Bachelor of Arts in Creative Industries

About This Programme

The Bachelor of Arts in Creative Industries (BACI) is a four-year degree that blends the fundamentals of a business program with courses in media business, design, and communication to help students become the creative leaders of tomorrow. Adapted from the prestigious Creative Industries program at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), the CUD BACI program will empower you with high in-demand leadership, communication, digital literacy, and strategic thinking skills needed to be successful in a creative business context. Typically, businesses in the Creative Industries are distinguished by the polarization between “suits” and “creatives” – between creative practitioners and those who manage and commercialize the creative process. At CUD, our goal is to bridge this divide through an academic program that provides opportunities that enable you to explore and understand the industry as both a creative process and a commercial activity.

Course Highlights

• As part of this degree program, you will benefit from a unique set of experiential learning opportunities:
• The Creative Zone
• As a pioneering initiative in the Middle East, CUD has launched a new learning incubator designed to empower students by providing opportunities to develop innovative ideas and collaborate with industry partners to address real-world challenges in the creative industries. The Creative Zone will serve as the central hub for all programs at CUD, integrating academic knowledge with hands-on experiences while fostering entrepreneurial thinking. Through academic coursework and extracurricular activities, students will be able to incubate creative business ideas, bridging theory with practice in a dynamic, industry-focused environment.
• Study at Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada
• The program offers high-achieving students a unique opportunity to broaden their academic horizons by facilitating a transfer to the Creative Industries program at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) during their second and third years. This pathway allows students to immerse themselves in TMU's acclaimed Creative Learning Zone, where they can experience Canada’s dynamic creative culture and business practices firsthand. This international exposure equips students with a global perspective and enhances their professional development in the creative industries.
• Internships
• As a student in the BACI program, you will engage in a 240-hour internship designed to provide firsthand experience within a creative enterprise environment. During this internship, you will gain valuable insights into the inner workings of the enterprise, including how creative work is supported through management practices, the role of technology in both creative and business operations, and more. CUD’s Career Centre will assist you in securing placements with relevant companies, ensuring alignment with your career goals. This internship, scheduled for the start of your fourth year, serves as crucial preparation for your capstone project in the final year. Most importantly, you will be able to develop key skills and build professional networks within leading creative enterprises, which could open doors to future employment opportunities post-graduation.

What You'll Study

Entry Requirements

Careers

Creative Industries require entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative leaders with strong business acumen to collaborate with artists, producers, and creators, helping them connect their creative work with audiences and markets. Graduates of the BACI program will be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to secure employment and excel as leaders in this rapidly growing sector, both within the UAE and internationally. Career opportunities span a variety of roles, such as: Entrepreneur Product Developer Project Design Manager Brand Strategy & Design Artistic Director Business Manager in the creative industries: Music, Performance, Fashion, Live Entertainment etc. Advertising Specialist Marketing Specialist Social Media Manager Media Content Creator Creative Director Event Manager Venue Supervisor Marketing Specialist Public Relations Specialist TV Executive Photographer Videographer Copy Writing Specialist User Interface Designer Graphic Designer Design Manager (business side of design) Jobs in non-creative businesses (banks, insurance, others) that need creative people, creative content & creative problem-solving. Pursuing an academic career and further education (Masters, PhD, Doctorate). Here are some examples of the roles and organizations that graduates of the Canadian Creative Industries program have entered: Account Executive, McCann Canada Analytics Insights Consultant, Telus Digital Sales Associate, Adidas Junior Graphic Designer, Stockland Junior Project Manager, Secret Location Coordinator, Live Entertainment & Event Marketing, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Creative Media Influencer, Zumel & Co Creative Strategist, Stackadapt Further Education: Master’s in design studies, Harvard Graduate School of Design Types of Roles: Product Development, Event Management, Advertising Design, Small Business Development, Brand Strategy & Design, Photography, Live Entertainment. Organizations: Apple, Bell Media, Bruce Mau Design, McCann Canada, Rogers Media, Ubisoft.

Accreditation & Professional Recognition

The program was awarded initial accreditation by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), Ministry of Education UAE, on September 1, 2019.

Programme Details