Audiences, Engagement, Participation MA

Course overview

This course explores notions of participation and engagement in culture that aim to respect the cultural rights of all citizens as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. You will examine how policy makers, cultural organisations, and artists conceive the role of audiences and the wider public in contemporary cultures and economies on both a local and global scale. You will investigate practical approaches to participation and engagement in the arts and cultural sectors as well as reflecting on the nature of our personal engagement in the digital sphere. You will then critically examine the extent to which such approaches are effective at creating a more people centred culture and consider alternative approaches to achieve this aim.

As well as developing your research skills this will help you develop your professional practice whether you wish to work in the management, marketing or education departments within existing arts organisations, develop cultural policy at a local, national or international level or develop your own skills as a participatory facilitator.

The cultural sector has enormous potential to effect positive change in society. However, participation data has uncovered a lack of diversity in the age, ethnicity, education level and socioeconomic background of audiences in the arts alongside a decline in overall levels of arts engagement. This sits alongside efforts to address accessibility and structural inequality for both audiences and the creative workforce. You’ll explore theoretical concepts such as co-creation and participatory governance, alongside investigation into community and participatory arts practice, the implications of digital engagement, and conceptual design of audience experiences.

You will be able to tailor your learning on the course to pursue your own interests and develop broader skills through your choice from a range of optional modules. 

Additional highlights

You will also be able to engage with leading centres for research, policy, practice and debate based at the University of Leeds that are on the forefront of audience research and engagement such as the Centre for Cultural Value and the Cultural Institute.

Leeds has a thriving cultural scene and is home to large-scale events like Leeds International Film Festival, Light Night, and Transform Festival. Our local connections allow you to interact with a range of partners including Leeds Museums & Galleries, Opera North, Hyde Park Picture House, and many other local arts and community organisations. The wider Yorkshire region is home to a rich and diverse culture with other major cultural institutions such as Yorkshire Sculpture Park who have a renowned learning programme.

Flexible study options

We offer part-time, PGDip and PGCert options for this course, allowing you to study in the way that best suits you.

Specialist facilities

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.

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Course details

You’ll study compulsory modules in cultural participation, digital engagement and audience engagement. Combined, these are designed to give you a solid base of theoretical knowledge and high-level research skills.

You’ll also choose from a range of optional modules from within our School and the wider University, giving you the ability to tailor your studies to suit your interests and career ambitions.

As you progress through your studies, you’ll apply what you’ve learned in an independent research project on a topic of your choice.

If you choose to study part-time, you’ll study over a longer 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 Audiences, Engagement, Participation MA Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Audiences, Engagement, Participation MA Part Time in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

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

Learning and teaching

This course comprises a balanced mix of teaching and learning methods, including interactive lectures, small group seminars, tutorials and practical workshops. On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, many of whom have also worked in the cultural sector, with inputs by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus and currently working in the field. By the end of the course, you should be able to demonstrate in-depth, specialist knowledge and understanding of techniques relevant to audience engagement and cultural participation. You will gain valuable transferable skills such as project management, audience research, programme design and evaluation, relevant to cultural sector work in in arts and cultural organisations or working freelance as a creative worker.

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

You’ll be assessed throughout the course with a balanced mix of assessment modes which are likely to include the following: individual or small group presentations, written reports, academic essays and an extended individual research projects/theses.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor undergraduate degree with a 2:1 (hons) or higher.

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.

Applicants must demonstrate understanding of the course by responding to the five questions in the personal statement section of their online application. Applicants without a degree may also be considered, if they can demonstrate significant relevant industry experience.

An offer of a place on this programme is subject to meeting our academic entry requirements, as well as your submission of satisfactory responses to the questions we ask in the supporting statement section of the application form.

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

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

• A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts, or partial transcripts if you're still studying (please submit an official English translation if necessary)

• Evidence of your English language qualifications, if English is not your first language

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

• A full up-to-date CV.

Personal Statement Requirements

Please answer the following questions in separate numbered paragraphs. These questions provide us with important information on your suitability for the course, so please complete them carefully and in detail.

1. What knowledge and skills do you hope to gain from studying on our Audience Engagement Participation programme?
2. What module on the programme are you most interested in studying?
3. What practical experience do you have researching and/or designing activities for arts audiences?
4. There are a number of critical debates about the role of participation. Identify one and explain why it is important to engaging audiences.
5. How do you think the programme will help you achieve your future academic and/or professional goals?

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: £12,000 (Total)

International: £26,000 (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.

You may also be eligible to apply for a scholarship to help support your studies.

Career opportunities

This course will prepare you for employment in areas such as cultural policy, arts management, arts marketing, audience development, and arts education.

You’ll gain a variety of in-depth subject knowledge from this course, as well as valuable transferable skills such as project management, audience research, programme design and evaluation, as well as freelance consultancy. You’ll develop skills that support work in public policy, community development and visitor experience.

There is a wide variety of careers and employability support available across the University to help you with your career.

Graduates from similar courses have continued with their research and progressed to PhD study.

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.