Skip to main content
Postgraduate

MA Innovation Management

An abstract background made up of blue, green and pink shapes
Image courtesy of UAL,
College
Central Saint Martins Start date
September 2023 Course length
Two years (60 weeks)
Extended full-time

MA Innovation Management will help you develop the creative strategies you need to drive innovation and transformative change in an uncertain world.

Re-approval

Every 5 years we review course content to ensure that what we are delivering is relevant and that our students are benefitting from a high-quality academic experience. During this process, some changes may be made to the course which are not immediately reflected in the content displayed on this page. The page will be updated and offer holders will be informed of any proposed changes prior to enrolment once this process has been completed.  Please contact us if you have any questions about this or the course via study@csm.arts.ac.uk.

Led with a strong sense of vision, MA Innovation Management at Central Saint Martins combines theory and practice, mixing creative projects and fieldwork opportunities with lectures and rigorous writing assignments. It offers a collaborative learning community in which students from a wide range of fields – including design, business, science, policy, digital entrepreneurship and art ­– continuously challenge each other to transcend their limits. This course is part of the Culture and Enterprise programme.

Why choose this course at Central Saint Martins

  • Creative friction: You will learn in diverse teams, switching between roles while mastering the best design and business innovation methods ­– from speculative design and scenario planning to agile team management and digital visualisation techniques.
  • Knowledge sharing: From the first term onwards, you will be encouraged to disseminate your work through online media; co-organise external-facing events including social labs, exchanges with students at other leading universities and a unique Degree Show; and author publication-ready journal articles.
  • Global client and mentor network: You will learn through direct engagement with our large network of external contacts, including many creative entrepreneurs and brands. Previously, these have included: Boston Consulting Group, the British Council, Burberry, Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation, Facebook, Google, The Guardian, Ikea, Landsec, London Business School and University College London.
  • Career strategy: MA Innovation Management will support you to strategically develop your career, with a focus on creative autonomy, authenticity, social impact, sustainability and personal resilience. You will be encouraged to identify your own exciting career vision, which will allow you to thrive at the intersection of two or more fields, such as technology, design, management consulting, social innovation, dance or fashion.

Open days

There are currently no open days scheduled for this course, please check back at a later date.

Scholarships, bursaries and awards

All postgraduate funding options for Central Saint Martins.

Course overview

This course at Central Saint Martins is one of the first to locate innovation management in an arts and design college. Innovation management is a well-known field in business and management studies. Traditionally, it addresses how processes – especially those dealing with the production of new goods or services – can be measured, promoted and used to an organisation’s advantage. This course considers innovation management more broadly, across a wider range of concerns including the social, the sustainable, the cultural and the creative.  

MA Innovation Management will develop your understanding of the discourses and practices which influence innovation management, while also providing you with the necessary skills for critical engagement. You will work collaboratively as well as independently. You will be required to explore and experiment and to map and plan. Working theoretically and practically, you will identify and mediate across the many and diverse boundaries that intersect on the course. 

The course highlights complexity, criticality and creativity. It engages with a range of other disciplines – notably, philosophy, sociology, anthropology and various design fields – to enhance its examination of innovation and management, design and business. The course team is made up of experienced creative practitioners, business consultants, entrepreneurs, researchers, writers and educators. They will support your learning as an individual and as part of a team, so you can convey your own critical position.  

Students on MA Innovation Management come from different disciplinary and cultural backgrounds. Many previous students have worked in design and the creative industries while others have come from business and finance, psychology and marketing, physics and dance. Our graduates work in a wide range of organisations such as design consultancies, companies like Accenture, Facebook, The Guardian and Adidas and in government innovation departments. Some graduates set up their own businesses while others continue in education as research students.

Contact us

Register your interest to receive information and updates about studying at UAL.

Contact us to make an enquiry.

Course units

On this course, you will experiment both theoretically and practically. Students produce essays and articles and undertake self-directed research. You will manage risk, encounter uncertainty and deal with failure without inhibiting creativity. In group-based projects, you will develop an understanding of what is needed to foster innovation in organisations in times of uncertainty of opportunity. These skills will be valuable for working in public and third sector organisations, as well as in commercial organisations of all sizes including consulting firms. Studying MA Innovation Management, you need to be open to the thoughts and experiences of others and ready to manage difference and diversity respectfully and honestly. 

Unit 1: Exploration and Experimentation

Through a series of group projects and taught sessions, Unit 1 will introduce you to a variety of research methodologies and innovation frameworks. You will explore the different practices and discourses of innovation management as well as creative teamwork. This unit will allow you to experiment, take informed risks and learn from failure. You will also be introduced to group working as a first step to productive collaboration.  

Unit 2: Mapping and Positioning

Unit 2 is a natural extension to Unit 1 and is devised to bring out your individual interests and concerns. You will orientate yourself in the field of innovation management through a focus on mapping and positioning. The projects in this unit contain a range of teaching and learning activities, with submissions that include individual written work and team presentations. You will also embark on a self-initiated piece of work (Situated Inquiry: Placements and Field Surveys) to support your own field of enquiry.

Unit 3: Independence and Cooperation

Unit 3 invites students to distil their learning journeys into two high-standard journal articles that together comprise their masters dissertations. Students will also work together as a year group to organise, manage and deliver a series of end-of-year events. These will include the Degree Show and a symposium or conference. Students will also be expected to produce any supporting material necessary in communicating these. 

All course units integrate personal and professional development, enabling students to explore the professional world and manage your career development. 

Mode of study

MA Innovation Management is offered in extended full-time mode which runs for 60 weeks over two academic years. You will be expected to commit 30 hours per week to study, which includes teaching time and independent study.  

The course has been designed in this way to enable you to pursue studies, while also undertaking part-time employment, internships or care responsibilities. 

Credit and award requirements 

The course is credit-rated at 180 credits. 

On successfully completing the course, you will gain a Master of Arts (MA degree). 

Under the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, an MA is Level 7. All units must be passed in order to achieve the MA but the classification of the award is derived from the mark for the final unit only. 

If you are unable to continue on the course, a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) will normally be offered following the successful completion of 60 credits, or a Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) following the successful completion of 120 credits. 

Learning and teaching methods

The learning and teaching methods devised for this course include: 

  • Briefing and feedback sessions
  • Collaborative project work
  • Independent writing and related feedback
  • Studio discussions
  • Lectures, seminars and workshops
  • Group and individual tutorials and supervision
  • Individual situated learning in the field (work placements or field surveys)
  • Industry and alumni mentor sessions
  • Independent study
  • Peer-group reviews and self-reflection

A collaborative student environment

Meet the Course Leader and lecturers

Collaborative projects and opportunities

Hybrid creatives

Lecture: The Serendipity Mindset

Graduate Showcase

  • FUTURE-PHOTOBOOTH.jpg
    The Future Photobooth puts the audience in a futures mindset - "acting as a portal into the ‘Not Yet Universe'. The booth is a private space in which visitors can contemplate where they are now, where they hope to be in the future, and the space of what is ‘not yet’ that falls between these two temporal places.
  • Collective-Futurithm.jpg
    Collective Futurithm is an immersive experience that aims to "unearth collective visions of the future by igniting the individual "imaginations. Our viewpoint is neither utopian or dystopian - we approach "innovation with an optimistic yet critical lens, understanding that the path "ahead could lie between or outside these binaries."
  • Creative-Provocation1.jpg
    A space to experience both sides of polarising arguments. We aim that by sparking conversations regardless of our biases and points of view, the visitor is able to empathise "and understand the other side of the coin."
  • INNOVATION-LEAP.jpg
    The innovative leap explores the impact of design and innovation within an organisation and the larger context of its environment by bringing together different industry professionals and the graduating cohort at the hub of innovation Samsung KX.

Course publications

Staff

Digital Teaching Assistant: Asako Ujita

Selected guest speakers

Fees and funding

Home fee

£7,315 per year

This fee is correct for 2023/24 entry and is subject to change for 2024/25 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£18,640 per year

This fee is correct for 2023/24 entry and is subject to change for 2024/25 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

Or view all

Entry requirements

The standard entry requirements for this course are as follows:

  • An honours degree at upper second-class (2:1) or above in a relevant field: business studies; management; social sciences; humanities; physical sciences; marketing; arts and design
  • Or an equivalent EU/international qualification

And normally at least one year of relevant professional experience.

AP(E)L – Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning

Exceptionally applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference

Or a combination of these factors.

Each application will be considered on its own merit but cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English language requirements

IELTS level 7.0 or above, with at least 6.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking (please check our main English language requirements webpage).

Selection criteria

We select applicants according to potential and current ability in the following areas:

  • Skills and knowledge in your own discipline and preferably some examples of post college work in your particular field
  • Evidence of interest and understanding of innovation and its management
  • Work demonstrating engagement with innovation and its management
  • A reflective and critical approach
  • Evidence and experience of teamwork
  • Evidence and experience of research and analysis
  • Self-motivation, ambition and a commitment to the course.

What we are looking for

We actively seek open-minded graduates from diverse academic and industry backgrounds who want to innovate, ideally with relevant work experience from business, marketing, engineering, sciences, social sciences, humanities, arts and design. A key characteristic of our candidates is the desire to extend their subject-specialisms by colliding with, negotiating between, and connecting with people, concepts, discourses and practices that are outside their normal activities, and who are keen to locate the creative outputs of these engagements in the area of innovation management.

Apply now

Home International

You should apply by clicking on the link to the direct form below. The application form can be saved as you fill it out, so you do not need to complete it all at once. You will also have the chance to review all the information and make any necessary amendments before you submit the application form.

Deferred entry

Central Saint Martins does not accept applications for deferred entry. You should therefore apply in the year you wish to study.

Transfers

If you are currently studying at another institution and if you have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units and modules on your current postgraduate course and wish to continue your studies at Central Saint Martins, you can apply to transfer. The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible.

Please check our Student Transfer Policy for more important information and be ready to provide us with your current course handbook and unit transcripts.

You will need to provide an official document (translated into English) from your current university, explaining the learning outcomes of the units you have completed.

Start your application now

Before you apply, please take time to read the guidance below. You will be asked to provide the following information when completing the online application form:

General information

  • Personal details (including legal full name, preferred name, date of birth, nationality, addresses)
  • Current English language level
  • Current and/or previous education and qualification details
  • Employment history

Personal statement

Your personal statement should be approximately 500 words in length, and outline the following:

  • How you have become interested in Innovation Management and the postgraduate course at Central Saint Martins?
  • What aspects of your experience relate to innovation and its management?
  • How you see MA Innovation Management impacting on your future career?

Written assessment

We would like you to submit:

  • A piece of academic, professional or creative writing of your own work, demonstrating high-level academic and creative skills. It must be written in English.  It can be a previously submitted essay or you can produce something new. We suggest it be 2500-5000 words in length; it can include images and illustrations.

We cannot consider your application if you do not provide all the information above.

Communicating with you

After you have successfully submitted your application, you will receive an email confirming we have successfully received your application and providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal.  We will request any additional information from you, including inviting you to upload documents / portfolio / book an interview, through the portal.  You should check your UAL Portal regularly for any important updates and requests.

Application deadline

19 December 2022 and 3 April 2023

Our equal consideration deadlines have now passed. This course will remain open to applications for 2023 entry until places have been filled. Please be aware that courses can close without notice.

We recommend you submit your application as early as possible to allow the Admissions team to resolve any initial queries about your application as quickly as possible.

When you'll hear from us

If this course requires a digital portfolio as part of the application process, you will be invited to submit this through UAL’s online submission tool, PebblePad. We will request this separately after initial processing of your application is complete. Once we request your portfolio, you will have 7 days to submit it.

Once you’ve sent in your application, this will be sent through to our course teams for review. Find out more about what happens after you apply.

There are two ways international students can apply:

You can only apply to the same course once per year.

If you are applying directly you click on the link to the direct form below. The application form can be saved as you fill it out, so you do not need to complete it all at once. You will also have the chance to review all the information and make any necessary amendments before you submit the application form.

Transfers

If you are currently studying at another institution and if you have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units and modules on your current postgraduate course and wish to continue your studies at Central Saint Martins, you can apply to transfer. The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible.

Please check our Student Transfer Policy for more important information and be ready to provide us with your current course handbook and unit transcripts.

You will need to provide an official document (translated into English) from your current university, explaining the learning outcomes of the units you have completed.

Deferred entry

Central Saint Martins does not accept applications for deferred entry. You should therefore apply in the year you wish to study.

Visas

Read our visit our immigration and visa advice page to find out whether you need a visa to study.

Start your application now

Before you apply, please take time to read the guidance below. You will be asked to provide the following information when completing the online application form:

General information

  • Personal details (including legal full name, preferred name, date of birth, nationality, addresses)
  • Current English language level
  • Current and/or previous education and qualification details
  • Employment history

Personal statement

Your personal statement should be approximately 500 words in length, and outline the following:

  • How you have become interested in Innovation Management and the postgraduate course at Central Saint Martins?
  • What aspects of your experience relate to innovation and its management?
  • How you see MA Innovation Management impacting on your future career?
  • You can include a link to any creative or entrepreneurial work.

Written assessment

We would like you to submit:

  • A piece of academic, professional or creative writing of your own work, demonstrating high-level academic and creative skills. It must be written in English.  It can be a previously submitted essay or you can produce something new. We suggest it be 2500-5000 words in length; it can include images and illustrations.

Immigration history check

Whether you are applying online or through a UAL representative you will need to complete an immigration history check to establish whether you are eligible to study at UAL.  If you do not complete the check we will not be able to proceed with your application.

We cannot consider your application if you do not provide all the information above.

Communicating with you

After you have successfully submitted your application, you will receive an email confirming we have successfully received your application and providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal.  We will request any additional information from you, including inviting you to upload documents / portfolio / book an interview, through the portal.  You should check your UAL Portal regularly for any important updates and requests.

Application deadline

19 December 2022 and 3 April 2023

Our equal consideration deadlines have now passed. This course will remain open to applications for 2023 entry until places have been filled. Please be aware that courses can close without notice.

We recommend you submit your application as early as possible to allow the Admissions team to resolve any initial queries about your application as quickly as possible.

When you'll hear from us

This course receives a high volume of applications. We need to make sure that we give all applications equal consideration, so the course team will review them in two rounds. This means that offers won’t be sent to successful applicants until after the relevant application deadline date. Outcomes for Round 1 will be released by 31 March 2022 and outcomes for Round 2 will be released by 30 June 2022.

Remember to check the outcome of your application in the UAL Portal. If you apply in Round 1 and don’t hear back from us, we will consider your application within Round 2.

Find out more about what happens after you apply.

After you apply

What happens next

Initial application check

We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course.  If you do, you will be invited to submit a Video Task through your UAL Portal.

Video task

We'd like you to submit a 2-3 minute video to help us learn more about you:

  • Please speak clearly in English and face the camera
  • Your video task is submitted along with your portfolio
  • Read our guidance for how to submit your video task and which file types we accept.

As part of your video task please respond to the following direction:

  • Tell us briefly about an important learning experience or episode you have had in the past that involved coming up with new solutions through the application of two or more fields, disciplines, different perspectives or areas of practice. What did you find challenging and what did you learn in the process?
  • Is there a particular idea, project, vision, dream or career strategy you would like to seriously develop during your time at CSM?

Interview

Following the review of assessed work we select a small number of applicants to an online interview.  The interview will last for 15 to 20 minutes.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

You will receive the outcome of your application through the UAL Portal.

Feedback

This course receives a high number of applications, and unfortunately we cannot provide feedback to everyone who is unsuccessful. We can only provide feedback after you have had an interview.

If you would like to request feedback, please contact us via your portal.

Each and every application is carefully considered by a member(s) of our academic team. With so many strong applicants to choose from, it is often a very difficult decision to make. If you are unsuccessful, you are welcome to apply to us again in the future.

Deferring your place

This course accepts requests from offer holders to defer their place for one academic year. Deferral requests are granted on a first-come, first served basis until all deferral places are filled, or a deadline has been reached, whichever is sooner.

Careers

Innovation has been identified as crucial to business success, Cox Report. MA Innovation Management will generate career opportunities within:

Creative industries

  • Innovation research
  • Strategy development
  • Business development
  • Brand management

Public sector

  • Innovation research
  • Policy and strategy development

Corporate sector

  • Innovation research
  • Strategy development
  • Business development
  • Brand management

Staff

Our staff members have active and ongoing links with a wide range of institutions, organisations and companies including The Built Environment Trust, The Design Council, EDF, the Royal Society of Arts, Studio INTO and Transport for London.

Alumni

Central Saint Martins

Contact

Telephone

+44 (0)20 7514 7444
Address
1 Granary Square
King's Cross
London
N1C 4AA