Cultural Policy & Arts Management

The MA Cultural Policy and Arts Management is aimed at graduate students and experienced cultural sector practitioners seeking the skills to be effective managers and leaders in the arts and heritage fields. Lectures are carried out in small seminar rooms where active participation in debate with lecturers and guest lecturers is encouraged.



The critical and practical content of the programme challenges students to analyse the conceptual frameworks and cultural contexts that generate cultural policies, while acquiring the skills to be effective leaders and managers in the cultural field. The competencies acquired provide graduates with an excellent multi-disciplinary qualification that is highly regarded among sectoral employers, in Ireland and internationally.



- A dynamic learning environment in which a diverse group of fellow-students (from different countries and with different cultural and art form backgrounds) pursue their shared goal of being effective managers and thinkers in the cultural field

- Access to a wide range of top cultural sector managers in Ireland who contribute to the course as guest lecturers

- A rich mix of theoretical approaches to culture, combined with the practical skills to be an effective manager



What Will I Learn?

-Ethical practices in management and research

-Comparative understandings of national and international policies for culture and the arts

-Cultural theory, cultural policy theory, relevant sociological theory and theories of management

-The ability, through written and spoken discourse, to deal with the conceptual and theoretical complexity of culture and its management

-A Diversity of practical and reflective management skills to be effective cultural entrepreneurs and leaders of cultural organisations.

-Practical and reflective management skills to be effective cultural entrepreneurs and leaders of cultural organisations

-The analytical and research skills to bring about informed, constructive change in cultural policies at national and local levels

-To understand your individual style, strengths and weaknesses as managers so that you can be better leaders of cultural organisations

Stage 1 - Core

Module/ Trimester/ Credits

Stage 1 Core Modules

CULP40140 Dissertation 2 Trimester duration (Spr-Sum) 30

CULP40280 Work Experience 2 Trimester duration (Spr-Sum) 10

CULP40010 Business 1 (Management) Autumn 5

CULP40320 Finance Autumn 5

CULP40330 Arts Marketing to Engagement Autumn 5

CULP40340 Research Methods Autumn 5

CULP40350 Cultural Policy 1: Comparative Autumn 5

LAW42250 Law of Cult Pol&Arts Mgmt Autumn 5

CULP40240 Cultural Policy 3 Arts Lives Spring 5

CULP40270 Business 3 (Strategic Plan) Spring 10

CULP40310 Cultural Policy 2: Ireland Spring 5

- A primary degree at 2.1 level (Second Class Honours, Grade One) is normally required. However, all applicants will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and relevant or extensive work experience will be taken into account.

- Transcripts should accompany an application, including grades for each subject taken in the primary degree.

- Some experience working in a cultural organisation in whatever capacity.

- Name and contact details of two referees.

- Admission is subject to interview either in person, by video skype, or telephone.

- Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.

- These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

https://tinyurl.com/2ae2ffax

90

1 year full-time.

Delivery: On Campus

MA Cultural Policy & Arts Management (Z041) Full Time

EU fee per year - € 9385

nonEU fee per year - € 19900


***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.

Z041 - Cultural Policy & Arts Management Master of Arts Full-Time

Commencing September 2025

Graduate Taught