Marketing Communications with Integrated Foundation Year

Develop your skills by entering the creative industries on an Integrated Foundation Year degree.

If you’re interested in taking on a new subject that you’ve not had the opportunity to study in depth before, or have been out of education for a while, then our Integrated Foundation Year courses might be for you. These four-year courses include an introductory year to help you build the core skills needed for specialist degree-level study.

This is a chance for you to let your imagination run wild and explore your creativity, expand your professional skills and develop enhanced subject knowledge in the domain you want to study. We’ll help nurture your expertise in problem solving, risk-taking, designing and making as you develop your abilities through five core modules.

After your foundation year, you’ll have a deeper knowledge of your subject, a clear understanding of your strengths, a developed practical and technical skill set and the confidence to excel in your chosen degree subject when you join other students for the rest of your course.

Study marketing communications in a dynamic studio-based environment. Are you driven by ideas and eager for a more creative take on marketing? As well mastering the fundamentals that underpin any great marketing campaign, you’ll be hands-on in our studios from the start to put theory into practice – working with real briefs and brands, in workshops and on group projects. From problem solving and strategic planning to an understanding of ethical, sustainable practice, you’ll graduate with core skills, creative fluency and a solid portfolio of marketing work.

You will:
Develop technical, design thinking and production skills in your chosen specialism.
Learn teamwork, leadership and project management skills through a variety of learning environments.
Develop critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills through the development of unique and innovative projects.
Complete your chosen degree over a four-year period.
Develop a strong marketing portfolio, showcasing your creative problem-solving and strategic thinking skills
Gain knowledge and ability in communications planning and content creation
Develop valuable professional skills through taking part in practical workshops, small group project work, team supervision and one-to-one tutorials
Meet and network with guest speakers who are experienced marketers working for well-known brands
Devise campaigns in response to real briefs set by our industry partners, working alongside Creative Advertising students
Gain experience of working in multidisciplinary teams, in a lively studio setting
Explore new and emerging marketing technologies, such as data-driven services, augmented reality, voice assistants and chatbots

Marketing Communications BA(Hons) is accredited by the leading professional marketing body, The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). This means students who successfully complete the full undergraduate degree are part-accredited for qualifications CIM offers professional marketing practitioners.

Throughout this degree you'll gain the knowledge, understanding and confidence to become a courageous marketing communications practitioner. You'll learn vital skills in pitching, copywriting, campaign creation and strategic thinking. You’ll acquire an understanding of the ethics and impact of communications in today's world, experimenting with emerging technologies and taking on live briefs as part of creative teams.

Foundation Year:
In your foundation year, you'll study five core modules: three short modules in the first study block and two in the second (one short, one long). These are all designed to help you explore the foundational elements of both creative practice and your chosen specialism. You'll gain relevant technical skills, learn to experiment and take risks, develop an understanding of professional practice, have opportunities to work across disciplines and collaborate with other students on live project briefs.

After your foundation year, you'll have a deeper knowledge of your subject, a clear understanding of your strengths, a developed practical and technical skillset and the confidence to excel in your chosen degree subject when you join other students for the rest of your course.

Modules:
Explore
Technique
Apply
Industry
Launch

Year one
In your first year, you'll delve into the fundamentals of marketing communications theory and practice. You'll learn core marketing principles and explore how to reach a brand’s audience in an engaging way while meeting business objectives. You’ll develop a simple yet essential toolbox of methods to gather audience insights and put those skills into practice by designing innovative marketing campaigns. You’ll gain practical skills in planning, pitching, strategy, copywriting and problem-solving to equip you for working in the marketing communications industry.

Modules
Copywriting
Creative Problem Solving
Marketing Essentials
Marketing Communications
Agency Life
Strategy and Planning

Year two
Your second year will involve a deep dive into aspects of creating effective marketing campaigns and understanding how consumers behave in different environments and media channels. You'll engage in debates about the ecological, ethical and social impact of business and the shifting expectations of consumers. You'll also learn how innovation can play a meaningful role in tackling some of these issues by taking on live challenges.

Modules
Media Lab
Brand Creation
Behaviour Change for Good
Campaigns
Marketing Consultancy Project

Year three
In your final year, you'll sharpen your critical and creative thinking as you build a professional portfolio that showcases your skills and individual voice. You'll have the chance to embark on an entrepreneurial project to help hone and challenge your creative process and practice. And you'll get the opportunity to top up your BA with a professional qualification from the Chartered Institute of Marketing – the most recognised marketing professional body in the world.

Modules
Final Year Project - Development
Advanced Campaigns
Final Year Project - Showcase
Final Portfolio

As part of our process of continuous improvement, we routinely review course content to ensure that all our students benefit from a high-quality and rewarding academic experience. As such, there may be some changes made to your course which are not immediately reflected in the content displayed on our website. Any students affected will be informed of any changes made directly.

Foundation Year assessments are 100% coursework based.
Assessment will take place at the end of each module, and you'll get feedback and evaluation throughout the year. You'll be assessed through visual, verbal and written assignments, including your portfolio and a reflective journal. In your foundation year all assessments are pass/fail to encourage students to take risks and engage with the feedback provided.

Progressing in your specialism
Students studying on courses with an Integrated Foundation Year must successfully complete and pass all foundation modules before they can progress to the next stage of their course.

Your specialism
You'll be assessed with practical exams and coursework.
We use a variety of assessment strategies over the course of this degree including:

Portfolios of practical work
Presentations
Essays
Written or verbal reports
Major research project
Peer group assessment
Foundation year assessments are 100% coursework based

Your summative (final) assessments occur at the end of each module, usually at the end of the study block. However, you may have interim formative assessments part way through a module as well. These assessments help ensure that you remain on track with your work.

You'll receive continuous feedback on all your work throughout the year. This will be delivered through tutorials and while you're working in the studio. At the end of a module, you'll receive detailed written feedback and will have the chance to discuss this with your assessor.