Masters (Coursework)
Building on UNSW Art & Design's experience of delivering leading postgraduate education for arts and cultural professionals, the Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership (MCCL) is designed with extensive industry engagement and consultation.
Building on UNSW Art & Design's experience of delivering leading postgraduate education for arts and cultural professionals, the Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership (MCCL) is designed with extensive industry engagement and consultation. With an established and trusted history of producing graduates sought after for their vision, our graduates have secured roles in world-leading cultural institutions such as the Smithsonian, Carriageworks and MAAS.
This degree is 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. We deliver our curriculum in close collaboration with our on-campus UNSW Galleries and a broad range of Australian and international creative industries partners. These opportunities allow you to experience integrated, collaborative and diverse industry experiences throughout your postgraduate studies.
This degree 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.
Industry-engaged learning experiences
Throughout the program, you'll have the opportunity to participate in curatorial studios and industry-engaged courses to produce and contribute to public cultural events in collaboration with different industry partners. Previous partners have included the Campbelltown Arts Centre, the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, the Moran Foundation, the City of Sydney, the Biennale of Sydney, and Sydney Contemporary.
Capstone project
In your final year, you'll undertake a capstone project to consolidate your skills and develop a strong identity as a professional in the cultural industries. You can undertake an internship or self-directed cultural project tailored to build your skills, professional network and open future employment opportunities.
International perspectives
Each year the International Visiting Curators Program, in collaboration with Artspace, brings two to three prominent international curators to Sydney to conduct research and work with students in the MCCL. You can go overseas through our annual World Biennales course, which focuses on global art and takes a group of students on expertly guided trips to major exhibitions and cultural events.
Depending on the level and nature of your prior qualifications, admission to the Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership has three entry points with different duration and units of credit (UOC) required for completion:
If you're applying without a Bachelor's degree or a Bachelor's degree completed more than 10 years ago, you can be admitted into the Graduate Certificate in Cultural Leadership
Entry score calculator
If you're uncertain whether you have the equivalent to a UNSW credit average, you can use the UNSW postgraduate entry score calculator to convert and scale other types of grading schemes into a percentage relatable to UNSW entry requirements.
*Related Bachelor's degree programs include: Curatorial Studies, Librarianship and Information Management (FOE 0913), the Creative Arts (FOE 10, such as Fine Arts, Art History, Art Theory, Museum Studies, Visual Arts and Crafts, Performing Arts, Graphic and Design Studies, Communication and Media Studies), Studies in Human Society (FOE 0903, such as Sociology, Anthropology, History, Archaeology, Human Geography, Indigenous Studies, Gender Specific Studies), Political Science and Policy Studies (FOE 0901), Literature (FOE 091523), and Philosophy (FOE 091701).
Our suite of programs is designed to build a pathway that increases your capabilities and expands upon your hard-earned experience. We offer the following options to optimise your time while undertaking postgraduate study and provide alternative entry into further qualifications:
You can enter the Master of Curating & Cultural Leadership after completing the Graduate Certificate in Cultural Leadership with at least a credit average grade.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you're completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College's Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
Depending on the level and nature of your prior qualifications, admission to the Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership has three entry points with different duration and units of credit (UOC) required for completion:
If you're applying without a Bachelor's degree or a Bachelor's degree completed more than 10 years ago, you can be admitted into the Graduate Certificate in Cultural Leadership
Entry score calculator
If you're uncertain whether you have the equivalent to a UNSW credit average, you can use the UNSW postgraduate entry score calculator to convert and scale other types of grading schemes into a percentage relatable to UNSW entry requirements.
*Related Bachelor's degree programs include: Curatorial Studies, Librarianship and Information Management (FOE 0913), the Creative Arts (FOE 10, such as Fine Arts, Art History, Art Theory, Museum Studies, Visual Arts and Crafts, Performing Arts, Graphic and Design Studies, Communication and Media Studies), Studies in Human Society (FOE 0903, such as Sociology, Anthropology, History, Archaeology, Human Geography, Indigenous Studies, Gender Specific Studies), Political Science and Policy Studies (FOE 0901), Literature (FOE 091523), and Philosophy (FOE 091701).
Our suite of programs is designed to build a pathway that increases your capabilities and expands upon your hard-earned experience. We offer the following options to optimise your time while undertaking postgraduate study and provide alternative entry into further qualifications:
You can enter the Master of Design after completing the Graduate Certificate in Design with at least a credit average grade.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you'll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College's Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
You'll graduate from the Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership prepared to be an independent professional, able to undertake leadership, research and innovation across a wide range of curating, exhibition, arts policy and management contexts.
Sought after for their vision of transforming cultural agendas, our graduates bring integrated, collaborative and diverse solutions to the sector. Our alumni are found in leadership roles across arts, cultural, events, entertainment, media and technology industries. These industries are critical drivers of growth in the contemporary global economy, recognised by governments for their contribution to cultural diversity, social inclusion, environmental sustainability and technological advancement.
Our Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership graduates have successful careers in institutional, private and public contexts. Career opportunities include:
Arts and cultural leadership, management, policy making and administration
Curatorship, festival, program, event and museum management
Art Dealing, advising and sales
Directors of cultural organisations and institutions
Creative direction, planning and production
Art and design criticism, communications, marketing and journalism
Cultural and creative research and scholarship
Arts and cultural publishing, broadcasting and distribution
Design thinking and management
Public programming and engagement
Art Education and training
Entrepreneurship, strategy, creative social enterprise and start-ups