Arts Management and Heritage Studies MA

Course overview

In the Arts Management and Heritage Studies MA you'll develop your understanding of the changing political, policy and practice contexts within which the arts and heritage sectors operate today, building a strong foundation to become a leader in the field.

You'll explore the nature of heritage and how meanings of objects, artworks and buildings change in different contexts. You'll examine the challenges faced by arts managers and cultural leaders, and the changes that have led some museums to move towards the role of the ‘manager’ rather than the ‘curator’.

A wide range of optional modules allow you to tailor your Masters to your interests or career plans – including the opportunity to undertake a work placement or consultancy project role in either arts management or heritage. Previous students have undertaken placements focused on collections, digitisation work, digital interpretation and community engagement.

If you’re considering a career in this sector, or if you are currently working as a professional, this Masters course will develop your knowledge, understanding and practical experience, to prepare for your next step.

Supported by our Centre for Critical Studies in Museums, Galleries and Heritage, you'll benefit from our partnerships with major arts and cultural organisations to find out what it means to work in this challenging sector.

Additional highlights

You'll study in the heart of a cultural hub for this diverse and vibrant region. Leeds is home to world-leading arts and heritage organisations including the Royal Armouries, Opera North, Leeds Playhouse and Northern Ballet. You’ll find a wide range of museums, galleries, heritage sites, and contemporary art spaces right on your doorstep.

We are close to everything the rest of Yorkshire has to offer, from The Hepworth Wakefield to the National Science and Media Museum, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the Brontë Parsonage Museum. We have close links with many of these cultural institutions to support your practical learning.

This course is developed in close collaboration with the School of Performance and Cultural Industries and allows you to undertake compulsory and optional modules in both Schools. You'll become a member of the Centre for Critical Studies in Museums, Galleries and Heritage and enjoy opportunities from networking events and links to alumni, to conferences, seminars and reading groups.

You’ll learn from researchers and tutors with a background in arts management, theatre, arts galleries, museums and heritage, including:

• Dr Jade French (Programme Director)

• Dr Rob Knifton

• Dr Liz Stainforth

• Dr Nick Cass

• Dr Sarah Feinstein

• Professor Abigail Harrison Moore

• Dr Kerry Bristol

• Dr Claudia Sternberg

• Dr Gill Park

Course details

In this Masters course you’ll study a range of compulsory core and optional modules offered by the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies and the School of Performance and Cultural Industries. You’ll then have the opportunity to choose from a dissertation, or a practice-led dissertation.

In the core module Interpretations, you will work on a digital interpretive intervention. This experience prepares you for the option of undertaking a negotiated work placement or optional modules exploring audiences, participation or engagement in semester two. Read about exhibitions and activities curated by our students.

In the second core module Critical Issues, you are supported to locate interpretive, conservation, curatorial or marketing practices in the context of current academic and professional debates. Through a number of tailored strands – covering topics such as contemporary art, heritage, and curating science and technology – you will develop your own mini-research project which prepares you for your dissertation.

The optional module Placements in Context: Policy, Organisations and Practice supports you to deliver a collaborative group project responding to a brief set by one of our many gallery, museum and heritage partners. The project you take part in will directly impact the organisation and their work. You’ll also gain crucial insight into employment in the sector. We work with a range of organisations in Leeds and beyond to develop the projects, and previous collaborations have been with the National Science and Media Museum, Leeds Museums and Galleries, Yorkshire Contemporary, and Hyde Park Picture House.

You'll also study a core module and have the choice of optional modules run by the School of Performance and Cultural Industries:

In the core module Arts Management and Cultural Leadership, you'll examine theoretical concepts in the emerging field of arts management and the challenges faced by arts managers and cultural leaders. Dialogue with our arts and cultural partners will give an insight into the exciting possibilities opened up by bringing theory and practice together. You can build on this work and specialise in your own areas of interest, through optional modules that explore a variety of key issues, such as audience engagement and impact, cultural entrepreneurship, and contemporary cultural strategies, technologies and media.

The optional module Cultural Participation and Participatory Cultures, allows you to develop a deeper understanding of the participation agenda which is of growing international importance. You will better understand the role of cultural participation in society, as well as develop approaches to using techniques from cultural participation to bring about social change. You'll evaluate and analyse case studies of practice from within the cultural sector and develop your own participatory action.

You'll also be able to choose from a range of optional modules offered by the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies and the School of Performance and Cultural Industries. Through optional modules, you could also have the opportunity to complete placement or consultancy activities in arts management or heritage. Previous students have undertaken work placement projects focused on collections, digitisation work, digital interpretation and community engagement.

Your dissertation is an opportunity to develop your research and build on the knowledge you've gained. You can either choose a standard route or develop a practice-led dissertation project, where you combine practical work with critical reflective writing.

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 Arts Management and Heritage Studies MA Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Arts Management and Heritage Studies MA Part Time in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

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

You'll be required to study one of the following modules: MA Dissertation OR MA Practice-led Dissertation, plus optional modules.

Learning and teaching

Learning from leading researchers and experienced practitioners, you’ll benefit from a range of teaching and learning methods. This will include lectures, seminars and group learning, and you’ll also gain insights into specific collections through museum, archive and library sessions.

You'll learn from practical experience on projects alongside fellow students and professionals. A wide variety of external speakers will give you an insight into contemporary practice in the field. You'll also learn to use digital technologies and resources relevant to the museum and gallery sector.

Independent study is an important element of the degree, allowing you to develop your research and critical skills. The University Library offers free classes and resources on topics such as academic integrity and plagiarism, public speaking, searching for information and structuring essays.

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

Depending on the modules you choose, you may experience a range of different assessment methods. These usually include essays, individual and group presentations, digital interpretation projects, portfolio building, in-course assessment and project work. You may also be asked to complete a reflective log for your projects, allowing you to look back and critically assess your own practice.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in subjects such as (but not limited to) Art History, Fine Art, Cultural Studies, Cultural Policy, History, Geography and English. Other subjects will be considered where an application demonstrates sufficient sector experience / knowledge. Professional experience will also be considered.

Experience of volunteering or working in a relevant field, such as museums, galleries, contemporary art, cultural policy, and/or heritage organisations, is required. We do not require a specific length of time to have been spent in work experience, though you must be able to critically reflect on your experience in your personal statement.

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.

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 need

• Your degree certificate and transcripts, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying.

• A recent CV.

• Evidence of your English language qualifications if English is not your first subject.

• A personal statement. Please directly respond to the four questions listed below. To help structure your personal statement, copy and paste the four questions and answer each one in turn.

  • Please explain your reasons for applying to this particular MA course in Arts Management and Heritage Studies at University of Leeds. Are there particular approaches to study, modules, research expertise or other factors that attracted you to the programme?

  • How has your academic experience to date prepared you to embark on postgraduate level study in Arts Management and Heritage Studies? Consider any theories, texts and academic assignments that relate conceptually to the work you will develop at Masters level.

  • Reflect on any practical or conceptual connections you have already made to the arts, museum, gallery and heritage sector, both through your studies and wider experience. What did you learn, find most surprising, and how did it improve your professional understanding of the sector?

  • What are your specific career aspirations for the future, on completing postgraduate studies – is there an aspect of the arts/museum/gallery/heritage sector that particularly motivates and attracts you?

Next steps

Qualified applicants may be invited to an interview.

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 Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies
School of Performance and Cultural Industries

Contact us

Taught Postgraduate Team

Email: finpg@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £12,500 (Total)

International: £27,000 (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, scholarships and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.

We offer the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies International Excellence Scholarship for international applicants. Find out about awards and scholarships.

Career opportunities

This postgraduate degree is designed to equip you to fill a gap in the current market and become a cultural leader of the future. We encourage you to build up a portfolio of project work to help with future job applications, and you have opportunities to gain practical work experience.

As well as the in-depth subject knowledge you will gain, you will improve your skills in research, analysis, communication and critical and cultural awareness. You will also benefit from the contacts gained through working with partner organisations and the Centre for Critical Studies in Museums, Galleries and Heritage.

Graduates from our School now work as heads of collections, curators and educators in organisations such as museums, the National Trust and charitable trusts. They have also found success in arts marketing and public relations.

Others have also continued with their research at PhD level, many of whom work in academia in the UK as well as the US, Hong Kong and Korea.

I am so grateful for my time at Leeds. Professors, activities and opportunities at the university encouraged me to explore my career outside my boundaries and trust my instincts and skills.

- Maria Suarez, MA Arts Management and Heritage Studies

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.

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

You can choose from a range of optional modules which have a work or enterprise component, to allow you to gain first-hand experience of contemporary arts, museum and heritage practice.

The School has close links with a number of important institutions both in the city and the region, and previous students have worked on projects at a wide variety of museums and heritage organisations. Organisations have included:

• Leeds Museum
• Leeds Art Gallery
• Harewood House
• Henry Moore Institute
• National Science and Media Museum
• Leeds Playhouse
• Leeds Grand Theatre
• Lotherton Hall
• Abbey House Museum
• Royal Armouries

Students have also worked on projects at the University’s own museums and archives, including the Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery and the Marks and Spencer Archive.