We welcome applications from the United States of America

We've put together information and resources to guide your application journey as a student from the United States of America.

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • Network with professionals in creative industries

  • Explore the social, political, and cultural issues facing cultural industries

  • Opportunities to take part in real world projects with external organisations

The growing Creative Industries sector needs innovative and diverse leaders. You will develop skills in project design and management, entrepreneurship and cultural policy, while considering how the creative and cultural sector can become more inclusive and sustainable. Prepare to join the next generation of creative leaders, while also developing creative skills in one or more disciplines of your choice.

Why Lancaster?

  • Be at the forefront of change and ready to make an impact in one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK
  • Explore the big challenges facing creative and cultural industries today – from social, political and cultural issues to inclusion, sustainability and the barriers to success.
  • Gain real-world experience of project management, creative problem solving and practical innovations.
  • Learn how to unlock the creative potential offered by new trends in the sector, from generative AI technologies to multi-media collaborations.
  • Build connections and boost your career through our network of community, national and international professionals and organisations.
  • Forge your own creative identity and develop your practice in our excellent facilities.
  • Base yourself in an area rich in arts and culture, with a strong heritage in the creative industries.

A dynamic industry

The Creative Industries sector is one the fastest growing in the UK. It is a diverse sector, encompassing multiple artistic and cultural spheres. Careers in this industry are rapidly evolving, creative and highly rewarding.

In this course you’ll learn the professional skills to be a highly competent leader in the Creative Industries. You’ll learn how to generate compelling ideas and to how to design, plan, manage and deliver a project. You’ll take part in real world projects with external partners and gain first-hand experience of the challenges arts organisations face. Teamwork and negotiation are essential professional skills, and you will learn how to be an effective communicator and problem solver.

You will gain foundational knowledge of the practical contexts that influence the creative professions across multiple disciplines and find out how the sector works and how organisations can thrive. Discover how government policy affects the creation and dissemination of creative practice and how businesses, arts organisations and practitioners can make meaningful connections, gain funding and pursue socially just futures within the sector.

First hand industry experience

As a student of Creative Industries at Lancaster you will be able to access real-world experience here on campus. We are closely partnered with Lancaster Arts, an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation with an outstanding reputation for the creation, development and presentation of cutting-edge contemporary arts. You will have opportunities to work in professional venues that include the Peter Scott Gallery, Nuffield Theatre, and Lancaster University Great Hall.

You will also have opportunities to engage in project-based learning with a variety of creative and cultural organisations across the Lancaster area. These are possible due to our close links with local and regional organisations, ranging from small grassroots community groups to large-scale Arts Council funded venues.

Sustainable. Diverse. Inclusive.

At Lancaster we have a keen focus on sustainability and inclusivity in the arts and during the course we’ll explore key questions. How can we reach diverse audiences? What makes the creative arts inclusive and why does this matter? How can we remove barriers for under-represented groups? How can we make our work climate-friendly? Our vision for the Creative Industries sector of the future is for a more inclusive, sustainable, and socially just cultural landscape.

In this wide-reaching course, topics may include:

  • Project design and management
  • Social, political and organisational contexts
  • Funding regimes and financial approaches
  • Creative entrepreneurship
  • Digital skills
  • Sustainability
  • Accessibility and inclusivity
  • Festivals and events

An expert team

Our staff at Lancaster are leaders of creative and cultural practice locally, nationally, and internationally. This course is informed by their professional practices, industry experience, and academic research. Our team includes academics, published authors, professional theatre practitioners and global design experts. They are enthusiastic, supportive and passionate about their disciplines.

Your assessments are designed to reflect the diversity of the subject area and our future-oriented curriculum. In addition to traditional essays or presentations you will be asked to develop creative submissions such as a podcast, digital media presentation, manifesto, mock funding bid, or creative portfolio.

Develop your creative practice

Alongside your study of the Creative Industries, you will be able to develop your own creative practice. You can take advantage of our first-class creative spaces such as our 24/7 Digital Editing suite, industry standard film and camera equipment, and professional theatre venue, as well as installation, rehearsal and performance spaces.

As your knowledge of funding, project management and arts organisations grows, you will be well-placed to recognise opportunities to promote your own work and develop entrepreneurial skills.

A cultural hub

The City of Lancaster is a culturally rich region with a busy calendar of festivals and events, and many renowned arts organisations. There are many opportunities to immerse yourself in the creative arts. We have strong links with Lancaster Arts, the Storey Arts Institute, The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster LitFest, Light Up Lancaster, La1 Shorts Film Festival, the Bay International Film Festival, Lancaster International Film Festival and the Wordsworth Centre in Grasmere as well as many smaller community-based arts activities. These give opportunities for placements, volunteering, case studies and participation that will enhance your CV.

You will also be part of a strong creative community on campus with many student-led activities. These include our own online film journal CUT/ TO, along with our cinema (Take 2 Cinema), TV station (LA1:TV), newspaper (Scan), Film Production Society, and the Lancaster Theatre Group Society.

Creative Arts Facilities at Lancaster University

Whatever creative arts subject you choose, you’ll find we have specialist spaces and equipment to inspire your studies.

Your Placement Year

Sometimes known as a year in industry, your placement year will take place between your second and final year of study and this will extend your degree to four years.

Students drinking coffee in a campus coffee bar

The university will...

use all reasonable effort to support you to find a suitable placement for your studies. While a placement role may not be available in a field or organisation that is directly related to your academic studies or career aspirations, all offer valuable experience of working at a graduate level and gaining a range of professional skills.

If you are unsuccessful in securing a suitable placement for your third year, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent non-placement degree scheme and continue with your studies at Lancaster, finishing your degree after your third year.

Placements and Internships

Hear from students and employers on how Lancaster University could support you to gain real-world experience and bolster your CV with a placement or internship as part of your degree.

A student working on a piece of stained glass.

A placement year is an excellent way to...

  • try out a role that you may be interested in as a career path
  • start to build your professional network (some placement students are offered permanent roles to return to after they graduate)
  • develop skills, knowledge and experience to put you ahead of the field when you graduate

Careers

Developing your professional skills is at the core of this programme, and you’ll have the skills and experience for a variety of roles in the Creative and Cultural Industries. You might want to become an organisational leader, creative entrepreneur or programme director, or you could go into communications or marketing.

While the options are wide and varied, you will also be prepared to become an innovator within the sector, bringing positive, forward-thinking change to your future roles.

Our graduates can expect to work in roles such as:

  • Artist Development Producer
  • Audience Development Manager
  • Community Development Officer
  • Creative Development Practitioner
  • Creative Producer
  • Curator
  • Diversity and Accessibility Officer
  • Events Manager
  • Film/Theatre Programmer
  • Fundraiser
  • Literary Manager/Dramaturg
  • Marketing and Communications Officer
  • Relationship/Partnership Manager
  • Volunteer and Engagement Coordinator
  • Creative Entrepreneur
  • Freelance Creative Practitioner

Continuing to postgraduate study is also an option, with a route into master’s level study in a related area.

Careers and employability support

Our degrees open up an extremely wide array of career pathways in businesses and organisations, large and small, in the UK and overseas.

We run a paid internship scheme specifically for our arts, humanities and social sciences students, supported by a specialist Employability Team. The team offer individual consultations and tailored application guidance, as well as careers events, development opportunities, and resources

Whether you have a clear idea of your potential career path or need some help considering the options, our friendly team is on hand.

Lancaster is unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which recognises activities such as work experience, community engagement or volunteering and social development. A valuable addition to your CV!

Find out more about Lancaster’s careers events, extensive resources and personal support for Careers and Employability.

Careers

Find out about some of the careers our alumni have entered into after graduation.

Entry requirements

These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. This section will tell you whether you need qualifications in specific subjects, what our English language requirements are, and if there are any extra requirements such as attending an interview or submitting a portfolio.

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Help from our Admissions team

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.

We also have more details on our website about:

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

Enhancing our curriculum

We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future.

We will publish more detailed information about the structure of this degree course for 2026-entry in June 2025, ahead of our summer undergraduate open days. This will include overviews of the core modules you will take and examples of optional modules which may be available to you.

Fees and funding

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2026/27 entry fees have not yet been set.

Fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

Details of our scholarships and bursaries for students starting in 2026 are not yet available.

You can use our scholarships for 2025-entry applicants as guidance.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2026/2027 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

Undergraduate open days 2025

Our summer and autumn open days will give you Lancaster University in a day. Visit campus and put yourself in the picture.

Undergraduate Open Days
two students sitting and reading on some outdoor steps

  • Virtual tour

    Take five minutes and we'll show you what our Top 10 UK university has to offer, from beautiful green campus to colleges, teaching and sports facilities.

  • Accommodation guide

    Most first-year undergraduate students choose to live on campus, where you’ll find award-winning accommodation to suit different preferences and budgets.

  • The city and beyond

    Our historic city is student-friendly and home to a diverse and welcoming community. Beyond the city you'll find a stunning coastline and the world-famous English Lake District.