Students are exposed to core components such as the financial management of a brand within prevailing economic conditions, brand and market analysis from a commercial perspective, the application of sustainable and ethical business and brand practice, the development of communication strategies in context of the competitive environment and internal realities and the utilisation of metrics and models to assess brand performance and brand equity.
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.
Please note: Accounting or Financial Management AND Economics or Statistics must be part of the undergraduate qualification and candidates are required to have passed these modules to gain entry into the BCom Honours in Strategic Brand Management. 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 module at final-year (NQF L7) level.
International Admission:
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.
Structure of the honours degree for distance delivery:
The IIE Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Strategic Brand Management (HBSM0801) 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 1 – Semester 1
Brand and Brand Building:
This 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.
Year 1 – Semester 2
Strategic Brand Management and Leadership:
This module considers brand management from an “inside out” and “outside in” perspective to guide the management of a sustainable brand by the brand owner. Students will develop knowledge and understanding of both external and internal environmental variables to be considered when developing brand strategies and plans, both locally and internationally. The focus is on commercial and entrepreneurial brand management
practice and the associated strategic and operational dimensions. Brands will be analysed in context of the market environment and stakeholder relationships within which they are built.
Research Methodology for the Business Sciences:
The purpose of this module is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking required to design, conduct, and evaluate research at an honours level. Emphasizing both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, the module fosters an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of various research techniques. Students will engage with contemporary debates in research methodology, develop proficiency in selecting appropriate methods, and enhance their ability to critically analyze research findings. Through this module, students will gain the necessary tools to conduct independent research, ensuring they are well-prepared for their own research projects in their respective fields.
Year 2 – Semester 3
Financial, Economic and Legal Aspects:
This module develops understanding and applied knowledge of the principles of finance, economics and compliance relative to the development of brand strategies and plans, both locally and internationally.
Research Project for Strategic Brand Management:
The purpose of this module is to guide students in the application of research methodologies to the development of a research project in their respective discipline. Students will build on theoretical knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methods, integrating them into a coherent research design tailored to their research topic. Through this module, students 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. The module supports students in navigating the complexities of independent research, enabling them to produce a rigorous, well-founded dissertation that meets academic standards.
Year 2 – Semester 4
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 situations; develop their skills in recommending brand solutions; and to collaborate with peers in a process of innovative problem solving.
Research Project for Strategic Brand Management (Continued):
The purpose of this module is to guide students in the application of research methodologies to the development of a research project in their respective discipline. Students will build on theoretical knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methods, integrating them into a coherent research design tailored to their research topic. Through this module, students 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. The module supports students in navigating the complexities of independent research, enabling them to produce a rigorous, well-founded dissertation that meets academic standards.
Students who successfully complete The IIE Bachelor of Commerce in Strategic Brand Management (BCSM0701) or IIE Bachelor of Commerce in Digital Marketing (BDM0701) or any equivalent, subject to meeting the admission requirements are eligible to articulate into the IIE Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Strategic Brand Management (HBSM0801).
The successful completion of the IIE Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Strategic Brand Management (HBSM0801) enables you to progress into the IIE Master of Commerce in Strategic Brand Leadership (MCSBL0901), subject to meeting the admission requirements.
The IIE Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Strategic Brand Management (HBSM0801 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 96079)
Jobs in this field:
Agency Strategic Planner/ Brand Strategist
Brand or Product Management
Entrepreneur
Small Business Ownership
Marketing Research Analyst
Social Innovation Specialist
New Business Development
Sustainable Development
To assist you in succeeding in your distance journey, our teaching approach is:
Student-centric: we facilitate your thought processes to foster innovative ideas and creative solutions.
Authentic: we use real-life examples and case studies.
Activity-based: We move your learning forward through applied activities and assessments.
Discussion-based: we ask you questions and stimulate debate to provoke deep thought and insights about course content.
Duration
2 years part-time
Intakes
January
Campuses
Mode/s of study
Information
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