Why Leeds?
With great music venues, culture, shopping, and parks - we've got it all. Leeds city centre has been named one of the Best Places to Live in the UK*.
*The Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide, 2026
Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Course overview
-
L27 -
City Campus -
Full-Time -
1 Year -
21 Sep 2026
What is creative direction?
Creative direction sits at the intersection between creative strategy, communications, and design, encompassing campaigns and editorial work, public engagement, content, and branding. You'll gain the insight and experience to develop your practical and critical skills, while using your creative values to position your distinctive practice in industry.
As part of this course, you'll:
- Develop concepts and strategies to instigate partnerships, initiate projects, and bring together creative teams
- Build the skills to anticipate changes within your field and adapt to new contexts and interdisciplinary opportunities
- Expand and connect your research in a critically engaged, supportive, and focused learning environment
- Connect environmental and societal impact with debates and issues in your chosen sector of the creative industries and research field
- Devise creative strategies to communicate your practice to diverse audiences via a range of platforms, formats, and opportunities for professional development
- Become familiar with creative leadership and collaborative working skills to support teams and deliver impactful projects
What do creative directors do?
Creative directors grow and maintain cultural relevance for organisations, clients, and partnerships. They work strategically and collaboratively to support an organisation's broader reach and positioning in the wider cultural landscape. As a creative director, you'll be responsible for defining and shaping creative briefs, and leading and collaborating on creative campaigns, projects, and touchpoints to engage diverse audiences.
Industry insight
You'll gain insight into the different facets of design and associated creative industries through activities, including guest lectures, collaboration, live projects, presentations, and feedback sessions. Your academic team are also active design practitioners who'll share their expertise through the modules you'll study. You'll receive regular feedback on your project work to contextualise your understanding and support you in enhancing your employability and opportunities for future work.
Why study the MA Creative Direction course at Leeds Beckett University?
- Benefit from our close links to industry and creative businesses in Yorkshire, the UK, and beyond
- Learn from tutors with extensive expertise of working as active practitioners, gaining from their insight and professional networks
- Develop collaborative projects across the school and wider university
- Access a vast range of ideas, skills, and facilities to take your practice in whichever direction you want to
- Leeds has a thriving creative sector, home to hundreds of innovative start-ups, agencies, design businesses and countless other opportunities
Everything you need to know
Discover all there is to know about the course, from entry requirements and fees to exploring the school you’ll be joining - we’ve got it covered.
Career prospects
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a course. Take a look at the team you’ll be working with, employability statistics and career prospects to help make up your mind.
Career Prospects
Creative direction at Leeds Beckett equips you with the skills, knowledge, and leadership qualities to confidently steer creative projects and teams. With a focus on real-world application, you'll graduate with a solid understanding of the professional practices undertaken in the design, creative, and cultural industries.
By studying MA Creative Direction, you'll enhance your essential transferable skills needed to excel in the design and visual communication industry. As you become a skilled and agile leader, equipped with equal amounts creativity and strategic acumen, you could take the next step in your career to become a:
- Creative director
- Art director
- Creative strategist
- Visual researcher
- Image director
- Trend forecaster
- Brand manager
- Design director
- Project manager
We want to help you grow the skills and confidence to take the next step in your career and your postgraduate research. The creative industries are dynamic and changing, and you don't want to wait until you're invited in to play. You can open up opportunities for yourself and others, share knowledge, facilitate exchange, and find ways to contribute meaningfully to culture."
Tara Langford
Course Director
Beckett Careers Team
Our careers service is not just there for undergraduates, we support our postgraduate taught and research students too.
Your postgraduate degree will boost your CV and help you stand out from the crowd. Whether you're just starting out on your chosen career path, changing careers or moving to the next level, we can provide you with expert advice and resources to help you take the next steps to achieving your goals.
Student life
At Leeds Beckett your experience is important to us, find out more about what to expect from your time on this course and life at uni.
Experience Leeds Beckett
Our state-of-the-art facilities and learning environments give you everything you need to succeed – whether that’s completing your current studies or joining our cutting-edge research teams.
Thinking of staying at home for your studies?
It’s a great option for lots of our local students
