Master of Science in Creative Artificial Intelligence and Immersive Systems
Generative and real time systems have changed creative production faster than any institution has adapted, and the people who understand both the technology and the craft are exceptionally scarce. This programme builds the technical creativ...
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
- Technical director
- creative technologist
- generative pipeline architect
- immersive systems lead
- research and development lead in a studio
- interactive installation designer
- academic.
Employer types
- Studios and production companies
- technology and platform companies
- advertising and experience agencies
- museums and cultural institutions
- broadcasters
- and research groups.
Target outcomes we hold ourselves to
- A scarce senior technical creative specialisation with international and remote demand.
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 Master of Science in Creative Artificial Intelligence and Immersive Systems. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDC 501 | Applied Intelligence for Professionals Both | 4 | 2-2-0 |
| FDC 502 | Research Evidence and Method Both | 4 | 2-2-0 |
| CTM 510 | Machine Learning for Creative Applications Performance | 6 | 3-2-4 |
| CTM 511 | Real Time Systems and Advanced Engine Practice Performance | 6 | 3-2-4 |
| CTM 512 | Generative Media Pipelines and Model Fine Tuning Performance | 6 | 3-2-4 |
| CTM 513 | Authorship, Rights and Cultural Ethics Both | 4 | 2-2-2 |
| Code | Course | CU | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDC 503 | Governance, Ethics and Leadership of Intelligent Systems Both | 4 | 2-2-0 |
| CTM 520 | Immersive Systems Design and Exhibition Practice Performance | 7 | 1-0-12 |
| CTM 521 | Evaluation of Creative and Generative Output Both | 5 | 3-2-2 |
| CTM 522 | Interactive Installation and Physical Computing Performance | 6 | 1-0-10 |
| CTM 523 | Studio Leadership and Production Management Both | 4 | 2-2-2 |
| CTM 524 | Advanced Elective Objective | 3 | 2-2-0 |
| Code | Course | CU | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTM 530 | Major Project: Commissioned Work or Research Contribution Performance | 20 | 0-2-38 |
| CTM 531 | Creative Technology Enterprise and Commissioning Both | 5 | 3-2-2 |
| CTM 532 | Research Communication and Public Presentation Performance | 5 | 1-0-8 |
Total credit units: 89
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 Master of Science in Creative Artificial Intelligence and Immersive Systems
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
TERM 1 (SIX MONTHS) | FORMERLY SEMESTER 1
Year 1 · this step is worth 30 CU
Cumulative
30
Programme total
90
30 CU of 90 CU completed by the end of this step (33%)
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 ReasoningLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C3Ethical and Contextual Judgement CriticalLevel 3 of 4, Independent
- C4Communication and PersuasionLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C5Disciplinary MasteryLevel 4 of 4, Leading
- C6Technical Production and Craft CriticalLevel 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 Literacy CriticalLevel 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 · Ethical and Contextual Judgement · Technical Production and Craft · Enterprise, Value and Commercial Literacy. 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 1Architect and operate generative and real time production pipelines.
- PLO 2Train, fine tune and evaluate generative models for creative application.
- PLO 3Design immersive and interactive systems at exhibition or product quality.
- PLO 4Address authorship, rights, consent and cultural appropriation questions in practice.
- PLO 5Lead a technical creative team and deliver to commission.
- PLO 6Produce research or a substantial commissioned work to public standard.
Why this programme exists
Generative and real time systems have changed creative production faster than any institution has adapted, and the people who understand both the technology and the craft are exceptionally scarce. This programme builds the technical creativ...
Admission requirements
A Bachelor's degree of at least Second Class Lower Division in a creative technology, computing, design or media discipline, with a portfolio. Applicants from craft backgrounds complete a programming bridging module. 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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