Global Creative Industries BA

Year of entry

2024 course information

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UCAS code
W900
Start date
September 2023
Delivery type
On campus
Duration
3 years full time
Work placement
Optional
Study abroad
Optional
Typical A-level offer
AAB
Typical Access to Leeds offer
BBB at A level and a pass in the Access to Leeds module
Full entry requirements

Course overview

Students talking

The cultural and creative industries are a vital component of the global economy that shape how we understand the world and our place in it.

This course allows you to explore the challenges and opportunities these sectors present in a rapidly changing digital world, the role of creativity in organisations and how to articulate the value of cultural expression.

Based in the School of Performance and Cultural Industries and taught across four Schools in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, you’ll benefit from leading experts in creative industries research.

You’ll be able to tailor the course to your interests by choosing to study a range of optional modules on themes, including Marketing and Audiences, Enterprise and Management, and Policy and Politics. You’ll also have access to guest talks from industry professionals and be encouraged to participate in career events, such as workshops and networking sessions.

This course will equip you with the skills and confidence to forge your own routes into a meaningful and rewarding career as a creative leader, manager and thinker.

Explore our libraries

Leeds has plenty of valuable resources for Global Creative Industries students. The world-class Brotherton Library holds a wide variety of manuscripts, archives and early printed material in its Special Collections. Our other library resources are also excellent, and the University Library offers a complete training programme to help you make the most of them.

Take a look around our libraries:

Brotherton Library
Laidlaw Library
Edward Boyle Library

Course details

Your first year will lay the foundations for your degree, with core modules introducing you to models and features of the global creative industries. You’ll choose to study a range of optional modules such as Introduction to the Music Business, Managing Festivals and Events or History of Communication.

In the following year, core and optional modules will allow you to refine your knowledge, enhance your research skills, and study different aspects of global creative industries. You’ll develop an understanding of global policies and how creative enterprises work.

Between your second and final year, you’ll have the opportunity to apply to either spend a year studying abroad at another university, or you can also choose to take a work placement year to help you decide on your career and improve your employability.

By your final year, you’ll have built a wide range of skills across disciplines, allowing you to research topics and think critically about what you find. You’ll be able to develop your knowledge and interests further in a final year project on a topic of your choosing. A core module will allow you to gain a deeper understanding of your own professional development in the global creative industries.

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 Global Creative Industries BA in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Module Name Credits
Studying the Global Creative Industries 20
Understanding the Global Creative Industries 40

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

Module Name Credits
Introduction to Museum and Art Gallery Studies 20
The History of Communication 20
Introduction to Cinema 20
Music in History and Culture 20
Introduction to the Music Business 10
Talking About Pop Music: Discourse and Debates in Popular Music 20
Managing Festivals and Events 20

Year 2 compulsory modules

Module Name Credits
Researching the Global Creative Industries 20
Creative Enterprise 20
Culture, Creativity and Policy 20

Year 2 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Module Name Credits
Cinema and Culture 20
The Art Market: Moments, Methodologies, Meanings 20
The Museum 20
Visual Communication 20
Digital Cultures 20
Media Policy 20
Towards the Future: Skills in Context 20
Music, Culture, Politics: the Long Sixties 20
Opera North: Opera in Practice 20
Marketing for Musicians 20
Cultural Flashpoints in the Performing Arts 20
Arts Marketing 20
Politics, Identity and Performance 20

Year 3 compulsory modules

Module Name Credits
Professional Development in the Global Creative Industries 20
Final Year Project 40

Year 3 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Module Name Credits
Curatorial Practice and the Country House 1950-present 20
Cultural Diversity in Museum and Material Culture - Case Study 20
Anthropology, Art and Representation 20
Understanding the Audience 20
Popular Music and Society 20
Internet Policy 20
Promotional Culture 20
Enterprise Project 40
Arts and Cultural Management 20
Starting up in the Cultural Industries 20

Discovery modules

Throughout your degree you will benefit from a range of opportunities to expand your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.

This course gives you the opportunity to choose from a range of discovery modules. They’re a great way to tailor your study around your interests or career aspirations and help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Find out more about discovery modules on our Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

Your tutors will have a wide range of creative industries and research expertise that informs their teaching. We use a range of teaching and learning methods to help you expand your knowledge, including case studies and exercises that link theory and creative industries practice.

Independent study is an integral part of the degree, helping you develop research and critical reasoning skills that will be vital throughout your time with us and beyond. Advice and support will be available through modules, your Personal Tutor and the University Libraries to help you develop your abilities make the most of our resources.

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

We also use various types of assessment. Essays are a significant part of this, but some modules include group work, seminars, surveys, reports, or presentations. This is to help you develop a wide range of skills that you will apply in your future career.

We offer support in these areas as well – for example, classes on skills such as public speaking and essay writing will be available throughout your time at Leeds.

Entry requirements

A-level: AAB

Other course specific tests:

Where an applicant is taking the EPQ in a relevant subject this might be considered alongside other Level 3 qualifications and may attract an alternative offer in addition to the standard offer. If you are taking A Levels, this would be ABB at A Level and grade A in the EPQ.

Alternative qualification

Access to HE Diploma

Pass diploma with 60 credits overall, including at least 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. An interview and a piece of written work may be required. Contact the Admissions Office for more information.

BTEC

At BTEC Level 3 or equivalent, DDM with relevant subject and content balance. BTEC qualifications in combination with others will also be considered. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.

Cambridge Pre-U

D3, M1, M2

International Baccalaureate

35 points overall including 16 at Higher Level

Irish Leaving Certificate (higher Level)

H2, H2, H2, H2, H3, H3

Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

AB in Advanced Highers and AABBB in Highers, or A in Advanced Highers and AABBB in Highers, or AAAABB in Highers

Welsh Baccalaureate

The Welsh Baccalaureate is not typically included in the academic conditions of an offer made to you for this course. If you choose to undertake the Welsh Baccalaureate we would strongly encourage you to draw upon these experiences within your personal statement, as your qualification will then be taken into account both when your application is initially considered by the selection panel and again when reviewed by the admissions tutor at the time your A-level results are passed to us.

Other Qualifications

European Baccalaureate 80%

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is an alternative admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and alternative admissions.

Typical Access to Leeds offer: BBB at A Level and pass Access to Leeds

International

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. Contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for more information

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

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
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

Fees

UK: £9,250 (per year)

International: £23,500 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2023/24 and 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will remain capped at £9,250 for 2023/24 and 2024/25. The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2023/24 and 2024/25
Tuition fees for international students for 2023/24 and 2024/25 are available on individual course pages.

Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year
If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

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 about additional costs.

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 is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Applying

Apply to this course through UCAS. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

Read our guidance about applying.

Next steps

We select applicants on the basis of your UCAS application and are looking for a strong personal statement and suitable grades.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

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 Taught Admissions Policy 2024

This course is taught by

School of Performance and Cultural Industries
School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies
School of Media and Communication
School of Music

Contact us

School of Performance and Cultural Industries Undergraduate Admissions

Email: pciug@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Career opportunities

This degree will open up a broad range of career opportunities within and around the cultural and creative industries, including working with creative enterprises, cultural institutions or related public sector roles.

Employers value the skills our students gain. Our graduates go on to a wide range of creative industries careers, such as cultural, digital and media production, events management, arts administration, marketing and PR, cultural policy, education and creative consultancy.

You’ll also acquire the skills for professional roles outside the sector such as finance, law and business. Many of our graduates progress to postgraduate study in related disciplines.

A degree in Global Creative Industries gives you a wide range of knowledge and skills across disciplines. You’ll be able to think critically and reflect upon your own research on complex topics from different sources, drawing your own conclusions.

The School also has many established and newly emerging collaborative links with creative organisations in Leeds and the Yorkshire Region, the UK and across the world.

As a student in the School you’ll also benefit from cultural organisations based at the University, including the Cultural Institute and the Centre for Cultural Value.

Read more about our partnerships.

Careers support

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.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

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.

Study abroad and work placements

Study abroad

On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. We have over 300 University partners worldwide and popular destinations for our students include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Latin America. 

Find out more at the Study Abroad website.

Work placements

Practical work experience can help you decide on your career and improve your employability. On this course you have the option to apply to take a placement year module with organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK, or overseas.

Find out more about work experience on the Careers website.