Creative Advertising MSc



This is the most successful MSc course in the UK for aspiring creatives.

Overview

This is the most successful MSc course in the UK for aspiring creatives. We teach practical skills and an understanding of the industry required for a career in advertising.

The world of advertising is fuelled by bright minds and creative thinkers. It generates millions of messages that reach consumers via an ever-increasing number of channels.

Around 200,000 people are employed in UK advertising design and marketing, and at its heart are the ‘creatives’. These are the art directors, copywriters, content creators and strategists who are the creative powerhouse of the industry.

This course has been developed in collaboration with the Scottish Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) and is taught by leading practitioners.

Typical entry point to this course is in September. Please enquire for more information.  

Unfortunately, we are no longer accepting applications from international applicants for this programme for September 2025.
 
People walking around the room looking at the Degree show displays

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

1 year

"The calibre of the students from this course is seriously impressive. Smart thinkers, encouraged to be bold and original by folk who know that ideas are more important than ever in our industry."

Phil Evans
Executive Creative Director, The Leith Agency, Edinburgh

Course details

You’ll learn the best way to present your ideas and how to work collaboratively and individually as you create advertising across a variety of media, including print, TV, radio, outdoor and online. Some live briefs are supported with visits to advertising agencies. 

Your critical evaluation skills will also be developed as you explore the theories behind successful advertising campaigns and critique your own and others’ work.

Students have in recent years won “Yellow and Black Pencils” in the D&AD New Blood awards and medals in the IPA Awards Scotland. We have won Gold awards in International Competitions too. 

Subjects include:

  • Planning in advertising
  • Concept creation
  • Campaign creation
  • Digital creative
  • 5,000 word Dissertation
  • calendar

    How you’ll be taught

    We will draw out the creative within you. With exciting and demanding workshops, led by our award-winning lecturers and industry experts. Lead lecturer is George Shepherd an award winning Advertising creative and strategist, who has worked in the advertising industry, locally and globally, for over 35 years.
  • note and pen

    Assessments

    Notional grades will be informed after every project along with one-to-one tutorials. You’ll be given a summative grade at the end of each trimester.
  • briefcase

    Work placement

    Work placements are arranged by the students themselves in Trimester 3 with help from tutors.
  • library

    Facilities

    Our Merchiston campus, situated in the heart of Edinburgh, is home to creative industries students along with engineering and computing. This mix of disciplines helps create an inspiring, innovative and collaborative atmosphere.

    Inside you’ll also find the 500-seat Jack Kilby Computing Centre, open 24 hours a day in Trimesters 1 and 2, the library and the Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association.

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for Creative Advertising? 

The entry requirement for this course is a Bachelor (Honours) Degree at 2:2 or above in any discipline. 

We may also consider lesser qualifications if you have sufficient relevant work experience within the industry.

Can I get admission into Creative Advertising based on my working experience in this sector?

This course has academic entry requirements which are assessed alongside relevant work experience. Full details of any relevant work experience, including references should be submitted with your application and may be considered for entry where the minimum academic entry requirements are below those required.

Usually, unrelated work experience is not considered sufficient for entry without meeting the minimum academic entry requirements. Please contact us with your specific circumstances by submitting an enquiry form above and we will be happy to discuss your options.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the postgraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test.  The English Language requirements for this programme are IELTS (Academic) with an overall score of 7.0 with no individual component score of less than 6.5.  For guidance on the acceptability of other English Language tests please contact pgadmissions@napier.ac.uk

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English, or your undergraduate degree was taught and examined in English (within two years of starting your postgraduate course). Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

Our entry requirements indicate the minimum qualifications with which we normally accept students. Competition for places varies from year to year and you aren't guaranteed a place if you meet the minimum qualifications.

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2025/26 2026/27
Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £7,650 £tba
Overseas and EU £19,750 £tba
Tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other tuition fee matters, please see our Fees and Funding links above.
The University offers a 20% discount on Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes to its alumni. The discount applies to all full-time, part-time and online programmes. The discount can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount. For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount. Please read our full T&C here
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Please note:

The discount for Edinburgh Napier alumni can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount.

For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount.

Please read our full T&C here

Careers

What can you do with a MSc Creative Advertising course?

Enter the dynamic world of advertising and unleash your creativity in our intensive programme designed for aspiring advertising professionals. Through a blend of theory, strategy, and hands-on practice, you'll learn to develop compelling and effective advertising campaigns that resonate with audiences and drive results for clients.

The course has one of the highest employment records in the University and graduates go on to lucrative careers in the Advertising industry. Creative directors and agency owners have a strong interest in the course. Every week we have a guest lecture from a senior industry professional as they are always keen to meet the students and discover new talent. Industry-driven projects will expose you to employers and generate a valuable set of creative ideas that will enhance your portfolio. After completing this degree, you can expect to work in one of these roles:

  • Copywriter
  • Art Director
  • Brand Strategist
  • Marketing Executive
  • Media Planner/Buyer
  • Creative Producer
  • Content Creator
  • Account Executive/Manager
  • Creative Director

You'll have a chance to explore a diverse range of topics, from brand strategy and consumer psychology to copywriting and art direction. Through real-world projects, agency placements, and industry partnerships, you'll gain practical experience crafting campaigns for a variety of media channels, from traditional print and TV to digital and social media.

This course will help you to become a strategic and creative advertising professional, ready to tackle the challenges of the advertising industry with confidence and flair. Whether you aspire to work in advertising agencies, marketing departments, or creative studios, our MSc in Creative Advertising will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and connections to thrive in the fast-paced and competitive world of advertising.

What does a Creative Director do?

As a Creative Director, you will lead the charge in shaping brand identities and storytelling narratives. Your strategic vision and leadership will inspire teams to create compelling and memorable experiences across all channels. In this role, you'll be the visionary behind marketing campaigns, brand activations, and creative projects that captivate audiences and drive results.

Your responsibilities will encompass everything from setting creative direction and managing teams to overseeing project timelines and budgets. Picture yourself collaborating with clients and stakeholders to understand their objectives and brand values, then leading teams to develop innovative concepts and executions that bring those visions to life.

Leveraging your skills of design, copywriting, and multimedia production, you will create cohesive and impactful campaigns that resonate with target audiences. Your focus will be on ensuring that every element of a campaign reflects the brand's identity and message while providing feedback on creative assets, or presenting concepts to clients,. Your passion for creativity and your ability to inspire and motivate teams will set you apart as a visionary leader, driving innovation and excellence in every project you touch.

The average salary for UK Creative Directors is £160,500 (Glassdoor, 2023).
The most senior Executive Creative Directors can earn upwards of £250,000, plus car and annual bonus
Junior Creatives typically earn between £27,000 – 38,000

 
MSc Creative Advertising student with his arms crossed standing beside a project board