Academic Programmes: Cultivating Intellect, Creativity, and Interdisciplinary Mastery

At Parvis School of Economics and Music, Manchester, our academic programmes are meticulously designed to challenge, inspire, and equip students with the knowledge, skills, and vision to excel in an interconnected global landscape. We foster an environment where intellectual rigour, creative exploration, and practical application converge, preparing graduates who are not only masters of their chosen fields but also adaptable, innovative thinkers capable of leading change. Our approach is student-centred, research-informed, and deeply committed to fostering the interdisciplinary synergies that define the Parvis ethos.

Levels of Study: A Continuum of Excellence

Parvis offers a cohesive educational journey, with distinct yet interconnected programmes tailored to each stage of academic development:

• High School Programme (Pre-University Studies): Our High School Programme provides a robust and stimulating foundation for students aspiring to higher education in the fields of economics, technology, arts, and design. The curriculum is designed to cultivate critical thinking, analytical skills, and creative expression from an early age. We offer a broad range of subjects with pathways that allow for early specialisation, alongside core components that ensure a well-rounded education. The emphasis is on inquiry-based learning, fostering intellectual curiosity, and developing the independent study skills necessary for success at the undergraduate level. Students benefit from an environment that introduces them to the interdisciplinary nature of Parvis, with opportunities to engage with concepts from our core specialisms in an age-appropriate and inspiring manner. Pastoral care and university guidance are integral, ensuring each student is supported in achieving their academic and personal potential.
• Undergraduate Studies (Bachelor’s Degrees): Our undergraduate programmes are designed to provide a deep and comprehensive understanding of a student’s chosen specialism while embedding the interdisciplinary perspective that is central to Parvis. Students engage with cutting-edge theory, develop advanced analytical and practical skills, and are encouraged to apply their learning to complex, real-world challenges. The curriculum typically involves a combination of core modules, elective choices allowing for tailored study paths, and significant project work. We emphasise research-led teaching, ensuring that students are exposed to the latest developments in their fields. Opportunities for internships, industry collaborations, and international experiences further enrich the undergraduate journey, producing graduates who are not only knowledgeable but also professionally adept and globally aware.
• Postgraduate Studies (Master’s Degrees and Doctoral Research): Parvis offers a vibrant and intellectually stimulating environment for postgraduate study, encompassing taught Master’s programmes and Doctoral (PhD) research. Our Master’s degrees provide advanced specialised knowledge and skills, often with a strong professional orientation or as a pathway to doctoral research. They are designed for students seeking to deepen their expertise, pivot their careers, or engage with advanced interdisciplinary challenges. Our PhD programmes are at the forefront of research and innovation. Doctoral candidates work closely with leading faculty supervisors, contributing original knowledge to their fields. We provide comprehensive research training, a supportive scholarly community, and access to state-of-the-art facilities to foster groundbreaking research with tangible impact.

Our Interdisciplinary Specialisms in Detail:

The cornerstone of Parvis’s academic offering lies in our unique, integrated specialisms:

1. Economic Innovation & Creative Industries: This dynamic specialism addresses the evolving landscape where economic principles, technological advancements, and the creative arts converge.
   • Postgraduate Level (e.g., MSc/MA, PhD): Students explore advanced topics such as the economics of digital platforms, intellectual property in the creative sector, arts policy and management, innovation financing, and the impact of AI on creative workflows. Research methodologies include advanced econometric modelling, qualitative case studies of creative enterprises, and policy analysis. PhD candidates might pursue dissertations on topics like “Sustainable Business Models for Digital Artists” or “The Role of Cultural Clusters in Regional Economic Development.” Graduates are prepared for leadership roles in creative enterprises, cultural institutions, economic consultancy, and policy-making.
   • Undergraduate Level (e.g., BSc/BA Hons): Core modules cover micro and macroeconomics, digital economics, principles of arts management, marketing in creative industries, and creative entrepreneurship. Learning is enhanced through projects analysing real-world creative businesses, developing business plans for arts ventures, and engaging with guest lecturers from the creative sector. Career pathways include roles in arts administration, digital marketing, economic analysis for media companies, and founding creative start-ups.
   • High School Level: Foundational courses introduce economic concepts (supply/demand, market structures), an overview of different creative industries (music, film, design, publishing), basic business principles, and workshops encouraging creative expression and project management. Students might develop mini-projects like curating a small exhibition or analysing the business model of a local artist.
2. Computational Finance & Sonic Arts: This pioneering field integrates the quantitative rigour of finance with the innovative potential of sound technology and artistic expression.
   • Postgraduate Level (e.g., MSc, PhD): Focus areas include algorithmic trading strategies, financial risk modelling using advanced computation, machine learning in financial forecasting, sound synthesis techniques, interactive music systems, and the application of sonic data representation in finance. PhD research could explore “AI-Driven Composition for Financial Data Sonification” or “High-Frequency Trading Optimisation using Quantum-Inspired Algorithms.” Graduates are sought after in FinTech, investment banking, asset management, sound design for new media, and academic research.
   • Undergraduate Level (e.g., BSc Hons): Students study modules in financial mathematics, programming (e.g., Python, R), data analysis for finance, principles of acoustics, music technology software (e.g., Max/MSP, Ableton), and interactive sound installation. Projects might involve developing a simple trading algorithm, creating a portfolio of sound designs, or building an interactive sonic art piece. Career prospects include quantitative analyst roles, FinTech development, sound engineering, and multimedia art.
   • High School Level: Introduction to financial literacy, basic coding concepts, the physics of sound, an overview of music technology, and creative projects involving sound manipulation. Students might learn to use digital audio workstations or explore simple financial data visualisation through sound.
3. Design Thinking & Sustainable Enterprise: This forward-looking specialism applies human-centred design methodologies to foster innovation in sustainable business practices and technological development.
   • Postgraduate Level (e.g., MA/MSc, MRes, PhD): Advanced studies cover circular economy design, service design for social impact, speculative design for future technologies, ethical AI frameworks in business, sustainable supply chain management, and corporate social responsibility strategy. Research often involves co-design workshops, systems thinking approaches, and life cycle assessments. PhD topics could include “Designing Trustworthy AI for Sustainable Smart Cities” or “The Impact of Service Design on Behavioural Change for Energy Consumption.” Graduates become leaders in sustainable innovation, corporate strategy, design consultancies, and social enterprises.
   • Undergraduate Level (e.g., BA/BSc Hons): Modules include design process methodologies, user experience (UX) research, sustainable materials and production, branding for ethical businesses, social innovation, and systems thinking. Students engage in hands-on projects, designing products or services with a sustainability focus, developing business models for social enterprises, and working with community partners. Careers include roles in sustainable product design, UX/UI design, corporate sustainability management, and service design.
   • High School Level: Introduces problem-solving through design, basic principles of sustainability, user-centred thinking, visual communication, and team-based design challenges. Projects could involve redesigning a common object for better sustainability or proposing a local community initiative based on design thinking.

Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Excellence:

Our faculty comprises internationally recognised scholars, industry professionals, and practising artists and designers, all committed to delivering an inspiring and challenging educational experience. We utilise a blend of teaching methods, including interactive lectures, small-group seminars, practical workshops, studio-based learning, and technology-enhanced instruction. Assessment is diverse and designed to evaluate a broad range of skills, encompassing examinations, coursework, essays, presentations, portfolios, practical projects, and dissertations. We provide dedicated academic support services, state-of-the-art libraries, specialist laboratories, studios, and IT infrastructure to ensure our students have the resources they need to succeed.