MBA Cultural and Creative Leader Apprenticeship

To be accepted on to an apprenticeship course you must have support from your employer and meet the course entry requirements.

The apprentice must:

• have a minimum of two years’ experience in a relevant management role in the cultural and creative sector
• at least a UK 2:2 honours degree (or an equivalent overseas professional qualification)

Applicants may still be considered for entry if they do not meet these criteria but have significant management experience and/or a record of achievement in business and leadership.

Eligibility for apprenticeship funding in England

To qualify for apprenticeship funding in England, an apprentice must meet all the criteria outlined by the Department for Education in the Apprenticeship Funding Rules. These requirements apply to programmes starting between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2026.

1. Right to work

The apprentice must have the legal right to work in England.

2. Residency eligibility

The apprentice must meet the residency requirements detailed in Annex A of the Funding Rules. This includes (but is not limited to):

• being ordinarily resident in the UK (or specified territories) for at least three years immediately before the apprenticeship begins, unless a specific exemption applies
• exemptions may apply to individuals with:
  • refugee status or humanitarian protection
  • permission under the Ukraine or Afghan schemes
  • stateless status
  • certain family member rights
  • pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

3. Visa duration and completion viability

For apprentices with time-limited immigration permission (such as visas), the permission must cover the entire duration of the apprenticeship, including the end-point assessment. If the visa expires before completion, the apprentice is not eligible for funding.

See our website for fees

Competition and Collaboration

Expand your understanding of leadership by engaging with all aspects of organisational development and change management.

Develop your critical perspective on institutional practices by gaining detailed knowledge on vision, mission, culture and values, organisation structures and stakeholders, strategic workforce planning and development, and crisis and risk management strategies.

Learn how to lead on change management, shape competitive strategies, collaborate on defining your organisational vision and work with teams to deliver that vision.

Conflict and Care

Develop a critical awareness of external environments that impact your work as a cultural and creative leader globally.

Recognise the most challenging social, political, ethical, and conceptual issues that affect your cultural field and determine how to lead ‘carefully’ in response to them.

Expand your key practices and theories and develop your advanced leadership skills by gaining knowledge of innovative and alternative methodologies for the sector.

Learn about the expertise in place for cultural and creative leaders including future design, systems thinking, knowledge/data management, research methodologies, and sustainable strategies and outcomes.

Reflexivity and Resilience

Demonstrate and share your knowledge from your experience as a cultural and creative leader. Learn advanced skills for personal development, presentation, and marketing. Discover how to execute the development of a self-initiated business project for your organisation within the cultural and creative sector.

Modules offered may vary.