Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy PGCert

Course overview

Specially designed for active arts fundraising and philanthropy professionals, this hybrid course will give you a deeper understanding of your professional practice and its place within the arts and cultural sector. You'll explore topics such as the history of philanthropy, critical approaches to cultural leadership, techniques for change and crisis management, approaches to building organisational resilience, and how to navigate ethical challenges in relation to fundraising and development activity. The course also touches on questions of organisational governance, developing an internal fundraising culture, and relating to arts and cultural policy.

This course is led and coordinated by academic staff with significant industry experience, who are assisted by expert freelance tutors and senior arts consultants. Throughout, you'll reflect critically on your work-based learning and learn how to apply relevant theories to your everyday professional practice.

Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy Fellowship programme

The PG Cert in Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy is run in conjunction with the Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy Fellowship Programme, organised by our industry partners Cause4. Successful applicants to the Fellowship are automatically enrolled onto the PG Cert and complete the academic course as part of their year-long programme. The PG Cert can also be studied independently, alongside the Fellowship cohort.

Course details and modules

This hybrid course begins with attendance at the residential Arts Fundraising and Leadership Intensive in Leeds on 10th-12th September 2025, which includes programme induction for both the Fellowship and the PG Cert and presents teaching content for the first module (Arts Fundraising and Leadership). Additional teaching and support is delivered through dedicated webinars and individual online tutorials, alongside self-directed learning and guided reading.

In the second module (Professional Practice) you will connect your learning to your professional practice via a reflective process in the workplace supported by mentoring. Applicants should expect to be actively working in the cultural sector between September 2025-June 2026 (in relevant employed, freelance or governance roles) to inform assignments. If in doubt, please contact the School to discuss your circumstances.

This course explores the history of arts and cultural philanthropy. It investigates underlying policy models and debates, and situates arts fundraising in relation to the more established fields of arts marketing, management and cultural policy, whilst exploring the utility of strategic management tools, models and principles for leading contemporary arts organisations.

The course critically applies relevant concepts and theories pertaining to cultural entrepreneurship, change management and cultural leadership, and explores the challenges of implementing these ideas in the ever evolving practice of arts fundraising.

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

For more information on the modules available on this course, please read Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy PGCert in the course catalogue.

Learning and teaching

The course begins with attendance at the Arts Fundraising and Leadership Intensive and is then delivered through dedicated webinars and online tutorials, as well as individual online supervision. You will connect your learning to your professional practice via a reflective process in the workplace supported by mentoring.

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

Assessment takes place via an individual presentation and essay (for module 1) and an extended reflective work-based learning report (for module 2).

Applying

Entry requirements

Fellowship entrants:

Successful applicants to the Cause4 AFP Fellowship Programme are automatically enrolled onto the PG Cert, subject only to a light touch registration process. Certification to evidence academic attainment to date (including minimum English language skills) is required.

Independent entrants:

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) and a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in an arts or cultural organisation. We may also consider applicants without a degree if you can demonstrate significant relevant industry experience (minimum of 5 years) in an arts or cultural organisation. Applicants should expect to be actively working in the cultural sector in a fundraising-relevant role throughout the course period.

A personal statement in response to the questions asked in the supporting statement section of the application form.

All applicants must be able to attend the residential Arts Fundraising and Leadership Intensive in Leeds at the start of the programme.

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For more information contact the School of Performance and Cultural Industries admissions team.

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 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.5 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.

Please specifically outline your relevant work experience in the sector and how this will impact on your future career.

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: £4,000 (Total)

International: £8,667 (Total)

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

Read more about paying fees and charges.

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.

The principal route for supported enrolment on this programme is via the Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy Fellowship Programme, organised by our industry partners Cause4 with funding from Arts Council England (the deadline is usually in June for September entry; check the link for up to date details). The Fellowship is primarily aimed at arts fundraisers and leaders working for organisations based in England.

Career opportunities

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.