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Creativity, Innovation and Leadership MSc

London, Canary Wharf

UK students International students

Study mode

Full-time

UK tuition fees (2026/27)

£35,400

Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)

£35,400

Duration

1 calendar year

Programme starts

September 2026

Applications accepted

Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper-second class bachelor’s degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. While degrees in a relevant discipline are preferred, applicants with a degree in other subjects with a quantitative component will also be considered. This programme does not require results from a GMAT, GRE, or equivalent standardised test. Applicants who have taken a test are encouraged to submit their results if they feel their score will strengthen their application.

The English language level for this course is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

We’ve reached a time in society when the traditional ways of tackling challenges are becoming outdated. With changes in technology, the explosion of artificial intelligence (AI), shifting social demographics, climate change and altering work patterns – our environment is constantly moving. Creative thinking is increasingly needed to solve the problems of today – at an organisational level, and for society as a whole.

The Creativity, Innovation and Leadership MSc was developed in direct response to employers who require elevated skillsets. Analytical thinking and creative thinking are now the two most important skills needed in workers, and more than 70% of companies believe creative thinking is increasing in importance (World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report 2023).  

By embarking on this programme, you will develop a practical skillset that includes creative thinking, critical thinking, collaboration and leadership skills. Modules on creative problem solving and organising for creativity will teach you the psychological principles behind creative thinking, and how to design creative systems and processes within organisations.

Modules on leadership, collaborative design and managing diversity will help you become a future leader. You’ll learn more about team dynamics, collecting and analysing data, and fostering inclusive workplaces where innovation thrives.  

Throughout the degree, you’ll be exposed to real-life case studies and contribute to hands-on projects to put your learning into practice. For your dissertation, you’ll consult with an organisation to use creative thinking to solve a real-world problem, or you’ll use a design thinking process to find solutions for an issue of your choice. 

Who this course is for

We are looking for students from any background or subject discipline who want to become creative and critical thinkers. This degree is for you if you want to learn a practical skillset that could apply to any organisation. You should also aspire to become a manager or leader in the future, eager to broaden the ability for creative and critical problem-solving in the organisations you go on to work for. 

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

The MSc Creativity, Innovation and Leadership has been founded on the insight that creativity is powered by the people in an organisation at every level. This goes beyond typical innovation programmes by emphasising ways for you to develop your own creative problem-solving skills and learn how to foster those skills throughout an organisation to drive sustainable and positive growth, rather than deep diving into particular industries, technologies, or innovation management systems. The programme will help you to craft a personalised approach to problem-solving, human-centred leadership, and sustainable organisational design.

This programme is informed by the UCL School of Management’s world leading research expertise at the intersection of creativity, leadership, and organisational behaviour. The programme will be taught by internationally-renowned researchers and educators with established expertise in these areas, providing you with the highest quality educational experience. At the heart of the programme is team-based project work, supported by research-led, evidence-based modules on teamwork, interpersonal, leadership, and emotional skills, and the processes of design and creativity. That approach draws on the extensive research expertise of our faculty members to directly address complex organisational and societal problems through creative and innovative strategies.

This makes the programme intrinsically aligned with UCL’s Grand Challenges and those of the United Nations (UN).

The programme is delivered at UCL School of Management’s home on levels 38 and 50 of the iconic One Canada Square in Canary Wharf. This strategic location offers unmatched access to industry networks as well as leading innovative and creative organisations, enabling access to real-world application of creative leadership skills for solving complex problems. https://www.mgmt.ucl.ac.uk/about/canary-wharf

If you want to learn more about the programme and life at the UCL School of Management. Speak to a current student now.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Graduates from the UCL School of Management primarily go onto work in sectors such as accountancy and financial services, IT, technology and communications, and consultancy. Companies where our graduates have gone onto include Deloitte, PwC and Google (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017-2022).

Employability

This degree will equip you with a core set of skills needed by employers across sectors. These include problem-solving and critical analysis, people management, research and commercial acumen.  

Experience in strategic thinking and collaborative teamwork are key skills you’ll gain from this degree too. The ability to apply skills and frameworks relating to creative thinking is valued in many job roles, and employers are increasingly looking for candidates with the potential to lead them into the future through creativity and innovation.  

You’ll also benefit from bespoke career support from the UCL School of Management throughout the programme, which includes access to a variety of insightful employer and alumni talks. 

This programme has been designed with employability in mind, focusing on:

Addressing organisational challenges in creativity and innovation.
Upskilling graduates to meet the increasing demand for creative and critical thinking and collaborative teamwork.
Addressing the societal grand challenges highlighted by UCL and the United Nations (UN).

Networking

The cohort based structure of the programme will enable students to work in project based collaborative teams throughout the year. This will enable them to build their communication, teamwork, and leadership skills, while developing creative solutions to complex, ambiguous real-world problems. That will be delivered through two sets of paired-modules that will work in tandem, one focused around creativity skills and the focused on project-based teamwork. This will empower members of the cohort to build strong relationships and networks with one another.

Find out more about the School of Management’s latest New Technologies & Innovation Speaker Series and Business Leader Speaker Series, designed with the support of UCL’s global network to help you develop a deeper understanding of the world of business, its challenges and opportunities, and learn directly from the experience of others at the forefront of their fields.

Accreditation

UCL School of Management is proud to be AACSB accredited – a global mark of excellence that recognises our commitment to innovative, research-led teaching, rigorous academic standards, and preparing students for impactful global careers in business and management.

Teaching and learning

You will learn through a variety of methods, blending in-person sessions and independent study. This includes lectures rooted in evidence-based learning, using case studies, data analytics, interdisciplinary theories and frameworks. Interactive and experiential learning focuses on discussion and real-life examples.

Independent study includes reading material, writing reflection papers and undertaking case analyses. As part of your individual and group work, you will design and conduct research, work on the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, and the evaluation of the validity and relevance of published research in new situations. 

You will be assessed through a combination of written coursework, group work and examinations. Pre-submission work includes design critiques and peer review sessions, where students can present their work in progress and receive feedback from both peers and staff. All assessments are designed to evaluate your understanding of the taught topics, your critical evaluation skills, your ability for independent research and how you apply knowledge to solve complex organisational problems. 

You can expect on average 4-6 hours of contact hours a week on this programme, which encompasses lectures, workshops, and tutorials. The exact number of contact hours and composition varies throughout the terms depending on the module choices of the student. Outside these sessions, students are expected to engage in significant self directed study and complete assessments of around 25-30 hours per week.

This is a full-time course, which means students should expect a working schedule of approximately 35 hours a week, divided between contact hours, self-directed learning, and preparing for assessments.

Modules

: Throughout this degree, you will learn through a variety of methods, blending in-person sessions and independent study. This includes lectures that are rooted in evidence-based learning, using case studies and data analytics, plus interdisciplinary theories and frameworks. Interactive and experiential learning focuses on discussion and real-life examples. The UCL School of Management also organises a programme of external speakers to deliver workshops, further enhancing your learning.
Independent study includes reading material, writing reflection papers and undertaking case analyses. As part of your individual and group work, you will conduct research, which may include research design, the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, and the evaluation of the validity and relevance of published research in new situations.
Each 15 credit module equates to approximately 30 hours of contact time in class, with an additional 120 hours dedicated to independent study, assessment preparation, and other related activities, taking place across Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3. The research project takes place in Term 3.

Compulsory modules

Leadership and Communication

Leading High Performance Teams

Innovation Practices

Managing Diversity

Creative Problem Solving

Collaborative Design Practices

Organising for Creativity

Creativity and Creative Industries

Creativity and Innovation Research Project

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Creativity, Innovation and Leadership.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Creativity, Innovation and Leadership MSc

In this series of online events by UCL School of Management, discover our rigorous MSc programmes in Creativity, Innovation and Leadership, Management, Digital Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, as well as our UCL MBA. Hear our academics and students discuss the skills gained in creative problem-solving, leadership, and digital ecosystems. Our students experience hands-on venture building, interdisciplinary modules, industry engagement and practical projects, later excelling in global careers.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£35,400
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£35,400

Additional costs

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There may be optional additional costs associated with this programme. These include textbooks, a laptop, printing/photocopying credits, dissertation binding and robe hire for the graduation ceremony. Indicative prices for printing can be found here.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

: UCL East London Scholarship

Deadline: 25 June 2026

Value: Tuition fees plus £17,096 stipend ()

Criteria Based on financial need

Eligibility: UK

Next steps

Successful candidates will be able to tangibly demonstrate:

A keen desire to learn how to use creative and critical thinking to solve practical challenges. 
Enthusiasm to develop into a manager or leader who will bring about positive change.
Achievements that show personal initiative and commitment in any area of life.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

References required to be confirmed.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.