Program Overview

Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership

The Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership is a postgraduate program that fosters highly-valued leadership skills, exploring a range of areas across curating and cultural leadership through industry engagement and professional experience.

Program Overview

This degree is designed for those interested in exploring a wide range of areas across curating and cultural leadership through industry engagement and professional experience with galleries, libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions. The program provides pathways for both those with backgrounds in museums, galleries, arts organisations, art history, and art practice, and those who wish to enter curating or cultural leadership from other professional backgrounds.

Key Features

• Industry-engaged learning experiences: Throughout the program, students participate in curatorial studios and industry-engaged courses to produce and contribute to public cultural events in collaboration with different industry partners.
• Capstone project: In the final year, students undertake a capstone project to consolidate their skills and develop a strong identity as a professional in the cultural industries. This can involve an internship or a self-directed cultural project tailored to build skills, professional network, and open future employment opportunities.
• International perspectives: The program includes international visiting curators and the opportunity to go overseas through the annual World Biennales course, focusing on global art and taking students on expertly guided trips to major exhibitions and cultural events.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership has three entry points with different durations and units of credit (UOC) required for completion:

• 2-year program (96 UOC): Eligible with a Bachelors degree in any field with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average (65%).
• 1.7-year program (72 UOC): Eligible with a Bachelors degree in a related field with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average (65%).
• 1-year program (48 UOC): Eligible with an Honours degree in a related field.

English Language Requirements

Students may be asked to provide evidence of their English proficiency to study at UNSW, depending on their educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments, and examinations.

Program Structure

The Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership offers a customizable structure with flexible entry and exit points and offers full-time and part-time study options. Depending on the length of the program, students complete a combination of core courses and prescribed electives.

Future Careers

Graduates are prepared to be independent professionals, able to undertake leadership, research, and innovation across a wide range of curating, exhibition, arts policy, and management contexts. Career opportunities include arts and cultural leadership, curatorship, festival and event management, art dealing, and more.

Fees and Scholarships

• Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP): Available for this degree, with indicative CSP fees provided for the first year and to complete the degree.
• Full Fee: Indicative full fees are provided for the first year and to complete the degree.
• Scholarships: Various scholarships are available to support students, including the Nick Waterlow Curatorial Scholarship and the Freedman Curatorial Scholarship.