Italia Conti’s MA Creative Arts Leadership is a dynamic and forward-thinking programme designed for those who are shaping the future of the performing arts. Whether you’re leading organisations, teams, projects, or strategic visions, this course equips you with the insight, tools, and confidence to lead with clarity, creativity, and purpose.
The programme supports you to explore your leadership identity, examine the values that drive your work, and engage with the complexities of leading in today’s cultural performing and creative arts industries. You’ll develop strategic thinking, reflective practice, and the ability to respond to evolving challenges in arts and cultural leadership.
This course is for those ready to lead change, whether that is within their leadership practice, their organisation, or in the wider sector. Through personal research, and professional innovation, you’ll design your own leadership development journey, shape a bold professional strategy, and graduate ready to make a lasting impact in the performing arts.
Whether you’re already in a leadership role or stepping into one, this programme encourages you to refine your vision, challenge established models and lead the sector forward with ambition and insight.
Lead boldly. Champion creativity. Drive transformation.
Reflective Leadership
In Module 1, you will explore the theories and values that shape effective leadership, as well as reflect upon your own professional journey. You will connect your real-world experience with academic research and discoveries and examine how leadership models may/may not translate into practice. You will analyse your own leadership identity and approach, leading to a higher level of confidence, clarity, and vision to lead change within your work, your organisation, your community, or the wider arts sector.
Leadership Research and Professional Development
You will undertake independent research to analyse a contemporary leadership topic/issue and assess its relevance to your professional context. In combining critical enquiry, reflective writing, and visual presentation, you will investigate and explore how theory and strategy may inform your own leadership skills. You will deepen your understanding on a practical level, developing advanced research, analysis, and communication skills relevant to your ongoing professional development. ,
Your Leadership in Practice
In Module 3, you will apply your leadership knowledge to industry and professional contexts, designing and delivering a project which demonstrates your leadership skills, leading strategically, creatively, and ethically within the performing arts. By critically reflecting and evaluation your practice, you will explore how leadership theories translate into effective and impactful action, innovation, and change. The module supports you to develop advanced professional and creative strategies within your work, refine your leadership style, explore values-led practice, and evidence your capacity to lead with purpose.
The Innovative Professional
The fourth and final module empowers you to design and deliver a leadership project that responds to a real challenge or opportunity within your professional context. You will create an original innovation project and a strategic development plan that defines your leadership goals and future direction. The module and the course finish with an assessed tutorial, presenting your progress and achievements, consolidating your learning, strengthening your professional identity, and equipping you with a clear strategy for leading positive change in the performing arts industry.
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 Practice 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 .
Core Texts, Stationery, Computer/Laptop: Not included in tuition fees.
Gown hire and optional photographs for graduation
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.
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