Marketing Communications with Integrated Foundation Year

Take a creative, strategic approach to marketing communications.

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.

Drive your ideas forward and engage with creative marketing practice on this Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) accredited course – working hands-on in our collaborative studios from the start to put theory into practice on industry-aligned briefs.

As well as mastering the fundamentals that underpin any great marketing campaign, you’ll gain creative problem solving and strategic planning skills and develop an understanding of what makes an ethical, sustainable marketing practice.

Effective campaigns are all about staying ahead of the competition – and marketing technology itself. Through industry-aligned briefs, guest lectures and workshops, you will learn about the blend of creativity and science underpinning impactful and effective marketing and communications campaigns. You’ll also learn how to thrive within the fast-paced digital industry, reflective of working in an agency or in-house role.

With a focus on core skills, creative fluency and a solid portfolio of work - spanning marketing and communications planning and content creation - under your belt, you’ll graduate equipped with the confidence and employability skills to jump straight into industry.

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.
Explore new and emerging marketing technologies to keep ahead of the curve.
Prepare for your future career by collaborating in industry-simulated environments with students from other courses.
Devise campaigns in response to industry-aligned briefs, to build a strong portfolio and CV.
Explore how generative AI is affecting the strategic choices made in marketing and communications campaigns.
Have the chance to interact with guest speakers and industry professionals, laying the foundations for your future professional network.

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 also acquire an understanding of the ethics and impact of communications in today's globally connected and digitally driven world, experiment with emerging technologies and take on industry-aligned briefs as part of creative teams, ensuring you graduate ready to make an impact.

Foundation Year:
In your foundation year, you'll study five core modules in your Foundation year. These are all designed to help you explore the foundational elements of your subject. 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 an 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
Writing Studio
Creative Problem Solving
Marketing Essentials
Marketing Communications
Agency Life
Strategy in the Age of AI

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 in response to different brands, channels and media. You'll engage in debates about the ecological, ethical and social impact of marketing 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 industry-aligned challenges and projects.

Modules
Social Media and Digital Cultures
Creating Brands
Behaviour Change for Good
Campaigns
Digital Marketing Consultancy

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.

Supported by tutors, you’ll tackle industry-aligned briefs and may enter global competitions such as CIM Pitch, Creative Conscience, D&AD New Blood and AKQA Future Lions.

Modules
Major Project - Development
Advanced Campaigns
Major Project - Showcase
Industry 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. During your course, module content may be updated or optional modules withdrawn in order to maintain the best academic experience. Any students affected will be informed of any changes 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