The Master of Digital Media (MDM) program is a limited, competitive entry program that starts in September every year. The requirements listed below are intended to equal or exceed the general graduate admission requirements at all partner institutions.
These requirements constitute a minimum standard of achievement and fulfillment of them does not guarantee admission. Centre for Digital Media (CDM) reserves the right to request an interview with an applicant either face-to-face, online, or by telephone.
Minimum Undergraduate Degree
Applicants must have completed a four-year undergraduate degree (or equivalent) acceptable to all four CDM partner institutions in a field related to digital media. If applying from an unrelated discipline, applicants must make the case for the relationship between the discipline in which they hold their previous degree and this program and how they would benefit from the MDM program.
There are no specific requirements for capabilities in programs, applications, or coding languages but students must be versed in the use of some form of digital media tools and have demonstrated ability in computing to qualify.
Please visit SFU International Admission Requirements for a detailed list of requirements per country.
Minimum Undergraduate Grades
Minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% or higher) in third and fourth year courses.
Applicants who do not meet these requirements may be granted admission on the recommendation of the MDM program if they:
- hold 12 credits of third and fourth year courses in a field of study related to digital media in the "A" range (80% or higher), or
- hold a four-year undergraduate degree, and have had significant formal training and relevant professional experience.
English Language Proficiency
English is the language of instruction for MDM. All applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English sufficient for applied, graduate-level study.
You are required to provide an English language test score if:
- You are not a Canadian citizen, or
- You are not a citizen of a country where English is the primary language, or
- You have not completed a degree (Bachelor's or Master's) at a university where English is the language of instruction in a country where English is the primary language.
Accepted Tests & Minimum Scores
- IELTS (Academic): Overall 6.5, with no section below 6.0.
- TOEFL (iBT, iBT Home): Overall 90, with no section below 20.
All test scores are valid for a period of two years from the date of the test.
Please Note:
- IELTS General will not be accepted.
- TOEFL MyBest (super-scored) or TOEFL Essentials results will not be accepted.
- In rare cases where IELTS or TOEFL testing is inaccessible, we may consider the Duolingo English Test on a case-by-case basis. You must contact admissions before submitting your application to request an exception.
Submitting Your Scores
Official electronic scores must be sent directly from the test center to Simon Fraser University (SFU). Use institution code 0999; no department code is needed.
Please allow one month for scores to appear in your application portal after release. If you have waited for over one month and still do not see your results, please submit a ticket to SFU.
Unofficial Scores & Conditional Admission
Unofficial score reports may be uploaded to your application for preliminary review. However, any offer of admission is conditional upon the receipt of official scores that meet our requirements. Failure to submit them before the program start will result in the offer being withdrawn.
Applicants who do not meet the required scores, or who otherwise demonstrate a need for additional English language training as determined by the Admissions Committee, may be offered conditional admission through the Master of Digital Media Technical Communication Bundle. Please note that meeting the minimum test requirements does not guarantee that the committee will deem your proficiency sufficient for the program's highly collaborative nature.