Cultural & Creative Industries is a unique interdisciplinary course that draws on cultural theories, cultural history, digital culture, management, screen studies, geography, cultural policy, gender and fashion. This exciting and contemporary course also makes use of our links with and proximity to Tate Modern, to offer bespoke optional modules that take students ‘behind the scenes’ of a leading art museum to explore different aspects of Tate’s activities.
If you are seeking a career in the arts or creative industries, or if you are a professional looking to enhance your existing knowledge and career prospects, then this course is ideally suited for you. You can also use the training and skills we will give you to prepare for doctoral research in culture, media and creative industries. However, you should bear in mind that this is not a traditional media, communications or journalism studies course. If you want to follow a career in these areas, this course will only be relevant in so far as your interests relate specifically to the cultural and creative industries, such as performing and visual arts, cultural heritage, film, games and music.
Whilst the MA does not include an internship, we usually have a dedicate member of the academic staff (although this is not guaranteed due to Covid-19) who assists students interested in acquiring practical experience through sharing information about competitive internship opportunities offered by our cultural partners or other organisations across London. In parallel to the programme, previous students from within the Department have succeeded in independently securing internships at a wide variety of arts and cultural institutions, including the National Theatre, Barbican Centre, British Council, British Film Institute, Hayward Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Screen Digest, The British Museum, CIDA (Cultural Industries Development Agency), MTV, Donmar Warehouse, Google and the V&A Museum, which gives you an idea of the exciting opportunities on offer.
Each year students usually have the opportunity to apply for a selective-entry Collaborative Dissertation Project, organised with external arts, media and heritage organisations. The collaborative dissertation project enables students to work with a cultural partner on a live research brief that informs their final MA dissertations. Previous dissertation partners include Battersea Arts Centre, Black Live Theatre, Arts Council England, Dash Arts, King’s Cultural Institute, Live Cinema, Glyndebourne, Mahogany Opera Group, Lambeth Archives, OnRoad Media, Royal Society, Arts Cabinet, Iconem, and Greater London Authority. Please note, this option is not guaranteed due to Covid-19 and students interested in undertaking a collaborative dissertation may need to modify their projects by, for instance, working with alternative partner organisations or employing online research methods. Students particularly interested in undertaking the Collaborative Dissertation Project option should contact the department to discuss the options in more detail.
Teaching
If you are a full-time student, we will provide you with six to eight hours of teaching through lectures, seminars, study visits and workshops each week. We will expect you to undertake an additional 34 hours of self-study each week. You will be expected to devote approximately 600 hours of independent study to your MA dissertation project for which we will provide supervision guidance.
If you are a part-time student, we will provide 90 hours of teaching through lectures and seminars in your first year, and 50 hours in your second year. We will expect you to undertake 720 hours of independent study in your first year, and 954 hours in your second. Please note part-time is not an option for students enrolling on the programme in January 2021.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Assessment
Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include essays, reports, individual and group presentations, proposals and reviews. Coursework contributes approximately 95% and examinations approximately 5% to your final mark.
Location
This course is usually primarily taught at the King’s College London Strand Campus. Our location in the heart of London offers you unparalleled access to one of the world’s most vibrant and culturally active cities in the world. There are few better places to gain practical experience in this field than London, with its huge number of galleries, museums and collections. However, 20/21 teaching will be delivered via a combination of online lectures and online and on campus (where possible) seminars and workshops. Please check the offer holder pages for further updates
Regulating body
King's College London is regulated by the Office for Students.