Culture, Creativity and Entrepreneurship MA

Course overview

Culture and creativity play a fundamental role in the development of individuals, societies, and economies worldwide. On this course you'll examine the contested concepts of culture and creativity, and how policy makers, cultural organisations, and creative entrepreneurs are operating in contemporary cultures and economies on a global scale.

You'll explore how organisations across the arts, cultural and creative sectors work in theory and practice, as well as the impact they can have on individuals and communities. You'll have the opportunity to examine the relationship between the cultural and creative industries and the arts, and explore how the cultural sector is managed by policy makers, cultural organisations, and creative entrepreneurs.

Working collaboratively on an entrepreneurial project, you'll have the opportunity to gain insight into the business models of local creative and cultural organisations.

You'll also devise and carry out an independent research project into an aspect of culture, creativity and/or entrepreneurship, investigating a topic of interest to you.

Throughout, you will learn from researchers with extensive industry experience and have the freedom to investigate areas of personal and professional interest.

Rooted in cultural theory and analysis of the contemporary cultural and creative industries, the course is designed for those who have previously studied courses related to cultural studies, social sciences, arts management or creative industries.

Additional highlights

Leeds has a thriving cultural scene and is home to large-scale events like Leeds International Film Festival, Light Night, and Transform Festival. Alongside this is a range of arts and cultural activity to explore. From museums and galleries, music venues, theatres and cinemas, fashion, food, crafts, heritage and festivals the city and surrounding West Yorkshire province is rich with institutions and activities. Leeds is an exciting environment in which to think about and engage with culture and creativity, providing opportunities for you to put your ideas into practice.

You'll be taught by staff who are at the forefront of the study of the cultural and creative industries and have extensive experience working in the creative, cultural and policy making sector in the UK.

The School has close links with the Centre for Cultural Value, a national research centre based in the University of Leeds that provides many opportunities for students to become involved in its activities as volunteers.

Specialist facilities

Our School is based in stage@leeds, a purpose-built landmark building that sits at the heart of campus. As our student, you’ll have access to its two professional standard, publicly licensed theatres: the main space seats 180 and is equipped with the latest technologies, and the theatre studio provides a technically advanced performance research facility.

The School’s relationship with the theatre provides many opportunities for you to become involved in its activities both through the curriculum and as volunteers, or as a member of one of the many Student Union performance societies. These opportunities offer the unique experience of working in a professional theatre environment within a university context.

stage@leeds hosts a range of work by students and visiting theatre companies all year round. You’ll also have access to a wide range of specialist facilities, including multiple black-box studio theatre spaces, costume construction and wardrobe stores, a scenic workshop, dance studio and rehearsal rooms, video-editing and sound recording suites and a range of technical resources such as; portable recorders, 360-degree cameras, VR headsets and green screen technologies. You'll be supported in using these facilities by our experienced technical team.

In addition to stage@Leeds, Leeds University Library is one of the UK’s major academic research libraries, and has extensive holdings to support your studies including Special Collections offering a huge range of rare books, manuscripts and art. You’ll have access to materials relating to Red Ladder, Leeds Playhouse, Phoenix Dance Theatre, and more.

Course details

You will study compulsory modules designed to lay the theoretical foundations of the programme, exploring a range of critical approaches that will help you understand the relationships between culture, creativity, and entrepreneurship, and how policy has brought these concepts together as the culture and creative industries. You will learn about enterprise and entrepreneurship, studying business models relevant to culture and creative organisations, and acquire skills in planning, ideation, team working and management. You will develop a feasibility study for a creative venture or respond to an opportunity presented by a cultural or creative organisation, giving you the chance to put theory into practice.

To help you shape your studies in the areas that suit your interests and career plans, you will also choose from optional modules that allow you to specialise in a range of areas taught by experts in their field. In a typical year these can include modules on cultural policy, the role of culture in sustainability, arts for health and wellbeing, audience engagement, digital technologies, management and leadership in the arts and cultural industries.

An independent research project runs throughout the year, in which you will develop your understanding of research methods and then undertake an investigation into a topic that interests you, developing vital skills for your future career or further study as a postgraduate researcher.

If you choose to study part-time, you will study over a two-year period and take fewer modules in each year.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Culture, Creativity and Entrepreneurship MA Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Culture, Creativity and Entrepreneurship MA Part Time in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Learning and teaching

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

This course uses a range of authentic assessment methods to help you develop a diverse set of skills. You may be assessed by essays, video and oral presentations, poster presentations and portfolio work, project reports, critical evaluations, and reflective essays.

The variety of assessment approaches used provides opportunities for students to work on topics of interest to them, with each student able to focus on the specialist topics of their choosing, within the cultural and creative industries framework; our Entrepreneurship and the Cultural Industries core module provides you with the opportunity to work collaboratively and creatively to innovate and build a portfolio of work that speaks to future career interests.

The assessments on this course are designed to develop your critical thinking and analytical skills as well as developing key transferrable skills relevant to your future lives and careers.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons).

Applications from a wide range of subject areas are considered, including:

• Business

• Fine art

• Theatre

• Politics

• Sociology

• Heritage studies

• Media

• Journalism

Any social sciences or humanities degree subject is suitable for entry providing there is evidence of a passion for, and commitment to the course.

Relevant work experience might include: advertising, marketing, architecture, crafts, design (product, graphic, fashion), film, TV, radio, photography, IT - software, computer services, publishing, museums, galleries, libraries, music, performing and visual arts.

An offer of a place on this programme is subject to meeting our academic entry requirements, as well as your submission of satisfactory responses to the questions we ask in the supporting statement section of the application form.

International

Our admissions team are experienced in considering a wide range of international qualifications. If you wish to discuss whether your qualifications will meet the necessary entry criteria, contact the School’s admissions team.

You can also check the accepted qualifications for your country or region.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Arts and Humanities (6 weeks) and Language for Social Science and Arts: Arts and Humanities (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional and our 10 week online pre-sessional. 

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Please see our How to Apply page for information about application deadlines.

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Documents and information you’ll need

Personal Statement Requirements

Please answer the following questions in separate numbered paragraphs. These questions provide us with important information on your suitability for the course, so please complete them carefully and in detail.

1. Please explain your reasons for applying to this particular MA programme in Culture, Creativity and Entrepreneurship.
2. How has your academic experience to date prepared you to embark on postgraduate level study in the cultural and creative industries?
3. Is there an aspect of culture, creativity or entrepreneurship that particularly motivates and interests you?
4. Reflect on any practical or conceptual connections you have already made to the cultural and creative industries, through your previous academic history or your wider experience.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

This course is taught by

School of Performance and Cultural Industries

Contact us

Postgraduate Admissions

Email: pcipg@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £12,000 (Total)

International: £28,500 (Total)

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

You may also be eligible to apply for a scholarship to help support your studies.

Career opportunities

Careers support

The School of Performance and Cultural Industries has a strong commitment to enhancing student employability. We established an Industry Advisory Board for PCI in 2022. The board features 12 members from a range of cultural organisations which will contribute to the ongoing development of our School employability activities. We regularly hold employability skills workshops, talks and presentations from representatives of cultural organisations in Leeds, with practical advice to support you.

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.