Overview
Get a visual overview of this exciting programme by watching our short video.
Our Digital Design and Branding MSc degree is a modern, hands-on course that combines digital technology and creative design. It has been designed to equip you with advanced knowledge and practical skills required for a creative role in the digital branding industry. You’ll develop deep understanding of advanced digital design practices within the context of branding.
Our modern, industry standard digital media facilities include a green screen and post-production studio, motion capture, photography, and sound studios, 360° VR and up to 12K cameras, lenses, motion controllers and lights, and a dedicated render farm. You'll have independent access to exclusive PC and Mac computing workshops and benefit from the latest industry standard specialist software for graphic design and image/video editing, 3D animation, digital compositing, and rich interactive content creation. There's also the opportunity for you to use our immersive virtual environment laboratory.
You can see real examples of the kind of work you'll produce by viewing this showreel of project work by students graduating in 2024.
There are guest lectures covering lots of different digital media topics and the visiting lecturers provide advice on how to structure your portfolio and showreels. Speakers include creative and design directors, user experience designers, 3D graphic supervisors, as well as mobile and web developers.
Visits are arranged to TV and photography studios, and post-production houses. There’s also the opportunity to go to conferences and this is your chance to build networks with key industry experts. In addition, you have the advantage of Brunel’s close location to London for trips to exhibitions celebrating the creative industries.
Our digital design and branding MSc can be studied full-time over one year, or two years with a placement year. Alternatively, the course can be studied part-time over two years, or three years with a placement year. For both full-time and part-time study, the course is taught on one set day per week (currently Wednesdays), making it easier for you to fit in with your other commitments. You can start the course in either September or January.
We encourage the placement year option as it provides you with a year’s worth of invaluable professional experience in the ever-growing creative industries and prepares you for a career that is appropriate to this exciting subject area.
A calendar highlight is the degree show. Exhibiting your creative work at this event is a great way for you to connect with leading creative technologists and showcase your talent.
Brunel’s digital design and branding course is fully accredited and industry recognised by ScreenSkills, the industry-led skills body for the UK’s screen-based industries. It carries the ScreenSkills Select quality mark which indicates that it is best suited to prepare you for a career in the screen industries.
Brunel’s digital media courses are the only courses accredited by ScreenSkills in the areas of design, animation and VFX within London and the South East.
Course content
You will study five compulsory modules and create an impressive portfolio of work. The dissertation project involves the development of a convincing digital branding campaign.
Compulsory
- Brand Experience DesignThis module aims to develop theoretical and practical understanding of brand experience design and digital branding and marketing communications channels and means (e.g. Social Media Marketing, Online Advertising, e-mail marketing, etc.)
- Digital Media TechnologiesThis module aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the video production workflow used for promotion, which would include pre-production, production and post-production.
- Digital DesignThis module aims to gain knowledge and understanding of the fundamental elements of digital design through theory lectures and guided project work. Students to develop digital design skills through project-centred approach, focusing on the demands of the contemporary design business practice.
- Digital Branding StrategyThis module aims to provide a professional and comprehensive understanding of digital branding, its relationship with design and its impact on contemporary business, organisations and society
- Major Project (Dissertation)This module aims to develop a digital branding artefact such as a collection of viral videos or a viral game. Students to undertake the full life cycle of branding management, including market research (product and user), budget development, media planning and distribution, and evaluation of branding project effectiveness.
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This course has a placement option. Find out more about work placements available.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel
Careers and your future
A digital design and branding degree from Brunel fully prepares you to provide digital branding solutions in modern, effective and innovative ways.
Brunel’s location close to the large concentration of creative industries in and around London means that there are a variety of job opportunities available.
Our graduates take on digital design roles as UX designers, interaction designers, digital product designers, web designers, creative directors, visual/graphic designers, and brand managers.
UK entry requirements
- A 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree, or equivalent internationally recognised qualification, in design; computer engineering; IT or a related discipline.
Other related subjects with evidence of design experience (minimum 3 years) will be considered on an individual basis.
Please note that we do not require a Design portfolio as part of the application for this programme. In the unlikely event that we do need this we will contact you.
EU and International entry requirements
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6 (min 5.5 in all areas)
- Pearson: 59 (59 in all sub scores)
- BrunELT: 58% (min 55% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 77 (min R18, L17, S20, W17)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2024/25 entry
UK
£13,750 full-time
£6,875 part-time
£1,385 placement year
International
£25,000 full-time
£12,500 part-time
£1,385 placement year
More information on any additional course-related costs.
Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.
See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Scholarships and bursaries
Teaching and learning
All workshops and seminars and the vast majority of lectures will be delivered in-person and on-campus with an expectation of on-campus attendance. Some sessions might provide pre-recorded content for you to engage with prior to on-campus activities, such as in-person workshops.
Lecture slides and recordings, workshop and seminar materials and other sources will be available online via the University’s Virtual Learning Environment, Brightspace. The vast majority of reading material, e.g. books and journals, will also be available online with full-text access.
On-campus teaching and learning activities allow you to make the most of facilities available on campus, e.g., workshops, computer rooms and the dedicated studios. In-person teaching and learning activities also help encourage students to integrate into the Brunel Design School community and connect with students from other year groups and other programmes.
The course is assessed entirely by coursework with online submission and feedback.
Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.
Our digital media degrees are delivered by a multidisciplinary teaching team. This means you’ll be learning from staff with experience in the digital industry as well as staff from academia including researchers. They will encourage individuality and support you to create innovative work.
Study will combine seminars, tutorials, media workshop and studio sessions, independent learning, and individual and group project work.
Should you need any non-academic support during your time at Brunel, the Student Support and Welfare Team are here to help.
Assessment and feedback
Your progress will be assessed via individual and group digital design assignments, demonstrations and presentations, structured debates, and your individual dissertation project.