Creative Advertising, BA (Hons), with industry placement

This Creative Advertising BA(Hons) course equips students to transform ideas into impactful advertising campaigns, focusing on simplicity, curiosity, emotion, and action. Participants will develop skills in audience connection, storytelling, and brand strategy, while building a portfolio through practical activities like pitching ideas, using behavioural science for social change, and collaborating with industry partners. Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the program offers opportunities for internships, networking, and real-world projects on digital platforms, emerging technologies, and multimedia campaigns.The curriculum spans four years, starting with fundamentals in copywriting, art direction, and creative problem-solving, progressing to advanced topics like brand creation, behavioural change, and global campaigns. In the final year, students undertake industry briefs, enter competitions, and develop a career-focused portfolio. Assessment is entirely coursework-based, including visual presentations, written reports, and a culminating exhibition, ensuring a blend of practical and theoretical evaluation.

Through this career-focused Creative Advertising degree, we'll help you become an imaginative, enthusiastic and future-focused advertising professional. You’ll learn to generate and pitch innovative ideas for a range of digital platforms, including social media, digital ads, games, podcasts, radio and print. You’ll also learn how to utilise emerging technologies in the creative process, such as using AI programmes like ChatGPT and Midjourney for idea generation, pitching and creating mock-ups. Year one: In your first year, you’ll be introduced to the fundamentals of advertising and marketing communications. Through workshops, tutorials and studio-based activities, you’ll build skills in art direction, copywriting, planning, pitching, and creative problem solving. You’ll also have the chance to visit advertising and marketing agencies in London, gaining an insight into how creative agencies operate and the key steps involved when developing an advertising campaign. Modules: Copywriting Creative Problem Solving Design and Art Direction Adland Agency Life Strategy and Planning Year two: This year is all about applying your skills from year one. You’ll progress beyond ad creation to multimedia, multichannel campaigns. You’ll take a deeper dive into what makes a brand and practice important marketing and research skills like data collection and analysis. You’ll learn to use behavioural science and psychology to drive social change. Responding to a live brief set by a charitable body, you’ll have the opportunity to pitch to industry and see your campaign idea go into production. You’ll hone your teamworking skills and deploy your visual and written skills for different media, as well as reflect on the implications and impact of new media. Modules: Media Lab Brand Creation Behaviour Change for Good Campaigns Global Creators Year three: You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the employability team. Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying. How you’ll study during your professional placement You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks. You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation. Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth. Year four: Your final year is all about creating a career-launching portfolio. Supported by tutors, you’ll tackle real industry briefs and enter global competitions like D&AD New Blood in London. You’ll complete a final-year integrated marketing communications project accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and sharpen your professional and self-employment skills, empowering you to start your own business or freelance journey. Modules: Final Year Project - Development Advanced Campaigns Final Year Project - Showcase (CIM accredited) Final Portfolio As part of our process of continuous improvement, we routinely review course content to ensure that all our students benefit from a high-quality and rewarding academic experience. As such, there may be some changes made to your course which are not immediately reflected in the content displayed on our website. Any students affected will be informed of any changes made directly.