Creative and Cultural Industries

The highlights

For graduates seeking to enter the exciting and dynamic world of the creative and cultural industries, this postgraduate programme is designed to equip you with the skills required for a successful career in the twenty-first-century industry.

This unique programme brings together cross-disciplinary expertise and knowledge in creative thinking, business, art, heritage, media and journalism.

You will develop your knowledge and skills for leading the cultural and creative institutions of the future. This programme is offered on campus and makes excellent use of the Midlands as a cultural region where you will benefit from established relationships with organisations in cultural heritage, festivals and advertising.

Take advantage of the opportunity to work collaboratively with a creative sector partner on your final project. Working with industry will increase your knowledge of how organisations operate and the challenges they face and enhance your employability skills.

The programme also provides the foundation for you to develop a deeper academic engagement with creative and cultural industries which could lead to further study at MPhil or PhD level.

How you will be supported 

The Journalism team at the University of Derby has extensive links with media companies, individual journalists, and other industry organisations such as regulators and societies (including; Reach PLC, Derby Book Festival, Derby Museums, the Society of Editors and the British Society of Magazine Editors). In addition to this, the Creative Arts team have a plethora of contacts in terms of galleries and exhibition organisers.

The CivicLab, which is based at the University of Derby, also offers another opportunity to engage with organisations that work with the University. All of these contacts and partnerships provide the opportunity for you to collaborate with an external arts, media or heritage organisation such as the visual arts charity, Artcore, Derby Theatre or Derby Museums.

You'll be supported in the following ways:

• An approachable team who are committed to regular one-to-one tutorial support, whether relating to research supervision, academic performance, or future professional aspirations
• Our team have a keen focus on the ever-changing process and contexts of creative and cultural industries, ensuring you will graduate with an up-to-date understanding of media and audiences
• You will be taught in our purpose-built Journalism facilities which include radio studios, a TV Studio, video editing suites, Mac suites and a newsroom featuring the latest software
• You will be exposed to engagement with industry guests who will share their experiences to ensure your learning is grounded in current media practice

Choose your specialism

This Masters will equip you with the practical and intellectual skills to prosper in a world which requires the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility, along with the ability to make decisions in complex and unpredictable situations. 

You can choose which sector to concentrate upon and specialise in one topic. You'll select your specialism during the course induction phase and choose from: 

• Curation and Conservation in the Digital Age
• Film and Documentary Production
• Publishing
• Freelancing
• Audience Studies 

If you want to work in various roles within the creative and cultural industries, this course provides opportunities to dive deeply into in-demand specialist areas while also exploring the relevant theoretical, legal, and ethical discussions.

This course also provides scope for you to critically engage with significant intellectual developments within the field of creative and cultural industries and reflect on the practical as well as the more theoretical dimensions of the field. 

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

We employ a range of approaches to enable your learning. These include lectures, seminars, tutorials and debates, alongside workshops and close collaboration with the media industry and professional practitioners. There is also an emphasis on self-directed study which reflects the greater importance accorded to autonomous learning at postgraduate level.

We have a blended learning strategy. This means that, in addition to face-to-face teaching, all modules will have support from the University’s virtual learning environment. This provides facilities for your tutors to upload lecture recordings and presentations, create links to useful electronic resources and to issue class announcements. We also use Course Resources to participate in discussion groups and share files with fellow students on group assignments.

How you are assessed

Depending on optional module choice, you may be expected to undertake a broad range of assessment, such as: essays; reports that may require the critical integration of both qualitative and quantitative data; oral presentations; and critical reflection. In the more practical modules, you will create content using a variety of platforms and technology for your assessments – this practical work is usually combined with academic essays to contextualise and reflect on the work produced.

This is a stimulating and varied course that equips graduates for a wide range of post-programme opportunities and careers in the creative and cultural industries sectors.

You will develop management and leadership skills along with other key transferable skills such as digital and communication skills. The self-guided nature of much of your work will make you a valuable asset in the creative and cultural media industries either for an organisation or freelance.

You will be supported to develop your understanding of appropriate research methodologies and the ability to deploy a range of established techniques of research and enquiry in both the academic and media industry arenas. This means you’ll be in an ideal position to use this Masters as a starting point for continued research, either as a stepping-stone to MPhil or Doctoral study or by means of integrating your research skills into a range of professional applications and careers. 

The creative and cultural industries are defined as encompassing the following subsectors:

• Advertising and marketing
• Architecture
• Crafts
• Design and designer fashion
• Film, TV, video, radio and photography
• Publishing
• Museums, Galleries and Libraries
• Music, performing and visual arts 

You will need a 2:1 undergraduate degree or relevant experience and a strong interest in creative arts is recommended. We can consider a 2:2 undergraduate degree with relevant professional experience if you are seeking to transition into the creative and cultural sectors or seeking career advancement or a career change through specialised additional skills.

English language skills

If English is not your first language you will need to have passed the International English Language Teaching System (IELTS) at the overall level IELTS 6.5, including a minimum score of 5.5 in each test category. Where appropriate, the university’s International Admissions office can give further details, including information regarding approved IELTS test centres.

2025/26 (August 2025 - July 2026)

Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.

* UK full-time fees paid within one academic year are rounded down to the nearest £50 if applicable

2026/27 (August 2026 - July 2027)

Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.

* UK full-time fees paid within one academic year are rounded down to the nearest £50 if applicable

About postgraduate awards

Please note at postgraduate level, you’ll need to gain the following number of credits in total to obtain the respective awards. If you have any questions please contact us.

This means you will gain 180 credits in total to complete the full MA or MSc. If you are studying part time you will normally complete your studies over two or three years, depending on the course structure.

Funding your studies

Find out more about fees, postgraduate loans and support you may be entitled to.

Find out about funding your studiesFind out about funding your studies

Alumni discount for Derby graduates

We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.

Find out about the Alumni discountFind out about the Alumni discount

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.