Study options
- Starting in
- September 2025
- Location
- Mile End
- Fees
- Home: £12,850
Overseas: £25,500
EU/EEA/Swiss students
What you'll study
This programme critically explores how the study of creative industries and the cultural sector is linked to business and society, and applied in organisational practice, using real case studies from around the world.
Building on a network of practitioners, creatives, organisers and strategic collaborators, the course offers a complex view of the often precarious forms of work and organisation that have emerged in the creative sectors, and their relation to social justice and economic and political equality.
You will have the opportunity to delve into subjects at the heart of the creative industries, including:
- The administration of art and culture in the Global North and Global South.
- Equality and diversity.
- Ethical marketing.
- Management and organisational studies.
- Fundraising and finance.
You will research the practices of partner organisations through open discussions, debates and guest lectures from artists, creatives, arts administrators and cultural organisers.
You will gain skills in collaborative and participatory action research, ethical human resource management and sustainable partnership development.
Modules are taught in collaboration with the Schools of English and Drama, Law, Geography, and Languages, Linguistics and Film, with carefully selected modules from these schools available as optional modules, alongside a range of optional business modules.
Structure
- Three compulsory modules.
- Compulsory 10,000-word dissertation.
- Four optional modules.
- Leadership seminar module (not assessed).
Compulsory/Core modules
This module consists of professional development seminars within the theme of creative industries and cultural sector leadership. The seminars, delivered by diverse professionals and practitioners from these sectors, will provide students with professional skills and networking opportunities within different industries and will inspire new thinking and develop practical behaviour changes. The seminar series is also designed to bring together students on the CIAO and Heritage Management MAs, and to encourage both cohorts to cross-fertilise knowledge and understanding of sector leadership.
This module focuses on the relevant methods of analysis and applied research into the organisation history of the creative industries. What are the interdisciplinary methods that generate innovation and leadership in the creative industries and arts and cultural sector, and which methods are more or less appropriate for engaging these different sectors of society? This module will provide students key methodological knowledge to be able to engage critically with creative industries practice and organisation, and prepares students to undertake dissertation and practice-based projects in the third semester.
This module explores the foundational concepts and theories of the creative industries. This module provides students with the relevant theories, conceptual tools and factual information necessary to gain an understanding of, and be able to engage critically with, the realities of managing, working and progressing within the cultural and creative industries.
The dissertation requires a demonstration of ability to carry out an original investigation into an area of interest. The process should reflect skills of formulating research questions, synthesising and analysing data, drawing insights and conclusions, and written communication.
Compulsory/Core Elective modules
Documentary in its simplest of forms is a recording of an act. The film camera is first and foremost a recording instrument, whether it captures 'life caught unawares' or a fictional scenario. This module examines the history of 'non-fiction' filmmaking in the 20th and 21 st century through the understanding of documentary styles and genre. Political, social, ethical and historical issues will be addressed through the engagement of theory and practice.
This module examines films that can be considered activist - a body of work that engages issues of social and political significance. These varied films are driven by the activism of their filmmakers, their protagonists and through the films' direct participation in activism. Using artistic, ideological, socio-cultural, historical, technological, and practical frameworks to examine activist filmmaking this course will explore how the cinema and activism interact. This is a theory/practice module and will include the production of a short film.
Elective modules
This module will provide an in-depth understanding of the broad range of theory, research, and practice in organisational behaviour for the adoption of appropriate policies and leadership styles. This will include understanding individual differences, motivational factors, and group dynamics which can mediate the functioning of an organisation. The module will analyse a range of case studies to illuminate the different work patterns, practices and behaviours both at individual, group and organisational levels.
This module introduces concepts, theories and practices that are shaping our thinking about creating and scaling new ventures in a fast-moving environment with great uncertainty. It addresses strategic (e.g. how to design a business model and entrepreneurial strategy) and practical issues (how to write a business plan and make a pitch to win funding). Students will not only be introduced to the principles of business model design, but also how to deal with uncertainty in the entrepreneurial process.
This module integrates the theory and practice of innovation and entrepreneurship. The module draws together the learning from several functional areas that students will have already covered in the past - marketing, strategy, finance, law etc. - and place these within the larger context of innovation and entrepreneurship. While we will discuss many tools, models, and frameworks that can assist innovation and entrepreneurship processes, a core focus within the course is to critically analyse and apply these ideas.
The module will focus on project management techniques, methodologies, theories appropriate to projects that deliver complex outcomes in a context of high uncertainty on the desired result. The module will also provide team and teaming management principles and practices needed to obtain the desired project management results within time, budget and quality. Students will be encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to earn an accreditation for project management and the course will prepare students for this additional examination.
This module will investigate leadership in the social and public sectors from theoretical and practical perspectives. The module explores established and new paradigms of leadership at all levels in social and public organisations, characterised by their tendency to operate in politically- and/or resource-constrained environments. Students will reflect critically on relevant research, and apply their insights to real social and/or public organisational cases. The process of understanding and challenging leadership practises will also contribute to students' employability and personal development.
This module focuses on the theory and practise of funding and financing in the creative and cultural sector ( including the heritage sector). The module will give students a grounding in the landscape of funding and financing streams as well as technical aspects of understanding the organisational and legal frameworks that exist in the creative and cultural sector.
Explores the multiple organisational forms in the creative and cultural industries to give students critical and practical tools to organise in the creative economies. Rooted in the ethical mission of the School of Business and Management, the organising methods and organisational forms and behaviours common and emergent in the creative industries and cultural sector will be explored through an interdisciplinary understanding of creative ecologies and their political and economic networks.
This module examines the relationship between the cultural and creative industries and the environment from a range of perspectives and in a number of contexts. It addresses the environmental impacts of cultural production, as well as the opportunities for more socially just and environmentally sustainable arts and cultural ecologies.
This module examines key theoretical texts and ideas that have shaped our contemporary understanding of performance, theatre and culture. It offers a distinctive, performance-oriented route into looking at work of wider social, philosophical, and political importance. It aims to provide you with a diverse range of theoretical and historical starting points from which to consider the study of theatre and performance, and introduce you to a variety of performance texts and practices that these ideas can be applied to.
This is not an exhaustive list of elective modules. The Creative Industries and Arts Organisation MA offers over 30 elective modules from departments across the University, including Law, Drama, English, Film and Geography. For a full list of elective modules, please email sbm-postgraduate@qmul.ac.uk.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Assessment
Group work and its methodology is central to the student learning experience on this programme. Summative assessment uses various methods, ranging from conventional academic coursework, through to shorter specific exercises and analyses of case studies. Formative assessment takes place using class presentations, industrial interactions, peer to peer debates, short written exercises and group work.
Dissertation
Examples of past projects include:
- Analysis of the successful spread of Korean TV dramas in China.
- How to run a sustainable, small, community music festival: a case study of Leicester’s MusicFest.
- Creative industries, a sustainable alternative for the economic and social development of Colombia.
- Communicating with the creative and cultural industries: a case study of Arts Council England’s communications teams.
- Self-identification and fandom: idol culture as platform and process of consumption in South Korea.
—"Being part of the Creative Industries and Arts organisation programme at Queen Mary has been more than an inspiration. The course provides excellent, professional and human education, that opens up knowledge about an industry that will be crucial to me in the future."
Lisa Kida, Creative Industries and Arts Organisation MA, 2020
Teaching
This programme draws on the experience of an advisory panel of creatives, researchers, and organisational innovators. Staff contributing to this programme bring a wide range of experience, and have previously worked as creative and cultural organisers, as well as consultants to government agencies.
You will gain invaluable insight from guest speakers, get hands-on experience through substantive interactions with partner organisations, and develop communication skills through practically-oriented seminars, presentations and lively group discussions.
You will take an active role in your own learning by reading designated material, producing written assignments and completing projects.
We invest in both your educational and personal development, and you will be assigned an Academic Advisor to support you throughout your time at Queen Mary.
Where you'll learn
Facilities
- ThinkPod interactive collaboration space with presentation, recording and video conferencing facilities.
- Access to the Graduate Centre, offering purpose-built study spaces and a postgraduate rooftop common room.
- 24-hour library on campus.
Campus
The university’s location is in very close proximity to some of the most creative and culturally innovative neighbourhoods in the world. These include Hackney Wick, Hackney Central, Bethnal Green, Dalston, Hoxton and Shoreditch. These neighbourhoods represent important clusters of creative and cultural activity, and are a testament to the vibrancy of the East End.
Queen Mary is proud to be part of this mosaic of arts activity in London, by having close links to local creative enterprises, and third sector and arts organisations.
About the School
School of Business and Management
The School of Business and Management has a reputation as a socially engaged management school, with an innovative, multidisciplinary, mindful and responsible approach. We invite our students to ask incisive questions, to challenge their assumptions, and to search for solutions to real-world challenges.
We ensure students experience innovative and engaging educational pathways, alongside supportive staff and excellent research facilities.
The School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), which ensures that the highest standards of excellence in teaching, research, curriculum, and learner success are met.
In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), the School of Business and Management dramatically moved up the Times Higher Education rankings. Among 108 UK business schools, the School now ranks:
- 22nd for overall research quality (up from 39th in REF2014)
- 28th for research outputs (up from 34th)
- 12th for research impact (up from 24th)
- 21st for research environment (up from 59th)
Queen Mary is also part of the Russell Group - a body of leading UK universities dedicated to research and teaching excellence.
Career paths
This programme is ideal for students wishing to enter or further their careers in frontline arts and cultural provision, or creative industry policy settings.
Graduates of this programme have gone on to work at galleries, media production companies and in creative and non-creative roles in a wide range of businesses.
Fees and funding
Full-time study
September 2025 | 1 year
- Home: £12,850
- Overseas: £25,500
EU/EEA/Swiss students
Conditional deposit
Home: Not applicable
Overseas: £2000
Information about deposits
Queen Mary alumni can get a £1000, 10% or 20% discount on their fees depending on the programme of study. Find out more about the Alumni Loyalty Award
Funding
There are a number of ways you can fund your postgraduate degree.
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Postgraduate loans (UK students)
- Country-specific scholarships for international students
Our Advice and Counselling service offers specialist support on financial issues, which you can access as soon as you apply for a place at Queen Mary. Before you apply, you can access our funding guides and advice on managing your money:
Entry requirements
UK
Degree requirements
A 2:1 or above at undergraduate level in any subject.
Other routes
Candidates that do not currently meet the set entry requirements may also have the option to study the Graduate Diploma in Humanities and Social Sciences. Meeting the required grades on completion of this programme will provide a pathway to study MA Creative Industries and Arts Organisation.
Find out more about how to apply for our postgraduate taught courses.
International
English language requirements
The English language requirements for our programmes are indicated by English bands, and therefore the specific test and score acceptable is based on the band assigned to the academic department within which your chosen course of study is administered. Note that for some academic departments there are programmes with non-standard English language requirements.
The English Language requirements for entry to postgraduate taught in the School of Business and Management falls within the following English band:
Band 4: IELTS (Academic) minimum score 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking
We accept a range of English tests and qualifications categorised in our English bands for you to demonstrate your level of English Language proficiency. See all accepted English tests that we deem equivalent to these IELTS scores.
Visas and immigration
Find out how to apply for a student visa.