Human Resource Management for the Creative Industries at UCA

MA Human Resource Management for the Creative Industries course, taught in our creative specialist Business School, is a degree that gives you a unique opportunity to tailor your HR skills to better suit this dynamic sector of the economy.

Ideal for those seeking a more specialised route into careers within areas like gaming, fashion or publishing, this course will give you the knowledge and skills to thrive within the creative industries’ organisational context, and support you to develop the specialised management and leadership skills needed in the sector.

You will manage your own learning and development and enhance your own skills in critical enquiry, logical thought, creative imagination and independent judgement. You will also develop and consolidate informed professional and ethical competence across a range of industry specialisms.

Please note, this course has previously been offered with a MSc award, this route has been withdrawn from September 2024 entry.

 

Course entry options

Select from the following options to find out more about the different study options available for this course:

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Campus
UCA Epsom
Start date(s)
September 2025
Duration
1 year full-time
Entry requirements

Honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in the subject/related discipline
and/or
Relevant work experience

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Campus
UCA Epsom
Start date(s)
September 2025, January 2025
Duration
2 years full-time
Entry requirements

A recognised bachelor degree or 3 year diploma with a strong portfolio in a relevant subject

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Entry requirements
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What you'll study

What you'll
study

The content of the course may be subject to change. Curriculum content is provided as a guide.

For our students coming from a non-UK educational background, UCA has launched an Integrated International Pre-Masters year. 

On this course you’ll prepare for postgraduate study with a mix of online and face-to-face learning that will give you the study skills required to complete a Master’s, and you’ll also improve your English for academic study.

Strategic Human Resource Management
You will critically evaluate the contemporary relevance of human resources management practices and activities in evolving creative workspaces, with emphasis on the strategic role people management can contribute to the leadership, strategic direction, strategic planning and overall organisational performance indices of businesses. 

Human Resource Management Policy and Practice
This unit will provide you with a broad understanding of the management of HR in the creative workplace and of effective organisational learning practices in diverse cultural contexts. You will assess the role that HR Management plays in facilitating effective decision making and explore how creative organisations can effectively leverage the use of appropriate Learning and Development, and Talent Management practices, to create effective organisational value systems beneficial to the success of creative businesses. You will also assess the role of HR in effectively managing workforce in a volatile, uncertain complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world.

Work Design & Organisational Change
This will provide you with a broad understanding of the principles and practices of work design and organisational change in the creative sector and their dynamic relationship with organisational structure and culture in a constantly changing global business environment. It will also explore the role of leadership in navigating through change in organisations and towards ethical, responsible and sustainable forms of management within the creative sector.

International Human Resource Management for the Global Workplace
You will develop a critical awareness of how contemporary HR management practices can be made relevant to the global workplace in international and multinational organisations, and examine the critical differences in approach from domestic practice to International HR Managementand how what to consider when managing a globally mobile and diverse workforce with the creative sector and within culturally diverse contexts.

Final Major Project
The culmination of your studies, the Final Major Project is the opportunity to conceptualise and carry out a project that relates directly to your career ambitions and that will facilitate your path into a career in or related to your course content in the creative industries. It will take the form of a Research Project Proposal (20% of your final mark) and the Final Project (80%)

This unit is self-directed, although you will be supported through taught research methods classes, support workshops and through supervision meetings.

Course specifications

Please note, syllabus content indicated is provided as a guide. The content of the course may be subject to change in line with our Student Terms and Conditions for example, as required by external professional bodies or to improve the quality of the course.

Fees & funding

Fees & financial support

Tuition fees

  • 2025/26: £10,500

Tuition fees

Tuition fees

  • 2025/26 (MA): £18,000
  • 2025/26 (Integrated International Pre-Masters course - Sept & Jan): £17,500
  • 2025/26 (Integrated International Pre-Masters course - May): £8,750

Please note: the fees listed here are correct for the stated academic year only. For more detailed information about our course fees please see our fees and finance pages

UCA scholarships and fee discounts

At UCA we have a number of financial support information available to assist you with the cost of your studies.

Current UCA students and alumni may be eligible for a tuition fee discount.

Financial support

There are lots of ways you can access additional financial support to help you fund your studies - both from UCA and from external sources. Discover what support you might qualify for please see our scholarships and fee discounts.

Additional course costs

In addition to the tuition fees there may be other costs for your course. The things that you are likely to need to budget for to get the most out of a creative arts education will include books, printing costs, occasional or optional study trips and/or project materials.

These costs will vary according to the nature of your project work and the individual choices that you make. Please see the Additional Course Costs section of the Course Information Document for details of the costs you may incur.

Explore our gradshow

Each year, we’re privileged to be able to share our graduates’ incredible work with the world. And now’s your chance to take a look.

Visit the online showcase

Facilities

The UCA Business School for the Creative Industries, based at our Epsom campus, is the first of its kind in the UK. There’s dedicated studios and study areas, digital media suites equipped with Macs and PCs which are programmed with specialist software including Adobe Creative Suite, Dreamweaver and After Effects. There’s a modern library with a wealth of books and thanks to its location, many collaborative opportunities with students from other courses.

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Business School, UCA Epsom

Business School, UCA Epsom

Business School, UCA Epsom

Business School, UCA Epsom

Career opportunities

Graduates of this unique course benefit from the opportunity to tailor their HR skills to suit their specialised interests within the creative industry, while gaining essential knowledge of leadership skills, critical enquiry, logical thought and creative imagination.

Graduates might progress into HR management role within any number of creative industries including:

  • Fashion
  • Art
  • Music
  • Film
  • Gaming

You may want to undertake further study or research to specialise even further.

Entry requirements

This course does not require a portfolio.

Select your country to find the equivalent requirements

Apply now

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