Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management)
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) |
| Deakin course code | M785 |
| Course credit points | 12 |
| Course version | 2 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Business and Law |
| Course information | For students who commenced from 2020 onwards |
| Campus | This course is only offered Online |
| Duration | 1.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Course map - enrolment planning tool | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2027 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9 |
| Supplementary information | Please note that this course is not offered in Trimester 3. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS – Please note that due to Australian Government regulations, student visas to enter Australia cannot be issued to students who enrol in Deakin online courses. |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Inclusive support for learning and participation
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Alternative exits
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Other learning experiences
- Research and research-related study
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Prepare for leadership in the arts and creative industries with a degree designed to increase your impact. Blend deep arts industry connections and advanced management education in Australia’s only business school-based arts management program. You will gain distinct advantages for a sector facing acute skills shortages in management and leadership.
Build expertise in cultural leadership, strategy, marketing, finance and project management, applying your learning through industry-linked projects and collaborations with arts organisations. Specialisations include event management, marketing management and leadership. Led by academics with extensive arts sector backgrounds and research relationships, course assessments, projects and content reflect the unique challenges of the field.
Connect with like-minded professionals and, whether you’re building on prior study or professional experience, develop your readiness for leadership roles in arts and creative organisations.
Indicative student workload
You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Professional recognition
Deakin Business School holds both AACSB and EQUIS accreditations. These prestigious accreditations are awarded to business schools that meet strict standards of quality, academic and professional excellence, and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing improvement and innovation in their courses, ensuring graduates are employable worldwide.
Career opportunities
The course’s strong reputation in the industry leads to great career outcomes. Your qualification, in combination with your extensive industry experience, will prepare you for leadership and senior management roles across a range of settings including:
- arts and cultural venues
- community arts and cultural development
- festivals
- performing and visual arts
- museums and galleries
- publishing houses
- screen industries
- touring companies.
Many leaders within the industry are graduates from this course and have gone on to work in high-profile organisations such as:
- Arts Centre Melbourne
- Australian Ballet
- Creative Partnerships Australia
- Federal, state and local government arts departments
- Melbourne Fringe Festival
- Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)
- Museum Victoria
- National Gallery of Australia
- Opera Australia
- Regional Arts Australia
- Theatre Network Australia.
This degree will also put you in a strong position to explore some of the high-demand areas within the industry, including audience development, relationship management, festival programming, policy development, production and tour management, fundraising and development, digital content and social media marketing.
Inclusive support for learning and participation
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, you can contact our Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) team for a collaborative and confidential discussion.
Participation requirements
Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.
Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.Mandatory student checks
Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.
Alternative exits
| Graduate Certificate of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) (M519) | |
| Graduate Diploma of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) (M665) |
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Assess a broad range of specialised management approaches and their application to arts organisations, while contributing to new discipline knowledge and extending current arts management practice |
| Determine appropriate communication strategies and techniques in the practice of arts management |
| Apply the use of digital technologies in relation to arts the practice of arts management |
| Appraise and synthesise information in order to understand and apply theories of arts management and extend current practice |
| Determine solutions to a diverse range of current and emerging arts management challenges and issues |
| Personalise reflections on arts management practice and plan professional careers |
| Participate and collaborate with arts management practitioners |
| Incorporate arts management theory and practice from a range of cultural and international contexts and address the requirements of ethical practice |
Course rules
To complete the Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) you must pass 8 or 12 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.
A 12-credit point Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 8 credit points of core units
- 4 credit points of open elective units.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:-
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin |
Core units
| MMK792 | Arts Marketing |
| MMM790 | Arts Management |
| MBA702 | Financial Decision Making |
| MMH701 | Human Resource Strategy |
| MMM799 | Arts Fundraising and Sponsorship |
| MMM796 | Managing Arts in Community Settings |
| MMM707 | Creative Industries |
| MMM793 | Managing Events (Capstone) |
Open electives
The remaining 4 credit points may be selected from:
Recommended electives^
a postgraduate business specialisation* or any business units not previously studied
postgraduate units offered by the University (subject to eligibility)
Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials)
^Recommended electives
| MPT712/MPM712 | Managing Innovation # |
| MBA704 | Marketing, Consumers, and the Marketplace |
| MBR701/MBA701 | Strategy and Innovation Management: Managing Value and Risk |
| AIP773 | Accountability, Integrity and Governance |
| MMK713 | Consumer Behaviour |
MWL Units:
| MWL705 | Business for Social Impact |
| MWL716 | Consultancy Experience |
| MWL718 | Internship |
*Recommended specialisations:
# MPT code denotes study tour version of the unit
Stackable short courses
Mix and match Deakin stackable short courses (0.5 credit point microcredentials) to earn up to 1 credit point of open electives, subject to eligibility. Any stacking must add up to a whole number to be used for credit. For more information, visit the Deakin stackable short course options.
Work experience
This course provides students the opportunity to complete one or more elective work integrated learning units.
Explore Business and Law WIL opportunities.
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Other learning experiences
This course includes the option of other learning experiences including residential and study tour units.
Research and research-related study
Principles of academic and research integrity are embedded within the core units undertaken for this course
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.