OVERVIEW

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Master of Arts in Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship, hereafter referred to as the MA (Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship), is offered by the Department of Communications and New Media in the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS).

The MA (Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship) is the first programme of its kind to be developed and launched in the region. It is a truly interdisciplinary programme, integrating the subjects of arts and culture with entrepreneurship and management, as well as the emerging technologies and digital expertise of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0).

Focusing on creativity and creative entrepreneurship, the programme is designed to cater to the needs of creative professionals and to meet the strong demands of Singapore’s and Asia’s fast-evolving Cultural and Creative Industry (CCI) sector.

The programme also examines the uses of creativity as a progressive force for culture, economy and society. Students will learn from industry practitioners and professional educators about entrepreneurial creativity, and how it shapes new enterprises and leads entrepreneurial growth.

Students will acquire professional expertise and knowledge to succeed in the arts, cultural and creative sectors, and become highly skilled, ethical and reflective practitioners who can make an impact in the sectors they choose to be involved with. They will be exposed to core strategic skills in the administration, management and leadership of arts and cultural organisations, resources and infrastructures, from managing festivals, events and museums, to working in community development, heritage tourism, education and government.


Why This Programme?

  • Gain exposure to the rich cultural resources at NUS and be immersed directly in the industry through internships and experiential learning, made possible by partnerships with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth’s Culture Academy Singapore and the NUS Centre for the Arts, as well as collaborations with the University’s existing arts infrastructure such as the NUS Museum, NUS Baba House, and its University Cultural Centre.

  • Make the most of the world-class expertise offered by FASS faculty members, network with leaders in the arts and creative sectors, and be equipped with skills through application-led theory and practice for career progression through an optional internship.

  • Be assured with a programme that has received positive feedback and support from key figures and stakeholders in the CCI sector across the region.

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION

Application Period
An Academic Year (AY) at NUS consists of two semesters and a special term (which occurs during the Semester 2 Vacation, and is divided into two parts of six weeks duration each):

  • Semester 1: Aug–Dec
  • Semester 2: Jan–May
  • Special Term (Part 1): May–Jun
  • Special Term (Part 2): Jun–Jul

For the MA (Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship) programme, there are two application periods for each AY:

Programme Intake Application Dates
MA (Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship) Semester 1
(Aug Intake)
1 Sep to 30 Nov of year preceding the intake year
MA (Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship) Semester 2
(Jan Intake)
1 Dec two years before intake year to 31 May of year preceding the intake year

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission to the NUS Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship programme is granted on a competitive basis as places in the programme are limited. Applicants should possess the following minimum requirements:

Academic

Bachelor's Degree (preferably with Honours) in a related field or equivalent

Note: Candidates with academic qualifications other than the above may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to approval by the Board of Graduate Studies

Skill/Experience

For holders of undergraduate qualifications other than a Bachelor's Degree with Honours, two years of relevant work experience

English Language
Applicants whose native tongue and medium of university instruction is not completely in English:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) minimum score of 100 (Internet-based) with minimum score of 22 for the writing section, or
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) minimum Academic score of 7.0.

Note: TOEFL / IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date and should not have expired at point of application. Expired scores will not be considered for the application.

Other

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an admission interview (through telephone or video conferencing for overseas applicants).


Note: Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application information and all supporting documents are truthful and correct. NUS reserves the right to verify information provided as part of an application. False or misleading information in an application (including but not limited to test scores, resumes, certificates, transcripts, etc.) is grounds for admission rejection, revocation and/or dismissal from the University.

MODE OF STUDY AND PROGRAMME CANDIDATURE

The NUS Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship programme is offered on the following basis (with estimated time to complete the programme indicated below):

 Full-time  12–24 months 
 Part-time  24–48 months

Note: International applicants must be accepted into an approved full-time course in Singapore to apply for a Student’s Pass. For more information, refer to the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

The MA (Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship) is a 40-Unit coursework-based Master’s Degree programme comprising: 

  • Core/essential courses (8 Units), and
  • Elective courses (32 Units), of which at least 24 Units must be from the list of stipulated Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship Elective Courses (see below) and up to 8 Units can come from a limited selection of elective courses offered through other programmes.
Core/Essential Courses

These courses are all required for the MA in Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship.

View Courses

Course Code Course Title Units
NM5218 Cultural Policy 4
ACE5401
Approaches to Arts & Cultural Entrepreneurship
4
Elective Courses

Students must complete a minimum of 24 Units from the following list of stipulated Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship Elective Courses. Subject to approval, the remaining number of Units (if any) needed to meet the Elective Course requirement can come from a limited selection of elective courses offered through other programmes.

View Courses

Course Code Course Title Units
ACE5404 Heritage: Peoples and Institutions 4
NMC5322
Interactive Digital Marketing Practices
4
ACE5405
Culture Industries and the Law
4
ACE5406
Arts Business
4
ACE5407
Museums, Exhibitions and the Curatorial
4
ACE5408
Managing Cultural Events
4
ACE5409
Applied Heritage
4
ACE5410
Cultural Diplomacy and Intelligence
4
ACE5411
Cultural Analytics and Informatics
4
ACE5480
Topics in Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship
4
ACE5402
Final Year Project*
4
ACE5403
Internship**
8

* This can be a critical or practice-based project. An industry mentoring programme will be structured into this course where students are matched with industry experts who will provide sector advice and guidance.

** The Department of Communications and New Media has a strong Internship structure (due to its undergraduate Compulsory Internship Programme) that will support this Programme.


Note: For more information about the courses listed above (as well as other courses offered in the current academic year), please visit NUSMODS.


GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

To graduate from the NUS Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship programme, students must meet the following requirements:

Programme and/or Specialisation

Read and pass a total of 40 Units, comprising:

  • 12 Units of core/essential courses
  • 28 Units of elective courses
Course and/or Qualification

Complete a minimum of 20 Units from the list of stipulated Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship Elective Courses

Grade Point Average (GPA) 

Minimum 3.0 (out of maximum 5.0)

Please see also the University’s minimum standards for Continuation and Graduation Requirements specific programmes may implement stricter or additional requirements.

Other 

Not applicable


FEES AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Kindly note that all fees for the NUS MA (Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship) programme quoted on this page are exclusive of prevailing GST, unless otherwise stated (GST rate will be increased from 8% to 9% with effect from 1 Jan 2024). The University reserves all rights to review fees as necessary and adjust accordingly without prior notice.

Tuition

S$40,000.00 (excluding GST) /
S$43,600.00 (including 9% GST)

Financial Assistance

Starting AY2023/2024, tuition fee rebates will be provided for this programme as an NUS Master's Degree by Coursework programme not subsidised by the government:
• All Singaporeans and Singapore PRs (non-NUS alumni) will receive a 10% tuition fee rebate
• All NUS alumni will receive a 15% tuition fee rebate

• MA in Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship Study Awards in the amount of S$10,000 may be offered on a merit basis to selected candidates who are successfully admitted into the programme (Singapore Citizens, Singapore Permanent Residents). A separate application to be considered for the award is not necessary.

Communications and New Media Partial Scholarship in the amount of S$10,000 may be offered on a merit basis to selected candidates who are successfully admitted into the programme (Citizens of ASEAN member countries). A separate application to be considered for the award is not necessary.

Application

S$50.47 (including 8% GST, with effect from 1 Jan 2023);
S$50.93 (including 9% GST, with effect from 1 Jan 2024)

• Non-refundable and non-transferable
• Limited to one application submission per intake, for up to a maximum of five programmes/courses per application
 

Acceptance

S$5,000.00 (excluding GST)

• Payable upon acceptance of offer
• Non-refundable and non-transferable
• Will be credited towards tuition fees
 

Miscellaneous Student Fees

As published by NUS Registrar’s Office

• Payable every regular semester


Programme at a Glance*

Upcoming Event(s):

Thu, 28 Sep 2023
6.30pm–8.00pm (SGT):

Master of Arts in Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship Information Session

Register now!

Next Intake:

Application Period:
1 Sep 2023–30 Nov 2023

Apply now!

* For full details, please refer to main write-up.



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08 September 2023