Arts business schools

Why study at an arts business school?

Arts business schools are specialist institutions that are entirely creative. Different from large universities, they focus on creative environments without sharing facilities with other subjects or disciplines. A creative university generates unique communities of artists, designers, makers, writers and researchers.

Arts school doesn’t always mean ‘art’ in the traditional sense. It does include fine art and crafts, but it also includes other creative disciplines such as computer games design, creative coding, architecture, journalism, film and fashion.

Although you’re within a business school, there's a strong emphasis on creativity, enterprise and innovation. You develop the practical skills needed by creative industries through project based-learning with active exploration of real-world cases in the creative industries. You graduate with practical knowledge, industry connections and good qualifications. 

What kind of coursework and exams are there?

Assessment methods vary. In some instances it'll be entirely based on your portfolio, which can include creative marketing reports, social media campaigns, films and dissertations. Some courses include exams alongside coursework assessment.

What degree can you get?

You can study for a BA or BSc in many creative areas including:

• Advertising
• Business Innovation & Management
• Business Management
• Fashion Management & Marketing
• Marketing
• Music Marketing & Promotion

What qualifications do you need?

Entry requirements for creative business courses vary depending on the institution, subject and level of study. For undergraduate degrees, universities can ask for A Level (or equivalent) grades or UCAS points. They may also need you to have experience within the field of study, to supply a portfolio or to complete a foundation year of study.

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

There's a variety of opportunities for study at postgraduate level, including:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Arts (MA)
• Master of Science (MSc)
• International MBA
• Master of Architecture (MArch)
• Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
• Master of Research (MRes)
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

What are the job opportunities?

Figures published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) show that the UK’s creative industries are stronger than ever. Over 2.9 million people work in the UK’s creative economy, which is worth £84.1 billion.

There are a number of potential creative career paths including set designer, fashion stylist, app developer and 3D animator.

There are also many business-focused careers within the creative industries, such as fashion buyers, copywriters, art directors and trend forecasters