Common Design & Media Programme

This one-semester programme builds a strong foundation in art, design, and media while helping you explore your interests. Develop creative and technical skills, discover your strengths, and learn about our three diploma options through industry talks, alumni sharing, and hands-on sessions.

View curriculum

Find your creative compass

Net Aggregate Range

ELR2B2-D (2026 JAE) 8 to 16 points

ELMAB3 (2026 PFP) 4 to 10 points

diploma

A transformative semester for you to discover your strengths and artistic direction.

You will emerge from this creative foundry:

Empowered. Inspired. Confident.

Discover your strengths and artistic direction

Build a strong design foundation

Start your design journey strong as you build your foundation in art, design and media. Acquire essential technical and soft skills, and apply them to diverse creative projects.

Discover your passion in design

Dive into the world of design with our diverse diploma options. After the first semester, you can choose a specialisation that matches your interests and aspirations.

Global recognition for creativity

NYP is proud to be ranked among the Top 50 Creative Schools in the World by the Rookies Global School Rankings 2024, a testament to our high creative standards.

At the end of Year 1 Semester 1, you will progress into any one of these design & media diploma programmes:

4 Competency Units (CmU)
Each CmU integrates skills and knowledge from different disciplines. This enables students to fulfil specific work tasks upon completion.
1-3 LifePRO Units ^NEW
These learning units will support your holistic development beyond your domain-specific studies.

Interested in applying for this course at EAE? Check out our customised Tips page.

Programme Curriculum

This programme adopts the new Professional Competency Model

Learning Units

Design Exploration Design for Communication Drawing & Rendering Storytelling Through Media User-Centred Studio PracticeWIU

WIU
As part of your three‑year diploma journey at NYP, you will take LifePRO Units (LPUs)^NEWalongside your course learning units for a well‑rounded experience. Through a mix of prescribed and elective LPUs, you will build life skills beyond your discipline and prepare for work and life after graduation.

See LPU descriptions Go to

Year 1 Semester 1

LifePRO Units

As part of your three‑year diploma journey at NYP, you will take LifePRO Units (LPUs)^NEWalongside your course learning units for a well‑rounded experience. Through a mix of prescribed and elective LPUs, you will build life skills beyond your discipline and prepare for work and life after graduation.

See LPU descriptions

OPPORTUNITIES

Nurturing you to be future-ready

Learning Journeys

Learning Journeys

Take your education beyond books. Embark on various activities to explore your interests, ignite your passion, and hone your skills. Dive into hands-on activities that let you explore the diverse design and media landscape. Discover your artistic path while acquiring essential skills.

Common Design & Media Programme Showcase

showcase

Common Design & Media Programme Showreel 2024

Keep your options open. Spend a semester uncovering your interests and strengths through the Common Design & Media Programme before identifying the specialisation that best suits you! After your first semester, make an informed choice about your specialisation.

Facilities

Explore. Learn. Grow.

360° SDM Facility Tour

Let our lecturers take you on a tour around the campus in our 360° SDM Facility Tour video!

Final Year Design Studio

A studio to create visually captivating and polished motion graphics that effectively communicate your ideas.

Games Resource Lab

Unleash your creativity and innovate with cutting-edge game engines like Unity and Unreal. Craft console games and exclusive PlayStation® experiences.

M3 Gallery

A gallery displaying exceptional final year projects from students at the School of Design and Media, recognising their outstanding creativity and innovation.

Service Experience Design Collaborative Lab

A collaboration with OCBC to create better service experiences. We bring design and non-design experts together, to share knowledge and best practices.