Music, Management and Innovation MA
School of Languages, Arts and Societies,
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Management School,
Faculty of Social Sciences
-
Start date
September 2026 -
Duration
1 year 2 years -
Attendance
Full-time Part-time
Explore this course:
Apply now for 2026 entry and book to join us at our next postgraduate online open day on Wednesday 26 November 2025.
Course description
Our programme is designed to prepare future leaders capable of navigating and influencing the evolving landscape of the global music industries.
As music increasingly becomes one of the world's most dynamic and rapidly growing creative sectors, you'll explore established areas such as recording, publishing and live performance, alongside emerging fields including gaming, music and wellbeing, public policy, and the implications of new technologies.
Through practical experiences and collaborative projects, you'll develop essential transferable skills - such as critical thinking, strategic planning and creative problem-solving - that help you address complex challenges and identify opportunities within this expanding global industry.
The programme offers the flexibility to specialise in areas of interest, while providing comprehensive insight into leadership principles tailored specifically to music and wider creative industry contexts. Whether you aspire to join established music organisations, pursue entrepreneurial ventures, embark on academic research in music, or enhance your expertise with cutting-edge innovations, you'll graduate equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in this internationally significant and fast-developing sector.
Accreditation
The Department of Music is an All-Steinway School. The Management School is Triple Crown accredited, by AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB.
Modules
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we will inform students and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
Open days
Interested in postgraduate taught study? Join us at our next postgraduate online open day on Wednesday 26 November 2025 to find out what makes studying at Sheffield special.
Book your place on our next postgraduate online open day
You can also register your interest to find out more about studying here and future events.
Duration
- 1 year full-time
- 2 years part-time
We offer flexible study options to accommodate different professional circumstances. You can complete the MA Music, Management and Innovation as a one-year full-time programme, allowing you to immerse yourself completely in your studies and progress rapidly through the curriculum.
Alternatively, for those who wish to balance their education with professional commitments, we provide a two-year part-time pathway. This extended timeframe enables you to apply your learning directly to workplace challenges while maintaining a manageable study schedule.
Teaching
The MA Music, Management and Innovation represents a distinctive collaboration between two world-class faculties at the University of Sheffield. Your learning experience spans both the School of Languages, Arts and Societies and the Management School, giving you access to specialist expertise across both disciplines.
Teaching takes place across our modern campus facilities, including sessions in The Diamond building, The Wave and dedicated spaces within both schools.
Students benefit from music's professional-standard facilities including the SoundHouse recording studios and performance venues, alongside the Management School's contemporary teaching and collaboration spaces and technology labs.
This cross-departmental approach means you learn from academics with diverse specialisms - from music scholars with deep industry knowledge, to management experts with broader business perspectives. This integration creates a learning environment that balances creative industry practices with management principles, preparing you to navigate the complex realities of today's music industries with confidence and insight.
Teaching staff may vary from year to year, but the programme is expected to be delivered by the following supervisors:
- Learn more about your supervisors
Changes to the teaching staff on the programme are possible, but are likely to include:
Assessment
This course employs a diverse range of assessment methods designed to evaluate both theoretical understanding and practical application.
You'll complete individual academic essays that demonstrate your critical engagement with key concepts and debates within the music industries. Presentations allow you to develop and showcase your communication skills while articulating complex ideas to different audiences.
Group projects mirror professional practice in the music industries, where collaboration is essential. These assessments develop your teamwork capabilities whilst tackling realistic industry scenarios. Business reports provide opportunities to present research findings and strategic recommendations in formats widely used across the sector.
This varied assessment approach ensures you develop a comprehensive skill set relevant to music industry contexts, from academic writing and critical analysis, to professional communication and collaborative working practices.
Each assessment is designed to evaluate different aspects of your learning while building capabilities that transfer directly to professional environments.
School
School of Languages, Arts and Societies
Music at Sheffield, situated within the School of Languages, Arts and Societies, has a distinguished heritage of musical scholarship and creative practice. Established in 1927, it has evolved into one of the UK's most diverse music departments, balancing traditional musicological study with cutting-edge research and performance.
Music at Sheffield has particular expertise in musicology, ethnomusicology, composition, performance, music psychology, music technology and global music industries. This breadth of specialisms creates a rich academic environment where traditional approaches meet innovative thinking about music's role in society and culture.
Based in the Jessop Building, music at Sheffield benefits from purpose-built facilities including seminar rooms, practice spaces and specialised research areas. The adjacent SoundHouse provides professional-standard recording studios, rehearsal rooms and music technology suites where students can develop practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge. Music at Sheffield also utilises performance venues across campus, including the Firth Hall and the Drama Studio, for student and professional concerts.
Management School
We are a leading management school with Triple Crown accreditation (AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS). These awards have been achieved through the outstanding quality of our programmes, research output, support for students and alumni, and links with industry. We have a world-class reputation for high quality teaching, ground-breaking research and cutting-edge thinking.
You’ll be part of a dynamic and engaging management school that puts you and your future at the heart of everything it does. We balance a rigorous academic foundation with practical skills to ensure you are ready for the world of work.
We want you to develop skills so you can apply course content in a company setting. Our close links with organisations keep us in tune with the changing demands of the workplace. We know what employers are looking for.
You'll learn from experts - many are former industry professionals and they work closely with businesses. Because our academics are world-leading researchers, your education will draw on the most current management theories.
We want you to engage with the academic content, be conscientious and take an independent approach to study. We want you to be informed, innovative and proactive and do everything we can to support and enhance your career, steering you in the right direction with all the knowledge and skills you require.
You'll benefit from tailored on-site and online professional careers support, dedicated skills sessions and events with experts from world-leading organisations and professional bodies. These activities will help guide your personal and professional development to help you secure your dream placement, internship or graduate role.
Student profiles
Entry requirements
Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in any subject.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 (with 6 in each component) or University equivalent.
Other requirements
You will be asked to provide a statement in support of your application.
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school.
Fees and funding
Alumni discount
Save up to £2,500 on your course fees
Are you a Sheffield graduate? You could save up to £2,500 on your postgraduate taught course fees, subject to eligibility.
Apply
You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.
Contact
Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.
Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.