MA/MSc Innovation and Creative Strategy
1 year Full-time classroom
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The management consulting services industry is expected to grow at an average rate of ten percent year-on-year, reaching a size of approximately 1.3 trillion U.S. dollars by 2026 (Statista 2022).
This exciting course will give you a transformative educational experience that combines design thinking, entrepreneurial leadership and real-world client briefs from start-up charities to Fortune 500 corporations to develop your innovative and entrepreneurial mindset.
You will learn in a creative environment and undertake live projects across the whole year, working with our academics and researchers alongside real-world clients in the designated design studio that replicates an agency environment.
Hear from the team at Northumbria University:
Please note the programme title has since changed to MA/MSc Innovation and Creative Strategy
The MA/MSc Innovation and Creative Strategy programme is about using design-led innovation and entrepreneurial leadership to make the world a better place.
You will be taught by experts, work with leading professionals, and be coached by an innovator in residence/studio leader at our design studio to develop high-level employability skills combined with creative confidence and an entrepreneurial mindset.
This Masters covers all stages of the innovation process, from research and exploring problems, through to developing strategies, presenting your ideas and analysing the outcomes. By the end of the course, you will be confident in putting your innovative ideas into practice.
Due to meaningful innovation happening when different disciplines work together, students from any discipline and background can join the course and benefit from gaining high-level employability skills combined with creative confidence and entrepreneurial agency.
This programme will enable you to engage directly with potential employers where you will showcase your skills and develop your confidence, capabilities and employability whilst building your professional network.
At the end of this course, you will be prepared to take on strategic roles by adding your critical thinking skills, strategic innovation, and research projects to your CV that you have undertaken with organisations from the likes of micro-charities to global corporations.
Previous graduates from this course have secured senior roles within large organisations, including roles such as:
Regardless of your discipline, Innovation and Creative Strategy opens the door to many different options post-study. These can include finding an innovation-based career in a consultancy, starting up an enterprise or even a small business.
Hear from the team at Northumbria University:
Please note the programme title has changed to MA/MSc Innovation and Creative Strategy
Hear how we work with external organisations:
Please note the programme title has changed to MA/MSc Innovation and Creative Strategy
Applicants with non-standard prior learning and or relevant work experience and training are encouraged to apply. A CV (curriculum vitae) made up of prior work experience and training would need to be submitted for consideration by our faculty alongside the standard application.
Candidates coming through the non-standard route, such as through relevant work experience or old qualifications, will be invited to discuss their application.
All applications will be considered on an individual basis.
Please note that if your qualifications are not in English, we might need certified translations in order to proceed with your application.
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Please visit our entry requirements page for country-specific qualifications.
Please note that if your qualifications are not in English, we might need certified translations in order to proceed with your application.
Masters Foundation programme
Alternatively, you may also be eligible for one of our Pre-Masters courses. These are pathway programmes designed specifically for students who require additional support to meet the entry requirements of their chosen Masters degree.
All modules on this course are core and 60 credits unless otherwise stated.
This module provides a grounding in the concepts, methods and principles of three key fields of knowledge: Action Research & Reflective Practice, Cross Cultural Collaboration, and Innovation & Enterprise. You will appreciate the transferability of design thinking and will be able apply your knowledge in different contexts and domains.
Through this module you will learn about the three fields of design knowledge described above, which you will interpret relative to your own practice. You will apply this knowledge in co-creative practice and will reflect on your experience to summarise the utility and limitations of methods employed. You will learn about action research methods and will build your own action research process models and recording templates that you will apply in practice to facilitate your development as a reflective practitioner.
In parallel you will learn about theories of enterprise and innovation and will apply this knowledge in action by exploring business models and intellectual property. You will also learn about cross-cultural collaboration by applying relevant concepts from literature whilst working in multi-cultural teams.
The underpinning knowledge and understanding will be applied in the context of a collaborative project with industry or other organisation, which will help you learn effective ways of working in multi-cultural/multi-disciplinary teams.
During this module, you will be introduced to and undertake design-led innovation practice. You will develop a detailed understanding of the principles and a range of approaches to innovation practice, through the phases of: Set-up, Problem & Solution Exploration, Strategy Development, Pitch, and Unpack. You will learn about the range of methods and resources that support design-led innovation practice and be encouraged to challenge and adapt them.
You will be introduced to key knowledge and concepts about the practicing professional, his/her self-development and the broader contexts of the team, the organisation, and the commercial environment. You will enter into the process of personal and professional development within the context of multidisciplinary innovation teams, and in the aspects of project planning, coordination and management.
You will tackle, as part of a multidisciplinary team, a range of innovation projects, working with external organisations and communities. During these projects, you will be coached, supervised and challenged as you learn how best to contribute your knowledge and expertise within a multidisciplinary team. You’ll learn about different forms of innovation and design-led co-creation, by practicing:
This module will enable you to carry out design-led innovation projects, and demonstrate your strategic innovation practice. You will learn how design-led innovation facilitates co-created strategy, develops new organisational creative functionality and establishes strategic insights and assets. You’ll also design innovative policies, systems, services, products, communications, strategies and ways of working within a team.
You will also be introduced to key concepts including understanding and leading teams, communities of practice, and competitiveness and strategy. Other key areas of focus will be the aspects of brand development, strategic goal setting, and business modelling.
In this module, you will develop your understanding of different forms of innovation and design-led co-creation, by:
During this module, you will undertake design-led innovation practice with a particular focus on responsibility. Through practice, you will learn how to lead organisations and communities; responding to their local issues in the context of mega trends; developing a proposal informed by the impacts and consequences of innovation.
Within a multidisciplinary team, you will go through design-led responsible innovation framing and address a complex innovation project within your client’s context. Individually you will produce a change plan for enabling your team’s proposal.
You will identify key concepts related to responsible business practice, resilient communities, and mega trends. You will also focus on the aspects of innovation horizons, local, national and global policies, and knowledge and transformation economies.
Within this module, you will refine your understanding about the value of design-led co-creation, by producing a responsible business proposal that justifies a vision and resourcing based upon:
The course information displayed on this page is correct for the academic year 2024/25. We aim to run the course as advertised however, changes may be necessary due to updates to the curriculum (due to academic or industry developments), student demand or UK compliance reasons.
Please note that your tuition fees do not include the cost of course books that you may choose to purchase, stationery, printing and photocopying, accommodation, living expenses, travel or any other extracurricular activities. As a Northumbria University London Campus student, you will have full access to our online digital library with over 400,000 e-books and 50,000 electronic journals.
The modules you will study do not require you to purchase additional textbooks although we recommend you allow an additional £100 for the duration of your studies should you choose to purchase any additional reading materials.
Information for international students
Northumbria University is committed to providing the best possible experience to all our students. To ensure you secure your place with us, we require our international students to pay a deposit towards their fees. More information can be found here.
Your tuition fees cover far more than your time in class with our expert academics, it covers the cost of providing you with excellent services and student experience.
If you are an international student and choose to study this programme, you may be eligible for a either bursary or academic scholarship.
All of our scholarships and bursaries are automatically applied when we process your application and our team will be able to confirm your eligibility.
London Cost of Living Bursary
Eligible international students will receive an automatic bursary for £1,334, covering one month’s living costs in London*, applied at the Conditional Offer as a fee discount. This bursary is effective for intakes in January 2025 and May 2025. This offer excludes Pre-sessional English, standalone Graduate Certificate programmes and sponsored applicants.
If you receive this bursary, you may still be eligible for additional bursaries and scholarships, these will be confirmed at the Unconditional Offer stage. Full maintenance costs still need to be evidenced when applying for your visa.
This bursary is only available for international students from specific countries. Please visit our Scholarships page for more information.
*As defined by UKVI
If you need to spread the cost of your tuition, you may be eligible for our payment plan.
If you are a UK or Home student, you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan of up to £10,000+ from the UK Government. Click here to find out more about the loan and whether you are eligible to receive it.
Enquire now to find out to find out more information about the course, studying with us, the application process, and to ask any other questions you may have.
Once you’re ready to apply, you can apply online to study 1 year MA/MSc Innovation and Creative Strategy. This method allows you to upload your supporting documents at the time of application and automatically receive your student application number.
Please note: For 2025 applications you will be redirected to the Northumbria website to select which intake you would like to apply for.
| Apply for 2025 | |
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| Apply for 1 Year MA/MSc |
We strongly recommend that you submit your application as early as possible to allow you to complete all of the preparations needed to study your programme. After receiving an offer it can take time to arrange your finances and apply for your visa (if required) and it is important that you arrive in good time to enrol onto your course. Please refer to the Dates and Fees page.
Supporting documents
For us to assess your application in a timely manner, it is important that you provide us with the following documents:
You can check more information on how to apply here, including guidelines for the application forms.
At Northumbria University London we welcome applications from disabled students and are committed to ensuring an equal and accessible application journey. Your application will be considered on an equal basis to all other applications. Please contact us if you require any assistance. This website is continually optimised to adhere to accessibility best practice guidelines; tools to assist users with specific accessibility requirements have also been provided. More information is available in our accessibility statement.
Innovation and Creative Strategy is a one-year masters course, either available as an MA or MSc, which focuses on teaching students how to use design-led innovation practice to tackle complex problems with creative solutions. Students will benefit from being coached by an innovator in residence at our design studio where they will experience an agency environment and work on live-client briefs.
This Innovation and Creative Strategy course is available to students from all disciplines and backgrounds, allowing you to grow your professional network in class and at industry events, as well as work alongside like-minded students and clients.
This Innovation and Creative Strategy programme is perfect for anyone looking to expand their current skills and knowledge, or are looking to embark upon a new career. Innovation skills such as Creative thinking, Analytical thinking and Systems thinking are highly sought-after in a wide range of occupations, so the expertise you’ll learn in this course will apply to a variety of job roles.
You will receive a Master’s Degree either in a Master of Arts (MA) or a Master of Science (MSc), depending upon which research methodology you develop for your thesis, as well as the experience of working on between 5-7 live client projects which will boost your employability when added to your CV.
Previous graduates from this course have secured senior roles within large organisations, started their own businesses and charities, or gone on to PhD level study and academic careers. With the knowledge, skills and experiences you’ll learn on this creative course, you’ll be at an advantage no matter the path you choose.
If you have more questions you would like answered, please enquire below and a study advisor will be in touch with you shortly.
Dr Daniel Harrison – Programme leader
Daniel is a designer, computer scientist, social scientist and ethnographic researcher who currently works as a programme leader at Northumbria University. Daniel has a cross-disciplinary background and research interests in human-computer interaction, behaviour change, health informatics, personal tracking and the application of AI, with experience in design and clinical settings.
Experience
Mr Charlie Richardson – Innovator in Residence
Charlie has been working as a lecturer for Northumbria University since November 2019, following his time working with many diverse businesses and backgrounds post-graduation.
Charlie has a strong passion for human-centred design and business innovation with experience in successfully launching a start-up business.
Experience
Postgraduate
UK/Home Fee: £9,250
International Fee: £18,250
Minimum 2:2 honours degree, or equivalent, from a recognised university in any subject
IELTS 6.5, with no single element below 5.5 or equivalent
Full-time classroom
1 year
Coursework
Available
Available
Available
January, September