MA Business for the Creative Industries
The MA Business for the Creative Industries is an innovative and flexible postgraduate course that prepares you for leadership roles in the creative sector.
Whether you’re a creative professional seeking a formal business qualification, a business graduate looking to transition into the arts and culture sector, or an international candidate wanting to study in Europe’s most exciting cities, this course offers the perfect balance of academic and practical learning.
Specialise in your chosen field
With a focus on key creative industries such as film, games, performing arts, and music, you’ll have the opportunity to tailor your studies to your own interests and career ambitions. The course is available full-time over one calendar year or part-time over two years, allowing flexibility for your personal and professional commitments.
What you’ll learn
Throughout the course, you’ll gain industry-relevant skills in areas including finance, law, marketing, project and resource management, sustainability, and digital communications. You will also undertake advanced research into your specialist creative field and have the opportunity to complete a work placement within the industry. This hands-on experience ensures you develop the practical skills and connections needed to succeed.
Why choose BIMM Music Institute
The MA Business for the Creative Industries is taught by experienced professionals who are deeply embedded in the creative sector. You’ll also benefit from outstanding industry connectivity, with a curriculum designed to provide both academic rigour and real-world relevance.
Study in two vibrant cities
The course is offered in Brighton and Berlin – both major hubs for the arts and culture industries, offering unique opportunities for networking and career development.
- Brighton is a creative hotspot in the UK with a vibrant cultural scene that includes major festivals, film events, and a booming music industry.
- Berlin, as a key European capital, offers a diverse and fast-growing creative economy. Known for its thriving film, games, and music scenes, Berlin provides a stimulating environment for creative professionals and offers unparalleled networking opportunities with industry leaders.
Your next step in the creative industries
Upon completing the MA Business for the Creative Industries, you’ll be well-prepared to take on leadership roles or entrepreneurial ventures within your chosen field. Whether you pursue an industry placement or a research project, you’ll graduate with the skills and confidence to make an impact.
Course specification
Mode of attendance: Full-time (one year) or part-time (two years)
Study format: in-person classes supplemented by online tutorials and distance learning
Course structure: eight taught modules plus a double-weighted project
Calendar: Trimester One (September-January), Trimester Two (January-May), Trimester Three (May-August)
Awarding institution: BIMM University
Campus delivery: Brighton and Berlin
Language of study: English
Final award: MA Business for the Creative Industries
Minimum requirements
- A good degree (normally 2.2 or above) or significant professional experience in the creative arts/industries.
- Overseas students for whom English is not their native language may be required to meet a minimum English language requirement of an Academic IELTS 6.5. We require a minimum of 6.0 to be achieved in each band.
- All applicants will be subject to interview and a portfolio may also be requested for Recognition of Prior Certified or Experiential Learning (RPCEL).
- Please contact [email protected] for more information.
Please note that the course structure and module names are still subject to validation.
This module helps candidates with a business background to prepare for scholarship in the creative industries – and encourages those with experience as artists and performers to approach their subject from a business perspective. It introduces the commercial and cultural backstory of our four subject fields: screen and film, games, performing arts, and music. Via supportive discussion, enquiry and experimentation students develop a critical approach to their own creative industries projects and develop the skills necessary for successful postgraduate research.
An advanced investigation of resource management and human resources this module explores how we manage people, financial assets and physical resources in the creative industries – a sector where project-based work, freelance labour, and rapid technological change are commonplace. Via issues such as diversity, collaboration and labour rights it integrates the unique demands of creative teamwork in a highly dynamic environment. Students explore project and resource management, human resource management, and the role of leadership in fostering innovation and creativity. Through case studies and evaluations, they research legislation and practice in national and international contexts, striking a balance between artistic goals and commercial and legal obligations with an emphasis on operational effectiveness and legal compliance.
This module explores financial and legal frameworks in the creative industries. Students learn established principles whilst exploring the ever-shifting parameters of this rapidly evolving sector. This includes budgets and financial statements, copyright and IP, rights licensing, legal and financial risks, local and global perspectives – and how to apply this knowledge to a career in the creative industries.
This module requires students to research, develop and evaluate a digital marketing strategy. They will appraise theoretical frameworks and develop practical skills using the digital communications tools and data analysis software. An opportunity to explore on the interrelationship between an organisation’s strategic aims and the opportunities and challenges of effective digital marketing.
Full module detail available soon.
This is where candidates identify and secure a work placement opportunity. The module develops an evidence-based understanding of applied research methods and explores how research can generate new knowledge and new ideas in an organisational context. It will appraise contemporary industry trends and identify opportunities to facilitate strategic decision making and, ultimately, maximise your potential to add value to the creative industries.
This module applies entrepreneurial and business management skills to global markets, identifying opportunities and challenges related to your chosen discipline. Students will research creative and cultural differences, navigate financial and legal systems from different locations and cultures, and implement strategies to explore the possibilities of international expansion.
This module evaluates the social, cultural, environmental and economic impact of the creative industries in a changing world. It explores how we mobilise progressive values via best practice in areas such as public trust, environmental impact and social responsibility. Students will critically apply ethical principles and sustainable practices in diverse business environments. They will develop personal responsibility and leadership skills necessary to address ethical dilemmas and promote sustainable business operations within creative industries. Using appropriate tools and templates, it applies socially responsible values and goals systematically, with clear practical outcomes supported by strong communications and teamwork.
In this module students examine, interpret and evaluate the interactions between technology, commerce and opportunity in the creative industries using case studies in economics, technology and digital culture. Students develop a systemic and critical understanding of the relationships between technology, commerce and opportunity, and explore how these concepts can contribute to current and future creative industries practice. They examine the relationship between economic and technological developments in the creative industries, explore unconventional and innovative approaches to business and economics through current and future trends, and challenge traditional perceptions to reveal new possibilities for creative practice.
This is where everything comes together. Your final output can be a work placement report, an entrepreneurial project, or a master’s dissertation. It includes one hour per week of personal supervision and mentorship. This module presents an opportunity to realise your professional goals in the diverse and dynamic environment of the creative industries.
Course fees
Please visit our fees page for information regarding course fees and access to student finance.
Graduates will be qualified to work as managers and team leaders in businesses, charities, non-profit and public sector organisations in their chosen sector of the creative arts.
They will also be able to use the course to develop entrepreneurial opportunities and forge self-employed careers in fields such as screen and film, gaming, performing arts and music.
As with all BIMM University Masters qualifications, graduates can continue to study at doctoral level (such as a PhD) to progress in their academic careers as educational researchers.
Potential career destinations include:
- Events and Production Management: organising concerts, theatrical shows, art exhibitions and film festivals.
- Arts Administration and Management: overseeing operations, funding, and community engagement in organisations such as theatres, galleries, or dance companies
- Marketing and PR: social media management, content creation, public relations, and digital marketing strategies for the creative arts
- Cultural Policy Advisor: Working with governments or nonprofit organizations developing policies to support local arts in areas such as funding, education, heritage
- Entrepreneurship: Founding new creative arts businesses such as studios, production companies, content providers or technology startups.
- Education or Academia: Teaching or conducting research in fields related to business and the arts.
Any questions?
For any questions regarding our courses or if you’d like more information on how to apply to BIMM Music Institute, please contact our Enquiries Team on 01273 840 346 or email [email protected].