Course information

Entry requirements

UCAS code

N2V3

Entry requirements

A-level: BBB
BTEC: DDM
IB: 33 points overall with Three HL subjects at 655

Length

3 years full-time

Course overview

This programme will equip you for working life in the arts and cultural industries, with a specific focus on working in and managing the arts.

Why study BA Arts Management at Goldsmiths

  • Culture and the arts are vital to the global economy. You'll develop a powerful combination of theoretical insights and professional practice skills to help you navigate these important and expanding sectors.

  • You’ll learn how to understand arts and creative organisations, from small community endeavours through to world renowned flagship organisations. This will prepare you for a career in this fascinating subject, in settings such as museums, galleries, theatres, dance and live music venues, festivals, and cultural centres.

  • The programme includes talks from experts and visits to cultural organisations, so you’ll gain direct experience of professional practice. You may also benefit from a work placement as part of your studies in, for example, an audience development, fundraising or event management context. 

  • We're based in London - a global leader in the arts and one of the most important cultural centres in the world. London is the perfect place to study this subject, giving you unrivalled access to a diverse range of arts organisations. The city will become your classroom.

  • You can tailor the degree to your unique interests, through independent work in your final year.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact the Institute for Creative & Cultural Entrepreneurship.

What you'll study

Overview

You’ll learn fundamental arts management skills through a balanced foundation of academic and professional practice modules with examples drawn from across artistic disciplines.

In compulsory modules, you’ll cover key cultural policy concepts such as:

  • events management
  • funding systems and fundraising
  • audience development and audience evaluation
  • budget and planning
  • working in cultural organisations
  • cultural policy

Year 1

You study the following compulsory modules.

Module title Credits
Principles of Arts Management 15 credits
Digital Cultures, Digital Literacies 15 credits
Arts in London 15 credits
Identity, Agency & Environment 1 15 credits
Identity, Agency & Environment 2 15 credits
Fundraising in the Arts 15 Credits
Visual Culture 15 credits
Events Management 15 credits

Year 2

You study the following compulsory modules and 30 credits of option modules.

Module title Credits
The Audience in Theory and Practice 30 credits
Contemporary Arts and Cultural Theory 15 credits
Managing Arts Organisations and Cultural Businesses 15 credits
Professional Practice in Arts Organisations and Cultural Businesses 15 credits
Cultural Policy in the Arts 15 credits

Year 3

You complete a dissertation and undertake an independent Professional Practice Project. You also choose optional modules to the value of 30 credits.

Teaching style

This programme is taught through scheduled learning - a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops. This includes visits to London and regional cultural organisations.

You’ll also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study. This includes carrying out required and additional reading, preparing topics for discussion, producing essays or project work, and attending exhibitions, performances and events.

The following information gives an indication of the typical proportions of learning and teaching for each year of this programme*:

  • Year 1 - 18% scheduled learning, 82% independent learning
  • Year 2 - 13% scheduled learning, 87% independent learning
  • Year 3 - 14% scheduled learning, 86% independent learning

How you’ll be assessed

You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods, depending on your module choices. These include coursework, examinations, group work and projects.

The following information gives an indication of how you can typically expect to be assessed on each year of this programme*:

  • Year 1 - 97% coursework, 3% practical
  • Year 2 - 88% coursework, 13% practical
  • Year 3 - 100% coursework

*Please note that these are averages are based on enrolments for 2022/23. Each student’s time in teaching, learning and assessment activities will differ based on individual module choices. Find out more about how this information is calculated.

Credits and levels of learning

An undergraduate honours degree is made up of 360 credits – 120 at Level 4, 120 at Level 5 and 120 at Level 6. If you are a full-time student, you will usually take Level 4 modules in the first year, Level 5 in the second, and Level 6 modules in your final year. A standard module is worth 30 credits. Some programmes also contain 15-credit half modules or can be made up of higher-value parts, such as a dissertation or a Major Project.

Download the programme specification.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

Between 2020 and 2022 we needed to make some changes to how programmes were delivered due to Covid-19 restrictions. For more information about past programme changes please visit our programme changes information page.

What our students say

Angus Bamford

The diversity of the course allowed me to transition my practice from being not just an artistic practitioner but to a sociologist, urbanist and designer.

As a contemporary dancer, I was disillusioned with the ways in which artists were treated as they became professionals. Due to this disillusionment, I was thrilled to find the BA Arts Management course at Goldsmiths. I wanted to learn how to maybe create my own dance company or support the transformation of arts policy and industry norms so that artists could be treated fairly in their professional endeavours.

In my first two years of the course, I learned a variety of skills from events management, audience development and fundraising to art history, visual culture and economics. This array of learning opportunities and directions enabled me to craft my educational journey and become inspired to seek new endeavours. From amazing lectures and seminars in my first and second years, I become enthused to shift my practice in the third year from arts management as ‘the management of the arts’ to be rather about ‘the arts for management’. I was supported in this journey by the lecturers and staff, who were able to support me in finding placements at the National Trust and Goodsted (who I now work with).

The course helped me have a deeper understanding of what the arts are and where they can be applied. The diversity of the course allowed me to transition my practice from being not just an artistic practitioner but to a sociologist, urbanist and designer. The course was the foundation of my multi-disciplinary perspective of arts management and creative leadership, helping me progress onto a master's programme and find meaningful work in the arts and creative industries.

Having graduated, I now work within the tech startup ecosystem with Goodsted, a SaaS (software as a service) social enterprise, that supports changemakers and empowers others to take action progressing the  human and environmental causes that matter to them. 

While working I progressed onto a Masters degree in Service Design at the Royal College of Art. Service design is about being human-centred, using design methods and systems thinking to create actions that tackle challenges – whether it be for people, the planet, or profit. I bring my knowledge and experiences from the arts management course into a lot of what I do, and it has truly been a key component of my current and future professional practice.

Ania Wróblewska

The course has prepared me to work in a wide range of art forms and environments - from commercial galleries to free local festivals - which has definitely helped me while looking and applying for jobs.

When I first read what BA Arts Management was on the website, I could not believe such a course existed. A combination of arts and entrepreneurship and all of it is based in London! So, I decided to give it a go. As a BA Arts Management graduate, I can say, it was even better in the real life. Studying at Goldsmiths was a joy and a constant inspiration.

The course is created by the most supportive team of lecturers and arts managers who really prepared me for what was to come after graduation. BA Arts Management at Goldsmiths is a unique combination of arts, entrepreneurship and inspiration to challenge the status quo.

During the course, the staff made sure students were informed about art-related voluntary and paid opportunities – a perfect way to gain out-of-university experience.

In my second year, I was successful in securing a voluntary position at a local theatre, after following up on a university announcement. Shortly after I was offered a paid job, and I have stayed with the company till today, developing a passion for arts education.

The course has prepared me to work in a wide range of art forms and environments - from commercial galleries to free local festivals - which has definitely helped me while looking and applying for jobs.

The interdisciplinary experience gained while at Goldsmiths and my part-time job at the theatre helped me secure a permanent position as Community Music & Instrument Administrator at Lewisham Music. I help deliver a music education programme for young people across the Lewisham Borough.

 

Valerie Ee Zi Yun

What I felt was the most beneficial about the course in BA Arts Management was their holistic approach in facilitating both theoretical and practical learnings about the creative and cultural sector

When I had chosen to pursue my studies in BA Arts Management at Goldsmiths, what I wanted to gain was a better understanding of the inner workings of the art industry from an international perspective. Looking back, I believe that this degree had fulfilled those intentions.

What I felt was the most beneficial about the course in BA Arts Management was their holistic approach in facilitating both theoretical and practical learnings about the creative and cultural sector. In particular, I really enjoyed being able to explore different practices within the arts, and having the flexibility to cater to my specific areas of interests. 

Despite the gloomy outlook of graduating during a pandemic in 2020, I was offered the opportunity to work for the National Arts Council in Singapore within the department of Sector Development (Visual Arts) shortly after I completed my studies. The role deals a lot with cultural policy, grants and programme development - areas in which were covered within the BA Arts Management course and definitely made me feel more prepared for the role. 

I can confidently say that my time with the University has been worthwhile and that I am truly grateful for the inspiring friends and lecturers that I have encountered along the way.

See more profiles for this programme

Entry requirements

We accept the following qualifications:

A-level: BBB
BTEC: DDM
International Baccalaureate: 33 points overall with Three HL subjects at 655
Access: Pass with 45 Level 3 credits including 30 Distinctions and a number of merits/passes in subject-specific modules
Scottish qualifications: BBBBC (Higher) or BBC (Advanced Higher)
European Baccalaureate: 75%
Irish Leaving Certificate: H2 H2 H2 H2

International qualifications

We also 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 6.0 with a 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for degree-level study.

Fees & funding

Annual tuition fees

These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2023/2024 academic year.

From August 2021 EU/EEA/Swiss nationals will no longer be eligible for 'Home' fee status. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals will be classified as 'International' for fee purposes, more information can be found on our fees page.

  • Home - full-time: £9250
  • International - full-time: £18440

If your fees are not listed here, please check our undergraduate 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 under a student visa. 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

We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries, and our careers service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies. Find out more about funding your studies with us.

Careers

Skills

You'll develop knowledge and skills in key concepts such as:

  • Events Management
  • Funding Systems and Fundraising
  • Audience Development and Audience Evaluation
  • Budget and Planning
  • Working in Cultural Organisations
  • Cultural Policy

With the wide range of skills you’ll develop, you’ll graduate understanding not only the practice within your chosen field, but also how it relates to the theory you’ve learned.

Careers

Our students are currently working at diverse organisations such as Victoria and Albert Museum, Design Museum, and London Short Film Festival, and many more.

Careers in arts management including fundraising, press and communications, arts education, events management, business planning, and producing roles in all areas of the arts.

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths

Student work