Ready to tackle real-world challenges while earning your degree?
Our Digital Media Practicum offers programming students in their final years of study a collaborative experience working in an interdisciplinary team with industry clients on cutting-edge projects, such as animation, games, social networking tools, and educational technologies.
Students can choose to apply for our January – April term or May – August term.
About the program
You will join a 5-7 person team consisting of project managers, artists, designers, and other programmers at Centre for Digital Media (CDM) to tackle a real-world challenge from an industry client.
At the end of program, you will:
- Apply agile software design methodologies to develop, iterate, and deliver a prototype of an interactive media product.
- Analyze and address complex design and technical challenges encountered during project development.
- Integrate diverse perspectives and approaches to create novel and impactful interactive media solutions
- Produce an interactive media project suitable for showcasing in a digital media portfolio *note this is dependent on the project client’s NDA.
- Develop connections with industry professionals.
Your team will have their own working space at CDM, a dedicated project supervisor with expertise in interactive digital media design, and the opportunity to experiment, iterate, and push creative boundaries in a collaborative environment.
The project will require a substantial investment of time and energy. If you think you may need to withdraw, DO NOT SIGN UP. Your teammates will be graduate students in their Masters program working full-time on the project. Your role within the project will be crucial to the team's success.
Note: this is not work for hire or an internship/co-op.
Domestic Students
Students are expected to work in-person at CDM at a minimum of 2 days a week. Applications are due at 11:59PM on October 25 for Jan-Apr offerings and April 24 for May-Aug offerings. (When the deadline is a weekend/holiday, applications are due at 11:59PM on the next business day.)
UBC Computer Science Application
SFU Computer Science Application
LaSalle Bachelor of Science in Game Programming Students – please submit an expression of interest to Robert Stefanson and Amir Jahanlou. Note: You will need to send your transcript and resume to CDM Student Services, but only after receiving instructions from Robert and Amir.
SFU SIAT Graduate – please submit an expression of interest to siatgrad_office@sfu.ca
International Students
We welcome visiting students from universities around the world to join our program. Offerings are available only during the January–April term, and applications are due by September 15. Students are required to work in person at CDM 4 days a week.
Dania Academy (Dania Games) – please submit an expression of interest with your resume to Jonatan Yde.
University of Lower Silesia - please submit an expression of interest with your resume to Agnieszka Dytman-Stasieńko.
Don’t see your school listed? Contact studentservices@thecdm.ca
Next Offering
Offerings are in January - April and May - August. Applications are due at 11:59PM on October 25 for Jan-Apr offerings and March 3 for May-Aug offerings. (When the deadline is a weekend/holiday, applications are due at 11:59PM on the next business day.)
Visiting Student Experience
See first-hand the experience of visiting students and the innovative projects they were part of.
Questions?
If you have questions that are not answered on the Frequently Asked Questions page, please contact capstone@thecdm.ca