Program Overview

Master of Arts in Design Innovation Management

Course Details

• Full Time
• Duration: 1+ year
• Intake Date: 25 August 2025, 15 December 2025
• Awarding Body: APU, Malaysia

Why choose APU?

• Malaysia’s Premier Digital Tech University
• 5-Star Excellence Rating (SETARA)
• 100% Employability Rate
• Ranked No.16 for International Students in the World
• More than 80,000 Graduates & Alumni

Dual Degree

• APU-DMU Dual Degree Programme
• Students who are under Masters Degree Programme will have the option to opt-in for the APU-DMU Dual Degree Scheme.
• Under this Scheme, students will receive 2 Degree Certificates & Transcripts upon graduation: 1 from Asia Pacific University (APU), Malaysia and 1 from De Montfort University (DMU), UK.

Latest Technologies

• More Than Just An Arts In Design Innovation Management Master Programme
• You have the exciting opportunity of enrolling for the APU-CMI Dual Accreditation by registering for a qualification through APU.
• Students under Master of Arts in Design Innovation Management will have the option to also opt-in for a CMI L7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice which will be awarded subject to moderation by CMI.

Programme Outline

• This programme is specifically designed to:
  • Extend design innovation management programme to different organisations that consider design to be a strategic competitive force.
  • Meet the growing demand for advanced skills in design management and leadership in the various services and business.
  • Prepare graduates to meet the growing needs for management of advanced design technology and implementation of new management approaches.

The Benefits of the Programme

• Innovation and management from a creative perspective, within a world-leading art and design institution with strong link to the creative industries.
• Apply Design Thinking to real-world challenges, design collaboratively, engage critically and creatively with others and learn from shared experiences.
• An interdisciplinary programme informed by theories drawn from a range of design, business and humanities areas and delivered through projects and collaborations.
• Gain insight into creative briefs, target audiences and markets, through Design Management and Innovation.
• Benefit from diverse potential employment routes including setting up your own business, in-house and external design leadership roles, cultural positions and agency management jobs.

Who Should Attend

• This programme is geared towards graduates who have graduated from design backgrounds who wish to master managerial skills that are relevant to their previous experience.
• This programme also appeals to non-design field managers and executives who require design management skills as part of their managerial responsibility.

Modules & Project

• This programme comprises 9 coursework modules and a Creative Futures Project.
• There are 8 compulsory Core Modules (including Research Methodology module) and you will have to choose 1 elective module from those listed).

Pre-Requisite Modules (for non-related students)

• Duration: 1 month (Full-Time)
• Managing People
• Understanding Customers
• Managerial Finance
• Business Environment & Strategic Planning

Core Modules

• Design and Creative Industries
• Business Planning for Creative Entrepreneur
• Research Methodology
• Design Thinking
• Integrated Brand Management
• Future Media Innovation
• Service Design
• Project Feasibility Study
• Creative Futures Project

Elective Modules (Choose 1)

• Intellectual Property
• Creative Sustainability
• Technology Management
• Design for Retail
• Managing Business Web Presence

Project

• For the final project module named Creative Futures Project, you will need to complete an industry-based major projects along with evidence and output related to the Design Innovation Management field.
• There will be a final exhibition and presentation towards the end of the course.

Facilities

• The APU Centre Point & Atrium serves as a melting pot of cultures from all over the world.
• Here, cultural activities are organised regularly at the campus, fostering long-lasting intercultural relationships among APU students, who come from over 130 countries.

Career Path

• Project Manager
• Design Producer
• Brand Manager/ Strategist
• Marketing Manager
• Product Manager
• Account Manager
• Client Manager
• Chief Design Officer
• Design Researcher
• Design Strategist
• Service Designer/ Design Experience Strategist
• Venture Architect

Fees & Certification

• Malaysian: RM34,800
• International: RM38,800 (USD9,025)
• MQA Cert: Programme code : (N/0288/7/0001)(05/26)(MQA/FA14558)

Entry Requirements

• General Requirements:
  • Bachelor’s degree with a minimum CGPA of 2.50, or its equivalent qualification as accepted by the Senate.
  • Bachelor’s degree with a CGPA of less than 2.50 can be accepted, subject to a minimum of 5 years working experience in the related fields.
  • Any others Bachelor’s degree with a minimum CGPA of 2.50 as accepted by the Senate, subject to passing the interview/ portfolio stage along with all the required documentations and the pre-requisite courses.
• English Requirements:
  • IELTS : 6.0
  • Students from English speaking countries and those with qualifications taught in English (previous Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree taught in English) are exempted from English requirements. Applications for exemption must be accompanied by supporting documents.