Master of Business Administration (MBA)

NA On Campus Masters Program

University of the Arts London

Program Overview

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Central Saint Martins is perfect if you want to combine creativity with real-world business skills. It’s designed for professionals ready to lead, innovate, and make an impact, giving you the tools to turn bold ideas into successful strategies and solutions.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In your first year, you’ll dive into the essentials of creative business leadership. Orientation and Provocation gets you thinking differently about how creativity can drive business, while Strategy and Systems shows you how to approach complex business challenges with smart, strategic thinking. You’ll start building teamwork and leadership skills that will shape your journey throughout the program.

Year 2

Year two is where you really put your ideas into action. Finance and Impact teaches you how to manage finances while creating positive social and environmental outcomes, and Effecting Change – Entrepreneurship in Action lets you apply your learning to real-world projects. Finally, the Extended Live Project or Dissertation gives you the freedom to design a project that reflects your own vision, blending creativity with business strategy.

Focus Areas

Creative leadership, strategic thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship, financial insight, social and cultural enterprise, live project experience, critical problem-solving.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the MBA, you’ll be confident leading teams, making strategic decisions, driving innovation, and delivering impactful projects that blend creativity with business sense. You’ll be ready to tackle complex challenges across industries.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

This is a UK Level 7 Masters degree, combining the creative excellence of Central Saint Martins with the academic rigour of Birkbeck. It’s designed to prepare you for leadership in both creative and business-driven industries.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings)

Central Saint Martins and UAL are globally respected for creativity and innovation. Graduating from this MBA puts you in a network of forward-thinking professionals, giving you the confidence and skills to take on leadership roles in a variety of sectors.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The MBA at Central Saint Martins is all about learning by doing. You won’t just sit in lectures — you’ll tackle real-world challenges, work on live projects with industry partners, and develop the skills that today’s creative and business leaders actually use. You’ll collaborate with students from different backgrounds, take part in workshops, and benefit from UAL’s amazing facilities, libraries, and digital tools, so everything you learn can be applied straight away.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Live projects and real-world challenges: Through units like Effecting Change – Entrepreneurship in Action, you’ll work on projects that make a real impact, collaborating with organisations and communities.
Collaborative teamwork: In The Collaborative Unit, you’ll team up with students from different disciplines to solve shared challenges, helping you build leadership, negotiation, and teamwork skills.
Group work and presentations: Many modules include group projects and workshops, giving you plenty of opportunities to develop strategy, communication, and persuasive skills in a team setting.
Libraries and research resources: You’ll have full access to Central Saint Martins Library and UAL’s wider resources, including books, journals, digital collections, and specialist software to support your research and projects.
Intensive weekend residencies: Monthly in-person weekends at CSM and Birkbeck let you dive deep into workshops, seminars, and networking sessions with faculty and peers.
Creative campus facilities: Study and collaborate in UAL’s vibrant spaces, including studios, exhibition areas, and shared student facilities that foster creativity and innovation.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from the MBA at Central Saint Martins opens doors to leadership roles where creativity meets strategy. Many alumni go on to become Strategic Business Managers, Creative Consultants, Social Enterprise Founders, or Innovation Leads, using the skills they developed on the course to shape organisations, launch ventures, and make a real impact in their industries:

Dedicated career support: UAL’s Careers and Employability team is with you every step of the way — offering one‑to‑one guidance, CV and interview support, workshops, and long-term career advice for up to five years after graduation.
Jobs, internships, and freelance opportunities: Through the Creative Opportunities jobs board and Arts Temps recruitment service, you can access paid roles, internships, and freelance projects while studying or after graduation.
Industry events and networking: CSM hosts career fairs, employer talks, and workshops, giving you the chance to meet potential employers and gain first-hand insight into your chosen sector.
Global alumni network: Joining UAL’s alumni community of over 200,000 graduates connects you with professionals across creative, business, and social impact industries worldwide.
Employability focus: The MBA hones entrepreneurial thinking, leadership, and adaptability — the exact skills employers look for in dynamic, strategic roles.

Further Academic Progression:
If you’re curious to keep learning, you could take your MBA further with doctoral research, like a PhD in Management, Creativity and Innovation, or explore specialised postgraduate courses in leadership, design thinking, social enterprise, or sustainability. Many graduates also pursue executive education and professional development to stay ahead in their fields and continue making a difference.