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 will 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 will 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 will 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.

You will work collaboratively on an entrepreneurial project, and have the opportunity to gain insight into the business model of local creative and cultural organisations.

You will 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 MA Culture, Creativity and Entrepreneurship 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 small scale arts and cultural activity to explore. This provides an exciting environment in which to think about and engage with culture and creativity, and provides opportunities to put ideas into practice.

You will have access to 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.

stage@leeds hosts a range of work by students and visiting theatre companies all year round. Within the building you’ll also find rehearsal rooms, two black-box studios, costume construction and wardrobe stores, a design studio, a scenic workshop, computer aided design facilities and video-editing and sound recording.

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. You will explore a range of critical approaches designed to help you understand the relationships between culture, creativity, and entrepreneurship. You will learn about the cultural industries and how public policy impacts on cultural development. You will learn about enterprise and entrepreneurship and acquire the skills needed to develop a feasibility study for an existing or new creative venture or respond to an opportunity presented by a cultural organisation.

To help you focus your studies in the areas that suit your interests and career plans, you will also choose optional modules which allow you to specialise in areas such as cultural policy, the relationship between culture and place, management and entrepreneurship in the arts and cultural industries.

Another compulsory module that runs throughout the year will develop your understanding of research methods in the arts and cultural industries. By the end of the course, you will demonstrate your skills and knowledge by completing an independent research project on a topic of your choice.

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

Compulsory modules

Independent Research Project (MA) 60 credits

On this module you will gain the theoretical and methodological knowledge that will enable you to carry out an independent piece of research in the field of Performance and Cultural Industries.

Theoretical Perspectives: Culture, Creativity and Entrepreneurship 30 credits

This module provides you with the theoretical undertanding that underpins the course. You will evaluate and analyse in depth different theoretical perspectives on a range of areas within the cultural industries.

Entrepreneurship and Cultural Industries 30 credits

The module combines theoretical approaches to enterprise and entrepreneurship with application to a specific situation in which you will choose one of two options: (a) to develop a feasibility study for an existing or new creative venture or (b) to work in a small team to solve a strategic organisational or management problem or respond to an opportunity presented by a cultural organisation.

Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Engaging the Modern City: The Civic Researcher 30 credits

Working in interdisciplinary research groups on project themes set by regional organisations, you will draw on current debates, controversies and needs. Liaising with the external organisations throughout the year, you will produce external-facing and research-led outputs that will benefit the partner organisation and the wider city of Leeds.

New Venture Creation 15 credits

This module will support you in developing a new venture as a live case study, giving you the chance to explore the potential of your ideas by working with tutors, entrepreneurs/practitioners, and your peers to develop and evaluate a new venture idea.

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. Depending on the modules you choose, you may be assessed by essays, oral presentations, poster presentations, 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; compulsory module Entrepreneurship and the Cultural Industries provides students with the opportunity to 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.

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

Application deadline:

We operate a staged admissions process for some of our courses, with selection deadlines throughout the year.

If you do not receive an offer, or a notification that your application has been unsuccessful at a particular stage in the process, your application will be carried forward to be considered at the next stage.

Please see our How to Apply page for full details and the application timeline for the staged admissions process.

Applying from China

Due to the large numbers of applications we receive, we’re only able to offer places to applicants who have attended selected Chinese institutions. With regret, any applications we receive from applicants awarded a qualification in China from an institution that isn’t on this list will be rejected.

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

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: £11,500 (Total)

International: £26,750 (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.