The MA Global Advertising and Branding course at the University of Southampton introduces students to advertising and branding, and help them to develop industry-ready skills.

With a strong focus on current industry practice, the course covers areas such as the advertising 'pitch', target audience identification and segmentation, creative strategy and briefing, how to appraise creative ideas and evaluate campaign strategy, advertising media, brand identity, integrated marketing communication and global markets.

The programme enables students to develop a critical awareness of the advertising industry and the variety of tools and media through which brands communicate.

The emphasis is on developing knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and practical issues that underpin the advertising and branding process. Whilst the role of creativity and a variety of other advertising and brand design issues are examined and discussed in depth, the one-year full-time programme is aimed at students who wish to understand, manage and oversee the process.

The course aims to appeal to students ideally seeking careers as advertising strategists, account executives or brand managers within the creative industries. Key areas such as advertising ethics, corporate social responsibility, sustainability and brand loyalty will be discussed as part of this programme and augmented by presentations from experts in the field.

Students learn the theory and practice of advertising and brand management and critically examine topical issues such as the use of celebrity endorsement, opinion leaders and influencers in social media, and the impact of new technology.

School: Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton
Course: Master of Arts in Global Advertising and Branding
Type: Postgraduate
Location: Winchester and Southampton, UK
Course dates: October 2026 to September 2027
Application deadline: International applications: 26 August 2026, UK applications: 9 September 2026

Find out more about the course and apply ›

What will I learn during this course?

– The theory and practice of advertising and brand management
– How to strategically manage the advertising and branding process
– How to evaluate, critique and assess advertising and brand campaigns together with topical issues relating to this subject area
– To develop an understanding of advertising and brand ethical practice and social responsibility
– To acquire advanced skills in brand management and communication across a variety of media platforms

What are the requirements?

– A 2.1 university-level bachelor's degree or equivalent international qualification
– If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language – Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need the following scores as a minimum: 6.0 in reading, writing, speaking and listening, with an overall score of 6.5

What facilities and resources are available?

– Library resources and e-learning facilities, including e-books, online journals and databases, which are comprehensive and up-to-date
– Workshops, seminars and guest lectures by leading designers and researchers

What career prospects can I expect upon graduating?

Graduates can gain roles in branding and advertising, design, service design, emphasising creative leadership and innovation. There are also opportunities in advertising and brand development, design strategy and consulting that connect creativity with business impact.

Students can also get positions in ethical design, circular economy and socially responsible innovation across sectors, and there are opportunities in academia, design research, public service innovation and policy design.

Who teaches this course?

– Dr Nik Mahon, course leader
– Dr Laura Campbell, tutor
– Dr Aybala Cakmakcioglu, tutor
– Lisa Curtiss, tutor
– Julija Jones, tutor
– Klaudia Burton, tutor
– Tim LeRoy, tutor

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