duration

The Programme may be taken full time over one year, part time over two years, or over a maximum of four years by arrangement.

Culture, Policy and Management MA

Course overview

"I feel this course has been an ideal starting point for my future career." Current CPM student Phoebe Kallin writes in Arts Industry

 

This programme has been designed in consultation with cultural policy makers and sector employers to develop the skills and knowledge you need to start of further a career in the visual arts, perfomance arts or museums and heritage. It aims to develop your critical understanding of the creative and cultural industries and enhance your skills to become a key player in the sector.

 

The modules are intensive and look at the specific topics relating to policy and management across the cultural sector. The course structure allows you to focus on your own area of interest in your course work and research, such as visual arts, performance arts or heritage.

Choose between three modes of study

In the first term of the course, you will develop an individual pathway plan within one of three modes of study.  The three modes are:

  • Taught Mode
    This consists of two core modules, six elective modules and a 10,000- word dissertation.
  • Professional Placement Mode
    Two core modules and three elective modules are followed by a placement within a cultural institution, organised with the support of tutors. The MA is completed by a 10,000-word dissertation.
  • Research Mode
    Students complete two core modules, two elective modules and a further taught module on research practice, before conducting a 20,000-word research project in an area of study of particular importance to their career.

Create your own pathway plan

The MA Culture, Policy and Management pathways programme allows you to negotiate a course of study with tutors to support your own specific career aspirations.  Click here to see full details of pathway options and potential scenarios. 

Engage with opinion leaders in the fast-changing cultural sector

Our tutors have many years of experience in the sector and retain close links with leading institutions  [more]  

Study to suit your own needs

Take the course full-time, part-time, or as individual modules.
Limited places on individual modules are available to candidates currently working in the sector.

Course content

All MA students are expected to complete two core modules, a number of elective modules and a dissertation.

Core modules

Elective Modules

Dissertation

Please refer to the pathways diagram for an illustration of how these modules fit within each pathway.

 

Study abroad

Students on all pathways who are nationals of a European Economic Area member state or associated country can choose to spend three months of the course studying culture, policy and management at one of our partner universities:

  • Arhus University, Arhus, Denmark
  • Estonian Academy of Music, Tallin, Estonia
  • Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Finland
  • Hochschule fur Musik, Hamburg, Germany
  • Groningen University, Netherlands
  • University of Barcelona, Spain

This is a wonderful opportunity to experience and compare the cultural life and culture, policy and management issues of a second country, enabling you to establish European links that can offer you social and professional advantages in future years. All the students who have taken part in this scheme have reported on the value of the experience. They have made friends, have studied a different subject or the same subject form a different perspective, or have undertaken research for their course work at City. Above all, they have gained an alternative perspective, an enlarged set of contacts and a better knowledge of working across borders and boundaries. Many eventually work with funding agencies, with international agencies, with the British Council or with arts organisations that want to develop international links.

 

Funds from the European Union's SOCRATES scheme are available to assist with the additional costs of study in another country, and City University's Centre for Language Studies provides short courses in some European languages to help prepare you for your time away.

 

If you would like to spend your three months studying in a different country or at a different institution to those listed above, we have an extensive network of partners in countries as diverse as the US and Canada, the Czech Republic, Italy, Poland and western Russia. These partners are outside the SOCRATES/ERASMUS scheme and are not part of a funded programme, but provide the opportunity for you to experience exactly the country or course of your choice.

Teaching and assessment

In the first term of the course, you will develop an individual pathway plan within one of three modes of study.  The three modes are:

  • Taught Mode
    This consists of two core modules, six elective modules and a 10,000- word dissertation.
  • Professional Placement Mode
    Two core modules and three elective modules are followed by a placement within a cultural institution, organised with the support of tutors. The MA is completed by a 10,000-word dissertation.
  • Research Mode
    Students complete two core modules, two elective modules and a further taught module on research practice, before conducting a 20,000-word research project in an area of study of particular importance to their career.

Industry involvement

The curriculum is supported by an advisory group that includes senior figures from Arts Council England, the Barbican, the Independent Theatre Council, the Museums Association, Shakespeare’s Globe and the V&A. Our tutors have many years of experience in the sector, and our eminent professorial and professional associates give participants access to the latest ideas and developments:

  • Patrick Boylan specialises in international cultural policy, management and legal issues
  • Robert Hewison is a writer, curator and cultural consultant
  • John Holden is Head of Culture at the think tank, Demos
  • Kate Oakley is a policy analyst and commentator whose main focus is on the creative economy
  • David Powell is a consultant on cultural regeneration and cultural economics
  • Ziauddin Sardar is one of the world's foremost Muslim intellectuals and author of over 40 books.

Employment

The placement pathway includes a work placement module which gives participants the opportunity to work alongside professionals in the cultural sector in order to practice competences acquired earlier in the programme. This module comprises two parts: part one is the preparation for the placement; part two is the placement itself.

 

With guidance from the module leader, each participant draws up an individual plan for the placement based on their own investigations and consideration of the placement offers made by cultural organisations. This assists participants to find an appropriate host organisation which fulfils their aims and objectives.

 
For their placement, each participant carries out a programme of work, or a project, supervised by a host at the organisation. During the placement participants are visited by the module leader. By participating in the working life of an organisation, participants are expected to develop their own areas of interest, try out new skills and learn the value of effective networking. The placement lasts for 10 weeks, between April and June.
The majority of work placements are based in London and embrace all cultural forms. These may range from large national organisations such as English National Opera and the Barbican Centre, to smaller ones such as Shakespeare's Globe, The Tricycle Theatre and the Wigmore Hall. Other types of cultural organisation, including funding and advocacy bodies, are also used when this is appropriate for the participant.

Indicative content

Four months prior to the work placement, participants undertake a number of activities to prepare them for the placement. These include:

  • drawing up an individual plan for the placement based on their own investigations
  • considering the placement offers made by cultural organisations to the Department
    placement preparation, including aspects of financial management, plus individual tutorials.

The placement itself will be subject to an interim monitoring meeting at the University as well as a final feedback session.

 

How to apply

Entry requirements

We welcome a wide range of applicants including recent graduates as well as those with several years’ experience of working in the sector or beyond.


Participants are expected to have at least a good second class honours degree or equivalent. Many will have experience of subsequent professional practice.


Special consideration is given to applications from mature students without the required formal qualification.


All courses require a high level of academic work. Good spoken and written English is essential, and an overall IELTS test score of 6.5 is required – with minimum individual scores of 6.5 in listening, 6.5 in reading, 7.0 in writing, and 6.5 in speaking. 

How to apply

See detailed application instructions for applying to the Culture Policy and Management MA

Fees & bursaries

EU and International Students – an opportunity to take advantage of favourable exchange rates

The exchange rate between sterling and other currencies has moved several times over the past year.  At the moment, it is cheaper to buy sterling than it has been for some time.  If you wish to take advantage of the current exchange rate and not risk the rate moving against you later in the year, then you may pay your fees early, provided you are in receipt of an unconditional offer from the University. 

Please note, that once you have paid your fees, we may not be able to refund these if you subsequently do not start your course at City University London, nor can you take advantage of more favourable exchange rates, should those occur later in the year.

Fees 2010/11
  • Full-time UK/EU: £5,100
  • Part-time UK/EU: £2,500 (first year fee)
  • Full-time, non-UK/EU: £11,300
Funding and information sources

For more information about funding your MA Culture, Policy and Management, click here.  

 

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