Italia Conti’s MA in Creative Arts Education is a bold and transformative programme aimed at teachers/teaching artists, educators, facilitators, and industry professionals working within performing arts education and training.
The programme encourages you to add to the conversation on the evolution of vocational performing arts training, to push boundaries, challenge conventions, and inspire future professionals working in performing arts education and training.
Whether you’re working with children, young people, adult learners, or professional artists, this programme will give you the insight, tools, and confidence to develop your experience and skills, and drive meaningful change in the field.
With a progressive, student-centred practice, you’ll critically examine established theories and frameworks, discuss pressing industry issues, consider your artistry and creativity alongside your education work, and innovate your practice to redefine what it means to be working in performing arts training and education.
Push Boundaries. Challenge Conventions. Lead Change.
The programme is validated by the University of Chichester. Full government funding is available through Postgraduate funding for home students.
The Masters in Creative Arts Education is a rewarding journey designed to empower you as a teaching artist and professional within the realm of performing arts education. Whether you’re an educator, facilitator, manager, or aspiring leader, this programme will equip you with the tools to excel in your role and shape the future of performing arts education.
Creative Approaches to Education
In Module 1, you will embark on a self-reflective exploration of your teaching/education practice, uncover areas for development and refinement, underpinned by learning theories, frameworks, and approaches. You will critically assess the efficacy of these theories and connect them to your unique teaching style in the form of a written essay.
You will then present an overview of your artistic practice, exploring and analysing your experiences so far, assessing and challenging your own preconceptions, and predicting what opportunities might arise that can impact your personal, professional, and artistic growth.
You will have the opportunity to delve into the performing arts education industry with Module 2, investigating current industry topics, refining your educational skills and knowledge, and crafting a blueprint for your professional development. You will take an intensive look into relevant and contemporary topics in education, presenting your findings through a written essay, exploring subjects such as diversity and inclusion, use of AI, social justice.
Following this, you will undertake practice research, building this knowledge into your practice and providing a commentary on the impact of this research via visual presentation. To finish this module, you will create a tailored Continuous Professional Development programme, detailing your plan on how to develop your teaching practice and skills.
In Module 3, we explore the role of a Teaching Artist, sometimes called a Dual Professional, and how we can work to seamlessly blend your artistic talent with your teaching expertise.
Through creating reflective case studies alongside engaging short-form video content, you’ll not only hone your craft, but illuminate the interplay between artistry and teaching and assess the impact being a Teaching Artist/Dual Professional can have upon your students.
Module 4 is your canvas for creating a professional strategy that aligns with your career aspirations, allowing you to innovate, strategise, and envision your path forward.
You will design and execute an innovation project through practice research, allowing continuous development as you undertake the work and progress through the module. Creating a Professional Charter will detail your personal and professional approaches to work, consider your values and ethos, and gain a high level of understanding regarding your own work ethic.
Postgraduate Degree Tuition Fees are £9,000 for the Programme.
The MA programme offers the following funding options:
A deposit of £150 is required to hold and accept a place on the programme.
Programme Deposit Waivers are available.
An outline of associated programme costs and more Info on Fees Waivers are available on the Fees and Funding page.
International applicants to the MA Creative Arts Education are welcomed, as this is an online distance learning programme that does not require residency or physical attendance in the UK.
International Student fees are £13,449 per academic year, (paid in advanced termly instalments).
A deposit of £150 is required to hold and accept a place on the programme.
Programme Deposit Waivers are available.
An outline of associated programme costs and more Info on Fees Waivers are available on the Fees and Funding page.
What Additional Costs Should I Expect?
Applications are made directly to Italia Conti and do not require a UCAS application.
To find out more information or to book a speculative meeting, please contact the Programme Leader, Jenny Coyle.
Applicants should have completed Italia Conti’s application form by 01 August in the year of application, in order to be considered for an interview for the September intake, i.e. 01 August 2026 for September 2026 entry.
Late applications may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants should have completed Italia Conti’s application form by the 10 December in the year of application in order to be considered for an interview for January intake, i.e. 10 December 2026 for January 2027 entry.
Late applications may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
After completing the application process, applicants will be invited to an interview with the Programme Leader to assess suitability for the programme. Please be prepared to discuss your:
Applicants can also use the interview as an opportunity to ask for more specific information about the programme.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Applicants who have already completed up to 90 credits at Masters Level may use these credits to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) towards the total of 180 credits to gain the MA Creative Arts Education. Please note that RPL may affect your eligibility for any Postgraduate loan. For details go to gov.uk/masters-loan/eligibility.
Non-Standard Entry and Approved Prior Learning
Applicants without standard entry qualifications may be considered through Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL).
Where prior qualifications do not provide sufficient evidence of academic readiness, applicants may be required to complete an additional written exercise alongside the audition and interview process.
We welcome applications from candidates with relevant vocational training or professional experience. All such applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis and may require additional evidence, such as a portfolio or written work.
Mature applicants (21+) without formal qualifications are encouraged to contact Admissions prior to applying to ensure appropriate guidance can be provided.
Italia Conti offers fee waivers to eligible applicants who meet set criteria, helping to ensure that financial circumstances do not act as a barrier to applying.
You get to work with people who have different techniques and different ways of working. also people who are in the industry. You’re not only getting taught by industry professionals every day, but you’re getting an insight in the projects from someone who’s actually currently working in the industry.
My training at Italia Conti has truly inspired me. During my time, I felt welcomed into a creative, supportive environment. The facilities are great, they give us everything we need to experiment, rehearse, and perform. Having access to such great studios and performance spaces has really helped me feel more prepared and confident as I grow in my training into becoming a professional artist.
I feel like I came into Conti with probably quite specific ideas on what I thought I would end up being. And I feel like it’s very easy to put yourself in a box and sort of have expectations for yourself. Whereas I feel like Conti has definitely pushed me to do things that maybe I would have been scared to do.
I feel prepared to do all these things that scared me before.
Thank you for submitting your details. Our team will be in touch.
