Cultural Studies: Culture and Organisation (MA)

This Master's programme explores the intersections between culture, the arts and organisations, combining cultural studies with practical perspectives on how organisations operate and innovate. You will examine how art and cultural institutions are organised and how organisational life becomes culturalised, while developing a solid grounding in the history and methods of cultural studies. The programme is taught in English and designed to introduce you to both analytical frameworks and applied practices in a range of fields.

Coursework covers topics such as the role of digital media in organisations, cultural entrepreneurship and organisational theory, and balances theory with hands-on learning—examples include museum excursions and other practical modules. Electives let you specialise according to your interests; sample options listed in the programme include "Capitalist Dynamics and Social Change" and "Management and Change", enabling interdisciplinary pathways across social sciences, arts and management.

Graduates are prepared for roles in academia as well as professional paths in the cultural and creative industries, media, the arts, public sector institutions, urban development and charitable organisations. Throughout the programme you will build transferable skills in critical analysis, project design, and organisational and cultural strategy—useful for research, management and entrepreneurial positions in cultural contexts.

Requirements (check the official programme page for exact, up-to-date details)

• A first university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) — general requirement for admission to a Master's programme
• Proficiency in English (programme language is English)
• Standard application documents such as academic transcripts, curriculum vitae and a statement of motivation
• Check the programme website for specific entry criteria, required documents, deadlines and any additional selection procedures

Curriculum overview

This MA combines a focused core with flexible, interdisciplinary options to explore how culture, organisations and the arts are produced, managed and change. The core syllabus covers central themes such as organisations and organising in cultural fields, cultural entrepreneurship, digital media, and cultural sociology. These modules give you theoretical grounding and analytical tools for studying institutions, creative practices and the social processes that shape cultural life.

Alongside the core, the programme offers three complementary strands that let you both specialise and broaden your perspective. Electives let you deepen or widen your expertise (for example, organisation theory, digital cultures or critical cultural studies), and you can also choose entrepreneurship or business-related modules if you want more practice-oriented skills. Integration modules bring together students from all Master’s programmes in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, introducing the history, research methods and current debates in cultural studies. Complementary Studies let you take courses beyond your immediate field to address broader contemporary challenges for culture and society.

These four components are designed to prepare you for a research-based Master’s dissertation and active participation in the Master’s Forum—a collegial colloquium where you present and discuss your dissertation project. Graduates will leave with strong research skills, interdisciplinary analytical capacities, practical insights into cultural entrepreneurship and digital practices, and experience presenting and defending independent research.

Program components / requirements (concise)

• Core area: modules on organisations and organising culture and the arts, cultural entrepreneurship, digital media, and cultural sociology
• Electives: options to specialise or broaden (e.g., organisation theory, digital cultures, critical studies); entrepreneurship or business modules are possible
• Integration modules (Cultural Studies): joint courses across Faculty Master’s programmes covering history, methods and current debates in cultural studies
• Complementary Studies: courses outside the immediate field to broaden understanding of contemporary cultural and societal issues
• Research-based Master’s dissertation
• Master’s Forum (colloquium): presentation and discussion of your dissertation project

Key learning outcomes

• Ability to analyse organisations and organisational practices within cultural and artistic contexts
• Practical and theoretical competence in cultural entrepreneurship and digital media practices
• Familiarity with cultural sociology and critical/theoretical approaches in cultural studies
• Research design and execution skills to produce a substantive, research-based Master’s thesis
• Experience in academic presentation, peer discussion and interdisciplinary collaboration

Graduates are equipped for roles in academia and research as well as applied positions across the cultural and creative industries, media organisations, museums, arts administration, urban development initiatives, public sector agencies and non-profit organisations. The programme emphasises analytical and organisational skills, cultural policy literacy and project/entrepreneurial competence relevant to these fields.

Alumni can work as cultural managers, policy advisors, curators, project coordinators, consultants for cultural organisations or continue to doctoral studies. Elective choices (e.g. entrepreneurship or management modules) allow you to tailor your profile towards either research-driven careers or practice-oriented roles in organisations and the cultural economy.