I UNIVERSITY EXTENSION DIPLOMA IN

DIGITAL METHODOLOGIES AND COMPUTATIONAL APPROACHES TO RESEARCH IN THE HUMANITIES

This University Extension Diploma introduces students and professionals in the humanities and related disciplines to the main digital methods and computational approaches currently being used in humanities and cultural research, combining theoretical foundations, training in the use of tools, and practical exercises applied to cultural data and issues.

Access profile

Especialmente dirigido a estudiantes y egresados de Humanidades, Bellas Artes , Ciencias Sociales y profesionales del ámbito cultural interesados en integrar enfoques digitales e IA en su práctica investigadora o profesional.

An introductory yet thorough approach

No previous programming experience is required; the course starts from scratch in terms of computing, with ongoing support and exercises tailored to students with a background in the humanities.

Format and duration

A 30 ECTS University Extension Diploma, delivered online, with synchronous sessions in the afternoons, making it easier to combine with other studies or work commitments.

Duration and price

The course will run from 10 October 2026 to 10 June 2027. The total course fee is 550 euros and can be paid in two instalments.

Limited places available

Between 32 and 40 places, allowing for close monitoring of students’ progress and their projects. Don’t wait any longer – book your place!

GO TO PRE-REGISTRATION AND ENROLMENT

RELEVANT INFORMATION

Academic and Administrative Information

Number of places	40
Price	550,00 €
Pre-registration deadline	Desde el 01/06/2026 hasta el 25/09/2026
Pre-enrolment payment date	Until 28 September 2026 (Amount: €275.00)
Enrolment deadline	From 1 September 2026 to 28 September 2026
Payments and deadlines	1st instalment: €275.00 (Deadline: by 15 December 2026)
Course dates	From 10 October 2026 to 10 June 2027
Venue and Format	ONLINE
Timetable	Afternoon timetable for synchronous sessions
Entry requirements	There are no specific requirements
Online Teaching	30.00 ECTS
Total European credits	3.00 ECTS

What you’ll learn on this course

Upon completing this course, you will be able to understand the fundamentals of digital methodologies applied to research in the humanities and to contextualise them within the current transformation of the cultural field. You will develop practical skills using tools and languages such as Python, geographic information systems, network analysis techniques, photogrammetry, immersive narratives and natural language processing methods, always drawing on real-world examples and case studies.

You will learn to work with different types of cultural data (text, images, metadata, spatial data), to structure and analyse them critically, and to assess the possibilities and limitations of computational methodologies in relation to research questions in the humanities. Furthermore, you will develop an interdisciplinary perspective that links the humanities with computer science, mathematics, statistics and information science, and you will be equipped with guidelines for conceptualising and designing your own research project based on digital approaches.

Why is it important to undertake this training?

In recent years, the field of the humanities has undergone a profound transformation with the integration of digital and computational technologies into research, teaching and cultural management. However, most humanities degree programmes do not systematically include training in these methodologies, creating a gap between traditional practices and the new possibilities for analysis and knowledge creation.

Este curso responde a esa necesidad ofreciendo una introducción estructurada a los métodos digitales más extendidos hoy en Humanidades, pensada específicamente para perfiles sin formación técnica previa. Proporciona competencias que resultan valiosas tanto en el ámbito académico (proyectos de investigación, TFG, TFM, tesis) como en el profesional, especialmente en instituciones culturales, archivos, bibliotecas, museos, editoriales y proyectos de patrimonio digital, donde cada vez se valoran más las capacidades para gestionar, analizar e interpretar grandes volúmenes de datos culturales y el uso innovador y creativo de la inteligencia artificial.

Cómo está concebido este diploma de extensión universitaria

El programa no se ha concebido como una mera sucesión de cursos sobre herramientas, sino como un itinerario orientado a comprender cómo se construye un proyecto humanístico o cultural basado en métodos computacionales y digitales. Su principal rasgo distintivo consiste en integrar las decisiones técnicas en el proceso intelectual y metodológico completo: desde la formulación de nuevas preguntas de investigación hasta la identificación y estructuración de los datos, la selección razonada de los métodos, el diseño de las estrategias de análisis y la interpretación crítica de los resultados. El recorrido culmina con un módulo dedicado al diseño de un proyecto digital propio, desde la definición del problema hasta la articulación de sus objetivos, fuentes, datos, métodos y estrategias de análisis.

Esta orientación puede resultar especialmente útil para estudiantes que estén comenzando a plantear sus TFG, TFM o tesis doctorales, así como para investigadores y profesionales que quieran conceptualizar proyectos competitivos, iniciativas de innovación docente o propuestas de gestión, mediación y difusión cultural.

Objectives

To understand the fundamentals and development of the digital methodologies applied to research in the humanities and the cultural sphere.
Develop practical skills in digital and computer-based tools specific skills (e.g. Python, GIS, network analysis, photogrammetry, applied AI), geared towards humanities and cultural projects.
To encourage critical analysis cultural data and the results derived from digital methods, identifying their opportunities and limitations for the humanities and the cultural sector.
Promoting interdisciplinarity, linking the humanities with computer science, mathematics, statistics and information science.
To introduce students to the project conceptualisation and design research projects based on digital and computational methodologies.

Programme

Introduction and general concepts regarding digital methodologies in the Humanities
It presents the context, history and main approaches of digital methodologies in the humanities, as well as examples of projects and critical debates on their implications and challenges.
An Introduction to the Python Programming Language for Humanities Scholars and Strategies for vibe coding*
It provides basic computer literacy using Python, familiarisation with environments such as Google Colab, and experience of working with different types of cultural data, including the critical use of AI systems to generate and adapt code.
Research using cultural data: collection, structuring and analysis
It covers how to identify, collect, clean and organise data from archives, libraries, museums, digital collections and online platforms, as well as initial analysis techniques geared towards humanities research questions.
Cultural analytics based on network and systems analysis
It introduces network analysis as applied to cultural contexts (networks of actors, works, institutions and the circulation of content), and demonstrates how these techniques enable the exploration of complex patterns and relationships in the humanities
Geospatial data: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the Humanities
It explains the use of GIS to map cultural, historical and heritage phenomena, integrating spatial data with other sources to generate meaningful visualisations and geographical analyses.
Photogrammetry and its applications in the cultural sector
It introduces the principles of photogrammetry and its application to the documentation, preservation and study of cultural and heritage assets using three-dimensional models.
Virtualisation and immersive narratives in the cultural sphere
Explore how virtualisation technologies and immersive environments enable the creation of new ways of narrating, experiencing and communicating heritage and cultural content.
Computational methods for language processing
It introduces basic natural language processing techniques applied to humanities text corpora, with examples of semantic, stylistic and thematic analysis supported by computational tools.
Applied artificial intelligence: computer vision, multimodal models and generative AI
It explores applications of AI in the analysis of images, texts and multimodal cultural data, as well as the possibilities and risks of generative AI in the humanities.
How to conceptualise and design a digital research project
Guides students through the design of a research project based on digital and computational methodologies, from the formulation of research questions to the selection of data, methods and analysis strategies.