York's PhD in Digital Media is offered jointly by the Department of Computational Arts and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, combining computational science with artistic practice. Students undertake specialized, hybrid research addressing current and emerging forms of digitally supported media, with applications ranging from computer games to interactive art. Across the program's shared Digital Media courses and project development environment, students build expertise that complements their individual research specialization in either computational science or artistic practice. The degree is completed through comprehensive examinations and a dissertation. Admission is for Fall entry only, full-time. The program suits students pursuing advanced, practice-based or technically oriented research at the intersection of computing and digital art and media, alongside peers enrolled in the program's companion MA and MSc degrees.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Admission requires a minimum B+ average. Applicants submit a completed application form, two letters of recommendation from professors, employers, or others who can attest to their academic or professional qualifications, a supplementary information form, a statement of interest, a curriculum vitae, and a portfolio of four to six pieces. Applicants whose first language is not English must meet York's Faculty of Graduate Studies English proficiency standard: IELTS Academic 7.0 overall, TOEFL iBT 90 (or 5 on the revised scale for tests taken from January 2026), Duolingo English Test 130, PTE Academic 67, or CAEL with an overall score of 65 and no component below 60. The program admits for Fall entry only, full-time, with a domestic deadline of January 15 and an international deadline of December 1.
