Sept 2026 Entry
1 year (Full-time)
1.5 years (Full-time, with internship)
2 years (Part-time)
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The programme has been selected by the University Grants Committee (UGC) for the Hong Kong Future Talents Scholarship Scheme for Advanced Studies. Local students admitted to this programme can apply for the scholarship, please click here for details.
Early Round: 2025-10-15
Main Round: 2026-01-15
Extended Round: 2026-04-30
Early Round: 2025-10-15
Main Round: 2026-01-15
Extended Round: 2026-04-30
What's New
- MPhil
- PhD
- Taught Postgraduate
- Undergraduate
- Undergraduate
The MSc in Innovative Multimedia Entertainment (MScIME) programme is designed to supersede the former MSc in Multimedia and Entertainment Technology (MScMET) programme.
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Aims
This programme aims to attract top creative talent to shape the future of interactive digital media and entertainment experiences. Students will master AI and data science technologies that are driving industrial change and future interfaces of media delivery formats, enabling them to graduate with job-ready skills and expertise. They will be able to specialise in areas such as games, media art technology, interactive robotics and virtual interaction design. Our curriculum pathways will also allow students to select core areas of interest – in technical specialisations or applied research directions in art, digital and entertainment media – to explore in depth areas that match their backgrounds and passions.?
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Characteristics
The programme offers students a rich learning environment with strong industry engagement. Industry collaborators include NVIDIA, Tencent Games Lightspeed Studios and Unreal Engine, among others. The curriculum offers students two pathways to choose from, either the Practice Pathway or the Applied Research Pathway, with five areas of focus.?
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Focus Areas
- Media Art Technology
- Entertainment/ Games
- Interactive Toys and Robotics
- Entrepreneurship in Multimedia
- Technical Artists
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An industry-based internship is offered as part of the curriculum. Students will be supported by corporate research centres (such as the 小优短视频-NVIDIA Joint Research Centre) to create connections with our industry partners. The structure of the subjects combines lectures, tutorials and practical lab sessions to provide hands-on experience. Graduates will emerge with a skill set primed to pioneer the next generation of digital media and entertainment technologies.?
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Close ties with the Greater Bay Area, mainland companies, overseas universities and local universities in Hong Kong will provide students with unparalleled access to leading entertainment companies, from which they can draw inspiration and opportunities. By leveraging serendipity in areas ranging from games to application development to immersive experiences, students can develop their expertise while building connections across cultures.
?The MScIME programme builds?on the foundations of and evolves beyond the previous iterations of the MScMET programme, which has been a?cornerstone of our educational offerings for over 20 years and has educated more than 1,000?students on building multimedia products and applications. The MScIME?programme aims to update the curriculum to adapt to the latest trends in AI, data science and multimedia technologies, and their current and expected impacts on multimedia entertainment production and research.
Programme Structure
The requirement for graduation is 31 credits, consisting of 12?credits of Core Subjects, 12?credits of Elective Subjects, 6 credits for a Capstone Project and 1 credit for the Academic Integrity and Ethics requirement.
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6 Core Subjects (12 credits)
- Multimedia Entertainment Theory and Practice (3 credits)
- Project Management, Professional Environments and Ethics (3?credits)
- Creative Programming for Designers and Artists (3 credits)
- Research Seminar I, II, III (1?credit each)
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Elective Subjects (12?credits)*
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The curriculum offers students two pathways to choose from: the Practice Pathway or the Applied Research Pathway.
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Practice Pathway (choose at least 2 subjects from the list; 3 credits each, total 6 credits)
- Game Design and Development
- Digital Storytelling for Transmedia
- Virtual and Augmented Reality
- AI tools for Creative Processes and Transmedia
- Physical Computing
- Interactive Toys, Robots and Engaging Entertainment Products
- Fundamentals of Game and Film Lighting
- Introduction to Real-time Rendering
- Introduction to Rigging and Technical Animation
- Procedural Content Generation and AI in Games
- Special and Emerging Topics in Multimedia Entertainment
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Applied Research Pathway (9 credits)
- Research Methods for Multimedia Entertainment (3 credits)
- Independent Study in Multimedia Entertainment (6 credits)
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Other Electives (3 credits each)
- Digital Art Assets: Bringing Crafts to Markets and NFTs
- Entrepreneurship for Culture and Creative Industry
- Media Art Technologies
- Sound Design and Development
- Internship#
* Not all elective subjects will be offered each year and it is subject to staffing resources and student enrollment numbers.
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# Internship is offered in the first semester of the second year. Students may apply for internship positions from the MScIME company list or find an internship themselves with endorsement from the tutor. If students are unable to secure an internship, they may take an elective in that semester to fulfil graduation requirements.
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Capstone Project?(6 Credits)
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Academic Integrity and Ethics requirement (1 Credit)
Students are required to complete a 1-credit subject on Academic Integrity and Ethics (AIE) Requirement within the first semester of study. No credit fee will be charged for this subject. The AIE subject will be assessed on a pass/fail grading system and will not be included in the GPA calculation.
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Other Graduation Requirement
Students are required to complete a 3-hour e-learning lecture, titled "Understanding China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, P.R.C.”, plus 3 hours of self-study on National Education, and fulfil the related assessment before graduation. No credit or tuition fee will be charged.?
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Study Mode and Pattern
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The programme is offered both full-time and part-time. Local students can enrol either full-time or part-time, while non-local students must enrol full-time only.
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Full-time mode: The common first semester is mainly used to teach students the core compulsory subjects and a choice of a few selected electives. During the second and third semesters, students choose appropriate courses based on their preferred pathway, fitting their study plan and work on their Capstone Projects. Students can normally complete the programme in a year. Those who opt for an internship will complete the internship during the first semester of the second year, extending the duration of their studies to 1.5 years.
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Part-time mode: Part-time students follow the same timetable as full-time students and attend classes together. They can normally complete the programme in two years and are not expected to undertake an internship unless special approval is granted.?
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Class Schedule
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?All classes are conducted face-to-face, and attendance requirements may be enforced.
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Classes are normally held during the day on weekdays, except for a few core subjects and electives.?
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One academic year consists of three semesters, including the summer term. The summer term is an intensive semester in which classes are held twice a week.?
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Prof. Henry Duh
PhD (Washington), FIET, FBCS, COMPIEAus
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A Bachelor's degree, preferably in a related field, such as multimedia, digital media, computer science, engineering, design, arts, or a related discipline.?
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English Language Requirement: If you are not a native speaker of English, and your Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification is awarded by institutions where the medium of instruction is not English, you are expected to provide one of the following proficiency test results (taken in a single sitting within 2 years) for fulfil the minimum English language requirement for admission purpose:
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A score of 80 or above in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet-based test;
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An overall Band score of 6.0 or above in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module.
Remarks: TOEFL iBT Home Edition, the IELTS Online and IELTS indicator test, and IELTS one skill retake results will NOT be considered for meeting the English language Requirements for taught programmes.
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- More programme information can be obtained at
- For further information, please contact us via email at sdmscime@polyu.edu.hk
Application
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Portfolio and Interview:?
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a portfolio via another online platform. Applicants are not required to send/submit their portfolios before receiving the invitation. After selection, shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview. -
Selection consideration will be given to applicants who have obtained a satisfactory English language test result before their application.
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It is the responsibility of applicants to complete all relevant fields and upload all necessary documents when making an online application. We do not remind applicants if they fail to submit any required information or documents. An incomplete application cannot be processed quickly and may reduce your chances of admission.
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We consider applications on a rolling basis until all places are filled. Applications submitted in the Extended Round may not be considered if study places are filled during the Main Round. Applicants should apply as early as possible to secure a spot.?
Scholarship/Bursary
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Entry Scholarship: A limited number of entry?scholarships, up to HK$80,000 are available to both local and non-local applicants with excellent academic achievements.
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Bursary: ?A limited number of bursaries, amounting to HK$24,000, are available to local applicants.
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Application: The School will invite applicants to apply for a Scholarship or Bursary during the portfolio submission period. 小优短视频 reserves the right to change or withdraw the scholarship/bursary at any time. In the event of a dispute/disagreement, 小优短视频's decision is final.
Non-local students
Non-local students may obtain useful information about study life at 小优短视频 and Hong Kong at the Student Affairs Office's website: /nlss/
HK$264,000* per programme (HK$8,800?per credit) for local and non-local students
* No tuition fee required for the 1-credit subject on Academic Integrity and Ethics (AIE) Requirement.
The MScIME programme has truly broadened my horizons. It goes beyond mastering cutting-edge multimedia and AI technologies as it challenges students to think critically about how these innovations can generate real business value and create meaningful change in the entertainment and social sectors.
At IME, we’re constantly challenged to explore not only the technical execution of ideas but also their broader impact. From designing interactive experiences to developing socially-driven projects, the programme has pushed me to approach creativity with a balance of strategic thinking and empathy. Through collaboration with peers from diverse backgrounds, I’ve gained new perspectives and developed a deeper understanding of how multimedia can address complex, real-world problems. IME has empowered me to bring my ideas to life, not just as artistic expressions, but as purposeful solutions with the potential to contribute to society.
I highly recommend this programme to anyone looking to merge creativity with technology and make a meaningful impact through multimedia innovation.
My journey in the MScIME programme has been a dynamic interplay between creativity and technology, redefining my understanding of multimedia entertainment. The programme integrates AI, data science, and artistic expression, creating a platform for students to explore the future of interactive experiences. The dual-track system (Practice and Applied Research pathways) allowed me to chart my academic growth. By choosing the research pathway, I delved into scholarly exploration, mastering research methodologies and completing independent studies. Courses such as Creative Programming and AI Tools for Creative Processes equipped me with systematic problem-solving skills. My focus on media art technologies and game design proved pivotal, enabling breakthroughs in digital storytelling and transmedia creation.
The most profound realisation came from how we evaluate design projects—from commercial viability to societal validation. The programme taught me to subject every creation to multidimensional critical analysis, a perspective I had not considered before.
If you aspire to pioneer entertainment technology, the MScIME programme offers both the technical foundations and the innovative thinking needed to succeed. Whether launching ventures, pursuing academia, or driving industry transformation, this programme empowers you to turn visions into tangible impact.
Required (in English)
Maximum 2 pages for the Personal Statement (in English)
Academic transcript and certificate
- Academic transcript should also include the explanatory notes that usually printed on the back of the transcript).
If you have academic qualification from mainland China, you should include transcript, explanatory notes (课程绩点与等级换算关系表), Academic Credential (毕业证书), Degree Certificate (学士学位证书).
A certification letter of your GPA/average score and class ranking is preferred if this information is not indicated on your transcript.
- Documents not originally issued in English must be accompanied by certified English translations.
IELTS/TOEFL report (if applicable)
Two letters of recommendation (academic and/or work)
Awards (if any): e.g. scholarship award, competition award, etc.
