Overview
Who is it for?
You want become a more extraordinary and creative leader.
You want to amplify your creative capabilities, so that you can address the increasingly unpredictable business, technological and social challenges that today’s world faces.
And you want to be able to inspire and empower your teams and organisations to take managed 'leaps of faith' that will solve these complex challenges.
Objectives
You will become one of a new generation of more creative and interdisciplinary leaders, able to provide new forms of structure that make sense of apparent chaos, to drive the future, and to bring about positive change.
You will learn about creativity, leadership and innovation from different disciplinary perspectives – drawing on business, the arts, law, psychology, design and digital.
You will be taught by a cross-functional team of academics and practitioners dedicated to the use of the creativity to improve society.
These academics and practitioners will use novel teaching techniques to bring theories and practices to life, and offer you a wide range of experiences through which to help you to amplify your capabilities.
You will also gain new knowledge and skills for harnessing the creativity of others – colleagues, stakeholders and clients – both within and beyond your organisation.
The outcomes? An ability to deliver breakthrough solutions. A place on the career fast-track in a world where innovation has never been more highly prized. And expertise in the new interdisciplinary frameworks, knowledge, techniques and skills needed to investigate, generate, envision, prototype, critique and reflect on creative solutions to complex, ill-structured and chaotic problems, and provide new forms of intellectual resilience.
Centre for Creativity in Professional Practice
Alongside your study you’ll also be able to participate in a range of different creativity and innovation projects running within the Centre for Creativity in Professional Practice.
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Cass Innovate
For the last few years at Cass Innovate our Master's in Innovation, Creativity and Leadership postgraduate programme students have had the chance to learn from entrepreneurs and innovators at every stage of their journeys – from fledgling start-ups to global giants.
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Structure
The Master's in Innovation, Creativity and Leadership offers a rare opportunity to study innovation,creativity and leadership from a fully rounded, interdisciplinary perspective, learning from leaders in each of the disciplines.
Creative leadership is crucial in promoting and delivering innovative outcomes. Creative leaders need to be flexible, knowledgeable and be able to inspire others to follow them into the unknown. In this course you will:
- Develop your understanding of the roles and advantages of different creative problem solving strategies, techniques and tools in a range of different contexts
- Learn when to use different innovation tools, and in which situations
- Gain practical skills to facilitate creativity and enhance innovation
- Learn how to tackle complex and wicked problems
- Learn how to work effectively within teams to solve problems, produce creative outcomes and design solutions in business and other contexts
- Learn how to overcome barriers to creativity and innovation so you can deliver change
- Understand what elements foster a creative climate and what distinguishes creative organisations.
Induction weeks
All of our MSc courses start with two compulsory induction weeks which include relevant refresher courses, an introduction to the careers services and the annual careers fair.
Term 1
Creative Writing
- 15 credits
- 30 hours, over ten weeks in lectures
- 120 hours, over ten weeks, self directed study
You will learn to develop and communicate ideas through writing and discover how storytelling supports leadership.
You will also develop your own writing skills through critiquing others' writing and responding to critiques of your own work and learn how to use tools to develop a play or screenplay.
The module is delivered by the School of Arts & Social Sciences. The module leader is Phil O’Shea.Creative Problem Solving and Leadership
- 15 credits
- 30 hours, over ten weeks, in lectures
- 120 hours, over ten weeks, self directed study
Learn practical problem-solving processes and cultivate intuitive decision-making and communication skills.
Enhance your understanding of your own skills and how to apply them in the business and professional worlds to foster a creative climate and enhance innovation.
The module leader is Andy Wilkins.Leading Creative Design
- 15 credits
- 30 hours, over ten weeks, in lectures
- 120 hours, over ten weeks, self directed study
In this module you will learn how to intertwine creative and design thinking as part of advanced service design practices. Theories and practices from different design disciplines - e.g. service, product and architecture - will provide you with the interdisciplinary frameworks to create and design more effectively.
Throughout the module you will learn about new techniques to investigate, generate, envision, prototype, critique and reflect on designs that are creative solutions to complex and chaotic problems .
The module leader is Professor Neil Maiden.
Intellectual Property Law and Management
- 15 credits
- 30 hours, over ten weeks, in lectures
- 120 hours, over ten weeks, self directed study
You will gain an overview of the legal issues around design, innovation and creativity, and learn to identify and address the concerns they raise.
You will also learn about confidentiality agreements, copyright, trade mark and branding, and design rights - including rights ownership and their commercial exploitation.
This module is delivered by Prof Ruth Soetendorp, in conjunction with a team of intellectual property practitioners from leading creativity and innovation enterprises, and is moderated by the City Law School, one of London's major law schools.
Term 2
The Psychology of Creativity and Innovation
- 15 credits
- 30 hours, over ten weeks, in lectures
- 120 hours, over ten weeks, self directed study
You will explore ways to develop creative talent in individuals, teams and at an organisational level and develop skills in building work environments that support innovation.
You will also understand how creativity and innovation can drive economic performance, employee involvement and organisational change.
This module was designed by organisational psychologists from the School of Arts & Social Sciences. The module leader is Dr Maire Kerrin.Technologies, Creativity and Innovation
- 15 credits
- 30 hours, over ten weeks, in lectures
- 120 hours, over ten weeks, self directed study
In this module, you will learn creative approaches to digital innovation through the design of new digital systems, and explore ways of using digital technologies for yourself and your teams, in creative problem-solving and design, in ways that help, rather than hinder, your creative processes.
You will use case studies to understand the process of developing digital support for creative problem-solving and design, as an example of interactive system design.
The module leader is Dr Sara Jones.Delivering Innovation
- 15 credits
- 30 hours, over ten weeks in lectures
- 120 hours, over ten weeks, self directed study
Learn how the results of creative work can be transformed into valuable products and services in business and professional contexts.
You will use case studies of commercial and public organisations to develop a deep understanding of creative and innovative practices.
This module is leader is Andy Wilkins.Creativity and the Creative Industries
- 15 credits
- 30 hours, over ten weeks, in lectures
- 120 hours, over ten weeks, self directed study
You will explore creativity and innovation in different performance arts including music, dance and acting.
You will compare creativity and innovation in performing arts with creativity and innovation in the other disciplines you have studied and learn how to transfer different types of knowledge across disciplines to improve creativity and innovation.
The module is delivered by the School of Arts & Social Sciences. The module leader is Mary Ann Kernan.
Term 3
You may choose from these two options in your final term.
Research Methods and Individual Project
You will undertake a substantive individual piece of work under the guidance of an academic supervisor. The aim of the individual project is to apply the insights you’ve gained throughout the Innovation, Creativity and Leadership master's programme to a working environment of your choice.
You will deliver your final project as a dissertation. A member of academic staff with expertise in the particular area you wish to research will be allocated to supervise the project.
This can be an excellent opportunity for your employer to gain immediate benefit from your studies.
Examples of recent projects include:
- Business Mavericks
- Innovation in Professional Services. A Comparative Study
- Creativity in a Box: learning to facilitate group creativity using online learning materials and the facilitator's toolkit
- The Sensei Within: A Study of Leadership Qualities in Japanese Martial Arts
Research Methods and Small Project plus electives
You will undertake an individual piece of work under the guidance of an academic supervisor. The aim is to provide you with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills that you have acquired in the taught part of the master's degree in relevant creative, innovation delivery and leadership contexts.
You will deliver your final project as a dissertation. A member of academic staff with expertise in the particular area the student wishes to research will be allocated to supervise the project.
This can be an excellent opportunity for students' employers to gain immediate benefit from their employee's studies.
Electives planned to run in 2020
- Business & Society
- Driving Supply Chain Innovation through Technology
- Global Strategy
- Innovation in Organisations
- New Market Creation
- Practice of Management
- Storytelling for Business
- Strategy Consulting Skills
International elective offered in 2018
Start-ups: International Field Trip (taught Buenos Aires, Argentina)
See the MSc in Innovation, Creativity and Leadership programme specification.
Assessment methods
Assessment
Assessment of all core modules on the Masters in Innovation, Creativity and Leadership is by means of coursework only. Coursework may consist of standard essays, or individual and group project work, as appropriate to the module.
The master's consists of eight core modules, each worth 15 credits, plus either:
- A dissertation project worth 60 credits
Or
- Three electives worth 10 credits each and a small project worth 30 credits
We review all our masters courses regularly to keep them up-to-date on issues of both theory and practice. Therefore, there may be some change to the detailed content of the modules and occasionally to module titles.
Term dates
Term dates 2021/22
To be confirmed.
Timetables
Course timetables are normally available from July and can be accessed from our timetabling pages. These pages also provide timetables for the current academic year, though this information should be viewed as indicative and details may vary from year to year.
Please note that all academic timetables are subject to change.
Teaching staff
Course Director
Academic expert working at Cass Business School
On the MICL you will learn from a team of academic experts and highly experienced practitioners who have been working together for nearly a decade to develop an integrated and highly practical interdisciplinary approach to the core topics of creativity, leadership and innovation.
Module Leaders include:
Application
How to apply
We only accept online applications.
Apply for MSc Innovation, Creativity and Leadership (full-time)
Apply for MSc Innovation, Creativity and Leadership (part-time)
Documents required for decision-making
- Undergraduate degree transcript (if applicable)
- CV (Evidence of minimum of three years employment, at an appropriate level)
- Personal statement - this should be around 500 words in length and answer the following:
- Why have you selected this course? What are your motivating factors?
- What are your areas of interest within the course?
- What contributions do you feel you can make to the course?
- How do you see the course affecting your career plans?
Documents which may follow at a later date
- English language test result if applicable
- Confirmation of professional qualification examinations/exemptions/passes, if applicable
- Two professional references
- For a successful application to receive an unconditional status all documents must be verified, so an original or certified copy of the degree transcript must be uploaded to the application form or e-mailed to the relevant Admissions Officer upon request
Individual Appointments
Unfortunately, as a result of the evolving situation regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we can only offer online appointments to discuss your application. To book one, please get in touch with the relevant Admission Officer.
Please note; these are subject to availability.
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Terms and conditions
Students applying to study at Cass Business School are subject to City, University of London's terms and conditions.
Entry requirements
A UK upper second class degree or above, or the equivalent from an overseas institution. Applicants who do not hold a degree may be considered on the basis of work experience alone.
Work Experience
Applicants must have a minimum of three years' full-time work experience in a relevant professional domain
English language requirements
If you have been studying in the UK for the last three years it is unlikely that you will have to take the IELTS test
If you have studied a 2+2 degree with just two years in the UK you will be required to provide IELTS results and possibly to resit the tests to meet our requirements.
IELTS
- The required IELTS level is an average of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in the writing section and no less than 6.0 in any other section.
Fees
Fees in each subsequent year of study for continuing students (where applicable) will be subject to an annual increase of 2%. We will confirm any change to the annual tuition fee for continuing students in writing prior to commencing each subsequent year of study (where applicable).
Application fee: Nil
Deposit: £2,000 (usually paid within 1 month of receiving offer and non-refundable unless conditions of offer are not met)
First installment: Half fees less deposit (payable during on-line registration which should be completed at least 5 days before the induction period)
Second installment: Half fees (paid in January following start of course)
Career pathways
Career destinations for MSc Innovation, Creativity and Leadership
Our MSc Innovation, Creativity and Leadership equips students for creative leadership roles in a broad range of contexts. Our graduates go on to excel as innovation leaders, consultants in both large and small organisations and entrepreneurs founding their own organisations.
The Innovation, Creativity and Leadership master’s course equips students for creative leadership roles in a broad range of contexts.
Those completing the course go on to become innovation leaders and consultants in large and small organisations, and in private, public and voluntary sectors, as well as developing their own businesses providing products and services across a range of different industries.
Maybe you’ll take your new skills back to your current employer. Or maybe you’ll be moving on to new opportunities.
Maybe you’ll become an entrepreneur, setting up your own business from an idea developed through the course. The MICL has been designed to unlock career possibilities.
Our graduates have gone on to work in a wide range on industries. After graduating in 2018, MSc Innovation, Creativity and Leadership alumna Callie started working as Community Manager for Artgym. Alumnus Pascal Rota is working as a Consultant for Capgemini Invent.
Our dedicated Careers Team will help you identify your ideal career path and work with you to maximise the potential of accomplishing your professional goals.
Class of 2019 profile
Graduates from the MSc Innovation, Creativity and Leadership degree programme have secured positions in companies including::
- Policy Specialist, Google
- Product Developer, Lloyds
- Project Manager, Eurotunnel
- Deployment Strategist, Palantir Technologies
- Business Channel Experience Design Specialist, Kasikorn Bank
- Internal Consultant, Leth Agencies
Where they are working now
- UK - 43%
- EU/EEA - 43%
- South America - 15%
Industry post-master's
Data provided from alumni who completed the 2020 graduate outcomes survey
Alumni stories
Hear from our alumni. Discover the real experiences of learning at Cass and how Cass helped to boost our graduates' careers.
Read Callie’s storyCourse information and statistics
