Culture, Creativity and Entrepreneurship MA
Year of entry 2026
- Start date
- September 2026
- Delivery type
- On campus
- Duration
- 12 Months (Full time)
- 24 Months (Part time)
- Entry requirements
- A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons)
Full entry requirements - English language requirements
- IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component
- UK fees
- £12,000 (Total)
- International fees
- £29,000 (Total)
- Contact
- pcipg@leeds.ac.uk
Course overview
Become an expert in how the cultural and creative sectors operate and how they are an engine for global entrepreneurial activity.
Culture and creativity are key to the development of people, societies, and economies worldwide. In this course, you'll explore the contested concepts of culture and creativity, and how policymakers, cultural organisations, and creative entrepreneurs work with contemporary cultures and economies on a global scale.
You'll discover 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 to explore how the cultural sector is managed.
Learn from researchers with extensive industry experience and investigate topics you’re most interested in, personally and professionally. Once you graduate, enter careers across diverse fields – from cultural and creative organisations to the third sector, public services, and teaching, to starting your own creative business.
“Completing a Masters has given me a huge confidence boost and insight that I can apply to my arts freelance work. I’m also currently investigating the possibility of completing a PhD.”
Why study at Leeds
- Specialist facilities: Our School is based in stage@leeds, a purpose-built landmark at the heart of campus. Stage@leeds hosts a year-round programme of work by students and visiting theatre companies.
- Guaranteed industry experience: While studying, you’ll have the chance to work with clients and gain consultancy experience as part of a 2-week online Global Industry Programme.
- A hub for creative innovation: Learn and live in a city home to the likes of Leeds Digital Festival, Light Night, Leeds International Festival of Ideas, the Channel 4 headquarters, and a thriving cultural scene packed with award-winning venues and organisations.
- Strong local partnerships: Our school collaborates with cultural organisations across the city, including schools, hospitals, Leeds City Council, Leeds Museums and Art Galleries, Leeds Playhouse, Opera North, Invisible Flock, Human VR, Slung Low, Red Ladder Theatre Company and Transform.
- Dedicated employability support: Benefit from personalised career support to give you the best start once you graduate, including talks, practical workshops, volunteering opportunities, and comprehensive research training if you want to go on to study a PhD.
- Transformative global collaboration: Our international partnerships include Shanghai Theatre Academy, Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, Shanghai Yue Opera House in China, South Africa-based Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education and Chad-based Association Ndam Se Na.
- Excellent prospects: Graduate from one of the universities most targeted by the UK’s top employers (High Fliers, The Graduate Market Report 2026).
Course details and modules
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.
Year 1 compulsory modules
| Module Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| Independent Research Project (MA) | 60 |
| Culture and Creativity: Contexts and Debates | 30 |
| The Business of Culture and Creativity | 30 |
| Entrepreneurship in the Cultural and Creative Industries | 30 |
Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
| Module Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| Arts Management and Cultural Leadership | 30 |
| Sustainable Development in Arts and Culture | 30 |
| Digital and Intermedial Storytelling | 30 |
Learning and teaching
MA Culture, Creativity and Entrepreneurship is informed by sector-leading approaches to teaching that help you to develop your critical thinking and analytical skills.
The course is delivered through a range of face-to-face methods including lectures, seminars, tutorials, group learning and workshops. We also use innovative digital technologies to offer additional learning support.
Independent study is an essential part of your programme, vital to your development of a range of academic, research, entrepreneurial and employability skills, supported through a range of resources, extra-curricular activities and networking opportunities.
You will participate in knowledge exchange through small-group discussions in seminars and workshops. You will receive one-to-one support from expert academics in the related fields of culture, creativity and entrepreneurship.
There will be opportunities to attend masterclasses and workshops with industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
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 develop key transferable skills relevant to your future lives and careers.
Applying
Entry requirements
You’ll need a bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) or equivalent qualification, preferably in a Humanities and Social Sciences related degree specialising in one of the following subjects indicated under 'Humanities and Social Sciences related subjects'.
We will also consider applicants with relevant experience, an interest in humanities and social sciences or coming from an area of expertise to which humanities and social sciences is complementary such as the ones listed under ‘Other areas’.
We welcome applicants from a diverse range of subject disciplines so please do not hesitate to apply if your subject is not listed.
All applicants will be required to respond to the questions in the supporting statement section of the online application form to explain why you wish to study this particular course and your career plans. Relevant professional experience may also be considered. We may request additional documentation to inform our decision.
Humanities and Social Sciences related subjects
- Business
- Fine Art
- Theatre
- Politics
- Sociology
Other areas
- Heritage Studies
- Media
- Journalism
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.
If you intend to apply for funding, we advise you to submit an application for your chosen course as early as possible and at least one month before any scholarship deadline.
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
- A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying (please submit an official English translation where the original is not in English)
- Your approved English Language test* (if applicable)
- A personal statement in response to the questions asked in the supporting statement section of the application form
- A full up-to-date CV
- Any previous UK CAS, visa and BRP documents if you’re an international applicant who has previously studied in the UK on a Tier 4/ Student Visa.
* Applicants who have not yet completed an approved English language test may apply for a Masters course prior to taking a test.
Personal Statement Requirements
Please summarise your reasons for applying to this particular programme of study. Your response can include details of your previous study/work experience relevant to the programme and career ambitions. Your response can provide us with important information on your suitability for the course, so please complete it carefully.
Please explain why you have chosen to apply for this Masters course at the University of Leeds by answering the following questions in separate numbered paragraphs:
- What areas of this course particularly interest you and why? Have you studied these before? Please explain your reasons for applying to this particular Masters course
- Why do you want to study this course at Leeds? Please comment on aspects such as available resources at the University and in the city, research specialisms within the school or academics you would like to work with.
- What potential themes have you considered for dissertation research?
- How will studying for this course help you to achieve your longer term goals?
- Why do you see this course as a particularly valuable subject to study?
- What skills and experience do you have that have prepared you for this course? You may like to give details of any final year work/projects you have previously undertaken, relevant work experience etc.
Relevant work experience might include: advertising, marketing, architecture, crafts, design (product, graphic, fashion), film, TV, radio, photography, publishing, museums, galleries, libraries, music, performing and visual arts.
Next Steps
Where further information to support the assessment of your application is needed, we may ask for a recent sample of written work.
We do not generally request references, unless further information is required to support the assessment of your application.
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 2026
This course is taught by
School of Performance and Cultural Industries
Contact us
Postgraduate Admissions
Email: pcipg@leeds.ac.uk
Fees
UK: £12,000 (Total)
International: £29,000 (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.
Scholarships are also available to help fund your Masters. Find out more and check your eligibility below:
Career opportunities
You’ll gain a variety of in-depth subject knowledge from this course, as well as valuable transferable skills such as cultural and social awareness, research, analysis and communication. These skills and knowledge will equip you to work in a rapidly changing global context of technological and social change, as encapsulated by the cultural and creative industries.
The opportunity to work at the intersection of culture, heritage, creative arts, tourism, social media, and audience curation in localised communities and international contexts ensures you are best equipped to be an innovative contributor to an exciting future in the contemporary communications and technology era.
You'll have opportunities to network and establish connections with experts working in the cultural and creative industries through our Critical Insights programme.
Hear more about the School and Faculty support you can access from our employability lead, Professor Karen Burland.
Where this degree could take you
Our graduates have pursued a range of careers that reflect the diverse nature of this course.
They’ve joined international consultancy firms and social enterprises as research associates, become project managers in arts and cultural organisations or worked as policy managers and advisers within cultural policy bodies.
Others have gone on to work in public policy, urban regeneration, community development, teaching, and other public and third-sector organisations.
Some graduates set up their own businesses in associated industry sectors, either during or soon after completing the course.
Many other graduates have continued with their research and progressed to PhD study. There is a wide variety of careers and employability support available across the University to help you with your career.
“I would definitely recommend applying to this course. It covers a full range of cultural industries, so I could explore a wider range of cultural fields than I expected, ranging from performing arts, fine art, creative economy, to cultural policy. In addition, learning about various industries helped me understand the complex, interconnected relationships between them.
Jeong Hyeon Kim, MA Culture, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
Learn more about the careers our students have pursued – read alumni profiles from the School of Performance and Cultural Industries.
Top 10 most targeted for 10+ years
By the UK's leading employers
Careers support
As an MA student at the University of Leeds, you’ll benefit from a comprehensive careers support network through the School of Performance and Cultural Industries and the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures.
At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one – just one of the reasons our graduates are so sought after by employers.
The school established an Industry Advisory Board in 2022 featuring 12 members from a range of cultural organisations. This contributes to the ongoing development of our employability activities.
In addition to dedicated employability and career support, the school also organises several career development workshops, guest speaker events, and careers fairs throughout the year. These opportunities will allow you to develop new skills, enhance your career prospects and network with prospective employers.
In addition to the school-specific careers support, you’ll also have access to the University’s award-winning Careers Service. It offers one-to-one appointments, advice on starting your own business, careers events, mentoring schemes and support with your CV, applications and interviews.
- Dedicated Employability Team – meet with our qualified careers consultants and specialist employability and placements officers, on hand to help you choose the right path and develop the skills to get there. They can support with CV and cover letter writing, LinkedIn profile building, mock interviews and navigating AI: get confident with tailored advice and techniques.
- Employability and networking events – we run a full range of events, including careers fairs and industry talks in specialist areas and across broader industries, with employers who are actively recruiting for roles, giving you the opportunity to network and engage with industry sponsors. Upon graduation, you’ll become a part of the University’s alumni network, further extending your professional reach.
- Employability skills training – to support your success in the workplace, we embed training in a range of key transferable skills valued by employers in all our programmes.
- MyCareer system – on your course and after you graduate, you’ll have access to a dedicated careers portal where you can book appointments with our team, get information on careers and see job vacancies and upcoming events.
- Opportunities at Leeds — there are plenty of exciting opportunities offered by our Leeds University Union, including volunteering and over 300 clubs and societies to get involved in.
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.
Work placements and industry experience
The Global Industry Programme is a great opportunity to gain real-world experience through live industry projects.
You’ll connect with leading companies worldwide to work on impactful, hands-on consultancy projects, enhancing your employability skills and enabling you to apply your theoretical knowledge to real business challenges.
Join the programme and experience the benefits:
- Fully online teaching designed to fit around your studies.
- Opportunities to make professional networks in areas such as digital marketing, business growth, sustainability and funding strategy.
- Gain valuable insight and build consultancy experience with a UK or international organisation, working on a time-limited brief.
- Work as part of a team across disciplines to tackle real business needs.
- Advance your experience and hands-on skills by putting the course teachings into practice.
- Improve your employability prospects.
- Make new friends, build confidence and consider your future.