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Preston Campus
Creative Advertising BA (Hons)
British creative advertising is recognised as being amongst the best in the world. This owes much to an educational infrastructure that supplies the industry with a constant stream of fresh talent. At UCLan, we offer one of the most successful courses in advertising. Over thirty years ago we helped transform design education by pioneering the first sandwich course in the UK. This effectively gave industry an active role in the training of young designers and art directors. Today the course remains just as strong as ever. Its belief in the power and importance of ideas has meant that those students who graduate from the course remain consistently employable. BA (Hons) Creative Advertising at UCLan is founded on the fundamental principle of creative thinking. While technology may develop providing us with new and exciting platforms on which to deliver work, the importance of ‘a good idea’ remains constant.
National Student Survey 2018
Design Studies at UCLan - ranked top in the North West for Overall student Satisfaction, 2nd in the North West for teaching on the course and 3rd in the North West for Overall Academic Support.
There is a commitment to intellectually-stimulating projects where students will be working on a wide variety of different media and a vast range of products, from fast-moving consumer goods to charity briefs, advocacy briefs, eg anti-smoking and branding campaigns, to self-authorised, personally-driven projects.
Art Direction and Typography as craft skills are explored in greater depth through the introduction of longer projects. Students have the opportunity to team up as the course progresses, though this is not compulsory. Following the mantra “create with a pen, craft on the Mac”, you will produce a professional and highly-finished portfolio of advertising concepts ready for your final assessment, entry into the industry or further studies at postgraduate level. The course starts with creative thinking, problem-solving and ideas-generation projects and covers the fundamentals of advertising. Semester Two builds on that knowledge and begins to place work into context via the Introduction to Advertising module. The course culminates with an end-of-year show in Preston and at the D&AD New Blood exhibition in London.
News
UCLan achieves triple success at the Oscars of the University world
The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has won a record three categories at the 2018 Times Higher Education (THE) Awards, more than any other university on the night.
Triple awards for UCLan students at D&AD awards
Three advertising students from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) have won prestigious Pencil awards at the recent D&AD awards in London.
BBC team delivers workshop sessions in UCLan’s seventh Conference Week
Design students from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) have been learning the tricks of the trade from a panel of experts at an annual conference week.
Students win prestigious Advertising Awards at D&AD
Student advertising team Faye Rowbottom and Rebecca Parrish appeared in the ‘Top 5 new designers’ at New Blood in 2016 with an Alzheimer awareness campaign. Their advertising campaign for the Alzheimer’s Society was designed to raise awareness about the symptoms of the disease.
Lancashire Arts Festival 2017 award winner – Charlie Bulmer
Art and Design Saturday ClubAre you aged between 13 and 16 years old? Find out more about UCLan’s Art and Design Saturday Club. |
Awards
Over the last five years our students have won 30 national and international awards. These include Design & Art Direction, Young Creative Network, MPA Roses, Little Chip Awards, One Show and Clear Channel/Adshel Awards.
Alumni:
We can boast creative directors at BMP, DDB and Saatchi & Saatchi. Graduates can be found winning awards in the creative departments of JWT, BJL, Glue, McCann Erickson, BDH/TBWA and the BBC to name but a few.
- In 2010, Claire Watson won a first prize Yellow Pencil at the D&AD awards. She now works at Channel 4 and, within six months, won ‘Best Newcomer’ in the prestigious Creative Circle Awards.
- In 2012, final year students Louise Flanagan and Naomi Hodgson won a first prize Yellow Pencil at the D&AD awards.
- In 2013, as a Year Two student, Kiera Broderick won the Advertising and Graphic Design category of the first ever Creative Conscience Awards.
- In 2014, final year students Malina Giurgea and Teodora Nicolae won the Advertising and Graphic Design category of the Creative Conscience Awards and picked up at "Best in Show" award at D&AD New Blood exhibition.
- In 2014, as Year Two students, Huzaifa Ali, Bernard Burton and Habib Mohammed won the 3D category of the Creative Conscience Awards.
Simon Robinson
and Jo Moore
Graduated 1988
Creative Director and Copywriter
WCRS
Simon and Jo graduated in 1988 from Preston Polytechnic (now UCLan) and landed their first job at Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH). After 10 years at BBH Simon (& Jo) joined WCRS to work initially on its Land Rover and lottery accounts. They have created some of the most iconic commercials for brands, perhaps they are best known for the Levi’s ‘Washroom’, which won a Cannes Silver and a D&AD nomination among other awards in 1996. Also the Boddingtons ’Athlete’ and the ‘Armchair’ ad for Electrolux, which won a Bronze at Cannes in 1996.
Adrian Moat
Graduated 1988
Commercials / Film Director
RSA Films
In 1992 and at 26 years of age Adrian was signed to Ridley Scott’s production company in London. Moat’s first commercial directing assignment, Polaroid’s Mafia, won a Silver Lion at Cannes, where he was also recognized as Most Promising Young Talent. Since then, Moat has done groundbreaking work for scores of international clients, including BMW, Rolex, Lee Jeans, Sony, Speedo, Mazda, UBS, BBC World, San Miguel, Guinness, Nokia, Nissan, and Buick. He has been nominated three times for D&AD Awards, twice at the British Television Advertising Awards, and won Silver at Spain’s San Sebastian FilmFestival.
Simon Higby
Graduated 2002
Creative / Partner
DDB Stockholm
Simon was ranked amongst the top three art directors in the world according to the 2010 big won survey. He currently works at DDB Stockholm, where he heads up the Volkswagen account. Prior to Stockholm, he has had stints in both the UK and Australia. Working on great brands like Volkswagen, McDonalds, MTV and Durex to name but a few. His awards haul includes DDB networks first ever Titanium Lion, a Cannes Cyber Grand Prix, 2 Eurobest Grand Prix’s, 15 Cannes Lions, 2 Gold and 5 silver eggs at Guldägget (Swedish Awards) and the Bill Bernbach award for my work on Volkswagen and McDonalds. He is one of the founders of The Fun Theory, a movement that is based on the simple idea that you can change human behavior for the better by making things fun to do.
Richard Johnson
Graduated 1992
Director
The Gang (Asia Pacific)
In 2005 Richard Johnson became the number one Creative Director in Asia Pacific, the number one Creative and the most awarded Creative Director in Singapore. He began his career with The Partners in London 1992, Hong Kong in 1998, Associate Creative Director, McCann- Ericson. A move to OgilvyOne Hong Kong in 1999. Appointed Senior Art Director Ogilvy & Mather 2001 Singapore. Creative Director, RedCard. Ogilvy & Mather, 2003 Singapore Executive Creative Director
M&C Saatchi 2005 Singapore and Mumbai.
Present Director of The Gang (Asia Pacific) Singapore and Director of First Line.
Key Information
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Duration:
Three years
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Level:
Undergraduate
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Delivery:
Campus, Full-time
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Award Type:
BA (Hons)
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UCAS Code:
W211
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Campus:
Preston (Campus code: U)
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Start Date:
September
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Fees 2019/20
Full-time: £9,250* per year (UK/EU)
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University offers a range of scholarships and bursaries to support you through your studies.
Discover MoreEntry Requirements
Our typical offer is 104 - 112 UCAS Points. We operate a flexible admissions policy and treat everyone as an individual. This means that we will take into consideration your educational achievements and predicted grades (where applicable) together with your application as a whole, including work experience and personal statement. General Studies accepted
BTEC Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit
BTEC Diploma: Distinction*, Distinction - Distinction*, Distinction*
Pass Access Course: 106 - 112 UCAS Points
International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 104 - 112 UCAS points from Higher Level Subjects
IELTS: 6.0 with no score lower than 5.5
GCSE: 5 at grade C/4 including Maths & English or equivalent
All applicants are invited to attend a Selection Day when they will be interviewed with a portfolio. You will be notified of your date for your Selection Day by our Admissions Office who will also update UCAS Track with details of your application.
Further information on our Selection Day and portfolio interviews.
Not got the grades?
If you do not meet the formal entry requirements specified, Foundation Entry offers an alternative route to study for this degree
Foundation Entry RouteCheck your points
Not sure how many points you have? Use our handy calculator and find out.
Points calculatorCourse Overview
Year 1
- Creative Thinking
- Introduction to Graphic Communication
- Communication Craft Skills
- Historical Contextual Studies
Year 2
- Applied Advertising
- Graphic Communication in Context
- Professional Practice
- Contemporary Contextual Studies
Year 3
- Advertising Set Project
- Advertising External Project
- Advertising Self-Initiated Project
- Contextual Studies – Futures
Learning Environment and Assessment
A 3 year degree qualification typically comprises 360 credits and each 20 credit (a standard module) equates to 200 hours of study, which comprises of a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical sessions and independent study. Independent study is an important aspect of your degree course. The exact combination of study time will be detailed within your module descriptors, and will depend on your option choices.
The programme of study is focused on generating creative ideas for a range of challenging briefs. Lectures, workshops, critiques and tutorials are used to introduce, develop and synthesise the various elements of the course.
Ideas are underpinned by exhaustive research methodologies and the emphasis shifts to developing the sound advertising strategies that are the foundation for those ideas through the Products and Campaigns modules.
In the final year, students follow an intensive TV and Radio Production Writing module. Alongside this, students will choose from a selection of external, live and competition briefs to complement self-authorised and personally-driven student-initiated briefs.
As the course progresses, you can choose to work in teams, which reflects how you will work in industry. At critiques, you will be asked to present your work and give constructive feedback on you colleagues' work. Computer skills are also an important part of the course and are necessary for competition work and final assessments.
Assessment is made up of 100 per cent coursework, which is typically based on a number of projects.
We have an enviable list of alumni with graduates employed in the creative departments of the world’s top advertising agencies such as TBWA/Chiat Day, JWT, M&C Saatchi, VCCP and the in-house creative teams at Channel 4 and the BBC.
Facilities
Industry Links
We have great links with employers, including household names such as Sony, BAE Systems and Apple. We also have links with the smaller companies in the region, and offer help and assistance to more than 1000 of these – with many of our graduates staying in the region, it is important we develop these relationships.
Teodora Nicolae and Malina Giurgea
BA (Hons) Advertising, 2014
Teodora Nicolae and Malina Giurgea, have landed roles at London-based integrated creative agency, VCCP Blue.
After graduating in 2014, Teodora and Malina decided to make the move down to London in pursuit of becoming creative professionals and kick-started their careers at the D&AD New Blood Academy, a two-week boot camp for young creatives in the industry.
Important Information
Contact Us
This course is based in the School of Art, Design and Fashion
Telephone us for further information +44(0)1772 892400
or email us at: cenquiries@uclan.ac.uk | Book a visit
Course Handbook
For detailed information about studying this course at UCLan, please see the course handbook for your year of entry:
2018 Entry
| 2019 Entry
For information on possible changes to course information, see our Essential and Important Course Information.
Tuition Fees & Finance
*Tuition Fees are per year unless otherwise stated.
For 2018/19 fees please refer to our fees page.
Further Information for students
- Information for international students |
- Accreditation of prior learning |
- Student Support Information
You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Central Lancashire on our Student Contract page.
Entry Requirements
For changes to 2017 UCAS tariff entry requirements please see our Essential and Important Course Information. UCLan requires all undergraduate applicants to have a minimum attainment of five GCSEs at grade C and above, or equivalent, (including Maths and English). In 2017 and beyond we will view the new Grade 4 as being equivalent to a C grade and will therefore require students to achieve GCSE Grade 4 or above. However, if the subject is relevant to our degree programme and requires a higher GCSE grade (e.g. GCSE B grade), and/or includes a Professional body that governs the entry requirements, Grade 5 or above may be required.