Ph.D. in Digital Media and Communication Technology (PDMCT)

Admission Criteria:

Ahlia University accepts PhD programme applicants if they meet the entry and application requirements set by the University and are in-line with the Bahraini Higher Education Council requirements.

• The applicant must hold a recognised master’s degree in media and public relations or its equivalent.
• The applicant must hold a recognised bachelor’s degree in media and public relations or its equivalent.
• The applicant must hold a recognised secondary school certificate or its equivalent.

Admission to Ahlia University (AU) is selective based on academic achievements. Applications are welcomed from all students regardless of race, colour, gender, religion, nationality, physical or learning disability.

Entry Requirements:

To be considered for admission to PhD programme in Digital Media and Communication Technology, offered by the College of Arts and Sciences at Ahlia University, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Academic Degree: Applicants must possess a recognised and accredited master’s degree, as well as a recognised and accredited bachelor’s degree.
2. Academic Specialisation: Applicants should hold an academic degree in the field of media and public relations or a related specialisation such as video production, journalism, communication studies, business administration, human resources, marketing, or international relations. If candidates from other majors are accepted, they will be required to complete two remedial courses.Remedial Courses for Master’s Programme in Mass Communication and Public Relations:
   – MCPR 500: Research Methods in Mass Communication and Public Relations
   – MCPR 501: Contemporary Trends in Mass Communication Theories and Public Relations
   Note: Remedial course hours are not included in the credit hours required for the degree.
3. Academic GPA: The minimum GPA requirement for admission is 3.00 out of 4.00 or its equivalent, indicating a very good grade.
4. English Language Proficiency: Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency by meeting one of the following criteria:
   – Completion of a master’s degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction.
   – Achieving a score of 70% or higher on the English language level test at the Ahlia University.
   – Obtaining an IELTS score of 6.0 or higher.
   – Obtaining a TOEFL iBT score of 60 or higher.
5. Academic Recommendations: Submission of two academic recommendations from professors who have previously taught the applicant or are known to employers.
6. Passing the Programme Admissions Committee Evaluation: A committee composed of three faculty members from the department will evaluate the candidate. The evaluation score is out of 100 and is divided into two components: 50% for the PhD thesis proposal and 50% for the interview and oral presentation of the thesis proposal.
   Candidates must obtain a minimum of 70% or more of the total evaluation score to be accepted into the programme.PhD Thesis Proposal: Candidates are required to submit a proposal for their PhD thesis. The proposal should contain the following elements, presented within a maximum of 5 pages (2000 words):
   – Title of the thesis
   – Study Problem
   – Objectives and importance of the study
   – Literature reviews
   – Brief description of the proposed methodologies
   – Data collection methods and sources
   – List of references usedOral Presentation of the Thesis Proposal: Candidates will deliver an oral presentation of their thesis proposal, accompanied by a multimedia-based presentation.The interview conducted will cover several aspects, including: the candidate’s communication skills and suitability for the programme, awareness of digital programmes and applications, and research and scientific competence.