BNU Student work Royal Mail Creative Advertising

BA (Hons) Creative Advertising

UCAS CODE: WN25 (Full-time) or WN24 (Foundation Year)
TARIFF: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)
  • Study Mode: Full Time
  • Location: High Wycombe
  • Duration: Three or Four Years
  • Start Date: September 2025

You can also study this course:

Are you seeking a career where you are actively encouraged to break the rules and explore even the most outlandish ideas? If so, a role in Creative Advertisement could be the right path for you.

With over 30 years of experience as a course, your curious mind will find a home from home here. Learn how to channel your way with words or your unique art directional style to solve live briefs and create compelling campaigns.

A rosette icon with a star in the middle
No. 1 in the UK for Student Satisfaction*
*Positivity ranking amongst registered students (NSS 2024)
A trophy icon with a star in the middle of it
No. 1 Students' Union in the UK*
*Based on responses from registered students (NSS 2024)
A thumbs up icon with 3 stars below it.
3rd in the UK for Student Satisfaction on our Art & Design courses*
*The Complete University Guide 2025

Why Study BA (Hons) Creative Advertising at BNU? 

The Creative Advertising degree is widely recognised by the sector with a reputation built up over twenty-five years collaborating with agencies, it is a successful collaboration between education and industry, and staff are always creating new opportunities for students to engage with the best creatives and strategists. These include live briefs, agency visits, crits, industry-focused modules and work experience in the second and third years.

We also often have our army of alumni students, the BNU Mafia as they are affectionately known, constantly return to give tutorials, workshops, mentoring, advice, placements, internships and jobs.

Led by a dedicated and experienced course team, made up of tutors with decades of advertising experience, you’ll benefit from their industry knowledge and the industry links they bring to the course.

Stay updated with all our latest Creative Advertising news by following .

Benefit from our mentor scheme, MyMentor, where, every 3rd year gets a working mentor, usually a BNU alumni, who are currently employed in a top agency. They are tailored to each student’s 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.

During your time studying Creative Advertising at BNU, you’ll could have the opportunity to gain placements, internships and even jobs. Majority of our students will have either of had at least one placement or an internship lined up upon graduation. 

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. In 2022 our students won two D&AD New Blood Pencils and 2023 saw our students bring home four.

As a Creative Advertising student, you are only 30 minutes from the hustle and bustle of one of the worlds’ most exciting adland communities, London. With the course you’ll get the opportunity to visit top agencies, industry events and museums and galleries. 

The course also offers opportunities to travel and study abroad. Past trips have been taken to European cities and New York; the latter enables you to experience advertising agencies and get insights into the international industries. There are also opportunities for exchanges with other universities globally.

The advertising course is located within the School of Art, Design and Performance, giving you access to a community of creative learners and diverse resources to help you achieve your creative outcomes. These include:

  • Mac Suites with Adobe Creative Cloud
  • laser cutting and 3D printing workshops
  • printmaking workshops
  • photography studios
  • editing and production facilities (including green screen)
  • And library.

To aid your development you will learn practical skills and experience both digital and traditional processes and technologies. Photography and film making are integral to most things we do.

What will I study? 

Advertising is a global business, with new creative ideas being constantly in demand. Meaning there is a flow of opportunities for fresh talent. 

Whether you want to create those unforgettable Christmas ads, brand awareness pieces or social-change campaigns, this course will give you the skills you need to create a book ready to blow-away agencies all of the UK and the world.

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. You’ll join a community of intuitive thinkers who look at everything, challenge boundaries and invent innovative and engaging solutions to advertising problems.

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

The course sets about developing you as individuals, helping you to think in different ways and voice your opinions for effect. We’ll encourage you to experiment and push your ideas and concepts, 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 will learn to apply creative problem-solving to create targeted and innovative communications and solutions to a diversity of briefs. Above all you will be able to create engaging and compelling campaigns.

This course is also offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme.

Anna Belka and Eve Nadin Creative Advertising students stood next to all their trophies lined up on the wall.
Anna Belka & Eve Nadin – Creative Team at VML

“Skills wise, our degree really rewired our brains to think differently - It definitely boosted our confidence and belief in the ideas we present which is such an important skill when it comes to the real world. Most importantly though, our time at university, opened us up to a roster of excellent contacts within the industry, which was vital when finding the opportunities to start your career. It’s cliché but truly it isn’t what you know, it’s who you know.”

Lily Le Moine - Creative Advertising alumni
Lily Le Moine - Creative at Quiet Storm

"The Creative Advertising course at BNU prepared me not only with the practical skills I needed, but it also armed me with the right attitude and mindset to tackle briefs and put myself out there. With such a long list of great Alumni, that have always been happy to help and give advice, I’ve been able to tackle book critics and hunting for opportunities face on."

How will I be taught and assessed?

Being in agencies on a regular basis, getting your work noticed and your voice heard is by far the best way to land your ideal job in advertising. Some of the best ideas come from people who push the boundaries. Our critique sessions prepare you for the challenges of the agency world - how to pitch and how to deal with knock backs. For this reason, from year one, you will be in agencies presenting your ideas to creatives and strategists.

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, through creative and strategic workshops, real live briefs, inspirational talks, agency visits, work experience and major competitions.

Collaboration is key and throughout your three years you will get the opportunity to work with students from across the university. If you need a film maker, the Film & TV course has a rich supply. If you need help making your ideas look great, our Graphic Design students will help bring your concepts to life.

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 , , , ,  and . This is a hugely supportive network of past students always willing to help BNU students.

Pizza Hut Creative Advertising 1
Adobe Creative Advertising ad
Useful Documents

BA (Hons) Creative Advertising Programme Specification

BA (Hons) Creative Advertising Additional Course Costs

Art and Design Course Interview Guide

What are the course entry requirements?

A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)

UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.

Every application is considered on an individual basis. On review of your application, you may be invited for an interview and portfolio review.

Applicants will need to complete an interview and/or demonstrate portfolio work, further guidance is given on the interview and portfolio advice pages.

For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.

Those with no previous study, work experience, or who do not meet the specified entry requirements, including demonstrating the necessary knowledge and understanding, are welcome to apply for the 3-year BA (Hons) degree, however may be offered the four-year programme which includes a Foundation Year.

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.

What are the tuition fees

Home
  • Home Foundation Year, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £5,760 *
  • Home, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £9,535 per year *
International
  • Overseas/International Foundation Year, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £15,150 *
  • Overseas/International, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £15,150 per year *

Following the Government’s announcement of 4 November 2024, we will be increasing our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for UK students to £9,535 per year from the start of the 2025/26 academic year. Our part-time fees for UK undergraduate students will increase to £7,145 per annum. Please visit , on the Government’s website, for more information about the changes. 

Tuition fees for Home undergraduate students (including with foundation year) may increase in subsequent years for both new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Government.   

Tuition fees for both new and continuing international students may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year.   

Tuition fees for postgraduate courses and CPD may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year. This increase will apply to both new and continuing students.   

We understand, and really appreciate, the significant financial commitment our students make when they choose to study at BNU. We take our responsibilities to our students very seriously, and are ambitious for each to reach their full potential and succeed in their chosen career. Our fees help us to continue providing our students with a high-quality education, and to invest in the services and facilities which create an excellent student experience at BNU. 

The following factors will be considered by the University when we set the annual fees: measures of inflation such as the retail price indices; projected increases in University costs; and any changes in the level of funding for teaching received from the Government.

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.

Moonpig Creative Advertising
Pizza Hut Creative Advertising 2

What are my career prospects? 

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. Our Careers and Employability Team also help you find employment after graduation.

Only talent, personality and timing will land you a job or a choice placement. However, being a BNU student you will have extensive engagement with industry which will certainly help to get your foot in the door. And having an ad degree will just boost those chances. 

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

  • Creative
  • Copywriter
  • Art Director
  • Designer
  • Planner
  • Strategist
  • Account handler
  • Graphic Designer
  • Producer
  • Marketing Manager
  • Social Media Manager.

You may also wish to stay on at Buckinghamshire New University and study a full-time or part-time postgraduate course, such as our MA Advertising degree.

"This Advertising course is like the real world. So, the experience you gain in communication and pitching is vital to landing a role. BNU is where we gained all our knowledge about problem solving and how to think in a non-ordinary manner. After this course all of this becomes natural to you."
Luke Howard and Jamie Woods Freelance Creatives
Luke Howard and Jamie Woods - Creative Advertising Alumni

Course leader

Headshot of a smiling Andy Imrie wearing glasses and stood face on looking directly into the camera
Andy Imrie
  • Senior Lecturer
Read full profile
A headshot of Creative Advertising lecturer Greg Martin
Greg Martin
  • Senior Lecturer
Read full profile
Elisavet Kalpaxi staff profile photo
Dr Elisavet Kalpaxi
  • Senior Lecturer
Read full profile
Joseph Davies staff profile photo
Joseph Davies
  • Technical Tutor
Read full profile
Rupert Hammerton-Fraser staff profile photo
Rupert Hammerton-Fraser
  • Technical Demonstrator
Read full profile
BA (Hons) Creative Advertising
BA (Hons) Creative Advertising with Foundation Year