Course summary
If you have a flare for creativity, a relevant degree or want to return to higher education to bolster your skillset, and a burning desire to change the world through the power of clever thinking and a dramatic relevant idea, then our MA Advertising could be the course for you. Discover how to apply strategic thinking, a curious mind, your wordsmithing ways, and unique art directional style to create distinct brand identities, unforgettable campaigns, and relatable content. Why study this subject? Advertising holds the power to create change. It can’t save the world, but it can make it a better place to live in. The future of branding, marketing, and advertising is to help businesses grow with the promotion of sustainable lifestyles, making brands appeal to diverse customers, and promote products in way that show the good they do for society and the world. Brands need creatives like you, to help them harness creative and strategic strengths that allow them to drive behavioural change for good. Brands can no longer ‘just sell’, they must become active in promoting ethical social awareness and work with consumers to create an established relationship. It’s about creating creativity with a purpose. Why study at Buckinghamshire New University? This MA Advertising course has been developed to mirror today’s industry. Working closely with professionals we’ve made sure the course helps you to develop the skills and knowledge the industry is looking for. Using the pillars of sustainability, inclusivity, and social responsibility, you’ll be taught an important mix of branding, planning, and advertising. All this make graduates of this MA very employable in any branch of advertising, branding or communication industries, in either a creative, account management, strategic or planning capacity because of the up-to-date nature and wide scope of the curriculum offered. Here at BNU we don’t just teach you how to apply creative thinking and problem-solving skills. We teach you how to approach a creative problem with insightful planning, research, and transmedia storytelling to ensure brand advocacy and long-lasting social missions.You’ll benefit from unrivalled industry links, workshops, mentoring, advice, placements, internships, and job opportunities. There will also be selected alumni and agencies that will be part of the MA’s Hyreus Scheme, who will provide you with an industrial practitioner as a guide, in addition to their University Personal Tutor. They may also provide internships and or placements should the student prove suitable. This presents students with an opportunity to build a one-to-one relationship with an influential figure from industry, who will act as adviser, reference point, critical sounding board, and ultimately a potential employer. This opportunity can be further bolstered by contacts made through research, whilst on an agency experience or by working on agency briefs such as the one for Portfolio Academy. We actively encourage you to get involved with industry awards, including D&AD New Blood Awards and Young Creative Network Awards. 2022 saw our BA bring home two D&AD New Blood Pencils. For the last 25 years BNU Ad students have constantly created great campaigns that have won awards, who’ve then gone on to create the next generation of advertising history, both at home and aboard. What facilities can I use? To aid your development you will learn practical skills and experience both digital and traditional processes and technologies. You’ll have access to our state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, including:
- Photography studios
- Mac Suites
- Letterpress machines
- Film and TV cameras
- Screen Printing facilities
- Dedicated specialist technicians
- Printing facilities
Modules
Year one Core Modules Campaign Creative Planning Sustainable Marketing 1: Sustainable Product Design Sustainable Marketing 2: Sustainable Advertising Final Major Project 1: Social Purpose Advertising Final Major Project 2: Passion Projects The Big Idea (Dissertation)
Assessment method
This MA is offered as a blended learning experience, with many lectures taking place online, providing flexibility for both course related work-based placements or to help students pursue their own and industry opportunities. With the breadth of diverse projects and industry influences this is essential for personal and professional development. You’ll gain an integrated and gradual learning experience throughout which the various teaching methods, experiences and industry exposure contributing to this. All taught subjects are translated into practical brief-led projects, which are then contextualised in industry through regular workshops. You’ll be learning and gaining feedback from a host of different sources which enables them to create contacts, links, and opportunities to enter the real world of advertising at every stage of the course. Written assessments will be accompanied by face-to-face delivery of research presentations, creative presentations, portfolio work, final pitch presentations. Some of these will involve additional assessment from visiting tutors and alumni or agency personal if the work being assessed is an agency-based project. Formative feedback will be given at various key stages of every project to help with your development. Throughout the programme you’ll be encouraged to personally evaluate your work and book, ensuring you improve a self-evaluative critical approach to all aspects of work evolved through application of creative advertising processes - judged against creative intentions. Self-assessment is an important part of your growth during the course and is implicit within tutorial teaching. You’ll also work on some non-assessed briefs to allow you to get as broad an experience as possible and experiment without detrimental results. If some of these are for working agency practitioners, via the Hyreus Scheme, this will further your potential intern opportunities and final employment chances. Feedback is an integral part of this approach, and you will always get advice and support in how to take your work forward. Feedback from as many sources as possible is the aim of the strategy and this comes both from tutors and industry practitioners. You’ll graduate with a well-rounded portfolio ready for potential employers.
Entry requirements
Graduates with a good first degree, usually Upper Second and above; preferably in a communications subject. Advertising or marketing studied to BA level (as listed above). Graduates from abroad (with grade 6.5 English or above) from a communications discipline or international advertising agency. Those with experience within the advertising industry, wishing to take a career break and re-enter the profession at a higher level. Applicants need a minimum 2 years’ experience, and proven ability to undertake MA level qualifications (particularly theory/dissertation modules), with bridging assignment set to assess capability for Level 7 study. Employees from the communications industries who want to retrain or undertake staff development. Practitioners who want to refresh and/or realign their career aspirations. Those wishing to progress to higher level research degree work. Graduates with a passion to enter the advertising industry.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £8000 | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £8000 | Whole course |
| Scotland | £8000 | Whole course |
| Wales | £8000 | Whole course |
| International | £14800 | Whole course |
Additional fee information
Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.
You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.
**Questions about fees?**
Contact our Enquiries Team:
0330 123 2023
[email protected]
Provider information
Buckinghamshire New University
Queen Alexandra Road
High Wycombe
HP11 2JZ