Awarded where candidates have met all of the requirements below:

- Successful completion of, or exemption from, courses listed in Schedule A and

- Achieve the Bahrain Polytechnic General Qualification Requirements as documented in the Naming and Awarding Qualifications A-AB-004 and

- Completion of courses to accumulate a minimum of 180 credits.

Bahrain Polytechnic was established by the Bahrain Government to address the need for a skilled Bahraini workforce to support economic growth and development. To support the development of the workforce Bahrain Polytechnic aims to produce graduates in applied, professional qualifications. It is widely acknowledged that Creative Media and Design are key sectors and enablers for growth in any modern economy.

The Master of Arts in Creative Media and Design programmme aims to equip students with the necessary skills and expertise to succeed in the fast-growing multimedia design industry. It focuses on the relationship between research, theory, and practical application in developing creative content for digital platforms. The programme emphasises the design, content creation, and authoring of interactive multimedia products, services, and new media artworks. The curriculum comprises both theory-based and problem-based learning, exploring the role of emerging technologies, digital tools, and social platforms in producing and distributing various media genres and information formats.

The programme is designed for participants who are interested in furthering their education in the fields of visual culture, new media studies, interactive design, and branding, while developing their critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the objective of opening up a wide range of career opportunities in the creative industries.

The following are the minimum requirements for admission into the MA in Creative Media and Design:

• Recognized Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in a related field.

• Minimum GPA: 2.5 out of 4.00

• English entry requirements:

• IELTS score of 6.5 or evidence of a bachelor's degree with English as the only language of instruction
• Or, passing English selection tests / interviews in reading, writing, speaking and listening at the required level or equivalent

• The entry requirements also include the submission of the applicant’s digital portfolio and an interview.

• Digital portfolio: The portfolio should consist of recent projects that showcase creative strengths. It should include 5-8 projects that demonstrate aptitude, skill, and engagement in the field of creative media or design. The projects should be explained clearly, including captions that detail the conceptualisation and development process. In the case of collaborative work, the applicant must indicate their role and contribution. The digital portfolio should also include a copy of the applicant’s latest CV, detailing their education, qualifications, and any relevant work. If the applicant has any web-based projects, they can include the links in their CV. A personal statement (maximum 500 words) should also be attached, explaining the applicant’s reasons for choosing the programme. their current creative practice, how this programme will help them achieve future goals and any relevant education or experience that would make them a good candidate for the programme.
• Interview: Following the submission of the digital portfolio, successful applicants will be invited to attend an interview. Candidates will be selected based on their motivation, maturity, communication skills and creative ability.

Where there are more applicants who meet the programme entry criteria than can be accepted, the following shall be used:

Selection Criteria

- First selection to students who have a form of approved scholarship for the programme.
- Prior educational achievement.

Selection Process

- The School will determine, on a yearly basis, the seats available for each of the entry and selection categories.
- Additionally, applicants may be required to attend an interview.

N/A as there is no major selection.

There is currently no accreditation in place, but it is envisaged to proceed with an accreditation application to the Chartered Society of Designers in the future, as both the Web Media and Visual Design programmes are already accredited with this body. The programme will also be submitted for BQA listing on the NQF framework.

Institutional attendance requirements are described in the policy Student Attendance A/AB/006. There are no programme specific attendance requirements.

The Master of Arts in Creative Media and Design (CMD9000) addresses the ever-growing demand for skilled professionals in the local, regional, and global creative digital media industries. With the rising use of digital media in education, healthcare, business and government sectors, there is a huge demand for specialised creative individuals who possess both technical and research skills in areas such as new media, animation, interaction design, content creation and digital marketing. The Master of Arts programme in Creative Media provides students with the opportunity to develop their skills in these areas and gain a competitive edge in the job market. The programme  provides students with a comprehensive education in design, digital media, and visual culture, preparing them for a wide range of career opportunities in the fields of Advertising Design, User Experience Design, Film, Animation and VR/AR, among others. This masters programme bridges the gap from the topics covered in the Bachelors of Web Media, Visual Design and Film and Animation or other similar disciplines and helps students acquire specialised research knowledge and skills. These competencies, in addition to enhancing employability, encourage students to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to complex problems and pressing issues faced by communities and industries, locally, regionally, and internationally.

The Master of Arts in Creative Media Design programmme aims to equip students with the necessary skills and expertise to succeed in the fast-growing multimedia design industry. It focuses on the relationship between research, theory, and practical application in developing creative content for digital platforms. The programme emphasises the design, content creation, and authoring of interactive multimedia products, services, and new media artworks. The curriculum comprises both theory-based and problem-based learning, exploring the role of emerging technologies, digital tools, and social platforms in producing and distributing various media genres and information formats. The programme is designed for participants who are interested in furthering their education in the fields of visual culture, new media studies, interactive design, and branding, while developing their critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the objective of opening up a wide range of career opportunities in the digital media industry.

Theoretical knowledge and practical skills:

On completion of the programme, students are expected to master the theoretical and practical skills to solve industry and community problems using the broad application of sustainable creative media practices:

• Apply sustainable media practices in the developing of creative media content.
• Utilize a broad range of scholarship in new media, digital technology, globalised culture, media power, and identity.
• Demonstrate knowledge of a Transmedia and Digital Storytelling for creative content creation.
• Conduct applied research using creative media in one of many application domains.

Generic/employability skills:

Skills necessary for effective communication, teamwork, problem-solving, analysis, documentation, and evaluation of sustainable media practices, and awareness of legal and ethical implications that relate to access and use of media, and its applications.

Graduates of the MA in Creative Media and Design program can pursue a variety of career paths, leveraging their skills in digital media design, interactive media, and creative problem-solving. These roles span across various industries, including advertising, entertainment, education, technology, and the arts, providing graduates with a broad range of opportunities to apply their creative and technical skills.

• Digital Media Designer
• Creative Director
• User Experience (UX) Designer
• User Interface (UI) Designer
• Interactive Media Specialist
• Multimedia Artist
• 2D/3D Animator
• Graphic Designer
• Art Director
• Web Designer
• Content Strategist
• Content Creator
• Digital Marketer
• Virtual Reality (VR) Designer
• Augmented Reality (AR) Designer
• Game Designer
• Film and Video Editor
• Sound Designer
• Branding Strategist

This programme has a clear pathway from existing Bachelors degree at Bahrain Polytechnic, including the Bachelor of Web Media, the Bachelor of Visual Design, and the Bachelor of Film & Animation,  which can be achieved by completing the first 4 years of the degree depending on courses taken. External applicants may also be accepted directly following suitability interview and submission of portfolio of relevant creative media design work. 

Employability Skills Generic Definition:

Communication	Communicate in ways that contribute to productive and harmonious relationships across employees and customers.
Team work	Work effectively independently and in collaboration with others.
Problem solving	Think critically and respond appropriately to changing needs within a growing and diversifying economy.
Initiative and enterprise	Apply resourcefulness, innovation and strategic thinking to a range of workplace situations.
Planning and organisation	Plan and manage their working lives.
Self management	Demonstrate self discipline and adaptability, and be able to plan and achieve personal and professional goals.
Learning	Understand the need for and engage with continuous learning throughout the lifespan.
Technology	Utilize information technology effectively and ethically in their personal and professional lives.