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Communication Design and Strategy

Course details
  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 28 September 2027
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site - Arts University Bournemouth

Course summary

BA (Hons) Communication Design and Strategy is an innovative and unique degree program designed to equip you with the creative design skills and strategic thinking needed to communicate effectively across various media in today's evolving communication landscape.

This course is the perfect choice if you are passionate about creative design and are eager to harness the power of strategic thinking with the goal to create impactful and meaningful communication. It combines creative design practices with the study of business and design strategies, enabling you to develop design solutions that not only look fresh and engaging but also fulfil clients’ strategic objectives.

During the course, you will study a variety of units that cover key aspects of creating innovative and targeted design with a message which will be realised via strategic approaches to unlock the desired objective. The curriculum includes creative design, visual identity, typography, digital and print media, advertising, and branding, combined with units and projects on marketing strategies, consumer behaviour as well as, business operations. This interdisciplinary approach gives you a comprehensive understanding of both the creative and business sides of communication design.

You will learn about research methods in design and business, allowing them to develop the skills to explore and understand complex issues that inform strategic decision-making. They will learn how to analyse markets, identify target audiences, understand user behaviour, and use this information to inform their design process.

By the end of the course, you will leave with a portfolio of work that will showcase your potential within industry. You will be adept at creating strategic communication designs that effectively convey a message, tell a story, or promote a brand. You will have the ability to integrate strategic thinking into your design process, ensuring that your work aligns with business objectives and effectively resonates with the intended audience.

Potential career paths include roles such as communication designer, marketeer, marketing strategist, graphic designer, motion designer, freelance creative, advertising creative, brand strategist, creative director and many more. The skills gained during this course are highly transferable and applicable to a wide range of industries, including advertising, marketing, communication design, publishing, public relations, and digital media.

You will have access to a creative studio and computers equipped with the latest industry-standard software. You will benefit from shared spaces for collaborative work, fostering an environment of creativity, innovation, and shared learning.

Modules

Assessment method

Coursework and practical work

How to apply

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
W213
Institution code:
A66
Campus name:
Main Site - Arts University Bournemouth

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

AUB considers the whole of the application when making admissions decision. While we'll make an offer based on the qualifications declared on your application, we also factor in your personal statement, your reference and – where appropriate – your portfolio or audition. Therefore, applicants who may not achieve the academic results listed here are still encouraged to apply.

We are happy to accept a wide range of qualifications, including combinations of qualifications. Please see our website for a full list of our entry requirements, including tariff points where applicable. Email Admissions (admissions@aub.ac.uk) with any queries about entry requirements. https://aub.ac.uk/apply/undergraduate

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio
Once your application has been reviewed admissions will email you to request a link to a digital portfolio for review by the course team. See https://aub.ac.uk/portfolios for more information

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)66.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, speaking and listening). IELTS Online is accepted.
TOEFL (iBT)80With 80 overall and a minimum score of 18 in writing, listening, and reading and 19 in speaking. Please note the home version of this test is not accepted. NEW scoring scale from January 2026 overall 4.5 with a minimum of 4 in each section. Home edition of TOEFL is not accepted.
Cambridge English AdvancedCMinimum grade C
PTE Academic64With 64 overall and a minimum of 59 in each component
Cambridge English ProficiencyCMinimum grade of C.
Trinity ISEPassAn overall score of 90 with at least 80 in each skill
Institution's Own TestOIDI ELLT overall score of 6Oxford International Digital Institute's English Language Level Test with a score of 5 or above in each section. If you wish to take this test at a discounted rate, please contact international@aub.ac.uk for a bespoke link.

See our website for more information on other accepted English qualifications including national curricula and required scores.https://aub.ac.uk/elp

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Caution should be given to our grades on entry data, with over half of our undergraduate applicants each year undertaking qualifications that are not included in this data. This includes the Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, which represents a sizeable number of our applicants. We encourage applications from a wide range of educational backgrounds and for more information please view our website: www.aub.ac.uk.

Learn more on the Arts University Bournemouth website

International entry requirements

We welcome applications from all different educational profiles and experiences as talented creatives can develop in many environments. AUB considers the whole of the application when making admissions decision. While we'll make an offer based on the qualifications declared on your application, we also factor in your personal statement, your reference and – where appropriate – your portfolio or audition. Therefore, applicants who may not achieve the academic results listed below are still encouraged to apply. If your country isn’t listed on our website, please reach out to our Admissions Team (admissions@aub.ac.uk) with details about your education and we would be happy to provide detailed admissions advice specific to your case. https://aub.ac.uk/apply/undergraduate#tab-1503931-qualifications-by-country

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland£10050*
EU & International£19950*

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Please see our website for more information https://aub.ac.uk/fees/undergraduate.

All undergraduate courses at AUB offer an optional placement year, to be taken between your second and third years of study. If you're unsure about this optional placement, you don't need to decide now. Once you're here and studying with us, the course team will discuss the placement options with you, so when the time comes, you can make a decision that's right for you.

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