Global Performance and Cultural Industries MA

This postgraduate degree explores the key disciplines of performance and cultural industries in a global context.

You’ll examine live and digital performing arts that are produced with international audiences in mind.

Throughout this Masters course you’ll develop a critical understanding of what performance is, and how it is produced and consumed locally and globally within a variety of social, political and economic settings.

You’ll apply your learning through lectures, seminars and field trips. This course will equip you with the skills to build your global career networks, you’ll have the opportunity to visit a variety of cultural organisations, and gain valuable insight into the cultural industries from guest lecturers and industry experts.

This Masters course is taught by the School of Performance and Cultural Industries which is based in stage@leeds, a publicly licensed theatre at the heart of the University campus. As a student you’ll also have access to stage@leedsDigital, a virtual creative space for students, researchers, professional artists and international theatre companies. You’ll also have the opportunity to observe the process of performance making, as well as to gain practical experience through optional modules and work experience.

You’ll also benefit from our partnerships with a number of major cultural industries organisations in the city, including Opera North, Leeds Playhouse and Leeds Digital Festival.

Specialist facilities

Our School is based in stage@leeds, a purpose-built landmark building that sits at the heart of campus. As our student, you’ll have access to its two professional standard, publicly licensed theatres: the main space seats 180 and is equipped with the latest technologies, and the theatre studio provides a technically advanced performance research facility.

stage@leeds hosts a range of work by students and visiting theatre companies all year round. Within the building you’ll also find rehearsal rooms, two black-box studios, costume construction and wardrobe stores, a design studio, a scenic workshop, computer aided design facilities and video-editing and sound recording

Explore our facilities

Extensive resources

Our greatest resource is our links with the local community. Partnership working is fundamental to applied theatre, and the unique requests and needs of our community partners inspire and shape our work with them.

Leeds University Library is one of the UK’s major academic research libraries, and has extensive holdings to support your studies including Special Collections offering a huge range of rare books, manuscripts and art. You’ll have access to materials relating to Leeds Playhouse, Phoenix Dance Theatre, and more.

Many of the Library’s materials are available online, allowing you to access them from a distance. You’ll also have access to study services like one-to-one support and skills development workshops, which will help you to get the most out of your time with us.

Core modules introduce you to perspectives on performance and the creative economy in a global context. You’ll develop specialist knowledge about how aspects of global performing arts is influenced by historical, political and socio-economic evolution. Global performance in this context refers to both live and digital forms that are produced for educational and/or commercial purposes with international audiences in mind and is informed by international recommendations and regulations, such as the UNESCO 2003 Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention.

You can focus your studies in the areas that suit your interests and career plans by choosing optional modules which allow you to specialise in areas that include cultural policy, audience engagement, individual and collaborative projects.

By the end of the course you’ll demonstrate your skills and knowledge by completing an independent research project on a topic of your choice.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules

Year 1

Learning and teaching

You’ll benefit from a variety of teaching methods, including practical workshops, group learning, lectures, seminars, tutorials and fieldwork. You'll also undertake significant independent study, which will help you to develop your research skills and build up what you learn in the taught components.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed using a range of methods including small group presentations, reports, academic essays and extended individual research projects, or negotiated creative projects.

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a minimum 2:1 (Hons), or equivalent.

International

Our admissions team are experienced in considering a wide range of international qualifications. If you wish to discuss whether your qualifications will meet the necessary entry criteria, contact the School’s admissions team.

You can also check the accepted qualifications for your country or region.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Arts and Humanities (6 weeks) and Language for Social Science and Arts: Arts and Humanities (10 weeks).

If you need to study for longer than 10 weeks, read more about our postgraduate pre-sessional English course.

How to apply

Apply

This link takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Documents and information you need

• A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts, or partial transcripts if you're still studying (please submit an official English translation if necessary)

• Evidence of your English language qualifications, if English is not your first language

• A personal statement in response to the questions asked in the supporting statement section of the application form

• A full up-to-date CV

Next steps

We usually invite candidates for interview whenever possible – for all applicants, this can be done by phone.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures Postgraduate Admissions Policy 2021

Fees

• UK: £9,250 (total)
• International: £20,250 (total)

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Brexit 
Visit our Brexit page for the latest information on the effect of the UK's exit from the EU on current students and applicants to the University.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

This degree will open up a broad range of career opportunities within and around the cultural and creative industries. You’ll gain in-depth knowledge of theatre and performance in a global context allowing you to pursue an international career.

Careers may include an artistic practitioner, producer, administrator, theatre manager, policy maker, educator among others.

Graduates from similar courses have continued with their research and progressed to PhD study.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.