Concurrent Degree Programme with Carnegie Mellon University in Interactive Digital Media (CM)

[Bcomp in Communication Media & Master of Entertainment Technology (CMU)]

 

Last Intake was AY2012-2013. From AY2013-14 onwards, please refer here.

1. Introduction

This is a fast-track programme that allows talented and driven students to obtain a Bachelor of Computing (BComp) in Communications and Media degree from NUS and a Master of Entertainment Technology (MET) degree from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) within five years.

Successful applicants will spend 3.5 years in NUS to complete the bachelor degree and the next 1.5 years at the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC-Global) located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, to complete the MET degree.  If the degrees were pursued separately, the BComp programme takes four years to complete, and the MET two years.

Students who meet the selection criteria will be eligible to apply for the full scholarship support from the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) under its National Infocomm Scholarship (NIS) scheme.

  
Students will also build up a portfolio of work as the programme emphasises project work, which is much valued in the interactive digital industry. Alumni of the ETC are known to be much sought after by the digital media industry, as well as by museum and theme park companies. Following the naming convention for degree programmes in the University, this programme is formally known as the Concurrent Degree Programme in Bachelor of Computing (Honours) (Communications and Media) and Master of Entertainment Technology. The programme commences in August 2007, with an expected intake of 20 students annually.

2. Partner University: ETC of CMU

ETC of CMU is a leading institution in the world for training in interactive digital media installations and technology. Trainees undergo a rigorous project based curriculum where they work in teams in highly creative environments. ETC currently has its headquarters in Pittsburg, USA, and other operational campuses in Adelaide, Australia/ Seoul, Korea/ L.A., USA. Trainees are encouraged to travel to interesting sites all over the world, and work with a first-hand perspective on projects. Adventurous projects often lead to start-up companies or to Ph.D. research in renowned universities.
 

Quasi: Interactive animatronic robot developed at Entertainment Technology Center, Carnegie Mellon University

3. Programme structure

The programme structure comprise of modules and requirements from both BComp in Communications and Media (BComp (CM)) programme and Master of Entertainment Technology (MET) programme.

    3.1 For BComp in Communications and Media (CM) programme requirements, the programme structure will be the same as that specified under the four-year BComp (CM), except that CP4101 BComp Dissertation or FYP will be compulsory. Details on BComp (CM) programme structure are listed here :

    Note : Students are encouraged to take the following elective modules:

    CS4213 Game Development
    CS4240 Virtual Reality & 3D Interaction
    CS4247 Graphics Rendering Techniques
    NM2217 Interactive Media Design : Creating
    NM3208 Designing Content for New Media
    NM3216 Game Design
    NM4205 Digital Media Project Management

    3.2 MET Programme requirements will comprise the followings :

    53-831 Building Virtual Worlds (project)
    53-608 The Visual Story
    53-609 Game Design
    53-500 ETC Fundamentals
    53-711 Improvisational Acting
    53-606 ETC Interdisciplinary Project II
    53-607 ETC Interdisciplinary Project III
    4 ETC course-based modules

4. Selection criteria


Students will be admitted directly to the Concurrent Programme during their application to undergraduate admission to NUS via http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/. Applicants must select the ‘Computing (Computer Science Courses)’ course before they can view this Concurrent Programme among the available choices. These students will be selected on the basis of their A-level or diploma grades or equivalent, and their profiles in creative projects and activities. Two interviews will be conducted, one to assess the potential and suitability of students for this Concurrent Programme (sometime in early May), and another for application of scholarship support from IDA (sometime in April each year).  Applicants applying for the Concurrent Programme should apply for the scholarship support from IDA only after they have been selected for the Concurrent Programme. 
 

A*path planning and bounding volume trees:: Techniques employed for efficient navigation and collision detection in game projects undertaken by NUS School of Computing students.

Computing students who are not granted direct entry into this Concurrent Programme but are accepted into the School as part of the general Bachelor in Computing (Communications and Media) cohort may apply to the programme after their first year of studies. The call for applications will be announced to all existing students at an appropriate time. These students must demonstrate strong academic ability (gaining a CAP of 4.0 and above) and creative talent in their first year of studies with the School. They must also meet all criteria of the Concurrent Programme for BComp. Admission of these students is subjected to size constraint of the Concurrent Programme.

5. Admission requirements & procedure


A. Admission Requirements
Local applicants with Singapore-Cambridge 'A' level certificate or its equivalent : 

A pass in H2 Computing/Mathematics/Physics or a good pass in H1 Mathematics

 

Local applicants with polytechnic diplomas from Singapore :

At least an A2 in GCE "O" level Elementary Mathematics or at least a "B4" grade in GCE "O" level Additional Mathematics.

Applicants must first make an online application with the NUS Office of Admissions at http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/
 

Shortlisted students for the Concurrent Programme will be required to attend an interview and submit the documents listed below. Applicants are advised to prepare their supporting documents now for immediate submission upon receipt of the call letter for interview. Interviews will be held in April / May.

 B. For candidates who have received an offer before the current admission exercise
Candidates who have been given a place in the course for Computing and joining in August 2012 may apply separately with the School for this Concurrent Programme.

C. Required Documents and Instructions for Submission
The documents required are:

a. Academic Performance documents;
b. Curriculum Vitae: concise, tabular, less than 4 pages;
c. Statement of intent: an essay on why you are suitable for the concurrent programme;
d. Portfolio: academic and personal projects submitted in non-returnable CD form; highlighting the important aspects of each demo item.

Instructions for submission of supporting documents:

a. Please do not submit original certificates or official documents; make and send the photocopies instead.
b. Please write your name and application number on all documents.
c. Please enclose an English translation for any supporting document that is not in English.
d. Please write your application number and ‘MET’ on the top left-hand corner of the envelope.
e. Please send the documents to:

NUS School of Computing

    Office of Undergraduate Studies

    The Administrator (BComp-MET)

    Computing 1 #02-19

    13 Computing Drive
    Singapore 117417

     

 

6. Progression Criteria

Students in the Concurrent Programme in Interactive Digital Media must maintain a CAP of 4.0 or above out of 5.0 and/or demonstrate strong creative talents. Students who fail to meet the criteria will not be allowed to remain in the Concurrent Programme, but may continue with their BComp studies at NUS.

7. Comparison of Tuition Fees and Duration

The CDP provides excellent overseas experience at a fraction of the cost of an overseas undergraduate education and with a shorter time duration compared to doing an NUS undergraduate degree and the overseas Masters degree separately.

For Singaporean students, the tuition fee for the entire CDP is approximately S$100,000. In comparison, the tuition fees for a 4 year undergraduate degree at CMU is approximately S$220,000, and the tuition fees for a 4 year undergraduate degree followed by a Masters degree at CMU is S$320,000. The typical duration of the CDP is 5 years in comparison with the total length of 6 years for doing the undergraduate and Master degree separately.

Note : This information is based on estimated cost, your actual cost may be different. Please remember that tuition fees are also subject to change.

8. Enquiries

Please direct all queries to comlmf@nus.edu.sg with the subject clearly marked: "CDP in Interactive Digital Media with CMU-ETC".