Creativity, Leadership and Enterprise MA

Course code N101

What is special about this course?

This course is specifically aimed at creative practitioners, arts project managers and innovators wanting to develop leadership and enterprise skills in the arts and cultural industries with a view to furthering their career in the creative economy.

Throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and rural communities world-wide, there are expressive specialists who have completed a first degree in an arts, design or media subject discipline and who choose to work as sole operators or small businesses. For each, the notion of 'place' is central to their creative practice and where they choose to live and work - and where 'place' defines connectivity to a rich history, culture and inspiring landscape. 

This online course allows you to work from the stimulating environment of your own studio, workshop, business or organisation. You will develop research and analytical skills that examine and test new creative content and products; and through pro-active engagement with the professional sector, you will acquire skills to transform original creative concepts and intellectual property into income-generating creative outputs.

Special features

  • Taught by a research-active and industry-experienced team with backgrounds in the arts, humanities and business studies
  • Opportunities to engage with professional practitioners and organisations operating in the creative and cultural economy sector
  • Tailored to the emerging creative leader and entrepreneur working from their home studio or workshop in a rural environment
  • Opportunity to join the 'Centre for Rural Creativity' (CRC) community of practice, networked across the Highlands and Islands and beyond
  • A professional practice placement in the creative and cultural industry provides opportunities for project research and development, and sector facing engagement and evaluation
  • The course is delivered online using a combination of seminars and tutorials (available in real-time or recordings) and scheduled discussions with tutors and fellow students, through our virtual learning environment (VLE) so you can study flexibly, where it suits you, in the UK and internationally
  • You can study individual modules for personal or professional development, or work towards the PgCert, PgDip or masters degree

Entry requirements

  • 2:1 honours degree in a relevant subject such as art, design, film/tv, music, new media, art and design history, cultural studies, or other closely-related disciplines such as business enterprise, administration or management
  • Applicants with other qualifications or relevant experience are encouraged to apply and will be considered on an individual basis

Access routes

You can access the course from a range of our undergraduate programmes including:

 

European Social Fund and Scottish Funding Council logos

PgCert

Core modules are:

  • Creativity and enterprise - curiosity, speculation, innovation
  • Professional practitioner

You will also choose one option module which may include:

  • Sustainable creative endeavour in contemporary society
  • Research for business

PgDip

The core module is:

  • Developing creativity, leadership and enterprise (double credit)

You will also choose one option module which may include:

  • Enterprise and community
  • Selling cold islands
  • Islands futures

 

MA

To achieve the award of MA you must complete 'the creative leader' project.

How will I study my course?

  • Full-time
  • Part-time (structured)
  • Part-time (unstructured)

How long will my course last?

  • Full-time: 15 months
  • Part-time (structured): minimum 3 years
  • Part-time (unstructured): maximum 6 years

Where can I study my course?

  • Shetland

You can study this fully online masters from any location. You will be enrolled and receive support from the Centre for Rural Creativity at our Shetland UHI campus.

Start date

  • September

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

  • EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
  2024-25 2025-26
Per module (20 credits) £584 £610
Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) £1,752 £1,830
Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits) £3,504 £3,660
Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation) £5,256 £5,490

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status, the following fees apply:

  2024-25 2025-26
Per module (20 credits) £780 £840
Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) £2,340 £2,520
Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits) £4,680 £5,040
Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation, 180 credits) £7,020 £7,560

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. These students will get an automatic fee scholarship.

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

  2024-25 With scholarship 2025-26 With scholarship
Per module (20 credits) £1,110 £833 £1,200 £900
Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) £3,330 £2,499 £3,600 £2,700
Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits, 180 credits) £6,660 £4,998 £7,200 £5,400
Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation, 180 credits) £9,990 £7,497 £10,800 £8,100

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union, studying online from their home country, or assessed as international for fee status, the following fees apply:

  2024-25 2025-26
Per module (20 credits) £1,110 £1,200
Postgraduate certificate (3 modules, 60 credits) £3,330 £3,600
Postgraduate diploma (6 modules, 120 credits, 180 credits) £6,660 £7,200
Masters degree (6 modules + dissertation, 180 credits) £9,990 £10,800

This course is not available to international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international postgraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying full-time can access loans up to £11,500 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). This comprises a tuition fee loan up to £7,000 and a non-income assessed living cost loan of £4,500. 

Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying part-time can apply for a tuition fee loan from SAAS.  You must be intending to complete the course in no longer than twice the length of time it would take for a full-time student. For example, if your course is available to full-time students as a one-year programme, you will be funded for a maximum of two years' part-time study. If your course does not have a full-time option, you must complete within three years. You can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £7,000, which will be paid pro-rata for each academic year of study. 

Full details can be found on the SAAS website. Applications for loans open in April.

Students from the rest of the UK who meet the eligibility requirements may be able to apply for a loan from the Student Loan Company.

What can I do on completion of my course?

On successful completion of the course you will be well placed to work freelance as a creative entrepreneur operating in the creative economy, developing your own business, social enterprise, or to seek employment in a range of settings. For example:

  • Gallery or museum director, curator or manager
  • Arts organisation or agency manager or administrator
  • Design consultant
  • Marketing director
  • Research and development consultancy
  • Performing arts or events consultant
  • Film and TV production
  • Music management

You will also be able to work with a range of individuals and participant groups including:

  • Public and professional sector facing arts and design organisations and agencies
  • Professional studio communities and workshops
  • Architects and planning authorities
  • Film and TV production companies
  • Music studios and publishing companies
  • Funding agencies and councils
  • Private sector

You will be able to transform creative ideas through individual and collaborative endeavour with the private sector and public sector agencies.

Can I progress into further study?

You may wish to progress to a PhD to undertake research in the field of creativity, leadership and enterprise.

Is there more information available online?

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Apply for Creativity, Leadership and Enterprise MA

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We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.