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BA (Hons) Creative Advertising (Top-up)

UCAS CODE: WN30
  • Study Mode: Full Time
  • Location: High Wycombe
  • Duration: One Year
  • Start Date: September 2024

You can also study this course:

Our course reflects the realities of working as a professional in the industry. Everything you do on the course is working towards you getting your first job in the sector. If you have completed a foundation-level degree, HND, or equivalent qualifications in a relevant Art and Design subject, you can choose to top-up your studies to gain a full bachelor’s degree.

You bring a curious mind. That way you have with words. A unique art directional style. We’ll bring 30-years’ experience as the UK’s top advertising course and a teaching army of advertising gurus both past and present. Together we’ll turn raw talent into a clever thinking idea machine, a future advertising star. Stay updated with all our latest BA (Hons) Creative Advertising news by following us on Instagram @adschoolbucks.

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No. 1 in England for Student Satisfaction*
*Measured by % of positivity across all questions within the larger providers only: taught or registered population (NSS 2023)
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No. 1 Students' Union in the UK*
*As ranked among taught students at non-specialist HEIs (NSS 2023)
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Top for our response to the cost-of-living-crisis*
*Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023
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5th for learning opportunities*
*NSS 2023
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Top 10 for student support*
*Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023
How bad do you want it - Creative Advertising
Think outside the box - Creative Advertising

Why study this subject?

On this creative advertising course, we have a reputation for nurturing creative individuals able to think on their feet and adapt to an industry in a constant state of change.

We’ll encourage you to experiment and push your ideas and gain in confidence when taking risks. You'll have every opportunity to improve your skills and not worry about getting things wrong. Making mistakes is an important part of the creative process.

You’ll only be taught by agency professionals both as dedicated tutors and visiting guests. They will help develop you as individuals, helping you think in different ways and voice your opinions for effect. You will gain a better understanding of people and gain insights into how they think, behave and act.

You will learn to apply creative problem-solving to create targeted and innovative communications and solutions to a diversity of briefs. Above all you will develop as a creative thinker and problem solver.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

Why does this little part of England produce so many heavyweight creative superstars?

Is it the great facilities, a course that perfectly mixes practical skills, creative challenges and marketing insights, taught by tutors with decades of advertising experience?

Is it the army of alumni students, the BNU Mafia as they are affectionately known as, who constantly return to give tutorials, workshops, mentoring, advice, placements, internships and jobs?

Is it its location, only 40 minutes from the hustle and bustle of one of the worlds’ most exciting adland communities, London?

Who knows, but for the last 25 years its 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.

The course sets about developing you as individuals, helping you to think in different ways and voice your opinions for effect. Above all you will develop as a creative thinker and problem solver. To aid your development you will learn practical skills and experience both digital and traditional processes and technologies. These range from Adobe Creative Suite to letterpress and silkscreen printing. Photography and film making are integral to most things we do.

You will learn to apply creative problem-solving to create targeted and innovative communications and solutions to a diversity of briefs. You will gain a better understanding of people and gain insights into how they think, behave and act.

Students are also encouraged to get involved with industry awards, including D&AD New Blood Awards and Young Creative Network Awards. All this adds to the employability of our students. 2022 saw our students bring home two D&AD New Blood Pencils.

You’ll also benefit from our mentor scheme, MyMentor, where, every 3rd year now gets a working mentor, usually a BNU alumni, who are currently employed in a top agency. They are tailored to each students chosen creative discipline, copywriter, art director, creative team, planning, or digital. They will work with you to help shape your book, teach you interview techniques to use, and how to negotiate agency networking.

It’s quite simply the best advertising course on offer. Going to BNU felt like you were part of one big family. Still to this day someone will introduce themselves as being ‘from BNU’. It gives you a great sense of family and community. And as a student I loved the close proximity to London, it meant getting in to meet people in the industry was easy.
Simon Lloyd
Simon Lloyd

What facilities can I use?

The Creative Advertising course is a completely diverse area. Because of this our Creative Advertising students have access to a range of our facilities, including Photography studios, Film and TV equipment, Screen Printing facilities, Letterpress machines and Mac suites.

What will I study?

We have a reputation for nurturing creative individuals, able to think on their feet and adapt to an industry in a constant state of change. You'll have every opportunity to improve your skills and not worry about getting things wrong. Making mistakes is all part of the creative process. We encourage you to experiment and push your ideas and gain in confidence when taking risks. Our course reflects the realities of working as a professional in industry. Everything you do on the course is working towards you getting your first job in the sector

To achieve the full BA (Hons) in Creative Advertising you will need to complete a major project, dissertation as well as complete the Agency module.

The major project and dissertation will allow you to investigate a topic important to you within creative advertising. You will cover the whole research process, undertaking empirical investigation and analysis. You will be allocated a dissertation supervisor, who will offer support and advice.

The ‘Agency’ module gives you the opportunity to undertake work-based experiences or answer live briefs, gaining the practical and transferable skills you need for your career in the creative industries.

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Working in advertising opens many doors. Ad agencies are made up of a bustling team, not just designers and creative, but strategists, writers, human resource and PR - each and every person is a valued member of the team. We have a very high employability rate with students heading straight into work. Many graduates have been selected direct from graduation.

How will I be taught and assessed?

The Creative Advertising course is a successful collaboration between education and industry, and staff are always using their connections to ensure students get to engage with the best creatives and strategists.

You’ll be involved in a range of:

  • Live briefs;
  • Agency visits;
  • Crits;
  • Industry focused modules.

After graduating, many of our former students stay involved, sometimes running workshops to help give you an insight into the industry. Some of our graduates are now Creative Directors at Saatchi & SaatchiBBHVCCPMotherTBWA and Droga5. This is a hugely supportive network of past students always willing to help Bucks students.

“I have loved my time at BNU. With so many industry connections, we were given such a great opportunity to meet people and build contacts within the industry. Each year teaches you something different about being a creative and that has been of great value. The two-week placements we are given in the 2nd and 3rd year have been a great way for us to get some experience and learn more about the industry. As a whole, the course has led us into the industry and provided some amazing opportunities that have given the best path possible. The rest is up to us!”
Katie Bird
Katie Bird
Creative Advertising students
Creative Advertising students
Related Documents

BA (Hons) Creative Advertising Programme Specification

What are the course entry requirements?

This programme is offered as a top-up qualification for students who have completed a HND, FDA, or other equivalent qualification in a relevant Art and Design subject, and wish to progress further to achieve an Honours degree.

Modules

This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.

Year 1 Modules

Final Major Project Creative Team (optional)

Final Major Project Creative Independent (optional)

Final Major Project Creative Combined Independent (optional)

Dissertation

Agency

What are the tuition fees

Home
  • Home, Academic Year 2024 - 2025: £9,250 per year
International
  • Overseas/International, Academic Year 2024 - 2025: £15,150 per year

Additional course costs and financial support

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?

If you have any questions about the fees above, contact our Enquiries team by calling 0330 123 2023 or emailing advice@bnu.ac.uk.

What are my career prospects?

Only talent, personality and timing will land you a job or a choice placement. However, being a BNU student will certainly help to get your foot in the door.

These are some of the Agencies that current and former BNU Graduates have been part of: Saatchi & Saatchi, 180 Amsterdam (now 180 Kingsday), Droga5TBWA, Havas Work ClubWCRSBBC , Brothers & Sisters, The Brooklyn Brothers NYCCreature London

Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.

Our BA (Hons) Creative Advertising (Top-up) course will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities, such as:

  • Creative
  • Copywriter
  • Art Director
  • Designer
  • Planner
  • Strategist
  • Graphic Designer
  • Producer
  • Marketing Officer
  • Social Media Executive.

You may also wish to stay on at Buckinghamshire New University and study our full-time or part-time postgraduate courses.

Course leader

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Andy Imrie
  • Senior Lecturer
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Dr Elisavet Kalpaxi
  • Senior Lecturer
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Nick Wiltshire
  • Technician Demonstrator
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Joseph Davies
  • Technical Tutor
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