BA (Hons) Advertising and Brand Design

• Creative Strategy
• Branding and Identity Design
• Copywriting and Art Direction
• Campaign Development
• Team-working and Project Management

If you study the BA (Hons) Advertising and Brand Design with Integrated Foundation Year version of this course, key study topics in your foundation year will include:

• Fundamental design principles: typography, color, hierarchy, layout, and imagery
• Developing clear visual narratives, identities, and design systems
• Crafting effective visual storytelling through sequencing, pace, and tone
• Conducting research with cultural, social, and ethical awareness
• Mastery of industry-standard software (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Animate, After Effects, Acrobat, Premiere Pro)
• Managing production workflows from pre-production to post-production
• Critically evaluating design work using relevant criteria
• Creating professional portfolios, slide decks, and pitch presentations

If you choose to add an Integrated Foundation Year on this course, you will be first introduced to the fundamental principles of design. Your foundation year gives you the time, space and support to explore your strengths, build confidence and prepare for the demands of project-based, industry-focused learning. Modules are as follows*:

• Module 1: Diagnostic exploration - making informed choices
• Module 2: Technical - Technical knowledge in practice
• Module 3: Specialist - Innovating specialist practice
• Module 4: Integration - Integrated practice for progression to Higher Education

Please note: Students starting this course with the Integrated Foundation Year in September 2026/27 will study the 2027/28 approved modules in Years 1, 2 and 3.

Year 1

Year 1 introduces you to the world of strategic branding and advertising, developing the core strategic, creative, and technical skills that underpin the industry. You'll explore the core principles, concepts, and practices that underpin contemporary brand communication, while gaining confidence in generating ideas and solving problems.

Modules include:

• Creative Principles
• Key Concepts and Thinking Frameworks
• Process and Skills 1
• Process and Skills 2
• Professional Life Practice - Developing Your Practice
• Professional Life Practice - Exploring Your Practice

Year 2

In your second year, you'll explore and challenge industry conventions, collaborating with students across the Department of Design Practice. You’ll choose from units focusing on emerging practices like social media content creation, audience interaction, and experience design.

With support from Ravensbourne's careers team, you'll also have the chance to secure a work-based learning opportunity. Previous industry partners include Sky, Barclays, JKR, Moving Brands, Concept Kicks, and more.

Modules include:

• Digital Storytelling 1
• Digital Storytelling 2
• Process and Skills 3
• Professional Life Practice - Applying Your Practice
• Work-Based Learning.

Year 3

Your final year is all about developing the skills to truly engage with your audience. In preparation for graduation, you will also collaborate with an industry partner and prepare a portfolio and the materials required to present work professionally.

Modules include:

• Competition Briefs
• Self-Directed Major Projects
• Professional Life Practice- Situating Your Practice
• Professional Trajectories.

Year 1

Discover contemporary branding and advertising by building essential creative, strategic and technical skills. Learn to generate innovative ideas, solve complex design problems and explore emerging industry practices.

Modules may include:

• Rave Beginnings
• Creative Thinking & Process
• Fundamentals of Practice
• Strategy, Brand Building & Communication
• Campaign Communication
• Employability & Professionalism

Year 2

In Year 2 you will challenge design conventions through cross-disciplinary collaboration, immersive brand building and storytelling. You will also have the chance to secure a real-world experience live work placement backed by leading partners like Sky, Barclays, JKR, Concept Kicks and Uncommon Creative Studio.

Modules may include:

• Immersive Worlds
• Preparing for Industry
• Audience Insight and Storytelling
• Design Studio
• Innovation Sprints
• Live & Work-based Learning

Year 3

Tackle global competition briefs and ambitious, purpose-led projects to highlight your strategic thinking. Build an industry-ready professional portfolio that defines your personal brand and secures your path into advertising and design.

Modules may include:

• Industry Collaboration
• Situating Practice
• Competition Briefs
• Professional Practice Futures
• Major Project

All modules are subject to revalidation.

A variety of learning and teaching methods are used on this course.

These include but are not limited to:

Briefings, lectures, project work, seminars, workshops, collaborative work, individual and group tutorials, group presentations, critiques, external visits, industry guest lectures, studio visits, industry-informed briefs, gallery visits.

The course is assessed entirely by coursework - this includes practical outcomes, portfolios, written and reflective work, pitches and presentations.

Study hours

BA (Hons) Advertising and Brand Design with Integrated Foundation Year

• 1152 hours of face-to-face taught
• 3648 hours independent study learning

BA (Hons) Advertising and Brand Design

• 864 hours of face-to-face taught
• 2736 hours independent study learning

Occasional travel into central London for trips is expected at approximately £50 per year.

Note on laptop costs: Laptop approximate cost would be £800-£1500, a MacBook is industry standard. An external hard drive is recommended. Shared studio computers/ laptops are available on campus for students who do not yet have their own device.

Our campus 

You'll study in a building designed to encourage collaboration between the different disciplines and practices within Ravensbourne, and to stimulate the work of innovative professionals and creative collaboration.

It features a variety of workspaces, including social and quiet areas, high-tech creative suites, technology hubs, design studios and more. 

Want to see where you'd be studying up close? When you book a guided building tour, you can see our fantastic facilities for yourself and find out more from one of our helpful student ambassadors.

Our local area

Ravensbourne is ideally connected - North Greenwich station is just a 2-minute walk away from our campus and offers amazing views from the Greenwich Peninsula.

These transport links offer an easy route to some of London's major business hubs, perfect for reaching possible placements or networking events with employers in the worlds of business or technology.  

At Ravensbourne we accept a wide range of qualifications for entry onto our courses, whilst also considering the context in which they were achieved. For this course, we would usually require a GCSE Grade 4 or above in English in addition to any of the below;

• Two A Levels at grade CC or above
• BTEC Extended Diploma at grade MPP
• UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma
• T Level (pass or above)
• Access to Higher Education Diploma
• International Baccalaureate at grade 24 or above
• Other/Mixed qualifications equivalent to 64 UCAS Tariff points

At Ravensbourne we take a flexible approach to admissions, as we want you to know exactly what you need to achieve in your exams to guarantee a place on the course. We still think exams are important and look forward to hearing about your successes, but we place just as much importance on the work you will share with us as part of our portfolio process.

Portfolio and interview requirements

Admission onto this course is also subject to successful completion of a portfolio (or showreel). 

If you wish to study our BA (Hons) Advertising and Brand Design degree course, we would like to see examples of your advertising, design, brand and/or marketing projects that you have produced during previous academic, professional or personal pursuits.

For this course you will need to provide a portfolio of material comprising of work created during your previous creative education, alongside any personal or professional projects.

This might include:

• Typography
• Graphic design
• Adverts
• Posters
• Digital design
• Animation
• Photography
• Written material such as scripts or copywriting.

It is also important that you include research and development material such as moodboards, experiments, tests, thumbnails and brainstorms.

We do not expect a perfect professional finish but would rather see that you are prepared to take risks and explore outside your comfort zone.

This page offers great tips for completing your portfolio/showreel.

At Ravensbourne we accept a wide range of qualifications for entry onto our courses, whilst also considering the context in which they were achieved. For this course, we would usually require a GCSE Grade 4 or above in English in addition to any of the below;

• Two A Levels at grade DD or above
• BTEC Extended Diploma at grade PPP
• UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma
• T Level (pass or above)
• Access to Higher Education Diploma
• International Baccalaureate at grade 24 or above
• Other/Mixed qualifications equivalent to 48 UCAS Tariff points

At Ravensbourne we take a flexible approach to admissions, as we want you to know exactly what you need to achieve in your exams to guarantee a place on the course.

Portfolio and interview requirements

You should ideally have a background in art, creative media or design. 

There are no interview or portfolio requirements for this course.