Triangle

Course overview

This course brings together the latest industry research of the Department of Cultural, Media and Visual Studies with the entrepreneurial knowledge of the Nottingham University Business School.

Cultural industry insight

You'll get a thorough grounding in how the cultural industries are structured, organised, and operate. You'll also look at the policy framework they operate in and the unique professional roles and practices they've developed.

Business development skills

On the business side, you'll study entrepreneurial creativity, how to launch new ventures and lead entrepreneurial growth.

Through this distinctive combination, you'll come to appreciate the relationship between fundamental research and its practical application.

By the end of the course, you'll be:

  • fluent in the financial, marketing, and managerial aspects of the cultural industries
  • ready to make a significant contribution to the cultural and creative sector of the economy

Your departments

"Combine critical understanding of the cultural industries with the development of key business skills. It's ideal if you want to develop entrepreneurial opportunities and businesses in the international cultural and creative industries."

Associate Professor Jack Newsinger course convener

Why choose this course?

Develop enterprises

Explore models for the development of cultural and creative enterprises

Sector knowledge

Make a significant contribution to the cultural and creative sector

Research in practice

Appreciate the interrelationship between fundamental research and its practical application

Essential skills

Become fluent in the financial, marketing and managerial aspects of the cultural industries.

Course content

The programme is studied full-time over one academic year, or part-time over two.

Modules

Cultural Policy

By engaging with cutting-edge research, primary sources of evidence and contemporary examples, you will:

  • reflect on the relationship between theory and practice
  • apply theories and analytical frameworks to specific case studies and projects

You'll develop theoretical and analytical tools, drawing on the diverse disciplines of Cultural Studies, Sociology of Culture and Public Policy. You'll then apply these tools to critically address questions relating to key cultural policy issues and current cultural policy debates.

Key issues might include:

  • rationales for government intervention in the cultural sphere
  • objectives and instruments of cultural policy-making
  • ownership, access, and participation
  • criteria for decision-making
  • scope of cultural policy-making
  • methods and sources available for mapping, studying and evaluating cultural policies

This module is worth 20 credits.

Entrepreneurial Creativity

This module will introduce you to the latest thinking in the areas of creativity, the creative process, knowledge management practices and the nature of entrepreneurship. Having established the vital link between creativity, entrepreneurship, innovation and value creation, this module uses directed reading, case study exercises, reflective blog writing and group-based creative problem solving to illustrate entrepreneurial creativity in practice.

You will be introduced to a variety of creative problem solving techniques and learn how to apply these techniques in the context of the development, evaluation, and application of ideas and concepts with commercial potential. The course culminates in you pitching your identified entrepreneurial opportunity to peers and real-world entrepreneurs.

Investigating Cultural Industries

Explore the specific characteristics of the cultural industries and the main dynamics which shape the operations of those industries. You will be introduced to key critical perspectives on the cultural industries:

  • the processes of cultural production
  • distinctions between cultural industries and 'creative industries'
  • the concept of 'cultural economy'
  • matters of industry structure and cultural markets
  • the specificities of cultural work and the challenges confronting employment in the cultural industries
  • the role and importance of intellectual property rights in the cultural industries
  • the impacts of digitalisation and globalisation.

 This module is worth 20 credits.

Launching New Ventures (autumn) 20 credits

This module will introduce you to the more practical elements of innovation and enterprise activity across multiple contexts, including not just new venture creation but corporate and social entrepreneurship as well.

Whereas Entrepreneurship and Creativity focuses on idea generation and entrepreneurial theory, Launching New Ventures will prepare you to recognise opportunities, and to implement innovation and enterprising ideas. The ability to make informed and timely decisions will be an important aspect of this, and the module will use a start-up business simulation to encourage this.

Managing Innovation in Entrepreneurial Organisations (spring) 20 credits

This module develops a knowledge and understanding of: 

  • the dynamics of the global economy and international business and/or an awareness of cultural, legal/regulatory, political, and economic differences across countries and/or an appreciation of management issues from a global perspective
  • business innovation - creativity, intrapreneurial - and entrepreneurial behaviour and enterprise development, and the management and exploitation of intellectual property
  • leadership and management of people within organisations - leadership, organisational behaviour and motivation
  • strategic management - the development and implementation of appropriate strategies within a changing environment
Media and Cultural Industries Practices

The media, cultural and creative industries are broad. There are different sectors with a wide variety of areas of practice. These provide many opportunities for future research and employment.

As well as opportunities this diversity also presents barriers that can be difficult to navigate:

  • lack of established entry routes and clear career paths
  • distinctive and specific labour processes
  • specific, complex, and dynamic sets of issues and challenges such as workforce diversity, inequality, precarity and internship culture, skills and education, digitisation, conglomeration, global integration, and platformification.

You'll investigate and analyse the contemporary media and cultural industries with a detailed investigation of specific sectors and areas of practice. Through these investigations, you'll develop knowledge and skills that enhance your employability and build a framework for future research.

This module is worth 20 credits.

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on Friday 07 June 2024.

Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.

Student must choose one from:

Cultural Industries and Entrepreneurship Research Project

You will:

  • examine a company, organization or charity operating in one of the cultural industries (profit or not-for-profit)
  • prepare a written report discussing how they could develop new business opportunities and/or solve a specific problem they face

The final report will allow you to apply your knowledge and understanding of the cultural industries and businesses developed from the theoretical modules.

You'll be supported by detailed supervision from one of our experienced staff but expected to manage all stages of the project yourself.

This module is worth 60 credits.

Dissertation

This module consists of the selection, research and writing up of a topic in the field of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies, chosen after consultation with the Course Director and other appropriate staff members.

This module is worth 60 credits.

 

The Cultural, Media and Visual Studies Dissertation can only be chosen instead of the Research project in agreement with the Programme Leader.

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on Friday 07 June 2024.

Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops
  • eLearning

Teaching and learning will be both in-person and online.

In-person teaching will be mainly:

  • lectures - provide an overview of an issue, using audio and visual materials.
  • seminars - your opportunity to discuss and delve deeper into course topics
  • tutorials - individually and in small groups to look at particular issues and your current work

Online learning will be in Moodle, the university's 24/7 virtual learning environment. It holds materials such as additional reading, lecture recordings, seminar tasks, online quizzes to assess learning and discussion forums.

How you will be assessed

  • Dissertation
  • Presentations
  • Coursework
  • Essay

Most modules are assessed through extended essays. You may also be involved in presentations, videos, short answer questions or research proposals.

Contact time and study hours

The nature of an advanced course is that you take greater responsibility for your learning than at undergraduate level. As well as scheduled teaching you’ll carry out extensive self-study such as reading set academic texts, preparation for seminar tasks, and writing assessments.

A typical 20 credit module involves 2 to 3 hours of workshops, or lectures and/or seminars per week and a further 10 hours a week of self-study time.

Your lecturers will usually be permanent academic staff from the School of Cultural, Media and Visual Studies and the Business School. Other teaching staff may be involved when needed.

Class sizes vary depending on topic and type but workshops and seminars are typically between 10 and 20 students. Lectures may be larger, but not usually more than 50 students.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Undergraduate degree2:1 (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject. We've had students with degree backgrounds in media, arts and culture, sociology, business and management. If you are unsure whether your degree is suitable please contact us.

Applying

If you have ant queries about what's involved in the course contact the course convener Associate Professor Jack Newsinger.

Our step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know about applying.

How to apply

Fees

Qualification MSc
Home / UK £9,250
International £24,300

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

There are no extra compulsory fees to be paid beyond your standard tuition fees.

You'll be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to buy your own copies of core texts. The Blackwell's bookshop on campus offers a year-round price match against any of the main retailers (i.e. Amazon, Waterstones, WH Smith). They also offer second-hand books, as students from previous years sell their copies back to the bookshop.

For voluntary placements you will need to pay your own travel and subsistence.

Funding

There are many ways to fund your postgraduate course, from scholarships to government loans.

We also offer a range of international masters scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Careers

We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.

Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or résumé, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Each year 1,100 employers advertise graduate jobs and internships through our online vacancy service. We host regular careers fairs, including specialist fairs for different sectors.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Graduate destinations

As you'd expect for such a diverse course people go on to work in a range of roles across the cultural industries and wider cultural economy, in the UK and internationally. Students also go onto further research.

Three arts masters students share what they got out of their advanced study.

Career progression

66.7% of postgraduates from The School of Cultural Media and Visual Studies secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation.*

*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology.

Hollywood Internships programme

This course is perfect for a career in the creative industries. At Nottingham, you can gain valuable experience through internships, placements, and work opportunities. No more so though than with our prestigious Hollywood Internships programme, unique to Nottingham. Previous internships have involved:

  • First-reading of incoming film and television scripts
  • Collecting audience data and preparing evaluation reports
  • Filming interviews with Hollywood veterans for the archive
  • Training, masterclasses, professional lectures and panels
  • Working front of house at special screenings and industry events

Indicative partner organisations include A24, CAA, Disney, Warner, Paramount, Sony, Lionsgate, UTA, and WME.

The partners, number and nature of the internships change each year, advertised in the Autumn term. These are highly competitive positions, and places are not guaranteed. Terms and conditions apply.

The internships are supported through the generosity of Peter Rice, Nottingham graduate and former Chair of Disney General Entertainment Content.

Two masters graduates proudly holding their certificates
" One of the benefits of taking a cross-disciplinary course is you get to meet and work with different people. This course is very international and I enjoyed working with people from different backgrounds. "
Velichka Krendova, MSc Cultural Industries and Entrepreneurship

Related courses

This content was last updated on Friday 07 June 2024. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur given the interval between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.