Doctor of Philosophy in Computational Creativity
Doctoral research at the intersection of computation, culture and creative practice, including generative systems, African language and heritage technology, immersive experience and the evaluation of creative machine output. The programme a...
Employment thesis
What this programme is designed to produce
Forward publishes the destination of every programme before you enrol. If the thesis stops holding, the programme is reviewed and, where necessary, retired. Next review: 2031.
Roles
- University academic
- research scientist in creative technology
- technical director
- cultural institution research lead
- scientific or creative founder.
Employer types
- Universities and research institutes
- technology companies' research groups
- cultural institutions
- studios with research functions
- and funders of creative technology research.
Target outcomes we hold ourselves to
- Designed to build African research leadership in creative computation and cultural technology.
Compulsory · The Forward Core
How the Core works →Every Forward programme, including this one, carries the same five cross-cutting requirements. They are graded, not optional.
- AI Fluency
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Ethics and African Context
- Human-Advantage Skills
- Enterprise
Includes 12 months paid work-integrated learning
Am I eligible?
Check yourself against the published requirements
7 questions written specifically for Doctor of Philosophy in Computational Creativity. Every answer is checked against a requirement Forward has published, and the result tells you which page that requirement comes from. Indicative only, the admissions office decides on your full file.
What is the highest qualification you hold?
Curriculum structure
The same degree, in both pathways
Every Forward programme is published in both pathways: Path One, the term plan of two six-month terms, and Path Two, the block sequence of twelve four-week blocks. Same competencies, same assessments, same award. Toggle to see this programme in each.
Path One term plan shown
Path One · The Term Model
| Code | Course | CU | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTM 110 | Doctoral Research Methods including Practice Based Inquiry Both | 8 | 6-2-2 |
| CTM 111 | Advanced Topics in Computational Creativity Objective | 8 | 7-2-0 |
| CTM 112 | Research Ethics, Rights and Cultural Consent Objective | 4 | 3-2-0 |
| CTM 113 | Academic Writing and Critical Documentation Objective | 4 | 3-2-0 |
| Code | Course | CU | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTM 130 | Specialist Reading and Literature Synthesis Objective | 8 | 7-2-0 |
| CTM 131 | Teaching Practice and Supervision Apprenticeship Performance | 6 | 1-0-10 |
| CTM 132 | Exhibition, Dissemination and Public Contribution Performance | 6 | 1-0-10 |
| CTM 133 | Thesis Proposal and Public Defence Performance | 16 | 0-2-30 |
| Code | Course | CU | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTM 610 | Doctoral Thesis Research and Supervision (continuous registration) Performance | 0 | 0-0-0 |
| CTM 611 | Doctoral Colloquium and Publication Seminar (each semester) Performance | 0 | 0-0-0 |
Total credit units: 60
Curriculum source
Forward University Curriculum Compendium
Assessment
Coursework + project + integrated exam
Work-integrated learning
12 months paid co-operative education
Your week at Forward
A typical week on Doctor of Philosophy in Computational Creativity
Path One, the Term Model: your own pace across a six-month term, one live session a week, short flexible lessons, and assessment on demand.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Curriculum explorer
Drill into the degree, step by step
Choose a study path, then a year, then a term or block, then a course. Credit totals add up as you go, and every course shows what comes before it and what it unlocks.
Step 1, choose a year
Step 2, choose a term
YEAR 1, SEMESTER 1: DOCTORAL COURSEWORK
Year 1 · this step is worth 24 CU
Cumulative
24
Programme total
60
24 CU of 60 CU completed by the end of this step (40%)
Step 3, choose a course
Pick a course to see the detail
Credits, assessment, prerequisites and what each course unlocks later.
The twelve Forward capabilities
What this programme develops in you
Every Forward degree develops the same twelve cross-cutting capabilities. The profile below is the level this programme is designed to develop and verify by graduation, on the four-level scale in Part B2 of the Curriculum Compendium. Every claim above Level 2 is verified by someone other than the teaching lecturer.
- C1Intelligent Systems Fluency CriticalLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C2Quantitative and Evidential Reasoning CriticalLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C3Ethical and Contextual Judgement CriticalLevel 3 of 4, Independent
- C4Communication and Persuasion CriticalLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C5Disciplinary MasteryLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C6Technical Production and CraftLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C7Problem Framing and Systems ThinkingLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C8Collaboration and Multidisciplinary TeamingLevel 3 of 4, Independent
- C9Enterprise, Value and Commercial LiteracyLevel 3 of 4, Independent
- C10Professional Conduct and Workplace PerformanceLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C11Learning to Learn and Adaptive CapacityLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C12Stewardship and Public ContributionLevel 3 of 4, Independent
Critical capabilities for this programme: Intelligent Systems Fluency · Quantitative and Evidential Reasoning · Ethical and Contextual Judgement · Communication and Persuasion. A graduate cannot pass out of this programme below the stated level on any capability marked critical.
Programme Learning Outcomes
What you will be able to do
Each outcome is assessed, and each is tagged with the Forward capabilities it is verified against.
- PLO 1Make an original contribution to knowledge or practice in computational creativity.
- PLO 2Design and execute rigorous research, including practice based inquiry.
- PLO 3Publish or exhibit to peer reviewed or authoritative professional standard.
- PLO 4Address the cultural, ethical and rights dimensions of creative computation.
- PLO 5Teach and supervise under mentorship.
- PLO 6Situate African creative practice within international scholarship.
Why this programme exists
Doctoral research at the intersection of computation, culture and creative practice, including generative systems, African language and heritage technology, immersive experience and the evaluation of creative machine output. The programme a...
Admission requirements
A Master's degree in a relevant discipline, or an exceptional professional portfolio assessed through recognition of prior learning for the practice based route; a defensible proposal; and a supervisor with capacity. Alternative pathways: Foundation Year, diploma entry with advanced standing, mature age entry and recognition of prior learning, all governed by Part A5 and Part G. Online applicants additionally complete the compulsory Digital Readiness orientation under Part D6.
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