Play a leading role in shaping the future of the creative and cultural sectors with the Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership at UNSW. Led by the UNSW School of Art & Design , ranked #5 in Australia for Art and Design (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2026) this postgraduate degree will prepare you to lead, curate and innovate across the arts.
Developed in close partnership with industry, the Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership is delivered in collaboration a wide network of Australian and international cultural partners. You’ll explore how creative and cultural practices connect to social, political and economic contexts, while building strong foundations in curatorial theory and cultural leadership.
Graduate ready to shape cultural conversations, lead creative change and influence what comes next. You’ll have the skills and confidence to step into leading roles in museums, galleries, festivals, public programs and cultural policy in Australia and globally.
Industry-engaged learning experiences Gain hands-on experience through curatorial studios and industry-engaged courses. Previous partners include the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, City of Sydney, Biennale of Sydney, Campbelltown Arts Centre and Sydney Contemporary.
Tailored capstone project In your final year, complete a capstone project designed to consolidate your learning and strengthen your professional identity. Compliment your major project proposal with a focused internship or research paper aligned with your career goals and creative interests.
Global perspectives and connections Broaden your ideas through international engagement opportunities. Learn from the International Visiting Curators Program run by UNSW Galleries or join the World Biennales course , which includes a two-week intensive international study tour visiting two to three major exhibitions in Europe or Asia.
Earn a globally recognised qualification Study at a global top 20 university (QS World University Rankings, 2024–2027), and join the UNSW School of Art & Design – ranked #5 in Australia for Art and Design (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2026). Graduate with a qualification recognised worldwide in curating and cultural leadership.
Learn in partnership with industry This program is shaped by extensive industry engagement and delivered in close collaboration with a wide network of Australian and international partners. You'll graduate with real-world skills, a strong individual practice and professional connections across the creative and cultural sectors.
Depending on the level and nature of your prior qualifications, admission to the Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership has three entry points with different duration and units of credit (UOC) required for completion:
If you’re applying without a Bachelor’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree completed more than 10 years ago, you can be admitted into the Graduate Certificate in Cultural Leadership , opens in a new window through a request for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If you complete the requirements for the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma with a record of achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average (65%) you're then eligible for admission into the Master’s program with full credit for courses already completed.
Entry score calculator If you’re uncertain whether you have the equivalent to a UNSW credit average, you can use the UNSW postgraduate entry score calculator to convert and scale other types of grading schemes into a percentage relatable to UNSW entry requirements.
Related Bachelor’s degree programs include: Curatorial Studies, Librarianship and Information Management (FOE 0913), the Creative Arts (FOE 10, such as Fine Arts, Art History, Art Theory, Museum Studies, Visual Arts and Crafts, Performing Arts, Graphic and Design Studies, Communication and Media Studies), Studies in Human Society (FOE 0903, such as Sociology, Anthropology, History, Archaeology, Human Geography, Indigenous Studies, Gender Specific Studies), Political Science and Policy Studies (FOE 0901), Literature (FOE 091523), and Philosophy (FOE 091701).