IIE Master of Arts in Creative Brand Leadership - (Distance)

Admission requirements

Entry Requirements

Minimum Admission Requirements

• An appropriate NQF level 8 Honours degree; OR
• A relevant Postgraduate Diploma or appropriate equivalent; OR
• An appropriate Level 8 Bachelor's Degree (480 credits) may also be recognised as meeting the minimum entry requirements to a cognate Master's Degree programme;
• For international qualifications: A SAQA NQF L8 Evaluation Certificate in an appropriate field
• An overall qualification average of at least 65%.
• All applicants who are eligible for admission to the Master's in Creative Brand Leadership degree are required to register for the Proposal Development for Master’s Studies (SRPW021). Successful completion of the Proposal Development for Master’s Studies requires of applicants to complete and present a Research Proposal for approval at the Higher Degrees Committee. In order to register for the Proposal Development for Master’s Studies, applicants develop and submit a relevant Statement of Intent for review and acceptance into the programme.

Alternate Admission

Applicants who do not hold an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in the fields of Marketing, Branding or Communication but have graduated from the broader fields of Commerce and Arts may be considered. In these instances, the Statement of Intent must clearly reflect a research problem related to Creative Brand Leadership. These applicants will be required to attend a SLP in Brand and Marketing Management. This SLP will be completed concurrently with the Proposal Development for Master’s Studies in order to be registered on the Master’s in Creative Brand Leadership degree.

Please note:

• If an applicant meets the above requirements, registration is subject to faculty supervisory capacity.
• The applicant has the right to request a written reason for any refused admission and may appeal to the Research and Postgraduate Committee in writing.
• If the Research and Postgraduate Committee upholds the refusal, the decision is final. The candidate may re-apply in the following academic year if they have been able to address the issues concerned, and Emeris may invite the candidate to reapply if a suitable supervisor is employed.

Senate Discretionary Admission

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) – Where candidates do not satisfy the formal admission requirements for this qualification, Emeris may consider an admission application in terms of the Credit Accumulation and Transfer, Recognition of Prior Learning and Qualification Completion Policy (IIE010).

If applicant does not meet minimum admission requirements and there is no alternative (such as completion of NQP modules) but they have relevant experience, the following must be requested:

1. Certificates for all formal (Accredited Higher Education qualifications) and/or informal qualifications/modules (SLP’s, Microcredentials etc). SAQA certificates must be provided for any international qualifications.

2. CV to determine whether the following are related to the qualification that the applicant is applying for:

a. Formal (Accredited Higher Education qualifications) and/or informal qualifications/modules (SLP’s, Microcredentials etc)

b. Relevant work experience

Admission Procedures

As part of the application process, candidates will need to submit a brief CV, full academic record of completed undergraduate and postgraduate NQF level 8 qualifications. Master’s applications will be reviewed and assessed by the Head of Postgraduate Research & Studies, the Office of the Registrar and the Dean of Research and Postgraduate Studies.

Candidates who meet the admission criteria will be requested to complete a research Statement of Intent to be submitted within 4 weeks. The Statement of Intent will enable candidates to put forward thoughts and ideas of their chosen field of research as well as assess the feasibility of the candidate’s research idea.

The Statement of Intent is submitted to three expert reviewers for feedback. More than one feedback and submission cycle may be required.

Candidates who are provisionally admitted will register for the Proposal Development for Master’s Studies programme.

The Proposal Development for Master’s Studies involves a research proposal writing workshop after which candidates are assigned a preliminary supervisor who will serve as a guide and mentor in the proposal development process. This programme also includes an academic eSeminar in which candidates present their research proposals.

Two formal readers are appointed to review the proposal and provide feedback.

Upon further crafting of the proposal, candidates submit the final proposal to Emeris Higher Degrees Committee (October/November).

Upon approval of the research proposal by Emeris Higher Degrees Committee, candidates can formally register for the Master of Arts in Creative Brand Leadership. Candidates are then in a position to implement their research proposals, guided by their appointed supervisors. The community of Master’s candidates and supervisors participate monthly in a dedicated discussion session and annually in an eSeminar to ensure continuous academic engagement and progress tracking.

Curriculum

Proposal Development for Masters Studies – Completing this short learning programme will enable you to present a proposal which requires you to identify a relevant problem (the What?) within the discipline, engage in extensive reading to compile a preliminary literature review (the Why?) that covers the theoretical/ conceptual frameworks as well as a potential research methodology (the How?) that will enable you to answer the research question.

Dissertation - Students are required to conduct research that will add to existing literature and the body of knowledge. The study cannot merely be an analysis and synthesis of existing literature and different points of views. Students must defend their proposals to a panel of experts and peers. The focus is on learning what is known about a subject and then evolving the knowledge gained from recent and current literature through the students' own research. However, the study does not need to make an original or unique contribution to the body of knowledge. The student must demonstrate full mastery of academic discourse and scholarly methodology and must produce valid and/or trustworthy research results that are publishable. A research Master’s enhances a student's research skills and prepares students for a Research Doctorate.

Structure of Pre-Masters: Proposal Development for Master’s Studies.

All applicants who are eligible for admission to the IIE Master of Arts in Creative Brand Leadership degree are required to register for the Proposal Development for Master’s Studies, successfully complete a research proposal and receive provisional ethics clearance for the proposed study in order to be formally registered for the Master's qualification.

Structure of the IIE Master of Arts in Creative Brand Leadership (MACB0901).

A series of academic seminars will be held to support the development of the dissertation. These seminars fulfil a dual role:

1. to explore and guide research design and practice;

2. to investigate key challenges, with expert industry input, in the field of creative brand leadership, which may cover topics such as leading brand innovation, building sustainable brands and building brands in developing markets.

Participation in the seminars is beneficial and will demonstrate an ability to apply one's mind and express meaningful opinions on key creative brand leadership challenges.

Articulation options

Students who successfully complete The IIE Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Strategic Brand Communication (HSB0801) or the IIE Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Strategic Brand Management (HBSM0801) —are eligible to articulate into the IIE Master or Arts in Creative Brand Leadership (MACB0901).

Study further with our pathways

The successful completion of the IIE Master of Arts in Creative Brand Leadership (MACB0901) enables you to progress into the IIE Doctor of Philosophy in Brand Leadership (DPBL1001).

Accreditation

The IIE Master of Arts in Creative Brand Leadership (MACB0901) is accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF 9) by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA ID 90621).

Career opportunities

An IIE Master’s degree leads to academic roles such as teaching, research, or doctoral studies. The IIE Master of Arts in Creative Brand Leadership (MACB0901) builds career pathways for those involved and interested in Strategic Brand Leadership Positions. If you're considering this path, it's best to speak with a postgraduate advisor.