Advertising MA
Subject to validation.
Course start date 2025.
Length:
Full-time 1 year, part-time 2 years
Discover how to apply strategic thinking, curiosity, and wordsmithing to create distinctive brand identities and unforgettable campaigns.
Our MA in Advertising is a future-facing course designed to blend cutting-edge design with critical industry insights, offering a global perspective of marketing communications and media industries. It challenges you to consider the industry from a critical perspective, questioning norms and exploring how advertising can be reimagined to support a more inclusive future. Through live projects and hands-on experiences, you will craft innovative strategies that resonate with both established and emerging markets. The course will ensure you develop a greater understanding of your critical positioning within advertising, PR, branding, marketing, and communications to develop the skills and knowledge the industry is looking for.
At the core of the course is a focus on the social and ethical implications of advertising. You’ll explore representation, semiotics, equality, diversity, and sustainability, critically examining the theories and concepts that shape the industry. Through a mix of theoretical exploration and practical application, you’ll be prepared to create content and campaigns that not only captivate audiences but also adhere to ethical standards. This approach ensures that you emerge as a well-rounded professional, ready to make a meaningful impact in the world of advertising.
Why study with us
- Advanced technical skills: Develop expertise in various media and methods, creating sophisticated advertising campaigns that reflect your unique voice and style.
- Interdisciplinary approach: Collaborate with other postgraduate courses in media and visual communication, enhancing your learning experience in a multidisciplinary environment.
- Professional-level resources: Utilise contemporary technology and industry-standard tools, including design studios, media labs, 2D & 3D workshops, licensed specialist software, and a media resource centre. These resources support you in transforming ideas into tangible outcomes.
- Ethical and inclusive research: Focus on the social and ethical implications of advertising, emphasising accessibility, diversity, equality, and sustainability.
- Professional portfolio development: By the end of the course, create a professional body of work that reflects your interests and prepares you for the industry, enhancing your ability to communicate research and ideas creatively and visually.
Course structure
This course is part of our suite of Master’s in Visual Communication, offering a collaborative framework across various specialisations, including MA Animation, MA Advertising, and MA Illustration. This provides students with opportunities to engage with peers from different disciplines while working on individual assignments. Such collaboration mirrors the professional dynamics in the creative industries today, allowing students to gain valuable experience in interdisciplinary teamwork and real-world problem-solving.
This programme is a one-year course, including 30 weeks of direct teaching time and a 15-week final project. You will need to complete five units and one 60-credit major project (180 credits in total). All units on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award. If you study part-time your modules will be split across two years. Full course details, including aims and assessment criteria, will be provided in the course specification upon validation.
Course content
This unit launches your master’s study experience at Norwich. You will explore innovative practices and cutting-edge research. You’ll enhance your skills and learn to communicate complex messages through visual media while examining contemporary advertising theories. Research-led projects will immerse you in contemporary advertising techniques, boosting your confidence in both conceptual and practical problem-solving. You’ll experiment with mixed media and materials to convey complex messages while exploring the boundaries of advertising alongside related fields. The unit covers a wide range of topics, including semiotics, professional communication, brand strategies, copywriting, storytelling, and emerging technologies such as AR/VR/AI. Iterative experimentation and critical reflection will refine your practice within broader conceptual and ethical frameworks.
This unit focuses on the advanced technical skills essential for idea generation, problem-solving, and practical development in advertising. It emphasises the importance of technical expertise in supporting theoretical and conceptual aspects of ideation and problem-solving. Regular presentations and discussions with peers and staff will foster critical reflection and analysis. The unit covers pitching, social media, marketing, copywriting, content creation, campaign management, visual communication, design strategies, data analytics, SEO & SEM, professional behaviours, semiotics, brand communications, Adobe Suite, and emerging technologies such as AR/VR/AI. Through continuous technical experimentation and practical application, you will enhance your knowledge and broaden your working methods in digital media, data analytics, and multimedia production, ensuring you are well-prepared to tackle real-world challenges and succeed in the dynamic field of advertising.
This unit encourages exploration of leading practices and emerging research within advertising. Reflective analysis and interaction will enhance your understanding of your discipline in socio-economic, political, ethical, and cultural contexts. Research themes include design history and theory, identity and representation, visual language, subjectivity, design psychology, Gestalt psychology, semiotics, aesthetics, globalisation, consumption, and media theory. You will develop a range of research approaches, using discursive interaction to inform your inquiry and push your creative boundaries to inspire new perspectives on advertising.
Building on the ‘advanced technical skills’ unit, you will refine your technical processes and explore innovative ways to expand your creative capabilities. Topics include pitching, social media, marketing, copywriting, content creation, campaign management, visual communication, design strategies, data analytics, SEO & SEM, professional behaviours, semiotics, brand communications, contemporary media platforms, Adobe Suite, and emerging technologies (AR/VR/AI). A research-led approach will help you utilise current and future-facing techniques within advertising. Individual and group projects will refine your technical skills and enhance your problem-solving abilities, allowing you to fully develop and apply advanced creative thinking in practical contexts.
This unit enhances your understanding of leading practices and emerging research in advertising. By developing effective research and reflective strategies, you will gain insights into creative communication within socio-economic, political, ethical, and cultural contexts. Building on the ‘dialogue, debate, and domain knowledge’ unit, you will explore themes such as design history, identity and representation, visual language, design psychology, semiotics, globalisation, and media theory. Research-led projects will help you formulate questions relevant to your practice, examining the boundaries between disciplines. Rigorous analysis will deepen your understanding of the critical frameworks underpinning advertising and communication design, positioning yourself as a critically engaged and reflective practitioner.
This unit forms the culmination of your master’s study, in which you will design, develop, and execute a major project. By consolidating your specialist knowledge and advanced practices, you will develop a research question, design a viable project to test your hypotheses, and work towards innovative outcomes. These outcomes may involve multiple outputs or a deep focus on a specific aspect of your practice. Throughout this unit, you will deepen your understanding of the historical, theoretical, cultural, technical, and economic contexts surrounding advertising. Indicative fields of study include advertising, PR, branding, marketing, and communications. You will explore challenges related to social and environmental sustainability, and identify relevant industries, audiences, and stakeholders your major project aims to impact. Research-led practice will enhance your ability to synthesise experiments into complex creative outcomes that reflect your chosen pathway and express an original, personal and professional identity.
Careers Information
Our MA in Advertising will equip you with both practical and critical skills, preparing you to compete for roles in advertising, digital, and media agencies, as well as client-side positions. Your creative-strategic expertise will help you become a critically aware and logical-thinking professional, capable of understanding and leading creative innovation through existing and emerging strategies. Your focus on the future, your portfolio, and your final major project will give you a compelling narrative to present to potential employers.
When you graduate, you may be qualified for a broad range of careers.
Career opportunities
- Creative director
- Advertising manager
- Copywriter
- Account planner
- Strategist
- Account manager
- Brand consultant
- Communication consultant
- Producer
- Design team leader
- Content creator and manager
- Social media manager
You’ll also get specialist creative careers advice from our Business and Employability Team to help support you as you plan your career.
Tabbed Section
Entry Requirements
Entrants should normally have achieved a BA (Hons) / BSc Degree of 2:1 or above (or its equivalent), in advertising, art or design (such as graphics, photography, film studies), psychology, marketing, business, English, sociology, or philosophy.
Those with industry experience or relevant skills from non-traditional backgrounds are encouraged to apply, including individuals currently employed. If you’re unsure about your eligibility, please contact us for guidance before applying.
Language requirement (International/EU)
If English is not your first language, IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required, with a minimum of 5.5 in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Portfolio requirement
For this course we will need to see your portfolio for review. You can either submit a digital portfolio or request an in-person portfolio review with the course team. Further information will be provided once you have applied.
2024/25 university fees
Norwich University of the Arts will assess students’ tuition fee status using the guidance provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs.
Students from the UK or Ireland, and EU students with ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status, will be charged ‘Home’ fees if they meet the relevant residency requirements.
Home/UK
- Postgraduate degree (full-time) £10,600
- Postgraduate degree (part-time, over 2 years) £6,625
For home postgraduate degree students starting in 2024, fees will remain the same for each year of your course.
For 2024, UK nationals and EU nationals who have ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status may be eligible for a government loan towards course fees or living costs. Both full-time and part-time master’s degree students can apply for the master’s loan. Find out more about postgraduate master’s loans.
Alumni discount
Home Norwich alumni can benefit from a £1,000 discount on Norwich postgraduate degree fees.
Staff and teacher discount
All Norwich staff and art teachers at high schools or sixth form colleges can benefit from £1,000 discount on Norwich postgraduate degree fees.
International
- Postgraduate degree (full-time) £24,000
For international postgraduate degree students starting in 2024, fees will remain the same for each year of your course.
If you are a resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £2,500 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
International scholarships and bursaries
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries for international students. To find out more and see if you’re eligible, please visit the scholarships for international students page.
Additional costs
Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition. Accommodation, cost of materials, and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees.
Learning and teaching
The course is delivered through a variety of engaging learning and teaching methods. Lectures will introduce you to core topics, provide contextual understanding, and clarify the objectives of assigned tasks. You will participate in creative workshops, technical labs, and seminars, and receive individual mentorship. Throughout these sessions, you will have opportunities to work independently, and collaboratively in groups, engaging in practical and creative exercises designed to enhance your knowledge and skills.
Assessment
Our assessment methods will vary based on the unit you choose and provide a comprehensive measure of your learning and progress. These methods may include:
- Course work
- Presentations
- Learning journal
- Reflective evaluation
- Body of creative work
- Reflective research report
- Team project evaluation
- Major project
- Supporting documentation
- Critically reflective essay
How to apply
Applications to our postgraduate courses should be made directly to Norwich University of the Arts using a Postgraduate Application Form.
Postgraduate Application form 2023-24 – Word format
Applications should be returned to admissions@norwichuni.ac.uk
Terms and conditions
- Norwich Terms and Conditions (11/12/20)
- Norwich Student Regulations and Procedures (01/10/23)
- Student Protection Plan (01/11/23)
When should I apply for an MA course?
There is no official deadline for applying for a postgraduate course. We would recommend you apply by 25 August (at the very latest) of the autumn you wish to start. This will allow time for your interview to take place and the necessary paperwork to be processed if you are successful in achieving a place. International students requiring a visa should apply as soon as possible in the year they wish to start. Email our International Team for more information.
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