Over the past decades the creative and cultural industries have become the focus of a huge amount of research and critical debate. As digitisation transforms the media industries, from music streaming to on-demand TV, there has been an increasing recognition of the economic and cultural value of art, museums, video games and 'heritage'. This programme offers the unique opportunity to critically analyse these developments in a fully global context, across the full range of School of Arts modules in Media, Music and Art and Archaeology.

Students can tailor their studies to focus on particular regions, art forms or themes, choosing from the wide array of modules that reflect the unique regional focus available at SOAS, and gain access to world-leading experts on the music, culture and traditions of Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Alongside critical analysis and regional expertise students can choose from a number of practical hands-on modules, in sound recording, podcasting and broadcasting, that will enable them to enhance their skill-set.

This programme has been designed for those seeking to work in some capacity in the creative and cultural sector - either as an artist or producer, or in cultural policy, development or analysis. It also suits anyone looking to establish a research profile in Global Creative and Cultural Industries.

For further details, contact Dr Caspar Melville.

Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings

Start of programme: September

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or Part-time

Who is this programme for?:

Students will likely fall into two types. The first group will typically be interested in pursuing careers as practitioners, managers, consultants, policy advisers and entrepreneurs in the creative and cultural industries in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Such students will typically take advantage of the potentials to hone practical/core skills, to develop their knowledge base about creative and cultural industries in a global context, and to maximise the ‘Directed Study in Industry’ opportunity.

The second group will typically be more concerned with developing academic research in the creative and cultural sectors, and the intersections between industry, cultural policy and international development. Such students will most likely concentrate their programme of study on the regional and theoretical courses available.

The MA, then, is suitable for those seeking employment as practitioners, managers, consultants, policy advisers and entrepreneurs in the creative and cultural industries, and for those who aspire to a Research degree.

Email: cm54@soas.ac.uk

Introducing Global Creative and Cultural Industries

The creative and cultural industries have become the focus of a huge amount of research and critical debate.  Dr Caspar Melville, Lecturer in Global Creative and Cultural Industries, outlines the importance of the MA Global Creative and Cultural Industries course at SOAS University of London.

What does the course involve?

As digitisation transforms the media industries, from music streaming to on-demand TV, there has been an increasing recognition of the economic and cultural value of art, museums, video games and 'heritage'.  The MA Global Creative and Cultural Industries programme at SOAS offers the unique opportunity to critically analyse these developments in a fully global context, across a wide range of modules in Media, Music, and Art and Archaeology.

What makes this course popular?

Students can tailor their studies to focus on particular regions, art forms or themes, choosing from the wide array of modules that reflect the unique regional focus available at SOAS.  Students also gain access to world-leading experts on the music, culture and traditions of Africa, the Middle East and Asia.  Alongside critical analysis and regional expertise, students can choose from a number of practical hands-on modules, in sound recording, podcasting and broadcasting, that will enable them to enhance their skill-set.

What facilities are available?

SOAS offers strong interdisciplinary support for the study of media including the Centre for Media and Film Studies and a highly regarded Department of Music.  We have a dedicated multimedia suite, a radio station and satellite access to a wide range of world television.  Further, the Library houses a major collection of books and journals on world media as well as extensive audio-visual materials.

Industry links?

The 'Directed Study in Industry’ initiative allows students to work with an institution, organisation or enterprise involved in the creative and cultural industries.  Students will identify an institution, organisation or enterprise in which to work as an unpaid intern.

How does the course prepare students for employment?

The course provides a broad knowledge of the creative and cultural industries in a global context, as well as a detailed knowledge of those industries in relation to Asia, Africa and the Middle East.  It also provides students with the ability to read, write and assess critically in the fields of music, media, film and the arts, plus provides practical skills in film and video production and editing; radio and digital media; and music recording.

What do graduates do?

Students of Media Studies at SOAS have found employment in the fields of broadcasting, film and video, publishing, printing and journalism, international development and human rights.

What qualities are you looking for in prospective students?

Prospective students will likely fall into two types. The first group will typically be interested in pursuing careers as practitioners, managers, consultants, policy advisers and entrepreneurs in the creative and cultural industries.  Such students will typically take advantage of the potentials to hone practical/core skills, to develop their knowledge base about creative and cultural industries in a global context, and to maximise the ‘Directed Study in Industry’ opportunity.

The second group will typically be more concerned with developing academic research in the creative and cultural sectors, and the intersections between industry, cultural policy and international development.  Such students will most likely concentrate their programme of study on the regional and theoretical courses available.

Occasionally the availability of optional modules changes as a result of staffing and other circumstances. Students who had signed up for such modules will be notified as soon as possible and given the opportunity to choose from available alternatives.

Students must complete 120 credits of MA taught modules in addition to the compulsory dissertation (60 credits).

Dissertation

The Dissertation will be on a topic relating to the creative and cultural industries. It may either be on a theoretical topic or developed from the (below) "pathway" chosen by the student, and its has the option to incorporate multimedia materials.

Taught Component

Core Module

The following module needs to be completed for successful exit award achievement

AND

Choose a module from the Pathway Module List below to the value of 15 credits

AND

Choose modules from the Skills and Internship List below to the value of 45 credits

AND

Choose modules from the list of recommended options below to the value of 45 credits OR Choose a module(s) from Postgraduate Open Options to the value of 45 credits

List of modules (subject to availability)

Music Pathway Module

Art Pathway Modules

Media Pathway Modules

Skills and Internship Modules

Optional Modules

Programme Specification

• MA Global Creative and Cultural Industries Programme Specifications 2018/19 (pdf; 184kb)

Important notice

Teaching & Learning

Contact Hours

All Masters programmes consist of 180 credits, made up of taught modules of 30 or 15 credits, taught over 10 or 20 weeks, and a dissertation of 60 credits. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional. 

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study, including reading and research, preparing coursework, revising for examinations and so on. It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others. At SOAS, most postgraduate modules have a one hour lecture and a one hour seminar every week, but this does vary.

More information is on the page for each module.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

• Broad knowledge of the creative and cultural industries in the global context.
• Detailed knowledge of the creative and cultural industries of Asia, Africa or the Middle East.
• Through the choice of a ‘pathway’, specialist knowledge of creative and cultural industries as they pertain to music, media, film or art/archaeology.
• Through the independent research and writing of a dissertation, profound knowledge of one pertinent aspect of the creative and cultural industries.

Intellectual (thinking) skills

• To analyse and assess the creative and cultural industries.
• To write critically about the creative and cultural industries, and about the music, media, film, or arts of Asia, Africa or the Middle East.
• To read critically a wide range of sources, to critically appraise music, media, film and art sources, and to synthesise different perspectives.
• To discuss and debate in seminar and tutorial contexts, and to present materials to peer groups.

Subject-based practical skills

• Practical skills in one or more of film/video production and editing, radio and digital media skills, music recording skills.
• To appraise and discuss the development and operation of the creative and cultural industries, with a focus on one or more of the music, media, film, art/archaeology components.
• To read and critique the writing of prior researchers and commentators

Transferable skills

• To understand and critique the development and operation of the creative and cultural industries.
• The ability to address and understand non-Western creative and cultural industries, and thereby to have an openness towards non-Western cultures.
• As an option, work experience through the ‘Directed Study in Industry’ course.
• As options, practical skills in one or more of film/video production and editing, radio and digital media skills, and music recording skills.
• To function effectively as a researcher of and contributor to the creative and cultural industries.

Tuition Fees

Full details of postgraduate tuition fees can be found on the Registry's Postgraduate Tuition Fees page.

This is a Band 1 tuition fee.

Fees for 2020/21 entrants. The fees below are per academic year. Fees go up each year, therefore, your tuition fee in your second & subsequent years of study will be higher. Our continuing students, on the same degree programme, are protected from annual increases higher than 5%.

Scholarships

For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section

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