BA (Hons) Creative Direction

In the third year, the focus is on independent learning, preparing you to transition into the world of work. Students can design a major creative project and pitch their idea to colleagues, stakeholders, and alumni. Working as part of a production team with funding from the course, support from tutors and the technical team, the culmination of learning will be to conceive and deliver a project that helps each student to stand out from the crowd and become a source of inspiration to those that'll follow them.

You can also choose between either working with an organisation from industry, researching their business to operate as a consultant and make recommendations for their future strategic planning; or researching a topic in depth and producing a dissertation that allows you to become an expert in your chosen field.

All students are registered for the award of BA (Hons); however, exit awards are available if you leave the course early, having successfully completed one or two levels. If you successfully complete a level of the course, you will automatically be entitled to progress to the next level.

For the award of a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), you must have achieved a minimum of 120 credits at Level 4. This qualification may be awarded if you leave the University following successful completion of the first year of your course.

For the award of a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), you must have achieved a minimum of 240 credits of which a minimum of 120 must be at Level 5. This qualification may be awarded if you leave the University following successful completion of the second year of your course.

For the award of a BA (Hons) you must have achieved a minimum of 360 credits of which a minimum of 240 must be at Level 5 or above, of which a minimum of 120 credits must be at Level 6. This qualification will be awarded upon successful completion of your course.

A BA without Honours may be awarded if you've achieved 300 credits, at least 180 of which are at Level 5 or above, and at least 60 of which are at Level 6.

In consultation with the Course Developer, staff are responsible for co-ordinating individual units of study, and for selecting appropriate methods of delivery, according to subject matter and student experience. The methods employed introduce you to the disciplines required of a creative practitioner and promote the development of transferable skills.

The study time allocated to each unit in the course incorporates a balance of formal teaching, tutorial support and independent learning. The course is structured progressively to provide increased opportunities for independent learning as you reach the later stages of the course.

Teaching is directed at supporting individual engagement in learning and there'll be opportunities for you to work in teams to enable you to learn the value of peer co-operation.

Lectures, seminars, and tutorials are by team members, as appropriate, in the creative course spaces.

The progressive promotion of independent learning reflects your anticipated maturity as a student and allows you to direct your learning towards individual goals. The teaching in Level 4 is directed at providing you with the knowledge, concepts, and skills to take increasing responsibility for the management of your own learning.

Contact hours include all scheduled teaching sessions, but also supervised time in the workshop or studio. In line with national guidance, we include in our calculation of contact hours all the time which is scheduled in the studio for independent study, which is also supported by staff (either academic staff, or technicians).

You'll be introduced to a range of industry experts over the course of your studies who'll deliver their view of the latest thinking in their field. This ensures that your studies reflect current best practice in industry. You'll also visit relevant professional organisations and creative businesses, and be provided with opportunities to network with practitioners who'll be useful contacts when you graduate.

Visiting tutors play a pivotal role in the course, as they bring diverse perspectives and unique skill sets, enriching the learning experience and fostering a deeper understanding of the standards and expectations of the creative industries. Industry professionals provide invaluable insights into the creative industry, sharing their expertise and experiences. They conduct workshops, lectures, and participate in critiquing student work, offering constructive feedback from both an education and industry perspective. Their presence can also offer students the opportunity to network and learn about potential career paths, industry trends, and professional practices.

You'll receive a final mark for each unit in the form of a percentage, which'll be recorded on your formal record of achievement (transcript). Each component of assessment is graded using a notched marking scale, whereby only certain marks are used within each grade. The only marks available within any ten-point band are *2, *5 and *8 (e.g. 62, 65, 68). These marks correspond to a low, mid, and high level of achievement within each grade band.

All learning outcomes must be passed to successfully complete the unit.

On successful completion of your Honours degree course, you'll be awarded a degree classification based on your unit marks. The final classification is determined using all unit marks at Levels 5 and 6 using two different algorithms, which are detailed in the HE Student Regulations. If the two algorithms produce different results, you'll be awarded the higher class of degree.

If you've joined Level 6 through either the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route or having completed a Foundation Degree (FdA), the final classification is determined using only your unit marks at Level 6.

For further information on assessment, progression, awards and classifications, please visit viewpoint.aub.ac.uk.

All your assessments reflect the world of work and are designed to accurately reflect typical tasks that you'll undertake regularly when you graduate and embark on your career. The core of the course is based on practical project-based assessments with some reflection and evaluation on your learning via reports and presentations. You'll also have to pitch ideas to your colleagues and your clients. Finally, you'll undertake research tasks that have a written output, either as a report or extended essay.