This IIE Honours qualification explores the nature of creative and strategic thinking and the development of innovative and accountable communication strategies for brand building.
Students engage with independent learning to develop various ways of thinking, brand identity and architecture models, consumer insights, research methodologies, strategic and equity models, brand communication tools and, channel and media planning options, and stakeholder relationship management. Students specialise in strategy development and acquire skills that can be utilised in brand organisations as well as communication consultancies and agencies. The research methodology module enables the student to pursue academic research in an area of particular interest.
Minimum Admission Requirements
An appropriate Bachelor’s Degree OR;
An appropriate Advanced Diploma provided that a 360 credit Diploma or appropriate equivalent has been completed.
Candidates must have completed Brand Management/Strategy, Brand Communication, Marketing Management/Strategy, Marketing Communication, Public Relations, or a Brand Communication-specific discipline at NQF Level 7 and a foundation research module at the undergraduate level, preferably at NQF Level 7.
• Those who have not completed a foundation research module at undergraduate level will be required to do The Introduction to Research SLP and need to be able to demonstrate an understanding of basic research before they can commence with their research report.
• Candidates are normally required to have a minimum final year average of 60% in the qualifications final-year (NQF L7) modules.
• Those with a final year average of 55 - 59% will be admitted if they attained an average of 60% or higher for the designated cognate/core discipline modules at final-year (NQF L7) level.
International Qualifications:
A SAQA NQF L7 Evaluation Certificate in an appropriate field and meeting the additional admission requirements.
For alternative admission options, please click here or reach out to student recruitment.
Please note, requirements for entry to this qualification are correct at the time of publication, however, these may change.
The IIE BA Honours in Strategic Brand Communication consists of 5 modules and has been set up to support a 2-year journey with a maximum completion time of 4 years. Students are required to register per academic year; and each academic year consists of two semesters.
Year One - Semester 1
Brand and Brand Building:
This foundation module develops students’ understanding of the key brand concepts that guide the development of innovative and purposeful solutions to brand building opportunities and challenges. Emphasis is placed on creative, critical and systemic thinking and students are given the opportunity to demonstrate higher order thinking to analyse, evaluate and apply concepts to given practical scenarios.
Year One - Semester 2
Brand Communication Strategy and Planning:
The purpose of the Brand Communication Strategy and Planning module is to enable the student to practically develop brand positioning which will drive communication strategy. Students will engage with various strategic models and multiple brand communication channels and tools to develop brand communication strategies and plans. An insight-based critical evaluation and analysis of all touch points will facilitate human-centric innovative thinking.
Research Methodology for the Human Sciences:
Students will acquire the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking required to design, conduct, and evaluate academic research, utilising the theoretical underpinnings of both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and techniques. Students will develop proficiency in designing appropriate research proposals and data collection approaches and processes, and the analysis of research findings ensuring they are well-prepared for their own independent research projects.
Year Two - Semester 1
Channel and Media Planning:
Channel and Media Planning introduces and integrates channel, media and contact planning in context of the various media platforms available, and actively considers the planning mechanics when developing a fully integrated and leveraged channel plan. Students will assess the optimisation of media planning options and budgeting/spend considering increasing media fragmentation and complexity.
Year Two - Semester 2
Practice of Brand Building:
This module applies the theories of strategic brand management and communication to answer real-life client briefs. The focus is on the development and crafting of an innovative brand building strategy and plan that will address complex business and societal challenges. Students will implement brand research to investigate situational, environmental and commercial scenarios. They will derive consumer insights to drive the execution of original and meaningful solutions to multi-faceted brand challenges. Students work in teams to address real-life working challenges; develop their skills in building and recommending brand solutions; and collaborate with peers in a process of innovative problem solving.
Research Project for Strategic Brand Communication – Year Long Module:
A supervisor will guide students to apply the research methodologies to the development of a research project in the field of Strategic Brand Communication. Students will build on their theoretical knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methods, integrating one of these methods into a coherent research design tailored to their research topic and will acquire practical skills in the formulation of research questions, data collection, analysis, and interpretation, while also engaging with ethical considerations in the research process. Students will navigate the complexities of independent postgraduate research, to produce a rigorous, well-founded research project that meets academic standards.
For Emeris the following qualifications allow you to articulate into the Bachelor of Arts Honours in Strategic Brand Communication should you meet the requirements:
Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Brand Communication (BASB0701)
The successful completion of the IIE BA Honours in Strategic Brand Communication enables you to progress into the IIE MA in Creative Brand Leadership delivered at Emeris, subject to meeting the admission requirements.
The IIE Bachelor of Arts Honours in Strategic Brand Communication is accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF 8) by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA ID 98012).
Jobs in this field:
Brand Communication
Agency Strategic Planning
Marketing Communication
Promotions and Event Management
Public Relations
Media Planning
Account Management
Client Relationship Management
At Emeris, we believe that effective teaching is about creating experiences that foster student growth. Our academic team design activities that challenge students and identify their strengths, allowing for real-time adaptation in the learning journey. By combining subject expertise with teaching insights and digital tools, we extend learning beyond the classroom. This approach ensures students not only keep up but thrive.
For students based in South Africa, online students may select any campus of the Emeris as their Examination Centre.
An alternative examination centre is only permissible for students studying abroad and those located in a province of South Africa where there is no Emeris campus. If there is no Emeris campus within reach, an alternative venue will need to be sourced by you. For non-Emeris venues, there is an alternative venue levy per module.
Duration
2 years part-time
Intakes
January
Campuses
Mode/s of study
Information
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