The Centre for Cultural Policy Studies provides a focus for teaching and research in the fields of cultural management, cultural policy and the creative industries. The Centre’s distinctive approach is based on a critical engagement with both the practical realities of working in the cultural sector and with the ideological and conceptual questions which lie behind them. The Centre therefore offers opportunities for postgraduate students and researchers to develop practical insights and methods whilst also reflecting on the wider implications of their work in a stimulating intellectual environment.
The Centre is run by a small multi-disciplinary team of academic staff. They are supported by a wide range of practitioners and visiting experts who contribute to teaching or advise on research issues. As well as offering taught postgraduate courses and research degrees, the Centre is at the forefront of research in its field. The Centre emphasises interactive student learning, small class sizes and direct contact between students and staff.
Research Areas
Cultural Policy Studies
Research includes: Impact studies; implicit cultural policies; comparative cultural policy studies; media policy; cultural regeneration; museum studies; urban cultural policies; public art; cultural consumption; participatory arts; visual communication.
Creative Industries
This research area looks at: Creative industries policies; sector specific studies (e.g. design, games, music, film); social networks and creativity; the global media industry; value chain of the creative industries; brand strategy; advertising and society; design and contemporary art; cultural entrepreneurship.
Organisational Creativity
This area is concerned with the management of creativity, creativity of management; avant-garde organisations and organisational aesthetics; theories of creativity in management and strategy; creative process.
Research Degrees
Master/Doctor of Philosophy (MPhil/PhD)
Cultural Policy Studies/Creative Industries
Standard Duration: 3 years full time, 5 years part-time
Cultural policy is an interdisciplinary field characterised by a diversity of subjects and research methods. As a research student at the Centre you will be expected to make an original contribution to the field by critically reviewing existing knowledge and by challenging current assumptions (including your own). Your research should be a personal journey which engages with issues and ideas you feel are significant and which are challenging and relevant to those working in the cultural sector. As part of your programme of study, you may wish to participate in taught modules on the Centre’s three MA programmes.
Taught Master’s Degrees
MA in Creative and Media Enterprises
Standard Duration: 50 weeks full-time, 102 weeks part-time
Places available: approximately 25
The MA in Creative and Media Enterprises focuses on the special relationship between creative imagination and strategic management. The course is designed to cut across different industries and contexts and will provide both a broad overview of the creative and media industries and a survival kit for the small creative firm.
Whether you are planning a career in the cultural industries or the traditional arts and crafts, whether you are a budding entrepreneur or an experienced professional, the course will help you to move between different careers and industries. You will develop a flexible and wide-ranging set of strategies and ideas. You will explore the international context of the creative and media industries, as well as the practical challenges facing small creative firms in Britain and Europe.
The programme treats theoretical analysis as an integral part of practical tasks. You will have an opportunity to reflect on the ideas and ideals which lie behind your work. You will also meet practitioners and experts who will provide you with practical examples and advice for running a successful enterprise.
MA in Global Media and Communication
Standard Duration: 50 weeks full-time, 102 weeks part-time
Places available: approximately 25
The ways in which media is produced and consumed across the globe are rapidly changing; as industry seeks to manage the challenges of a globalised and knowledge-driven economy, we are increasingly engaging with media in all aspects of our lives. But media also concerns power and politics as well as products. This course will deepen your understanding of these complex dynamics and practices and prepare you for a career in a fast-changing industry.
You will explore the powerful, and often hidden, role of ideas, beliefs and values in media production and consumption. By engaging with theory and research you will develop your understanding of the ways in which they can inform new kinds of professional practice and anticipate future developments. You will also meet industry professionals who will provide tasks and examples to enhance your practical knowledge.
The course is aimed at students seeking managerial careers in advertising and branding, marketing, design communication, PR, digital media, content design and production, publishing (print and digital) and research.
MA in International Cultural Policy and Management
Duration: 50 weeks full-time, 102 weeks part-time
Places available: approximately 25
The MA in International Cultural Policy and Management is an established, and internationally recognised, programme of excellence. It will develop your understanding of the landscape of culture and politics and it will prepare you for a career in cultural policy and management. Culture is rapidly becoming a key term in a range of policy-contexts. Similarly the concept of ‘culturally led policy’ is acquiring an ever increasing position in both the public, private and non-governmental sectors. As a result of this, a range of new career opportunities have arisen in the cultural and creative sectors and this programme is designed to help students who are eager to capitalise on these opportunities. Graduates from this course have developed careers in a range of different sectors, working as managers in the creative industries and the wider cultural sector, policy-makers in both non-governmental and governmental organisations, and arts and cultural planning consultants. Others have undertaken further research and pursued academic careers.
