. Display Advertising
9. User Nurturing
10. Content Marketing
11. Web Analytics
12. Robust Marketing Strategy
13. Digital Marketing Resources
14. Capstone Project
15. Soft Skills
1. Introduction to Digital Cmn (4 Qtr credits)
2. Foundation of Digital Media (4 Qtr credits)
3. Design Thinking and Storytelling (4 Qtr credits)
4. Digital Media Ethics (4 Qtr credits)
*8 Qtr hours are waived against successful completion of the Advanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication program
We’ve customized your study abroad journey — all you have to do is take the first step.
Significantly reduce tuition costs while gaining a world-class degree, global exposure, and strong career outcomes.
₹43.3 Lakhs ($49,660)
₹23.3 Lakhs ($27,000)
Merit-based
~₹66.9 Lakhs
Online Fee:
₹4.50 Lakhs ($5,150)
On Campus Fee:
₹32.1 Lakhs ($36,245)
Savings of ~₹7.2 Lakhs
On-Shore:
₹15.7 Lakhs ($18,000)
Savings of ~₹7.8 Lakhs
Merit-based
University discretion
~₹51.8 Lakhs
Savings of ~₹15.8 Lakhs
Check academic, language & work-ex requirements to determine your eligibility for this study abroad program.
Maximize your earning potential and get the same global career outcomes at an affordable cost.
Total Expense
Over 2 years
₹51.8 Lakhs
Total Earnings
In 3 years
₹2.4 Cr
Disclaimers
Important notes
1}Returns are calculated considering students work throughout the length of the PSW Visa.
2}Salary and stipend figures are approximate and represent a median value.
3}This is not a financial offering. Any references to returns are illustrative and indicate how you may potentially benefit from the Program.
4}The amounts shown are approximate values and may differ based on various factors. Living costs are approximately calculated for the length of on-shore component in/outside the campus.
5}Internship duration may vary from 3-6 months, wage/hour is taken as ~$15/hour for internship stipend.
A global hub for innovation, research, and real-world learning surrounded by opportunity, energy, and global ambition.
Chicago, home to Fortune 500s, startups & rich culture, offers students strong career opportunities, global access & vibrant city life.
Living Cost
$18,000 per annum
upGrad Students
150+
upGrad USP
Alumni Support, Scholarship
$120,000
Avg salary
per annum
9,000+
Job
openings
Digital Media Specialists create, manage, and optimize online content and campaigns to drive brand awareness and engagement.
$135,000
Avg salary
per annum
9,000+
Job
openings
Digital Producers lead project workflows, aligning creative, tech, and marketing teams to achieve digital goals.
$115,000
Avg salary
per annum
10,000+
Job
openings
Art Directors manage creative concepts, visuals, and teams to produce compelling designs across media platforms.
$80,000
Avg salary
per annum
10,000+
Job
openings
Communications Managers develop and implement strategies to manage internal and external messaging effectively.
£90,000
Avg salary
per annum
12,000+
Job
openings
Media Relations Managers oversee media strategies, ensuring consistent and positive brand messaging.
Applications, visas, counselling, and planning—everything in one place.
Get personalized expert guidance to simplify your journey — from university selection to application success.
upGrad learners receive exclusive scholarships of up to 40% to make their global education more accessible.
We offer IELTS prep by experienced individuals to help you reach the desired proficiency and achieve the required score.
Maximize your chances of funding with our expert guidance on third-party credit facility. Access loans at competitive interest rates.
Gain access to visa mocks and guidance to breeze through your visa process.
Use our free tools to calculate expenses, assess scores, know your loan EMI—before you apply.
Your admission journey, simplified and supported at every stage.
State-of-the-art labs, student clubs & career centers—fostering learning, leadership & community.
Hear from our learners who turned their study-abroad dreams into reality.
Everything you need to know about pathway program at DePaul University, USA.
All students in the USA with a valid F-1 Visa are not eligible to work off-campus. Rather, such students are eligible to work on-campus as graduate assistants or research assistants or other on-campus ad-hoc jobs and receive compensation, beginning in their first semester. The list of available positions will be provided in advance of the Fall semester (please note the number of these positions are limited and not guaranteed).
Yes, upGrad will help you prepare for the English proficiency test to establish your current English proficiency to be eligible for the Master's program in the USA.
DePaul University will have 2 intakes for students coming through this route. First intake of the year will be Jan (spring) intake and the second intake of the year will be September (Fall) intake. Though the application process for DePaul University will start during the MICA online program, you will be able to go to DePaul University in the nearest intake year.
upGrad will apply for you to DePaul University once all the documents are provided by you (as given in the offer letter issued to you by upGrad). Apart from the documents mentioned in the offer letter of DePaul University you will have to give proof of English proficiency for application of admission in DePaul University. upGrad will support you to get your English proficiency scores within 3 months of the start of the batch to accelerate this process.
To be eligible for the program, the following criteria need to be fulfilled:
For MICA:
For DePaul University:
A relevant professional work experience is recommended but not mandatory.
There are 4 simple steps in the Admission Process which is detailed as.
Step 1- Complete Application -Complete your application and submit the required details. The Admissions Committee will then review your application - which include your work experience & educational background.
Step 2- Apply for the Scholarship- Submit your Statement of Purpose to join a Program.
Step 3- Get Shortlisted & Receive the Offer Letter- Upon qualifying, an Offer Letter will be sent to you confirming your admission to the course.
Step 4- Block your Seat - Block your seat with an initial payment of INR 25,000 to enroll into the Program. Begin your leadership journey.
At least 12-15 hours per week of time commitment is expected to be able to complete this program.
Peer-to-peer discussion forum where you can post your queries and your peers/faculty/teaching assistants answer your queries within a day. Regular Q&A sessions with faculty to get clarification on conceptual doubts.
UpGrad will help with your Academic and Visa SOP and organize training on how to write a good SOP
Living expenses in the US for international students are USD 18,000.
By virtue of your F-1 Visa, you are eligible to work part-time on-campus from Day 1 of your on-shore course commencement. You may be eligible to work off-campus subject to an additional annotation on your F-1 visa. You must meet other requirements, as advised by your institution or the US federal regulations.
0% EMI with Third Party Credit Facilitators/Credit card option availability will vary program wise.
1. Which banks allow using 0% Credit card EMI or Credit card EMI?
No cost EMI is available on credit cards from all major banks (American Express, Bank of Baroda, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, RBL Bank, Standard Chartered, Axis Bank, Yes Bank, State Bank of India, CITIBANK and HSBC)
2. Is there any minimum transaction limit ?
Yes. 50000 is the minimum.
3. Standard Chartered Bank offers 18 or 24 months No Cost EMI ?
No. ONLY 12 months is available irrespective of the Program enrolled.
4. Will I have to pay any extra amount for the EMI transaction?
If you are availing 0% credit card EMI, upGrad will not charge any processing fees or down payment for these transactions. Your bank may levy GST or other taxes on the interest component of the EMI.
5. Are there any fees or down payment?
Certain banks charge nominal processing fees between INR 99 - 500 on 0% Credit Card EMI transaction. If charged, will be billed in the first repayment installment.
6. Can I use my International credit card for 0% credit EMI or Credit Card EMI?
Only the Indian bank credit cards can be used. But you can pay the amount using the Credit card option in one shot / part payments, and later you can convert into EMI from your respective bank. The tenures and interest charged will depend on your bank. upGrad will not charge any processing fees or down payment for these transactions, this will be purely between you and your bank.
7. Are there any charges in case I opt for cancellation/refund from the course after paying balance with no cost EMI ?
Yes, there will be additional charges to the extent of interest paid by the upGrad to the bank, you will be refunded only Principal amount, i.e. the amount actually deducted/blocked from your card. This deduction will be in addition to the amount mentioned in the refund policy shared with your offer letter.
8. Can I Pay Using Multiple Credit Cards ?
Multiple cards can be used to complete the payments using Part payment option make sure to inform the learner, minimum transaction is INR 50000 to opt for 0% CC EMI E.g. Amount to be paid: 150000. I can pay using 2 Credit cards. Yes, Example :
HDFC Card – Part payment – INR 100000
ICICI Card – Part payment – INR 50000
9. How can I opt for Credit card EMI if my bank is not listed in the 0% Credit card EMI or Credit card EMI?
You can pay the amount using the Credit card option in one shot / part payments, and later you can convert into EMI from your respective bank. The tenures and interest charged will depend on your bank. upGrad will not charge any processing fees or down payment for these transactions.
10. Why is the entire amount blocked on my credit card?
Initially your bank will block the entire amount from your available purchase limit and from your next billing cycle, you will be charged the EMI amount. As you start paying your EMI, your credit limit will be released accordingly. For example, if you have made a payment of ₹100000 on 6-months EMI and your credit limit is ₹200,000 then initially your bank will block your credit limit by ₹100000. After payment of your first month EMI of Rs.15000, the blocked amount will come down to ₹85000.
11. Why is interest getting charged on No Cost EMI?
Your bank will charge you interest. However, this interest charge has been provided to you as an upfront discount at the time of your payment, effectively giving you the benefit of a No cost EMI. The total amount paid during the entire EMI tenure to the bank will be equal to the amount to be paid to upGrad.
Eg. Amount payable to upGrad: INR 405000
Let's say Amount deducted at the time of transaction: INR 379850 (Principal amount) Bank charges interest of 12-15% per annum on INR 379850
[Note: Interest factor is reducing rate and not Flat rate]
EMI AMOUNT = INR 33750 x 12 = INR 405000
Effectively, you have taken loan on 379,850 instead of 405,000
Refund Policy:
1. Students must pay an applicable Caution Amount for the enrollment to the Program. This Caution Amount will be adjustable against the total Program fee payable by the student.
2. Once the student has made a partial or full payment of Program fee, such student can claim a refund for this amount at any time before the cohort commencement date by raising a refund request through ‘My applications’ page on our website (www.upgrad.com), stating the specific reason for the refund. The refund shall be subject to a deduction of INR. 20,000/- towards processing fee. If less than INR. 20,000/- have been paid in total, students shall not be eligible for any refund in such a case.
3. Students shall not be eligible for a refund (under any circumstances) if the refund request is raised post program/Batch Start Date. In such a case, the student will continue to pay the EMI of his loan (if applicable), as the loan cannot be canceled. This is also applicable to students who could not complete their payment and could not get enrolled in their opted cohort. However, the student can request a Preprogram deferral as per the policy defined below for the same.
4. Student shall not be eligible for refund of any amount paid towards the Program in case any discrepancy is identified between your application and self-attested documents including but not limited to wrong details about your grades or any other incorrect information provided in your application.
5. In case of a valid refund request post obtaining the loan from a third-party credit facility provider, we would like to clarify that the responsibility of canceling the loan will lie with the student as upGrad is not privy to such arrangements between the student and the third-party credit facility provider.
6. If students do not provide documents as per the timeline mentioned in the offer letter, they will be deferred to the next batch, but they will not be eligible for any refunds.
Deferral Policy: (Pre- Program Commencement)
1. If a Learner, due to unavoidable circumstances is unable to commence with the cohort and requests for a deferral before the Cohort Commencement Date, Learner will have an option to defer to another batch.
2. However, the learner will be required to pay 50% of the Total Program Fee amount (inclusive of taxes) before the deferral can be approved. Till this condition is complied with, the Learner will be assumed to be continuing in the same cohort.
3. A Learner can request for deferral only once and to either of the scheduled cohorts to start in the next 1 year from the batch start date of the initial batch the Learner enrolled for.
4. The Learner has time till the current Cohort Commencement Date to make the payment of the 50% of the Total Program Fee, post which the deferral request will expire. Once the deferral window expires and the Learner asks for a refund after the Cohort Commencement Date, the above-mentioned applicable refund policy will apply.
5. The fee applicable to the deferred Learner will be as per prevailing Total Program Fee for the batch Learner as opted to defer to (No additional deferral fee is required to be paid).
Deferral Policy: (Post Program Commencement)
1. If a learner is facing severe issues in dedicating time to the course, Learner will have an option to defer to another batch.A Learner can request for deferral only once and to either of the scheduled cohorts to start in the next 1 year from the Cohort Commencement Date of the initial batch the Learner enrolled for.
2. The Learner will be required to pay a deferral fee of 5% of the Total Program Fee (inclusive of taxes) if any along with the differential program fees between the two cohorts.
3. The deferral request will be approved once the deferral fee is paid.
4. Till this condition is complied, the Learner will be assumed to be continuing in the same cohort.
5. The Learner has 7 days (including holidays and weekends) from the date of deferral request to make the payment of the deferral fee, post which the deferral request will expire, and the learner will continue as part of the current cohort.
6. If the Learner completes the deferral payment, the Learner’s login will be disabled, The Learner will leave the deferred cohort and the Learner will start learning on the new cohort from the point of the last assignment that was graded in the deferred cohort. All grades and progress till that point will be carried forward as it is to the new cohort.
7. The deferral can only be requested during the batch for which the Learner has enrolled is ongoing. Once the batch has been completed, deferral requests shall not be entertained. For clarification, the batch completion here shall mean the “last grace deadline” as communicated by upGrad. Case Deferral fee Before Program Commencement 50% program fee (including taxes) to be paid upfront- no additional deferral fee to be paid Post Program Commencement (0-7 days after program start date) 5% of the program fee (including taxes) to be paid within 7 days as deferral fee Post Program Commencement (8 days after program start date) Will have to continue as a part of the current cohort.
| Case | Deferral fee |
Before Program Commencement | 50% program fee (including taxes) to be paid upfront- no additional deferral fee to be paid |
Post Program Commencement (0-7 days after program start date) | 5% of the program fee (including taxes) to be paid within 7 days as deferral fee |
Post Program Commencement (8 days after program start date) | Will have to continue as a part of the current cohort |
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