MSc Marketing in the Creative Industries

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

Queen Mary University of London

Program Overview

The MSc Marketing in the Creative Industries at Queen Mary University of London is perfect if you’re passionate about creativity and want to make a real impact in arts, media, and cultural organisations. This program combines practical marketing skills with a deep understanding of the creative sector, preparing you to lead innovative campaigns that engage audiences and inspire change.

Curriculum Structure

Foundations & Introduction: You’ll start with modules like Introduction to Marketing Management and Introduction to Creative Industries and Arts Organisation, giving you a strong grounding in marketing principles while exploring how creative businesses operate and thrive. These first modules are all about understanding both the theory and the real-world context of creative organisations.
Applied Methods & Social Impact: Next, in Applied Methods (Master Class), you’ll develop essential research skills—learning how to gather insights, analyse data, and make informed marketing decisions. Meanwhile, Marketing Arts and Culture for Social Change challenges you to think about how marketing can promote social good and community engagement within the arts.
Strategy & Global Perspective: Later, Backstage: Global Marketing Strategies for the Creative Industries encourages you to think strategically and globally, equipping you to design marketing initiatives that work across borders. Alongside this, you can choose electives like Brand Storytelling in the Digital Age or Networked and Influencer Marketing, tailoring your learning to what excites you most.
Dissertation: The course wraps up with a dissertation, letting you explore a topic you’re passionate about and apply your skills to a real-world challenge in marketing for creative industries.

Focus Areas

Arts marketing, audience development, social impact, digital communications, sustainability, and inclusion in creative organisations.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program, you’ll be confident in designing marketing strategies for creative organisations, conducting meaningful research, and driving campaigns that make a real difference in the arts and cultural sector.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The School of Business and Management at QMUL is AACSB-accredited, a globally recognized mark of excellence in business education.

Reputation & Employability

QMUL is part of the Russell Group, highlighting its research excellence, and its business school ranks highly in national research assessments. Graduates go on to exciting roles in arts organisations, media, cultural institutions, and creative businesses, often benefiting from London-based industry connections, workshops, and guest lectures from leaders in the field.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

This MSc is all about learning by doing. From day one, you’ll get hands-on experience working with real creative organisations, exploring London’s cultural scene, and applying marketing strategies in practical settings. Guest speakers from top arts and cultural institutions, interactive workshops, and field trips give you the chance to see how marketing works in the real world, not just in theory. You’ll also have access to modern facilities, digital tools, and collaborative spaces that make your learning active and engaging.

Here’s how you’ll gain practical experience:

Take part in field trips and visits to leading creative organisations like the National Theatre, Victoria & Albert Museum, and Whitechapel Gallery, getting a behind-the-scenes look at how they operate.
Engage in interactive workshops and guest lectures with cultural professionals, giving you direct insights into marketing in arts and creative sectors.
Develop research skills in the Applied Methods (Master Class) module, learning qualitative and quantitative techniques you can apply in your dissertation or real-world projects.
Complete a dissertation (60 credits) where you explore a topic of your choice, often involving collaboration with cultural organisations or primary research.
Work on group projects and presentations in seminars, building teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills that are essential in creative industries.
Access state-of-the-art facilities to support your learning:
- ThinkPod: a collaborative space with presentation, recording, and video-conferencing tools.
- Media suite (QUBE): equipped with industry-standard design and editing software for digital marketing and storytelling.
- Graduate Centre: dedicated study spaces and meeting areas for group work.
- 24-hour library: for research, coursework, or just finding inspiration whenever you need it.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of this MSc leave ready to take on exciting roles such as Arts Marketing Manager, Audience Development Specialist, Cultural Programmes Producer, or Creative Industries Consultant. Whether it’s working for galleries, theatres, heritage organisations, or creative businesses, you’ll have the skills, experience, and networks to make a real impact in the cultural sector. Many alumni move into leadership or strategy positions, shaping the way audiences engage with the arts.

Here’s how Queen Mary helps you get there:

Tailored career support: The School of Business & Management’s Careers & Enterprise team provides one-to-one coaching, professional development workshops, and sector-specific mentoring through the SBM Mentoring Programme. You’ll also get access to networking events with industry leaders via the Industry Spotlight Series.
Strong employment outcomes: QMUL graduate surveys show that around 85% of SBM graduates are in employment or further study within 15 months, with 62% in highly skilled roles, and average starting salaries around £30,000.
Hands-on industry connections: You’ll engage with organisations like the National Theatre, Victoria & Albert Museum, Whitechapel Gallery, and Arts Council England, gaining real insight through guest lectures, projects, and site visits.
Global recognition: The School of Business & Management is AACSB-accredited, giving you a globally respected qualification that adds weight to your CV.
Diverse career paths: Alumni go on to work in arts and cultural management, creative businesses, in-house marketing for creative organisations, and even policy-making in the creative industries.

Further Academic Progression:
If you want to take your studies further, you could pursue a PhD in Cultural Studies, Arts Management, or Business & Society, or explore advanced programmes like an MA in Creative Industries and Arts Organisation at QMUL.