This course invites you to engage with the growing importance of culture, and of policymaking in the field of culture, in a range of contexts worldwide. You will engage with the practical realities of cultural and managerial practice and critically reflect on the real world examples you encounter. You will examine what culture is and how it can be and is used by national, intranational, and local governments to benefit states and support and regulate the arts, as well as to express power and control. Investigating current issues, themes and developments such as cultural diplomacy and cultural democracy will expand your knowledge but also improve your ability to research. Your practical skills and theoretical knowledge in the realm of culture, policy, and management will enhance your CV, and you will be able to apply them in a multitude of workplace contexts in the cultural sector, in government, or as a freelancer. On completion you will be ready for the world of work, research, or higher study.

Core Modules

• Major Project
• Cultural Theory
• International Cultural Policy
• Research Design

Optional Modules

You will also complete three optional modules from a list available to all taught Master's students within the Centre.

Previously, these modules have included:

• Developing Audiences for Cultural Organisations
• Managing Cultural Organisations
• Marketing and Markets

As one of your three options, you may also choose the bespoke applied management module for this MA: Placement and Case Study. This module gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in practice- or industry-related contexts.

Teaching
Learning alongside others from different cultures and with experience of different cultural sectors, you will study the principles of cultural policy in theory and in practice. This will be illustrated with examples from all around the world, through reading materials, case studies, and your own chosen focus on sector, artform, and country. You are able to select from a whole suite of optional modules, and work alongside students from all of our courses, to specialise in the topics that suit your interests and aspirations. You can hone these towards the world of work, and if you choose, can practice your management skills and sharpen your knowledge on a placement with a cultural organisation. All of this can be synthesised in a research project of your choice.

Contact Hours
Typical contact hours range between 6 to 10 hours each week for core teaching – this excludes additional tutorials, workshops, and research seminars.

Class Sizes
There are between 20 to 25 students on each of the four taught Masters courses.

Assessment

• All coursework
• Written assignments come in a variety of forms: essays, case studies, evaluations, reports, proposals, portfolios and business plans
• Group presentations and tasks, team building exercises, and creative and practical projects
• A major project (written dissertation of 12,000 words) on a research topic of your choice

Minimum requirements 2:i undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject

English language requirements Band B
IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above

International Students
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications. For more information please visit the international entry requirements page.

For up-to-date information concerning fees, funding and scholarships for Home, EU and Overseas students please visit Warwick's Fees and Funding webpage.

Additional course cost

For all MA courses, the cost of field trips or off-campus assignments are estimated to cost between £100-£200, although this will depend on which option module has been chosen or the nature of a project or placement undertaken for an applied management module.

Graduates from these courses have gone on to work in television, film, communications, data analysis, theatre, museums, art galleries, events, festivals, UN agencies, NGOs, charities, arts and educational organisations, research, PR, publishing and have even set up their own businesses. They have gone on to work for employers including: Acacia Avenue, Barclaycard, BBC, British Embassy, Bankside Films, The Economist, EMEA, Facebook, Fox Networks Group, Global Influencer, ‘Squared’ at Google, The Academy of Urbanism, OVO, Penguin Random House and Sky.

Our School has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

• Discovering Careers in the Creative Industries
• Careers in Radio Film and Television
• Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
• A history and DIY Guide to setting up and running a Theatre Company

There are a number of different ways to visit the University of Warwick throughout the year. We host bespoke PG visits, where you can talk directly with your chosen department and explore our campus through a personalised tour. Some departments also host their own events and open days, where you can learn more about your department or course of study. To find out more about all of these opportunities, visit our Postgraduate Visits page.