Culture, Policy and Management (MA)

Inform policy and practice and design your own learning on a programme that has been defining the cultural landscape for over four decades.

Who is it for?

Students come from all over the world and from all kinds of backgrounds - from fashion to film and all other sectors of the creative industries. This Masters is ideal for those who have an undergraduate degree and a passion for the arts, or those with previous experience working within the cultural sector and eclectic areas of interest they want to pursue. From digital crowdfunding to policies for the creative city, and from social media and the democratisation of opera to the motivations of young fashion enrepreneurs or museum branding, students are able to investigate their own subject and develop their individual professional path on the programme.

“To an extent, the students' own interests have helped shape the way in which the course has evolved. We learn a lot from them through their experiences, their coursework, their discussions.”

Course Director, Dr Ana Gaio

Objectives

This programme is all about customising your learning so you can become a competent professional ready to start, continue or change your career. On completion of the course you will be able to evaluate and integrate the theories and practices of culture, policy and management.

The student experience runs through everything we do, from the structure of the course itself to our discussions and tutorials. The curriculum was developed with support from an advisory group that includes senior figures from Arts Council England, the Barbican, Shakespeare's Globe and the V&A. This means your learning is attuned to the latest insights from the sector.

Requirements and how to apply

Entry requirements

You will need, as a minimum:

• a lower second class honours degree or equivalent
• an understanding of your country's cultural and creative sector and some relevant experience - this could be as an intern or volunteer.

Other suitable qualifications

We understand that many of you will have work experience or professional practice. Special consideration is given to applications from mature students without the required formal qualifications and those wishing to make a career change.

INTO City, University of London

Don't meet the entry requirements? INTO City, University of London offers a range of academic and English language programmes to help prepare you for study at City, University of London. You'll learn from experienced teachers in a dedicated international study centre.

These programmes are designed for international students who do not meet the required academic and English language requirements for direct entry. To prepare for this degree course, learn more about the Graduate Diploma in Social Sciences and the Arts.

English requirements

If your first language is not English, you will need to achieve one of the following English language test scores:

• IELTS: 6.5 (with 7.0 in the writing component).
• Cambridge Proficiency grade C or above.
• Evidence that the medium of instruction for their first degree was in English.

Your English test should have been taken in the last two years.

Please note that due to changes in the UKVI's list of SELTs we are no longer able to accept TOEFL as evidence of English language for students who require a CAS as of April 2014.

English language programmes

Don't meet the English language requirements? INTO City, University of London offers English language programmes to help prepare you for study at university. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to degree courses.

• Academic English
• Pre-sessional English

Visa requirements

If you are not from the European Economic Area / Switzerland and you are coming to study in the UK, you may need to apply for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK to study.

The way that you apply may vary depending on the length of your course. There are different rules for:

• Students on courses of more than six months
• Students on courses of less than six months
• Students on a pre-sessional English language course.

If you require a Tier 4 student visa to study in the UK, you cannot undertake any City courses on a part-time basis.

For more information see our main Visa page.

How to apply

The application process is now open.

Apply for MA Culture, Policy and Management (full-time)

Apply for MA Culture, Policy and Management (part-time)

If you require assistance regarding your application or have any queries then please contact:

Tel: +44 (0)20 7040 0249, +44 (0)20 7040 3721
Email: SASS-enquiries@city.ac.uk

You will need to submit:

• A completed application form (either electronically or by post)
• A certified copy of your undergraduate academic results and degree certificate
• Proof of English proficiency (if you are not a native English speaker, or someone who has not been taught in English for their first degree subject)
• Personal statement of up to 500 words on your academic and/or relevant professional experience to date and how it informs your intentions to undertake this course. In addition, you may wish to outline your vision for how the degree will feed into your research or professional career.

The admissions tutor may request academic references at a later date to help make a decision on your application.

Teaching and learning

Teaching and learning is delivered through lectures, seminars, group work, tutorials, visits, workshops, verbal and written feedback, plus personal research from a wide range of resources.

You are able to apply your essay questions and academic work to the real world - and one that you know well. For example, in the marketing module, you can choose an organisation from your own country, conduct research and then write a marketing strategy, which could be practically implemented.

Modules

With 50% core and 50% elective modules, you can choose which specialisms you study from the first term onwards. This means you can design your own course and determine your direction right from the start. This flexibility offers our MA students the freedom to shape their future.

The MA is structured around a spine of four core modules taking place in the autumn and spring terms - culture, cultural policy, managing organisations and Introduction to research. The MA culminates in a 15,000-word dissertation (running through the spring and summer terms), which students complete by the end of August.

Core modules

• Culture (15 credits)
• Managing organisations (15 credits)
• Cultural policy (15 credits)
• Introduction to research (15 credits)

Elective modules

• Audiences and marketing (15 credits)
• Digital cultures (15 credits)
• Fundraising in and for the cultural sector (15 credits)
• Ethics and Social Responsibility in the Cultural Industries' (15 credits)
• Professional placement (15 credits)
• Public culture: diversity, equality and activism in the cultural sector' (15 credits)
• Understanding financial accounts and entrepreneurship (15 credits)
• Celebrity (Sociology) (15 credits)
• Communication, culture and development (Sociology) (30 credits)
• Popular music and society (Music) (15 credits)
• International Organisations in Global Politics (International Politics) (15 credits)
• Designing Interactive Media (15 credits)
• Globalisation and Identity: Culture, Race and Difference (15 credits)
• Creative Cities (15 credits)
• Mediating Gender and Sexuality(15 credits)

Download the relevant programme specification

Career prospects

MA Culture, Policy and Management graduates find employment across all sub-sectors and occupational areas of the creative and cultural sector (in the UK and across the world).

According to the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, previous graduates in employment six months after completing the course earn an average salary of £24,000.

In 2016, one of our graduates went on to work as Producer and Director @ City of London Festival.

From orchestras to the art market, and from marketing to management, 80% of our graduates are now employed in cultural roles. Here are just a few examples of our student destinations:

• Barbican Centre (London)
• UNESCO (Paris)
• Ullens Contemporary Art Centre (Beijing)
• Royal Opera House (London)
• Dongdaemun Design Plaza (South Korea)
• National Art Gallery ‘Astana' (Kazakhstan)
• Culture Ministry (Turkey)
• Qatar Museums Authority (Qatar)
• Christian Dior (Paris)
• Arts Streaming TV (London)
• Arts Council of Singapore.

82.4% of graduates in employment or further study six months after completing the course

Find out more about the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey 2015-16