Program Overview

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Digital Media

The Graduate Program in Digital Media offers courses and opportunities for advanced training and research leading to the degrees of Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The program is jointly offered by the Department of Computational Arts (CA) and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). Highly qualified students are provided with the opportunity to engage in specialized hybrid research work in a program that uniquely combines computational science and artistic practices. Work in digital media encompasses a broad range of current and emerging forms of digitally supported media, with applications that span from computer games to interactive art.

Across all three Digital Media graduate degrees, students work within a shared environment that enables the development of expertise complementary to their research specialization in computational science or artistic practice.

Degrees Offered

Master of Arts (MA)

Program Length (Full-time)

• 5 terms

Program Component(s)

• Course work
• Major research paper

Minimum Required GPA

• B

Fall Entry

• Full-time

English Proficiency Requirement

• Minimum TOEFL (Internet-based): 90-91 (for tests taken prior to January 2026) or 5 (January 2026 and after)
• IELTS (Academic Module): 7
• YUELI: Essential English Level 6 with pass
• YUELI Graduate Studies Preparation Program (GSPP): Graduate with Honours
• CAEL: Overall score of 65, no component score less than 60
• Minimum CPE Score: C1
• Minimum CAE Score: C
• Duolingo: 130
• PTE Academic: 67

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Master of Science (MSc)

Program Length (Full-time)

• 5 terms

Program Component(s)

• Course work
• Major research paper

Minimum Required GPA

• B

Fall Entry

• Full-time

English Proficiency Requirement

• Minimum TOEFL (Internet-based): 90-91 (for tests taken prior to January 2026) or 5 (January 2026 and after)
• IELTS (Academic Module): 7
• YUELI: Essential English Level 6 with pass
• YUELI Graduate Studies Preparation Program (GSPP): Graduate with Honours
• CAEL: Overall score of 65, no component score less than 60
• Minimum CPE Score: C1
• Minimum CAE Score: C
• Duolingo: 130
• PTE Academic: 67

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Program Component(s)

• Comprehensive examination(s)
• Dissertation

Minimum Required GPA

• B+

Fall Entry

• Full-time

English Proficiency Requirement

• Minimum TOEFL (Internet-based): 90-91 (for tests taken prior to January 2026) or 5 (January 2026 and after)
• IELTS (Academic Module): 7
• YUELI: Essential English Level 6 with pass
• YUELI Graduate Studies Preparation Program (GSPP): Graduate with Honours
• CAEL: Overall score of 65, no component score less than 60
• Minimum CPE Score: C1
• Minimum CAE Score: C
• Duolingo: 130
• PTE Academic: 67

Additional Admission Requirements

Required Forms

• Application Form
• Recommendation Form
• Supplementary Information Form

(Forms accessed through MyFile; available within 48 hours after application submission.)

Number of Recommendations

• 2 letters of recommendation. Letters may be from previous professors, employers, or other individuals who can attest to the applicant's professional and/or academic qualifications.

Other Requirements

For MA/MSc applicants:

• Statement of Interest letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Portfolio (4-6 pieces)

For PhD applicants:

• Statement of Interest letter
• Curriculum vitae
• A qualifying research paper or similar significant contribution to the field
• Portfolio (4-6 pieces)

Portfolio Requirements

A portfolio is required for entry into all programs. It should demonstrate prior creative outputs primarily in the form of artworks, which may also encompass outputs from computer engineering-based projects.

Projects represented in the portfolio must emphasize a cross-disciplinary approach. Examples may include:

• Drawings/images
• Audio recordings
• Sound compositions
• Video documentation of interactive systems
• Gallery/curatorial documentation
• Games and interactive demonstrations (must include programming)

Projects from a computer engineering perspective may consist of:

• Source code for interactive applications
• Microcontroller code from physical computing projects
• Video documentation of projects
• Publications
• Prototypes that engage with the arts.