Course information
Length
1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Course overview
For 2020–21, we have made some changes to how the teaching and assessment of this programme are delivered. Find out more
This programme offers you the chance to engage with the key issues in the formulation of arts and cultural policy and the administration of the arts.
This MA from the Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship will enable you to develop an awareness of and a critical approach to the discipline, by studying arts policy and practice in Europe, Scandinavia, and a number of global countries. You will also study audience development, fundraising, arts education, cultural tourism, regeneration through arts, arts diversity and social inclusion, copyright and the role of the arts in relations and diplomacy as well as national and cultural identity.
Practitioners from many companies, venues and national organisations teach on the programme, providing a direct link with the profession. See our partners in learning.
Through individual research and placement with an arts company or management organisation, you will develop essential practical skills to enhance your potential and your employability as an arts administrator.
Please note that a placement with any specific arts organisation is not guaranteed, however, we take you through a supportive process to gain a placement with an appropriate arts organisation.
The programme also offers you one module in a complementary area, offered by the Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship, Department of Theatre and Performance, Department of Design, and Music Department. An indicative list of option modules is listed in the "What you'll study" section below.
Music Pathway
It's also possible to follow a Music Pathway in this programme, which allows you to broaden your musical knowledge and skills through largely theory and/or history-based modules. You will be able to study a module in Music Management which is open to all, however, at the start of the year you will be able to discuss other MMus modules appropriate to your background.
Contact the department
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact the ICCE Administrator.
What you'll study
For 2020–21, we have made some changes to how the teaching and assessment of certain programmes are delivered. To check what changes affect this programme, please visit the Programme Changes page
Compulsory modules
You will take the following compulsory modules. Full-time students study for two-and-a-half days a week, while part-time students study for one day a week.
Compulsory modules | Module title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Cultural Policy and Practice | 30 credits | |
Management and Professional Practice 2: Business Planning for Arts Organisations | 30 credits | |
MA Arts Administration & Cultural Policy: Dissertation | 60 credits |
You will also take one of the following modules.
Module title | Credits | |
---|---|---|
Management and Professional Practice 1: Work Placement | 30 credits | |
or | ||
Management and Professional Practice 1A: Culture of Management Report | 30 credits |
Option modules
In addition to the compulsory modules above, you will also choose one 'shared module' which will allow you to develop your understanding of creative practice, or specialist area of management. These are focussed on one area of creative practice: Music, Theatre and Performance, Visual Arts, Entrepreneurship, or Cultural Diplomacy. Students can select one interdisciplinary module from a range of departments. Examples of modules previously taken on the programme have included
Please note: some modules may be required that you have a background in the area you wish to study as they are primarily concerned with the discipline rather than its administration/management – for example in music.
Theatre and Performance
Theatre and Performance option modules | Module title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Disability Theatre | 30 credits | |
Radical Performance | 30 credits |
ICCE
ICCE option modules | Module title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Entrepreneurial Modelling | 30 credits | |
Interpretation, Education and Communication in the Art Museum | 30 credits | |
Culture, Tourism and Regeneration | 30 credits | |
Contemporary Issues in Cultural Policy | 30 credits |
Music
Modules from MMus Programmes
Design
Design option modules | Module title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Enterprising Leadership: An Introduction to Leadership, Enterprise, and Innovation Theory | 30 credits |
Clarification on Full-time/Part-time
There are many ways of doing this degree part-time. We recommend having a conversation with the programme convenor about how to proceed, and to determine time commitments.
Download the programme specification. If you would like an earlier version of the programme specification, please contact the Quality Office.
Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
What our students say
Entry requirements
You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard in a relevant/related subject.
You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.
International qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.
Fees, funding & scholarships
Annual tuition fees
These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2021/2022 academic year.
- Home - full-time: £10870
- Home - part-time: £5435
- International - full-time: £19660
If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.
It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time if you require a Tier 4 student visa, however this is currently being reviewed and will be confirmed in the new year. Please read our visa guidance in the interim for more information. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.
There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.
Funding opportunities
Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities. If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.
How to apply
You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system.
Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:
- Details of your education history, including the dates of all exams/assessments
- The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
- A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online
Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement
- If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn’t mandatory)
You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.
When to apply
We accept applications from 1 October until 1 April for students wanting to start the following September.
We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place that is conditional on you achieving a particular qualification.
Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available.
If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an earlier application deadline.
Selection process
Admission to many programmes is by interview, unless you live outside the UK. Occasionally, we'll make candidates an offer of a place on the basis of their application and qualifications alone.
Find out more about applying.
Careers
Skills
The programme enables you to develop the following skills:
- Critical awareness of cultural policy issues
- Preparation of specific audience development (marketing) and fundraising strategies for arts organisations, and more generic organisation strategic plans
- Leadership and teamwork skills
- A range of knowledge and skills required for operating in the cultural sector
- An understanding of how new technologies impact on culture at all levels
Careers
Graduates typically go on to careers in the following areas:
- Cultural policy: researching, developing, writing, analysing and evaluating policy
- Management in building-based and touring theatre, dance, music and visual arts organisations
- Arts education, arts regeneration and arts for social and community purposes
- Audience development, programming and planning
- Organisational development and fundraising
You will also be given individual career advice in personal tutorials, helping you identify potential areas of interest for future employment.
For more information on the range of careers available to MA Arts Administration & Cultural Policy alumni, please see the What our students Say section.
Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.